The Short Answer
A fridge freezes food either because it is told to (temperature set too low, food sitting in the cold-air stream) or because a component that regulates cold has failed — most often the thermistor that reads temperature or the damper that meters cold air in from the freezer. The first two cost nothing to rule out; the rest are quick professional repairs, not reasons to shop for a new refrigerator.
Causes, From Free to Professional
| Cause | Telltale Sign | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature set too low | Everything slightly frosty, worst after a settings change | Free — set fresh food to 3–4°C |
| Food parked in the cold-air path | Only items on one shelf or against the back wall freeze | Free — restack away from the vents |
| Damper stuck open | Fridge steadily colder than its setting, freezer normal | Professional — damper replacement |
| Faulty thermistor (sensor) | Temperature swings; control never seems to match reality | Professional — inexpensive sensor swap |
| Worn door gasket | Compressor runs long; icing near the seal edges | Professional — gasket replacement |
| Control board fault | Freezing continues after sensor and damper test fine | Professional — board diagnosis first, never guessed |
Rule Out the Two-Minute Causes First
Fresh food keeps best at 3–4°C. Dial displays drift and knobs get bumped, so confirm the actual setting rather than trusting memory. Then look at where the frozen items were sitting: the vents that deliver freezer air usually sit high on the back wall, and lettuce parked directly in that stream will freeze in an otherwise healthy refrigerator. If only back-wall or top-shelf items freeze, rearranging solves it — no technician required.
When the Fridge Is Genuinely Misreading Temperature
If the whole compartment runs cold no matter the setting, the fridge is misinformed. A thermistor reporting warmer-than-actual temperatures makes the control call for cold endlessly; a damper stuck open lets freezer air flood in around the clock. Both parts are small, both diagnoses take a technician minutes with a meter, and both beat throwing out frozen produce week after week. The counterintuitive one is a worn door gasket: leaking warm air forces long compressor runs, and the areas nearest the cold source over-freeze while the door shelves run warm.
The Cost of Waiting
A fridge that over-freezes is working overtime — burning electricity and compressor life to hold a temperature nobody asked for. If a settings check and a restack have not stopped the frost, have a fridge repair technician in Sherwood Park test the sensor and damper before the grocery losses out-spend the repair.