Understanding the Temperature Danger Zone in Food – Don’t Ignore It!

2 days ago

The ideal storage temperature plays an important role in maintaining the quality and safety of food. To ensure that food and beverages remain safe for consumption, it’s crucial to understand and avoid the temperature danger zone, especially for raw foods.

So, what exactly is the temperature danger zone, and at what temperature range is food considered to be in this hazardous zone? To better understand the temperature danger zone and some important tips for storing food, read this article to the end!

Understanding the Temperature Danger Zone

The temperature danger zone is the range of temperatures in which various types of microorganisms can grow and contaminate food, making it potentially hazardous. These microorganisms include Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

If consumed by humans, food that has been contaminated by bacteria due to being in the temperature danger zone can cause various symptoms, such as abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and even fever. Therefore, food should not be stored within this temperature range.

What Is the Temperature Range of the Danger Zone?

The temperature danger zone ranges from 4°C to 60°C. Within this range, bacteria can double in number in just 20 minutes. In other words, this is considered a hazardous temperature range and is commonly referred to as the temperature danger zone.

If food and beverages remain in the danger zone for too long, they can become contaminated by various types of bacteria. These bacteria can come from multiple sources, such as hands, kitchen utensils, cloths, tables, or even dirty surrounding air.

On the other hand, if food and beverages are stored at the proper temperature range, microorganisms will have difficulty growing and multiplying. As a result, the safety and quality of the food are better maintained, reducing the risk of food poisoning.

It’s important to note that each type of food has its own optimal storage temperature. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the characteristics of each food and beverage, their specific storage requirements, and the correct way to store them.

Tips to Keep Food Safe from the Temperature Danger Zone

Food and beverages kept out of the temperature danger zone are less likely to be contaminated by microorganisms. To prevent the risk of food poisoning and other health issues, you can follow these important tips:

After shopping, store raw food in the refrigerator within:

2 hours after purchase.
1 hour if the temperature is above 32°C (90°F).

Place food in the appropriate sections of the refrigerator based on temperature:

Chiller (1–4°C / 34–39°F): vegetables and fruits.
Freezer (below -18°C / 0°F): meat and fish.

Cook food to a minimum temperature of 162°C (324°F) to kill bacteria
For cooked food:

Do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Store it in a closed container in the refrigerator

When consuming leftovers:

Reheat to at least 73°C (163°F) and ensure the food is steaming hot.

Avoid reheating:

Sour vegetable soups (sayur asem), spinach, and similar dishes.
Discard if left at room temperature for more than 5 hours.

Proper Food Storage Temperatures

To avoid being in the temperature danger zone and contamination, food should be stored at the proper temperature. This is because the ideal storage temperature for vegetables is certainly different from that of meats. To make it easier, you can use the following table as a reference.

Jenis Makanan	Suhu Penyimpanan yang Tepat
Vegetables and Fruits	The ideal storage temperature for vegetables is 1–4°C.
Eggs, Milk, and Dairy Products	Store at 1–4°C if they will be used within the next week. If stored for more than a week, the storage temperature should be -18°C.
Meat and Fish	If stored for 3 days, the temperature should be 0–3°C. For storage of 1 week or longer, the ideal temperature is -19°C.
Grains and Tubers	If they will be processed immediately, these can be stored at room temperature (below 25°C). However, if stored for 1 week or more, the suitable storage temperature is 1–4°C.
Beverages and Liquid Seasonings	Store beverages at 1–4°C and liquid seasonings at 4–7°C.

Safe Food Storage Solutions

Not only for households, a good understanding of the temperature danger zone is also crucial for various industries that require cold storage. Besides the food industry, the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries also need storage systems with appropriate temperatures.

To facilitate the continuous cold chain distribution process for temperature-sensitive foods, you can use the cold storage solutions from MGM Bosco Logistics. We provide refrigerated warehouse services with the right infrastructure.

With automatic and digital temperature control and monitoring, the freshness of food is maintained, preventing spoilage or contamination until it reaches consumers.

Our warehouses are built to high construction standards, ensuring that commodities are better protected from the risks of the dangerous temperature danger zone. Therefore, our cold storage solution is one of the best logistics options worth considering.

Moreover, our warehouses are equipped with environmentally friendly cooling technology. Using Newton Compressors (CO2 Refrigerant), MGM Bosco Logistics supports environmental conservation efforts in every stage of its operations.

For the best logistics solutions that meet food-grade standards, trust your needs to MGM Bosco Logistics. If you want to consult further, don’t hesitate to contact us!