Fridge and Freezer Temperature Logs for UK Kitchens: What to Record and How Often

### The short answer Chilled food must be kept at 8°C or below by law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Food Standards Agency advises aiming for 5°C or below so you have a safety margin when doors are opened during a busy service. Freezers are normally kept at -18°C or colder. Hot food held for service should stay at 63°C or above. ### What a good temperature log shows An Environmental Health Officer (EHO) is not only checking that your fridges are cold. They want proof that you check them. A useful log records: - Which unit was checked (Fridge 1, Walk-in chiller, Freezer 2). - The temperature reading and the time it was taken. - Who took the reading. - What you did if the reading was out of range, for example moving stock, adjusting the thermostat or calling an engineer. ### How often should you check? Your Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) pack sets out the checks for your kitchen. Many kitchens check each fridge and freezer at opening and again during or at the end of service. Whatever you choose, do it every day and write it down. A gap in the log is one of the first things an inspector notices. ### Keep your probe honest A thermometer that reads two degrees out makes the whole log unreliable. Check probes regularly: - Ice water should read about 0°C. - Boiling water should read about 100°C. - If a probe is outside a degree either way, replace or recalibrate it and note it down. ### Common mistakes 1. Recording the display on the fridge instead of the food temperature. 2. Writing the same number every day. Inspectors can tell. 3. Logging a warm reading with no corrective action. 4. Leaving checks to the end of a long shift. ### Make it a one-minute job Safe Kitchen lets you log each unit on your phone or link a Bluetooth probe so the reading is captured for you. Readings are time-stamped, staff sign with their own PIN, and out-of-range temperatures are flagged so the corrective action is recorded straight away. You can then export a 1-click PDF for your EHO visit. Start a 30-day free trial. No credit card needed.