Bifalgorithm post · Human Nutrition · Efforts on the Consumer Level: What You Can Do

Cooking Serving

Cooking Serving (Human Nutrition · Efforts on the Consumer Level: What You Can Do) — "Cooked food is safe to eat only after it has been heated to an internal t…

Ideas in this flowchart

  • Food safety depends on controlling cooking, holding, serving, and storage temperatures.
  • Cooked food is safe only after its internal temperature is high enough to kill bacteria.
  • Color and texture alone cannot reliably show whether food is cooked.
  • Use a food thermometer to verify the internal temperature.
  • The minimum safe cooking temperature depends on the type of food.
  • Cook seafood to 145°F.
  • Cook beef, lamb, and pork to 160°F.
  • Cook ground chicken, turkey, and poultry breasts to 165°F.
  • Cook whole poultry and poultry thighs to 180°F.
  • When microwaving, rotate the dish and stir several times for even cooking.
  • Bacterial growth becomes more likely as cooked food cools.
  • Keep hot food above 140°F with a chafing dish, warming tray, or slow cooker.
  • Keep cold foods at 40°F or lower.
  • Keep serving food covered to block mold spores in the air.
  • Use plastic wrap for moist foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads.
  • Do not leave leftovers at room temperature for more than two hours.
  • Refrigerate leftovers as promptly as possible.
  • Date leftovers and use them within three to five refrigerated days.
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Cooking Serving

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Human Nutrition

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"Cooked food is safe to eat only after it has been heated to an internal temperature that is high enough to kill bacteria. You cannot judge the state of “cooked” by color and texture alone. Instead, use a food thermometer to be sure. The appropriate minimum cooking temperature varies depending on the type of food. Seafood should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F, beef, lamb, and pork to 160°F, ground chicken and turkey to 165°F, poultry breasts to 165°F, and whole poultry and thighs to 180°F. When microwaving, rotate the dish and stir contents several times to ensure even cooking. After food has been cooked, the possibility of bacterial growth increases as the temperature drops. So, food should be kept above the safe temperature of 140°F, using a heat source such as a chafing dish, warming tray, or slow cooker. Cold foods should be kept at 40°F or lower. When serving food, keep it covered to block exposure to any mold spores hanging in the air. Use plastic wrap to cover foods that you want to remain moist, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and salads. After a meal, do not keep leftovers at room temperature for more than two hours. They should be refrigerated as promptly as possible. It is also helpful to date leftovers, so they can be used within a safe time, which is generally three to five days when stored in a refrigerator."

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