THE DANGER ZONE
Food Temperature Matters!
Food poisoning can be extremely serious, even fatal.
And with social media, even a mild case can be deadly to a restaurant’s reputation.
What is the Danger Zone?
The “Danger Zone” temperature range is between 5°C and 60°C (40°F and 140°F). In this range, the growth of food poisoning bacteria is rapid.
Below 5°C bacteria growth is slowed. In frozen food, growth is almost completely stopped. Cooking food above 60°, will kill most bacteria BUT it will not remove the toxins that may have been introduced.
What foods are at risk?
Foods that can contain food poisoning bacteria are classed as “Potentially Hazardous Foods”.
They include meat, dairy, seafood, processed fruits and vegetables (including salads), cooked rice and pasta, foods containing eggs, nuts and other protein rich foods, and items that contain these foods – e.g. sandwiches.
Cooling food
Cooked food that is to be stored must be cooled rapidly or it risks bacterial growth.
The temperature must drop:
– from 60°C to below 20°C within 2 hours
– from 20°C to below 5°C within 4 hours.
If in doubt, throw it out
If you are storing, preparing, displaying or transporting food, you must be able to prove that it has not been exposed to the danger zone for too long.
This applies to food that you are receiving from another supplier. Make sure they can also show that the food has been stored and transported correctly. Ask about their cold chain procedures and ask to see copies of their logs.
If you suspect that food may have been compromised, don’t take the chance with your customers’ health or your reputation – throw it out.
Are you sick of wasting time monitoring temperature?
In your kitchen, would you rather be focusing on the customer or spending time monitoring refrigerators and freezer temperatures? Temperature loggers allow you to automatically and consistently record temperatures – saving you time and money.
Take a look at our range of Temperature Loggers.
If you would like advice on how to choose a logging system for your business, call 1300 30 33 34 now.
