A cook opens a factory-sealed can of commercially processed nacho cheese sauce and wants to put it in the hot-holding well. To what minimum temperature must it be heated first?
a.41°F, because an opened can of commercially processed cheese sauce is a ready-to-eat food that is held cold and date-marked
b.It may go straight into the well with no heating at all, because the commercial canning process already made the sauce safe to eat right out of the can
c.165°F for 15 seconds, which is the standard the Food Code sets for food that was cooked, cooled, and is now being reheated inside the operation itself
d.135°F, because commercially processed ready-to-eat food heated for hot holding for the first time only needs to reach the hot-holding temperature
Explanation
Commercially processed, ready-to-eat food such as canned cheese sauce that is being heated for hot holding for the first time must reach at least 135°F. The 165°F standard applies to food that was cooked and cooled in the operation itself, so it is the wrong rule here. Cheese sauce is a TCS food once opened, so it cannot be parked in a hot well unheated or simply held cold when the plan is to serve it hot.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §3-403.11Practice all 500 questions free — no signup required.
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