What temperature should a freezer be?

The important of setting the correct temperature for your freezer cannot be overstated. Freezing food stops the growth of bacteria and micro-organisms, keeping your food fresher for longer. If the temperature of your appliance is too warm, harmful bacteria and micro-organisms can start to grow, spoiling your food and causing illness if consumed. Alternatively, setting your freezer temperature too low can have negative implications, mainly for your electricity bills.

What is freezer burn?

The answer to ‘what is freezer burn’ is relatively simple. Freezer burn is a term used to describe food that has lost moisture due to cold air exposure. Food that is frozen at a temperature that is too low can also be subject to freezer burn. Freezer burn can affect the taste, texture and look of your frozen food, particularly raw meat. Although freezer burned foods will not negatively impact your health if consumed, freezer burn does decrease the quality of your food.

It is recommended that a 4-star freezer needs to operate at -18 degrees Celsius as a minimum. This will prevent bacteria from growing and will keep your frozen food fresher for longer. Whilst it is recommended to keep your freezer below -18 degrees Celsius, it is important to not drop the temperature too low. Although 4-star freezers can operate down to -25°C, over time foods frozen at this temperature may start to dry out, causing freezer burn or a loss in quality.

Some Beko freezers feature indicator lights which will alert you of any temperature issues within your appliance.* To help you understand the indicator lights, here’s a helpful chart that shows what each indicator light means:

*The meaning of indicator lights will vary from model to model. Please refer to your manual for more accurate informative for your specific appliance.

Top tips for safe freezer temperatures:

• To prevent freezer burn, make sure to prepare and store frozen food correctly. Store frozen food in freezer bags or freezer-safe plastic containers.
• To maintain your freezers efficiency, for non-frost free freezers we recommend defrosting your appliance twice a year or when a frost layer of around 7mm (1/4”) has formed. This will allow the appliance to function correctly and free up any space that the ice may be taking up. Check out our detailed guide on defrosting your freezer.

What is the recommended ambient temperature a freezer should operate within?

Traditional freezers have a minimum ambient temperature requirement of 10° C and therefore aren't recommended for use in temperatures below that. However, Beko's unique Freezer Guard Technology means that all our freezers are suitable for use in ambient temperatures down to -15° C, making them suitable for outhouse or garage use, even in winter.

Whether you’ve recently purchased a Beko freezer, or you have owned one for several years, you will need to know how to change the temperature of your appliance. By adjusting your appliance to the optimal temperature, you can ensure that your food is kept perfectly fresh and frozen every day.

Changing the temperature of your Beko freezer is simple. The process of how to change the temperature of your appliance varies depending on the model you own. To find out how to adjust the temperature on your appliance, please download your manual.

Alternatively, if you are looking to change the temperature on your Beko fridge freezer. We’ve put together a handy how-to guide to help you change the temperature in your fridge freezer. To help you understand the way our temperatures work, here’s a helpful chart that shows what each temperature setting means:

Now that you have all the information, you need about freezer temperatures, why not browse our full range of freezers.