How to Set Up Fridge Temperature Checks
This article has been written by Pilla Founder, Liam Jones, click to email Liam directly, he reads every email.
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How to Set Up Fridge Temperature Checks
Date modified: 1st June 2025 | This article has been written by Pilla Founder, Liam Jones, click to email Liam directly, he reads every email. Or book a demo to see how hospitality businesses use Pilla to manage food safety.
TLDR: About Fridge Temperature Checks
- •Certain types of foods, especially high protein and high moisture foods provide perfect growth conditions for micro-organisms, both pathogenic and spoilage types. These foods can be both ready to eat and raw, bacteria will not distinguish between the two.
- •The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 37°F (3°C) and 40°F (5°C). These temperatures help to slow down the growth of harmful bacteria, ensuring that your food stays fresh for longer. In the UK the legal upper limit for fridge temperatures is 8°C
- •You need to check and record the temperature of every fridge unit twice per day, usually once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Pilla has a pre-built fridge temperature check inside which includes all of the inputs for staff to record compliant checks.
- •If anything goes wrong, highlight the issue using the using 'Issue' button and follow the corrective actions below. Record everything that you do as a post inside the fridge temperature check so you are create a full digital paper-trail of compliance.
Demo: Setting up Fridge Temperature Checks in Pilla
- •Click the '+' button underneath any day on the planner to create a new activity and use these settings:
- Name: Fridge Temperatures
- Site: Select the appropriate venue
- Team: Choose the team who will carry out the checks
- Start: Set the start time to be the first time you want the checks to be carried out (this should be a future date and time)
- Finish: Set the date and time that the first checks should be finished by (this is the target finish time)
- Frequency: Set to 'Daily' and select every day that you are open
- Tag: Add the relevant Tag (most likely Kitchen Checks unless you've created another one) - •Click 'Create' to create the activity
- •Click 'Add Check' and use the dropdown menu to select 'Fridge Temperature'
You will need to add two of these checks for each fridge unit you have (one AM and one PM check)
Go ahead and add as many as you need and name the name checks (Fridge 1 AM, Fridge 1 PM and so on) - •You now have a recurring daily activity which will have your fridge temperature checks inside. The activity will recreate one day in advance.
Frequently asked questions
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- How often do I need to check fridge temperatures?
- Fridge temperatures should be checked and recorded twice per day or once per shift. Regular checking helps identify any issues early, preventing potential food safety problems.
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- What's the maximum time food can be above 8°C before we have to throw it away?
- Food that has been above 8°C must be discarded after 4 hours. This rule is strictly applicable only once and cannot be applied multiple times for periods under 4 hours each.
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- What should I do if I find the fridge temperature is over 8°C?
- If you discover that the fridge temperature is above 8°C, you should immediately take the following steps: (1) Check the actual food temperature using a clean, sanitised probe thermometer.
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- Where exactly should raw meat be stored in the fridge
- Raw meat should always be stored on the lowest shelf of the fridge to prevent drips from contaminating other foods.
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- Do I need to record fridge temperatures even if they're normal?
- Yes, it is necessary to record all fridge temperatures, even when they are within the normal range.
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- Can I use cling film to cover food in the display fridge?
- Yes, you can use cling film to cover food in the display fridge as long as it is food-grade wrapping. Ensure that your display fridge also has proper sneeze guards or screening to protect the food.
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- How long can we keep batch-cooked food in the fridge?
- Batch-cooked food should be consumed within three days, including the day it was prepared. For instance, if the food is cooked on Tuesday, it should be used by the end of Thursday.
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- Should I store fresh fish in a separate fridge from other items?
- Ideally, fresh fish should be stored in a separate fridge set at a temperature below 3°C to meet its specific cooling requirements.
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- How often should we clean the fridge seals?
- Fridge seals should be inspected weekly to check their condition and cleanliness. This regular maintenance helps keep the fridge working efficiently.
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- If the fridge breaks down overnight, do we have to throw everything away?
- If the duration of the fridge outage overnight is unknown and you cannot verify that the food temperature has remained below 8°C using a probe thermometer, it is safer to discard all the food and record it as waste. However, if the temperature checks confirm the food is below 8°C, you can safely transfer it to another working fridge. This approach prevents unnecessary waste while ensuring compliance with food safety standards.
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- If food in the fridge is at 7°C, how often should we check it?
- When food is stored in a fridge and the temperature is between 6-8°C, it should be checked hourly to ensure it doesn't exceed 8°C.
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- Can we put hot food straight into the fridge?
- No, you should not put hot food directly into the fridge. Doing so can raise the temperature inside the fridge, potentially affecting other stored foods and causing temperature fluctuations.
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- How much space should I leave between items in the fridge for good air circulation?
- Ensure there is adequate space around all sides of items in your fridge, particularly at the back and sides of the unit, to allow cold air to flow freely.
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- What happens if we don't have another fridge to move food to during a breakdown?
- If you don't have access to an alternative refrigeration unit during a breakdown, you must use the affected food within 4 hours if the temperature rises above 8°C.
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- What should I do if I notice the fridge seal is damaged?
- If the fridge seal is damaged, it's important to address the issue immediately as it can lead to warm air entering the fridge and cause temperature fluctuations.
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