Food Safety Certification Practice Test

What temperature should be maintained for effective heat sanitizing?

1. 150°F

2. 160°F

3. 171°F

4. 180°F

The correct answer is: 171°F

For effective heat sanitizing, maintaining a temperature of 171°F is crucial. At this temperature, you can achieve the necessary heat transfer to inactivate harmful microorganisms on food contact surfaces. Heat sanitizing works by applying high temperatures for a specific duration, which is typically about 30 seconds at 171°F, to ensure that bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens are effectively killed. Heat sanitizing is a critical practice in food safety because it significantly reduces the risk of foodborne illness by ensuring that surfaces and equipment that come into contact with food are free of harmful pathogens. While lower temperatures may also sanitize, they often require significantly longer exposure times or may not be effective against all types of microorganisms. Therefore, 171°F is a standard benchmark that many health guidelines and safety regulations recommend for ensuring food safety.