Food Safety - Proper Cooking & Reheating Temperatures | SCDHEC (2024)

FAQs

Food Safety - Proper Cooking & Reheating Temperatures | SCDHEC? ›

*All parts of the food must reach a temperature of at least 165°F for 15 seconds. Reheating must be done rapidly, within 2 hours after being removed from refrigeration. Foods reheated in a microwave oven must be reheated so that all parts of the food reach a temperature of at least 165°F.

A food thermometer can be used to check food is cooked thoroughly, food should be 75°C or above in the thickest part. Some foods change colour when they are cooked so you can check this too. Always check your food is steaming hot in the middle.

Foods that have been cooked and cooled should be reheated to at least 165 °F. Heat cooked, commercially vacuum-sealed, ready-to-eat foods, such as hams and roasts, to 140 °F. Reheat leftovers thoroughly to at least 165 °F.

If you reheat previously cooked and cooled potentially hazardous food, you must reheat it rapidly to 60°C or hotter. Ideally, you should aim to reheat food to 60°C within a maximum of two hours to minimise the amount of time that food is at temperatures that favour the growth of bacteria or formation of toxins.

When reheating leftovers, be sure they reach 165° F as measured with a food thermometer. Reheat sauces, soups and gravies by bringing them to a rolling boil. Cover leftovers to reheat. This retains moisture and ensures that food will heat all the way through.

Remember the 2-Hour Rule: Discard any perishables left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, unless you're keeping it hot or cold. If the buffet is held in a place where the temperature is above 90 °F, the safe holding time is reduced to 1 hour. Watch the clock with leftovers, too!

Previously cooked and cooled Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods that will be HOT HELD must be reheated as follows: *All parts of the food must reach a temperature of at least 165°F for 15 seconds. Reheating must be done rapidly, within 2 hours after being removed from refrigeration.

Reheat food until steaming hot (at least 75°C) in the coolest part (if a liquid) or the middle (if solid) and keep it above 60°C until it is used. Reheated food that is held between 5°C and 60°C, can be reheated again to above 75°C and served hot (above 60°C) within 4 hours, otherwise it must be thrown out.

The proper way to reheat food? Food that will be hot-held must be reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for 15 seconds within two hours.

Final answer: The maximum safe time for reheating food is 2 hours. This prevents food from sitting in the 'Danger Zone', where bacteria multiply rapidly, for too long. A thorough reheating should reach an internal food temperature of 165°F.

What is the policy for reheating food? ›

Reheating means cooking again, not just warming up. Always reheat food until it is piping hot all the way through i.e. above 75°C for at least 30 seconds. Food should only be reheated once.

The State Sanitary Code now requires that the entire mass of all cooked and refrigerated potentially hazardous food which is to be reheated must be reheated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit or above within two hours, and held above 140 degrees Fahrenheit until served.

Reheating leftovers

Reheat leftovers to a safe internal temperature of 74ºC (165ºF). Use a digital food thermometer to check the temperature. Bring gravies, soups and sauces to a full, rolling boil and stir during the process. Discard uneaten leftovers after they have been reheated.

Once the food is cooked or reheated, it should be held hot, at or above 140 °F(60 °C). Food may be held in oven or on the serving line in heated chafing dishes, or on preheated steam tables, warming trays, and/or slow cookers.