Fridge temperature record sheet
Free PDF, no sign-upA free fridge and freezer temperature log for your kitchen: two readings a day, 31 days on one A4 sheet. Print it, or log readings on your team’s phones and get an alert when one is out of range.
Most kitchens keep fridges at 5 °C or below. The legal limit for chilled food in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 8 °C. Freezers are usually kept at −18 °C or colder.
If a reading is out of range: check it again after 30 minutes. If it’s still out, move food to a working fridge, call an engineer, and write down what you did and any food you threw away.
How to use it
- 1 Print one sheet a month and keep it by the fridges.
- 2 Take readings at opening and before closing, with a probe thermometer or the fridge’s display.
- 3 Write the reading and your initials, and what you did if a reading is out of range.
- 4 Keep completed sheets with your food safety records, ready for an inspector.
Paper or phone
| Paper or phone | Paper | Staff Checklist |
|---|---|---|
| Who took the reading | initials | name and exact time |
| A reading out of range | seen when someone reads the sheet | manager alerted straight away |
| Inspection day | find the sheets | one PDF with every reading |
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should a fridge be?
Most kitchens aim for 5 °C or below. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the legal limit for most chilled food is 8 °C. Freezers are usually kept at −18 °C or colder.
How often should I check fridge temperatures?
At least once a day. Many kitchens check at opening and before closing, and record each check so they can show it to an inspector.
Do I have to keep temperature records?
You must have food safety procedures based on HACCP principles and be able to show they work. Temperature records are the easiest way to show your fridges keep food cold enough.
Log temperatures on your phone
Readings with name and time, an alert when one is out of range, and one PDF for the inspector.