Temperature Savvy

by Leslie Aronson — July 10, 2008

Ever wonder what the ideal temperature is for serving wine? Achieving optimal productivity at work? Painting your house? The July edition of Real Simple answers those exact questions and then-some:

• Serving wine: White wine at 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, red wine at 60 to 65 degrees
• Filling a vase of cut flowers: Water temperature between 90 and 100 degrees
• Painting the inside of your house: 77 degrees
• Setting curls in your hair: Fine hair at 320 degrees, thick hair at 430 degrees
• Being productive at work: 72 to 78 degrees
• Taking a bath: Water temperature between 96 and 104 degrees
• Planting bulbs: Tender bulbs need a minimum soil temperature of 60 degrees, hardy bulbs require a maximum of 50 degrees
• Setting your refrigerator and freezer: The fridge should be between 32 and 40 degrees, the freezer at 0 degrees
• Filling a fishbowl: Water should be room temperature, between 65 and 75 degrees
• Brewing green tea: Water temperature of 170 degrees (this is cooler than most black teas)
• Making an omelet: An internal temperature of 160 degrees
• Going to sleep: Around 68 degrees