How often must refrigerator/freezer temperatures be checked?

• A. Every 24 hours
• B. Every 12 hours
• C. Weekly
• D. Monthly

Answer: (A)

Regular, daily temperature monitoring for both refrigerators and freezers is essential for food safety. Checking at least every 24 hours helps catch any excursions quickly, so you can take corrective action—like adjusting the thermostat, rearranging items, or bringing the unit in for service—before temperatures stay out of the safe range for too long. Keeping a daily log also supports accountability and helps verify that temperatures stay within safe limits (refrigerators at about 40°F/4°C or below, freezers at 0°F/-18°C or below).

Choosing a less frequent interval, such as weekly or monthly, leaves a larger window for unsafe temperatures to go unnoticed. Checking more often than daily isn’t typically required in standard practice, and doubling the frequency (every 12 hours) isn’t necessary unless a specific policy or risk assessment calls for it.