Time & Temperature (NYC)Question 80 of 240
A cook checks cooling soup and finds it is still 90°F after 2.5 hours. According to NYC time-temperature rules, the correct action is to:
a.Keep cooling slowly; it will get there eventually
b.Move it to hot holding at 90°F
c.Discard it — or, if still permitted and safe, immediately reheat to 165°F and restart proper rapid cooling — because it failed the 140°F-to-70°F-in-2-hours limit
d.Serve it immediately to avoid waste
Explanation
The soup failed the first cooling stage (it must reach 70°F within 2 hours but was 90°F at 2.5 hours), so it must be discarded, or reheated to 165°F and re-cooled rapidly only if permitted and safe. Continuing to cool slowly or serving it lets bacteria and toxins reach dangerous levels. Recognizing a cooling failure and acting is a supervisor responsibility.
Law Reference: NYC Health Code Article 81Practice all 240 questions free — no signup required.
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