In order to keep foods fresh, TCS foods must be held at a certain internal temperature. Cold TCS foods must be stored at 41 degrees Fahrenheit (F), while hot TCS foods must be kept at 135 degrees Fahrenheit. To store TCS foods, place them in a cooler. The temperature should be maintained between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that too much food will block air flow in a cooler, so be sure not to overload it.
TCS foods
The safest way to store TCS foods is to keep them at temperatures of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less. This temperature should not be exceeded. Foods thawing under running water must be monitored to ensure that the temperature does not exceed 41 degrees F for more than 4 hours. Foods that must be stored at this temperature include milk, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, baked potatoes, and many other products.
Bacteria will start to multiply very quickly when temperatures exceed forty degrees. Once the temperature rises above this point, the food will have to be cooked or consumed within two hours. In the meantime, the temperature danger zone is from 41 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The longer the food remains in this danger zone, the greater the chance of bacterial growth. Hence, TCS foods should be stored at a temperature of 41 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Refrigerated TCS foods
When storing TCS food, time and temperature are critical. When storing food, the received-on date and use-by date must be clear. Food that is transported off-site or packaged for self-service should be properly labeled. Refrigeration is crucial to the safety of food. Cold TCS foods must be stored at 41degF or lower, while frozen TCS foods should be stored at a temperature of 0degF.
Food that is too warm or too cold is prone to bacterial growth. The temperature danger zone is the range between 41 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Food that is allowed to sit in this temperature zone for more than four hours must be thrown away. To reduce the risk of pathogens growing, store TCS foods at a temperature of 41 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ready-to-eat TCS foods
Refrigeration is a vital part of preserving the quality of Ready-to-Eat TCS foods. These foods are made with a temperature-controlled system and must be kept out of the danger zone of temperatures of 40-140degF (5-60degC). Moreover, TCS foods must be stored at a temperature of 41-55degC, as this will slow the growth of microorganisms in the food.
TCS foods must be labeled with their common names. They also must be marked with the date of sale, when they should be eaten or thrown away, and the number of days in which they should be stored. Foods containing TCS must be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 41-55degF or 5degC. The temperature should not be above 41 deg F.
Frozen TCS foods
The temperature of Frozen TCS foods must be kept at a constant temperature of 41 degrees F or below. In the same way, hot TCS foods must be stored at a temperature of at least 135 degrees F. When storing Frozen TCS foods, they must be frozen solid when they are delivered. Employees should take the temperatures of the delivered foods, and refuse any that do not meet these standards.
Most foodborne illness occurs when TCS foods are abused. For safety purposes, Frozen TCS foods must be stored at a temperature between 41 and 135 degrees F. This temperature range is known as the danger zone, and pathogens thrive there. This is a critical point of safety because the longer a food stays in this range, the greater the chances for pathogen growth.
Raw meat and poultry
The safest place to store perishable food is at a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or less, unless otherwise indicated. This is also true for TCS foods. Food that is stored outside of this range can quickly become contaminated, leading to the development of foodborne illness. It is also vital to refrigerate opened tins or metal containers when transferring them to other storage areas.
Raw meat and poultry must be properly wrapped and refrigerated. Meat and poultry must be stored in their own containers and not in the refrigerator with other items. Meats, poultry, and fish must be stored at a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Meat should be refrigerated for at least three days and stored at a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Freshly purchased meat should be stored in plastic containers or trays in the coldest part of the fridge. Fresh seafood and poultry should be kept in ice, and frozen foods should be stored at a temperature of -1 to 2 degrees Celsius. If they are not packaged, they should be wrapped tightly and stored in a clean, sanitized refrigerator. Lastly, meat should not be stored above other foods or over the top.