Free fridge temperature record sheet
A printable monthly log for UK commercial kitchens. Record opening and closing temperatures for every day of the month, then file it with your food safety records.
Download the free template- No sign-up or email
- A4 PDF or image
- Prints well in black and white
What's on the record sheet
Everything an environmental health officer expects to see in a fridge temperature log, on one A4 page. Use one sheet per fridge, per month.
The target temperature and legal maximum are printed at the top, so everyone filling it in knows what a good reading looks like without having to ask.
- Business and fridgeYour business name, which fridge or chiller the sheet is for, and the month and year.
- Opening checkTime, temperature in °C and the initials of the person who checked, for each day 1–31.
- Closing checkThe same again at the end of the day, so you catch a fridge that warms up during service.
- Action takenA comments column to record what you did if a reading was above 5°C.
- Manager sign-offA signature and date line to confirm the month's records have been reviewed.
How to use your fridge temperature log
Print and label it
Print one sheet for each fridge. Fill in your business name, the fridge name and the month.
Put it by the fridge
Stick it to the door or keep it on a clipboard nearby, with a pen, so checks are quick.
Check twice a day
Read the temperature at opening and again at closing. Write the time, the reading and your initials.
Act on warm readings
If it's above 5°C, check again, fix the cause and note what you did in the comments column.
Sign off and file it
At the end of the month a manager reviews and signs the sheet. Keep it with your food safety records.
UK fridge temperature rules
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, chilled food must be kept at 8°C or below by law. In Scotland this is recommended rather than set out as a specific limit.
The Food Standards Agency recommends setting fridges and chilled display equipment to 5°C or below. That gap between 5°C and 8°C gives you a safety margin when doors are opened during a busy service or a delivery is being put away.
The FSA also recommends checking fridge temperatures at least once a day, starting with your opening checks. Recording a second reading at closing makes it much easier to spot a fridge that struggles as the day goes on.
Guidance last checked September 2026. Sources: GOV.UK food hygiene for businesses and the FSA's Safer Food, Better Business.
- 63°C or aboveHot holding: hot food kept for service
- 8°CLegal maximum for chilled food (England, Wales, NI)
- 5°C or belowRecommended fridge setting
- −18°C or colderGood practice for frozen food
If a fridge reads above 8°C
- Check again with a clean probe thermometer in the food itself, not just the air.
- Move food into another fridge that's working properly.
- Check the door seal, the settings and whether the fridge is overloaded.
- Decide whether any food needs to be thrown away, and record what you did.
- Call an engineer if the temperature doesn't come back down.
Download your free fridge temperature record sheet
Fridge temperature records: common questions
What temperature should a commercial fridge be in the UK?
Set commercial fridges to 5°C or below. Chilled food must be kept at 8°C or below by law in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and this is recommended in Scotland. Setting the fridge at 5°C gives you a safety margin if the temperature rises.
Do I have to record fridge temperatures?
UK food businesses must have food safety procedures based on HACCP principles and keep records that show those procedures are working. Temperature records are the usual way to show chilled food is being kept cold enough, and environmental health officers will normally ask to see them during an inspection.
How often should I check my fridge temperature?
The Food Standards Agency recommends checking fridges and chilled display equipment at least once a day, starting with your opening checks. Many kitchens check at opening and again at closing, which is what this record sheet is set up for.
How long should I keep fridge temperature records?
There is no single fixed period in UK law. Keep completed sheets long enough to show an inspector a clear history of your checks. Many businesses keep them for at least 12 months, and your local authority can advise on what they expect.
Can I use this sheet with Safer Food, Better Business?
Yes. The sheet works alongside a Safer Food, Better Business pack or any other food safety management system as a dedicated record of your fridge temperature checks.
What should I do if my fridge is above 8°C?
Check the reading again with a clean probe thermometer in the food itself. If the fridge is still too warm, move food to another working fridge, check the door seal and settings, and decide whether any food needs to be thrown away. Record what you did in the comments column and arrange a repair if the problem continues.
Is the fridge temperature record sheet really free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no email needed. Download the PDF or image, print as many copies as you need, and share it with other kitchens.