Question

Hot foods placed in a refrigerator for cooling must be covered only after they have completely cooled to what?

a) 40°F (4°C) or below
b) 80°F (27°C) or below
c) 60°F (16°C) or below
d) 100°F (38°C) or below

Answer 1

Hot foods should be covered in a refrigerator once they have cooled to 80°F (27°C) or below to prevent the growth of bacteria and ensure food safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question of at what temperature hot foods placed in a refrigerator should be covered is b) 80°F (27°C) or below. This is to prevent the rapid multiplication of microorganisms that generally occurs at temperatures between 40° and 140°F (4° and 60°C), which can make food unsafe for consumption. It is important to monitor the refrigerator temperature with a thermometer to ensure it stays at or below 40°F (4°C), which inhibits bacterial growth and helps to maintain food safety, especially during a power outage or when cooling hot foods before they are covered and stored.