In the past, restaurants had four hours, straight through, to cool food to 41°F or lower. Now the FDA recommends cooling food in two stages -- from 135°F to 70°F in two hours then from 70°F to 41°F or lower in an additional four hours for a total cooling time of six hours
Explanation:
the two-stage cooling method is a Food Code counselled procedure for cooling food in restaurants and foodservice institutions. within the two-stage cooling methodology, food is cooled from 140° F (60° C) to 70° F (21° C) among 2 hours and to 41° F (5° C) or lower among four hours. Use of this cooling methodology ensures that food is cooled quickly and safely and has no harmful effects.
