Refrigerator thermometers

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What's behind our refrigerator thermometer Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 5 models in refrigerator thermometers to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Overall score is based on temperature accuracy, reading stability and readability.
Temperature accuracy
To test for accuracy, we took multiple readings with each of the tested thermometers and compared them with readings from a calibrated thermometer. The readings were averaged and scored.
Reading stability
Indicates how quickly the thermometers responded to temperature changes.
Readability
Indicates how easy it was to read the thermometer.

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A refrigerator thermometer is especially useful if your fridge has only a dial thermostat. You can also use it to check that temperatures are still safe on a model with a built-in thermometer. And during a power failure, a thermometer is indispensable. If you've been without power for an extended period, you can use the thermometer to check that temperatures are still safe. If you're looking for information about refrigerator thermometers, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports' refrigerator thermometer reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our refrigerator thermometer buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and refrigerator thermometer reviews to help you choose the best refrigerator thermometer for your needs.

Refrigerator thermometer buying guide

A refrigerator thermometer can be an inexpensive way to save real money. If your refrigerator is too warm, food will spoil; if it's too cold, you're paying for more electricity than you need. You should keep your refrigerator at no higher than 40° F and the freezer at 0° F, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

The threat of food-borne illnesses is another concern with an improperly chilled refrigerator. Microorganisms capable of causing sickness grow very slowly below 40°F. But they rapidly increase between 40° and 140°F.

We recently tested three samples of five different thermometers for accuracy, readability, and stability (how quickly the thermometers responded to temperature changes). A thermometer that reacts too quickly to the warm air that enters a refrigerator when the door is opened can give you a misleading reading, making it harder to maintain your refrigerator at the proper temperature.

To test for accuracy, we took five readings with each of the 15 thermometers and compared them with readings from a calibrated thermometer. The readings were averaged and scored. An average of less than 1° F scored excellent, while a difference of 1 degree to 2 degrees scored very good.

All of the thermometers did a very good to excellent job of measuring the temperature, but they were prone to fogging, making them difficult to read.