Safe Food Handling Information

Safe Food Handling

Safe Food Holding Temperatures

View Cold Food Storage Limits(PDF, 37KB)

When is it safe to save food, and when should it be thrown out? Check out our handy refrigerated foods guide(PDF, 84KB) 

Refrigerated Foods Holding Guide

Dairy

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt Discard
Butter, Margarine Safe
Baby formula, opened Discard

Eggs

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products Discard
Custards and puddings Discard

Cheese

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Soft Cheeses: blue (bleu or imported), brie, camembert, colby, cottage, cream, edam, Monterey Jack, mozzarella, muenster, neufchatel, ricotta, roquefort Discard
Hard Cheeses: cheddar, parmesan, provolone, romano, swiss Safe
Processed cheeses: American Safe
Shredded cheeses Discard
Low-fat cheeses Discard
Commercial Grated Hard Cheese purchased in a can or jar (Parmesan, Romano or combination) Safe

Fruits

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Fruit juices, opened Safe
Canned fruits, opened Safe
Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates Safe
Fresh cut-up fruits Discard
Pastries, cream filled Discard
Pies - custard, cheese filled or chiffons Discard
Pies, fruit Safe

Vegetables

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Fresh mushrooms, herbs and spices Safe
Vegetables, raw Safe
Vegetables, cooked Discard
Vegetable juice, Opened Discard
Baked potatoes Discard
Commercial garlic in oil Discard
Potato Salad Discard

Casseroles, Soups, Stews, Meat, Poultry, Seafood

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Fresh or leftover meat, poultry, fish or seafood Discard
Thawing meat or poultry Discard
Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, egg salad Discard
Gravy, stuffing Discard
Lunch meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef Discard
Pizza - any topping Discard
Canned meats (Labeled "Refrigerate after opening") Discard
Canned hams labeled "Keep Refrigerated" Discard

Bread, Cakes, Cookies, Pasta

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads Safe
Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough Discard
Cooked pasta, spaghetti Discard
Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinegar base Discard
Fresh pasta Discard
Cheese cake Discard
Breakfast foods - waffles, pancakes, bagels Safe

Sauces, Spreads, Jams

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Peanut butter Safe
Jelly, relish, taco and barbecue sauce, mustard, catsup, olives Safe
White wine Worcestershire sauce Discard
Fish Sauce or Oyster sauce Discard
Hoisin sauce Discard
Opened vinegar-based dressings Safe
Opened creamy-based Dressings Discard

Other

Food Item Held above 40°F for over 2 hours
Deli-prepared foods - Salads, coleslaw, cooked meats or poultry, luncheon meats Discard
Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish Discard if above 40°F for over 8 hours

Frozen Food Holding Guide

Food Item Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours
Meat, Poultry, Seafood Refreeze Discard
Beef, veal, lamb, pork and ground meats Refreeze Discard
Poultry and ground poultry Refreeze Discard
Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings) Refreeze Discard
Casseroles, stews, soups Refreeze Discard
Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products Refreeze Discard

Dairy

Food Item Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours
Milk Refreeze. May lose some texture Discard
Eggs (out of the shell) and egg products Discard (poor quality) Discard
Ice cream, frozen yogurt Refreeze. May lose some texture Discard
Cheeses (soft and semi-soft) Refreeze Discard
Hard Cheeses Refreeze Refreeze
Shredded cheeses Refreeze Discard
Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses Refreeze Discard
Cheesecake Refreeze Discard

Fruits

Food Item Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours
Juices Refreeze Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours
Home or commercially packaged or blanched fruit Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor loss Discard after held above 40°F for 6 hours

Breads, Pastries

Food Item Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours
Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) Refreeze Refreeze
Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling Refreeze Discard
Pie Crusts Refreeze Refreeze
Commercial and homemade bread dough Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur Refreeze. Considerable quality loss

Other

Food Item Has ice crystals and not above 40°F for over two hours Thawed. Above 40°F for over two hours
Casseroles – pasta, rice-based Refreeze Discard
Flour, cornmeal, nuts Refreeze Refreeze
Breakfast items – waffles, pancakes, bagels Refreeze Refreeze
Frozen meal, entrée, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat Pie) Refreeze Discard

Information for Consumers

Dining Out

Questions about the raw/undercooked statements seen on restaurant menus? Find out more about them on the Consumer Advisories for Raw/Undercooked Foods FAQ(PDF, 103KB).

For more information about the Food Safety inspection program for local restaurants, visit the Food Safety page.

To see local consumer alerts and closures, please visit the Alerts and Closures webpage.

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