38 degrees is the optimal temperature for a refrigerator

"What is the optimal temperature for a refrigerator?" The best place I can think to get the answer is Sears. I would consider Sears to be the ultimate source on refrigerators. Where do you go to buy a fridge? Sears.

To answer this question Sears Canada says, "To keep food at its freshest, the optimum temperature for the inside of a refrigerator is 38 to 40 degrees F."

At first I was gonna say 39 degrees is the best, because that's the average of 38 and 40. But a couple other sources recommend it a bit lower. That's why I'm sticking with 38 instead of 39 degrees.

"The refrigerator's fresh food compartment should be 34 - 40 degrees F with an optimum temperature of 37 degrees F."
Mid-America Parts
Mid-America Parts sounds really official. 37 sounds good, but 38 will save some electricity. Besides, the temperature at the bottom of the fridge will typically be lower, so might as well measure it at the high point and go on the higher end of the range. And let the stuff on the bottom sit more towards the bottom of the range. Man, I sound like an expert!

"The optimum temperature is approximately between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit"
buzzle.com
I don't trust a website with the name buzzle.

"Ideal Temperature: Refrigerator, 32 to 40 degrees"
Real Simple.
Uh, Real Simple. Did you give us a broad enough range there? Thanks.

"The optimal temperature is considered 35-38�F."
thehome.com
Another one with a low estimate. Let's go with the 38.

"The preferred temperature is somewhere between 35 and 38 degrees F."
Howstuffworks.com

"The optimum temperature for your refrigerator is 38-49 degrees Fahrenheit."
Allthingsfrugal.com
Now i'm all for being frugal and saving electricity, but of course the FRUGAL website would say to jack your fridge up to 49. Hey guys, the fridge isn't a sauna!