Kimchi Refrigerator Settings: Strong, Medium, Weak, Low-Salt

The High, Medium, and Low settings on a kimchi refrigerator indicate different storage temperatures. For less salty kimchi, consider Low or a supported low-salt setting. If a thin layer of ice forms, check the next lower cooling level and the condition of the container. The model’s manual is the authority for exact temperatures. (Verified values from LG Electronics’ general guidance dated May 29, 2026, for Taste-Keeping Kimchi settings: Low -1.0℃, Medium -1.5℃, High -2.0℃. · Source lge.co.kr · Checked 2026-05-29)

The setting guidance is based on LG Electronics’ May 29, 2026, guidance and other sources.

What Do High, Medium, and Low Control?

High, Medium, and Low indicate cooling levels within the same storage function. Switching to High keeps food colder than Medium. Low keeps it less cold than Medium within that function.

A dedicated kimchi refrigerator maintains temperatures suited to storing kimchi. Supported models also let you select different food storage functions for individual compartments. A function that ferments kimchi serves a different purpose from one that keeps it in its fermented state.

The name High alone does not tell you the actual temperature. High for kimchi storage and High for vegetable storage are different settings. You also cannot determine the temperature from whether the refrigerator is a chest or upright model.

Settings by Kimchi Type and Salt Content

Judge the storage level by how salty the kimchi actually is, as well as by its name. Salt content means the amount of salt in a food. Even napa cabbage kimchi can vary in salt content depending on how it is made.

LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics Service recommend Low for less salty kimchi. They suggest Medium for whole-head kimchi with ordinary salt content. For high-salt kimchi or salty aged kimchi, you can consider High.

The type of kimchi is a clue for finding a setting, not a measurement of salt content. Salt-content ranges in different manufacturers’ guidance should not be combined into one common standard. Give priority to the applicable conditions in the purchased product’s manual.

Why Does Low-Salt Kimchi Need a Separate Setting?

Less salty kimchi can freeze at the low temperatures intended for regular kimchi. Samsung Electronics Service distinguishes between storage temperatures for regular and low-salt kimchi. The low-salt setting is designed for the storage conditions of kimchi with less salt.

This function does not remove salt from kimchi. Putting regular kimchi on the low-salt setting does not turn it into a low-salt food. Using the low-salt setting for all kimchi is not appropriate either.

If the product has no dedicated function, check the manual’s guidance for storing less salty kimchi. It may recommend Low, but that recommendation cannot be applied to every product. Check support and actual setting temperatures for each model. (Verified values from Samsung Electronics Service guidance dated August 16, 2023, for regular kimchi storage temperatures: Low Cooling -0.8℃, Standard -1.3℃, High Cooling -1.8℃. Low-salt kimchi storage temperatures: Low Cooling 0.0℃, Standard -0.5℃, High Cooling -1.0℃. · Source samsungsvc.co.kr · Checked 2023-08-16)

What to Check When a Thin Layer of Ice Forms on Kimchi

If a thin layer of ice forms, check both the temperature setting and the condition of the container. Samsung Electronics Service identifies low temperature and low salt content as causes. Droplets on the lid can also fall and form a thin layer of ice.

Samsung Electronics Service’s “Storage Temperatures by Type of Kimchi” gives this advice:

Select a temperature one level lower and store the kimchi

This indicates which way to adjust the setting if you see a thin layer of ice during storage. Follow the model’s manual for the actual button操作.

1. Check whether ice has formed inside the kimchi or only on its surface.
2. Check whether the compartment is set to a kimchi storage function.
3. Compare the cooling level with the recommendations for the kimchi type and salt content.
4. Follow the manual to consider a cooling setting one level lower.
5. Wipe moisture from the container lid and check that it is sealed.
6. If the kimchi continues to freeze after adjusting the setting, consider having the manufacturer inspect the product.

Manufacturers consistently advise keeping kimchi submerged in its liquid. It is best to use a dedicated container suited to the product. LG Electronics explains that using other containers can affect the circulation of cold air.

Storing Different Kimchi in One Compartment

Kimchi containers in the same compartment share the storage setting selected for that compartment. Separating the kimchi into containers does not give each container a separate temperature. Kimchi with different salt contents may therefore have conflicting setting requirements if stored together.

For example, you might store less salty water kimchi with salty aged kimchi. Selecting High for the aged kimchi could cause the water kimchi to freeze. Selecting Low for the water kimchi could differ from the recommended conditions for the aged kimchi.

This assessment combines compartment-by-compartment control with salt-content guidance. If independently adjustable compartments are available, consider separating the kimchi by storage requirements. Also check which functions the destination compartment supports.

Common Mistakes With Storage Settings

Do not interpret the name of a storage function as a storage period or a quality guarantee. High is not a universal setting that keeps every kind of kimchi for a long time. Kimchi continues to ferment slowly even at low temperatures.

• If you take High to mean only longer storage, less salty kimchi may freeze.
• If you mistake a fermentation function for a storage function, kimchi may ferment faster than expected.
• Do not classify kimchi as high-salt solely because it is old.
• Filling a kimchi container to the top can cause liquid to overflow during fermentation.
• Following the button sequence for a different model may select a different function.

Changing the setting cannot return already fermented kimchi to its freshly made state. Storage mode manages subsequent changes. When the kimchi is ready to eat depends on its condition and storage conditions.

How to Check Kimchi Refrigerator Temperature Settings in the Manual

To find the exact settings, check both the full model number and the storage compartment. Displays and available functions can differ even within the same brand. Check the manual for your model before relying on a general customer support document.

1. Find the full model number on the product label.
2. Open the manual search menu in the manufacturer’s customer support section.
3. Select the user manual matching the model number.
4. Find the sections on temperature control, kimchi storage, low-salt settings, and fermentation.
5. Check the supported modes and setting temperatures for the compartment you will use.
6. Check the manual for how to unlock the controls and confirm a setting.

Winia’s manual menu links to the Q-Aid manual page. Do not apply temperatures from another model just because the products look similar. If the manual gives no figures, provide the model number and compartment details to the manufacturer for confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does setting it to High make kimchi ferment faster?

High for kimchi storage keeps kimchi colder than Medium. A separate Fermentation·Aging mode is used to ferment kimchi quickly. Storage levels and fermentation functions should be distinguished.

Should napa cabbage kimchi always be set to Medium?

Napa cabbage kimchi with ordinary salt content is a typical example for which Medium is recommended. Napa cabbage kimchi made with less salt cannot be treated the same way. Give priority to actual salt content and model-specific guidance over the name of the kimchi.

Is it a malfunction if kimchi keeps freezing after switching to Low?

Continued freezing alone does not establish that the product is malfunctioning. Check the container seal and whether droplets are forming. Samsung Electronics Service recommends a professional inspection if the problem remains after adjustment.

If there is no dedicated low-salt mode, should I switch to regular refrigeration?

Switching straight to regular refrigeration is not a universal solution. First check the model’s guidance for storing less salty kimchi. If the guidance is unclear, ask the manufacturer which settings apply.

Can every compartment use the same mode?

Supported functions vary by compartment and product. The Winia WDQ48JLLIDS also distinguishes which compartments support functions for different foods. Before moving a kimchi container, check the functions available in the destination compartment.