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Temperature danger zone

Food contamination

Overview

An important part of food safety is food temperature and storage.

Correct temperatures

Bacteria can grow on food that isn’t kept at the correct temperature.

  • Keep hot food HOT at 60 °C or hotter.
  • Keep cold food COLD at or below 5 °C.
  • Keep frozen food FROZEN at or below -15 °C. 

Temperature danger zone

The ideal temperatures for bacteria to multiply is between 5 °C and 60 °C.

This is called the ‘temperature danger zone’. Food should be kept between these temperatures for as little time as possible.

Bacteria multiply quickly especially in high risk food.

Answer this practice question...

The correct temperature to store high risk food is:

Incorrect! Why is this?

Correct! Why is this?

You have the right to reject the delivery if you find the food unsafe

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