Standard Food Holding Temperature Range Guide For Meat, Fish Poultry and Other Items
In the hotel industry chefs, cooks and other specialized food service personnel employ varied methods of cooking. The proper holding temperatures for a specific food product must be based on the moisture content of the product, product density, volume, and proper serving temperatures. Safe holding temperatures must also be correlated with palatability in determining the length of holding time for a specific product.
Mobile hot box or food holders used in the hotel kitchen and restaurants should maintain the maximum amount of product moisture content without the addition of water, water vapour, or steam. Maintaining maximum natural product moisture preserves the natural flavour of the product and provides a more genuine taste.
In addition to product moisture retention, the mobile hot box used should be able to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the cabinet without the necessity of a heat distribution fan, thereby preventing further moisture loss due to evaporation or dehydration. Below chart shows the ideal food holding temperature for meat, poultry, fish, egg, baked and other food items.
1) Food Holding temperature Range Guide for Meat Products:
| Meat Product | Fahrenheit | Celsius |
| BEEF ROAST — Rare | 140°F | 60°C |
| BEEF ROAST — Med/Well Done | 160°F | 71°C |
| BEEF BRISKET | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| CORN BEEF | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| PASTRAMI | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| PRIME RIB — Rare | 140°F | 60°C |
| STEAKS — Broiled/Fried | 140° - 160°F | 60° - 71°C |
| RIBS — Beef or Pork | 160°F | 71°C |
| VEAL | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| HAM | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| PORK | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| LAMB | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
2) Food Holding temperature Range Guide for Poultry Products:
| Poultry Products | Fahrenheit | Celsius |
| Chicken - Fried or Baked | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| DUCK | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| TURKEY | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| Other Poultry Items | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
3) Food Holding temperature Range Guide for Fish / SeaFood Items:
| Fish/Seafood Product | Fahrenheit | Celsius |
| FISH — Baked/Fried | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| LOBSTER | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| SHRIMP | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
4) Food Holding temperature Range Guide for Baked Goods and other items / SeaFood:
| Baked and Other Product | Fahrenheit | Celsius |
| CASSEROLES | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| DOUGH - Proofing | 80° - 100°F | 27° - 38°C |
| BREADS/ROLLS | 120° - 140°F | 49° - 60°C |
| EGGS - Fried | 150° - 160°F | 66° - 71°C |
| FROZEN ENTREES | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
| HORS D'OEUVRES | 160° - 180°F | 71° - 82°C |
| PASTA | 160° - 180°F | 71° - 82°C |
| PIZZA | 160° - 180°F | 71° - 82°C |
| POTATOES | 180°F | 82°C |
| PLATED MEALS | 180°F | 82°C |
| SAUCES | 140° - 200°F | 60° - 93°C |
| SOUP | 140° - 200°F | 60° - 93°C |
| VEGETABLES | 160° - 175°F | 71° - 79°C |
What are the points to note while holding food items?
In an enclosed holding environment, too much moisture content is a condition which can be relieved. A product achieving extremely high temperatures in preparation must be allowed to decrease in temperature before being placed in a controlled holding atmosphere. If the food prepared is not allowed to decrease in temperature, excessive condensation will form increasing the moisture content on the outside of the product.
Most Mobile Hot Box or Food Holders or Heat Holding Equipment is provided with a thermostat control between 60° and 200°F (16° to 93°C). If the unit is equipped with vents, close the vents for moist holding and open the vents for crisp holding.
If the unit is equipped with a thermostat indicating a range of between 1 and 10, use a metal-stemmed indicating thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the product(s) being held. Adjust the thermostat setting to achieve the best overall setting based on internal product temperature.
