How to Adjust the Temperature on a Kenmore Refrigerator

When the lettuce grows limp or ice crystals form on the fresh berries in the fridge, it could be that the temperature isn't at the proper setting.

Don't overreact when the fridge appears to be on the fritz. If it isn't settled into a good temperature, it may just need adjustments of the controls in small increments to bring it back to that 40-degree sweet spot.

The controls are set correctly if the ice cream in the freezer is firm when it's pulled out for that late-night snack and the celery isn't limp after an overnight stay in the crisper. The Kenmore refrigerator temperature control location is at the upper back wall of the inside of the refrigerator. The higher that the Kenmore Smart Reach refrigerator temperature control number is, the colder the temperature will be.

The refrigerator temperature should be at 40 degrees Fahrenheit to keep perishable food safe from bacterial growth, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Microorganisms can grow if the temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Food shouldn't sit at room temperature for more than two hours and only one hour if the temperatures soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

For proper storage of food in the fridge, allow air to circulate the items. Food that's piled up and stuffed into corners will create warmer pockets within the fridge, which can affect the overall temperature of the interior of the hardworking appliance.

Some Kenmore Elite refrigerator problems can be due to a simple change in temperature, which may be quickly remedied by adjusting the control settings and checking the exterior vents and parts of the appliance. It may seem obvious that the fridge temperature control that's coldest is the highest number on the control, but it's not a good idea to move the dial directly to the coldest setting.

When the contents of the fridge are getting too chilly, set the Kenmore refrigerator temperature up one degree higher. When the temperature inside the fridge seems more tepid than chill, move the refrigerator control down one degree lower.

By moving the temperature up a degree at a time, you won't run the risk of swinging too quickly in one way or the other. If the refrigerator has recently been moved or installed, wait 24 hours for the refrigerator to come to the right temperature before adjusting the controls.

Use the same slow and steady methodology to adjust the interior temperature of the freezer. To keep food preserved and frozen, the freezer should be set at 0 or 2 degrees Fahrenheit. If the freezer drifts above these temperatures even a few degrees, microorganisms can begin their slow growth and affect the food you'll want to use later.

If you aren't sure about the interior temperature of your Kenmore freezer, Home Steady suggests placing a freezer thermometer in the freezer to ensure it's at the proper temperature.