Reheating — Food Safety Glossary

Rapidly heating previously cooked and cooled food back to at least 60 degrees C so it is safe to hot hold or serve.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should reheated food reach?

Food reheated for hot holding should be brought rapidly to at least 60 degrees C, checked at the core with a probe thermometer.

Why does reheating need to be rapid?

Reheating passes food back through the danger zone. Doing it quickly limits the time bacteria have to grow before the food reaches a safe temperature.

Can I reheat food in a bain-marie?

No. A bain-marie is designed to keep hot food hot, not to reheat cold food quickly. Use an oven, stove or microwave, then move the food to hot holding.

How many times can I reheat food?

Reheating is generally intended to be done once. Repeated cooling and reheating adds danger-zone time and risk, so only reheat what you expect to use.

Do I need to reheat food that will be eaten cold?

No. Reheating to 60 degrees C applies to food that will be served hot. Food served cold should simply be kept at or below 5 degrees C.

Cooling (of cooked food) Hot holding Temperature danger zone Core temperature Probe thermometer Food safety glossary Food safety guides
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