This stainless steel kitchen gadget definitely took its toll on your wallet. But the thing is that the settings of the factory are nothing more than recommendations and most refrigerators are much hotter than you think they are. And as a result you lose both food and money but you can change the situation using a very little and cheap dial thermometer.

I purchased the Taylor Classic Series thermometer which cost me around six dollars. The gadget is small, analog and does not require any batteries. Wi-Fi connected gadgets are unnecessary to find out whether your lettuce froze in your refrigerator. Sometimes it happens that the simplest technologies do the job better than others.

Here comes the secret. Put the thermometer in the middle of the middle shelf in your refrigerator. Do not put it into the door because it is a tropical paradise for the bacteria. Let the thermometer work for some time and check whether the needle of the thermometer is in the middle between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

If the dial of the thermometer shows more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit then the dangerous zone appears where the bacteria begin their life. Set the temperature on your refrigerator dial making it colder but do not overdo because otherwise the food may freeze like a stone. So this little change will help you to keep your valuable vegetables and fruits fresh but unfrozen.

Now you know how to protect yourself from the tragedy of wasting your expensive pack of chicken breasts. Also you will notice that your milk will live longer and this seems to be a magic. No magic, only science works like that. Six dollars are worth it as an insurance for your groceries.

Do not forget about the temperature in the freezer part of your refrigerator because it should be close to zero degrees to preserve the frozen pizza intact. If the temperature is too high you may receive the freezer burn and if it is too low you will have to use a jackhammer to get the ice cream out of the box.

It may seem ridiculous to put the inexpensive and simple plastic dial next to your expensive appliance. Believe me, your bank account will thank you for that because you will save a lot of money not losing your groceries. Moreover, you will have another reason to have a good night sleep.