How long should soup cool before refrigerating?

The food danger zone is that place between 40 and 140 °F where pathogens grow most quickly. It can take a long time to get through the danger zone when cooling a large batch of chili, soup or stew. The soup must cool from 140 to 70 °F in 2 hours and from 70 to 40 °F in no more than 4 hours.
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Is it OK to put warm soup in the fridge?

A large pot or container of food that is hot should not be placed in the refrigerator or freezer. The hot food can raise the temperature inside the refrigerator/freezer which can be a risk for food already in the appliance.
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Are you supposed to let soup cool before refrigerating?

Myth: Hot food will spoil if refrigerated before cooling to room temperature. Facts: Just the opposite. Give your fridge some credit. It's designed to chill food and keep it cold.
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Is it OK to let soup cool overnight?

According the expert McGee consulted, soup or stock left to cool overnight, then reboiled for 10 minutes and properly refrigerated in the morning is still safe to eat because it isn't cool long enough for the bacteria to germinate and reproduce up to dangerous levels.
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How long should soup cool before eating?

The soup must cool from 140 degrees F to 70 degrees F in two hours and from 70 degrees F to 40 degrees F in no more than four hours, this is called the two-stage cooling method.
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Are You Supposed To Let Food Cool Before Refrigerating?



What is the correct cooling procedure for hot soup?

The methods of cooling are: Stir soups, sauces, gravies and chilies while the container is in an ice water bath. The ice water depth should be equal to or greater than the food depth. Transfer hot foods to shallow pans with a product depth of four inches or less and refrigerate.
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How do you cool down soup quickly?

Shallow metal pans: Another method of cooling liquids involves increasing the surface area and reducing the mass of the soup. You can pour the hot liquid into several full-sized, 2-inch deep, metal steam-table pans and place them in an area where they are least likely to encounter cross contamination.
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How do you store soup after cooking?

If you're using a storage container, first ladle the desired amount of soup into the container. Then, place a layer of Glad® Press'n Seal® directly on top of the soup to create an airtight barrier. Finally, put the lid on the container and make sure it's tightly sealed before storing it in your fridge.
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Can you leave broth out overnight?

No matter how tempted you may be or how many times you've dodged the bullet, you can't save broth that sat at room temperature for more than two hours. Remember: Broth is cheap, and toxins are vicious.
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What is the 2 4 hour cooling rule?

Food held between 5oC and 60oC for less than 2 hours can be used, sold or put back in the refrigerator to use later. Food held between 5oC and 60oC for 2-4 hours can still be used or sold, but can't be put back in the fridge. Food held between 5oC and 60oC for 4 hours or more must be thrown away.
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What are the 3 acceptable methods for cooling food?

Approved and efficient ways to cool food include:
  • Ice-water bath and frequently stirring the food. ...
  • Ice paddles (plastic container filled with water and frozen) used to stir food in an ice-water bath.
  • Adding ice as an ingredient (if water is an ingredient).
  • Blast or tumble chiller.
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Why should you cool hot food quickly?

Harmful bacteria can grow in food that is not chilled down as quickly as possible. SAFETY POINT WHY? If you have cooked food that you will not serve immediately, chill it down as quickly as possible and then put it in the fridge. Harmful bacteria can grow in food that is left to chill slowly.
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Can you put hot food straight in the fridge?

Generally, it's best to put hot food and leftovers into the fridge within two hours of being cooked. After this time, bacteria can start to grow and transform your delicious meal into a bout of food poisoning waiting to happen.
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What are the guidelines for safely cooling food after cooking?

The FDA recommends that food be cooled from 135°F to 41°F (57°C to 5°C) in six hours or less. This time limit helps prevent dangerous bacteria growth. But the guidelines don't end there. The FDA Food Code has one additional rule: Food must be cooled from 135°F to 70°F (57°C to 21°C) in two hours or less.
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What temperature should food be cooled to before refrigeration?

As a general rule: “Food should be cooled to 70 degrees within two hours, then cooled to 41 degrees or lower within four hours to prevent bacterial growth,” says Schuering. And if you're concerned about the waiting time, these tips will help cool food a bit faster.
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How fast does food have to cool within 6 hours?

TCS food must be cooled from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and completely cooled to 41°F or below within 6 hours.
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When cooling food what is the maximum time?

According to FDA Food Code §3-501.14 Cooling, the time/temperature control for the safety of food: Food must be cooled from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then. Food must be cooled to 41°F or lower within the next 4 hours – for a maximum cooling time of 6 hours.
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How should ready to eat food be stored after it is cooled?

Ready-to-eat foods are stored at the top of the fridge, away from raw foods so that harmful bacteria cannot transfer from the raw food to the cooked food.
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How long can food sit out after cooking?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food and safety basics states cooked food can be left at room temperature up to two hours. If the temperature outside (or inside your house) is 90°F or above, you should cut that time in half.
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Is it safe to eat food left out for 4 hours?

The FDA recommends that all perishables left at room temperature for more than two hours be discarded. Bacteria grow most rapidly between 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), doubling in amount every 20 minutes.
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How long can leftovers sit out?

The USDA says food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. At room temperature, bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick. Reheating something that has been sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours won't be safe from bacteria.
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Is it OK to eat leftovers left out overnight?

Stick to the two-hour rule: Perishable foods can be left out at room temperature for two hours, then they must be refrigerated. Hot foods should stay hot, above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and cold foods cold, below 40 degrees.
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Can you eat pizza that's been left out all night?

The USDA recommends throwing away any perishable food (including leftover pizza) that has stayed more than 2 hours under room temperature. Eating pizza that was left out overnight can cause foodborne diseases. The foodborne bacteria grow and thrive under temperatures between 40˚F and 140˚ F.
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Can you eat covered food left out overnight?

If a perishable food (such as meat or poultry) has been left out at room temperature overnight (more than two hours) it may not be safe. Discard it, even though it may look and smell good. Never taste a food to see if it is spoiled. Use a food thermometer to verify temperatures.
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Is it safe to eat Taco Bell left out overnight?

Typically speaking, if you get the fast food into the fridge within an hour or so after purchasing it, it should be safe for those two or three days. However, the longer you have left the food out, the faster you are going to notice its deterioration.
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