People only just realizing what the numbers on the fridge dial really mean

Fridge users are having a collective lightbulb moment as they discover the true meaning behind those mysterious dial numbers – and it's not what you think. For years, we've been stocking our fridges with essentials like milk, meat, and veggies, blissfully unaware that we might be doing it all wrong.

That little white dial inside your fridge , often found near the door hinge, isn't just a quirky decoration; it's the key to setting your fridge's temperature. But here's the kicker: those numbers don't represent degrees Celsius as many have assumed.

Reddit users have cracked the code, revealing that the numbers actually indicate the strength of the fridge's cooling function. A higher number means a chillier fridge, not the other way around, reports the Express .

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One Redditor clarified: "Higher is colder... the numbers on the fridge's temperature dial indicate refrigerant power. The higher the number goes the colder the fridge will maintain. Setting it to 5 will make your fridge the coldest."

This revelation could explain why some people's food spoils faster than expected or why their fridge becomes an unintended ice cave. It turns out, setting '1' thinking it's the coldest because it's 1°C could be a chilly mistake with most modern models

Others have pointed out that just to be awkward, there are a few rogue fridge models that do in fact use degrees C. But there's a handy trick to determine how yours works.

Here is how you can find out: "Turn the dial in any direction until the compressor (the black motor at the back) either turns on or off."

"If the compressor is on already (usually you hear a humming noise) and you turn it towards a higher number and it turns off (you'll hear a click and a little rattle) you're making it hotter. (It goes off because its already too cold)."

"If you hear it come on then you're making it cooler. It sounds complicated but basically if the compressor comes on your making it cooler and if goes off, warmer. Turn and see which way does what! ".