How long can you hold hot food?

Answer 1

The key is in how long the food has been kept in the "danger zone" between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Combined, the total time that food is allowed to be in this zone is 4 hours. This includes prep, heating, cooling, and reheating times. After that, how long you hold it hot has more to do with the quality of the food degrading (turning to mush) and less to do with safety.

Answer 2

minimum hold temp is 135 degrees and 160 max....

r. Gomez, pueblo Colorado

In Kansas the minimum temperature is 140F and there is no maximum, though it would be a quality issue because the food will get over-done alot faster.

Answer 3

Food should be heated to 160 DEG F before being placed in a steam table. The food must then be kept above 140 DEG F to be considered safe to eat. The food keeps cooking at these temperatures. The quality of the food will degrade with prolonged exposure to these temperatures. After about 4 hours the food will not appear very appetizing.

Answer 4

Legally 80 minutes......then the temperature of the food will begin to drop classing it as unfit for human consumption.

Answer 5

Food should be kept out of the danger zone. Hot foods should be kept at 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, to keep food hot throughout, you should stir the food periodically.

Answer 6

You can hold fried chicken, on a steam table, covered, above 140 f for several hours.

Answer 7

Four hours