Under time as a control, how long can TCS food be held?

Under time as a control, how long can TCS food be held?

• A. 6 hours
• B. 4 hours
• C. 2 hours
• D. 8 hours

Answer: (B)

Time as a control means you’re letting a TCS food sit without relying on temperature control, but you must limit how long it can be held. The key rule is a four-hour window from when the food is removed from temperature control. You must either serve or discard it within that four-hour period. For example, if you take a dish out of the fridge at 10:00, you’ve got until 14:00 to use or discard it. The four-hour limit is designed to keep safety, since waiting longer could allow harmful bacteria to grow even without maintaining a specific heat or cold temperature.

Time as a control means you’re letting a TCS food sit without relying on temperature control, but you must limit how long it can be held. The key rule is a four-hour window from when the food is removed from temperature control. You must either serve or discard it within that four-hour period. For example, if you take a dish out of the fridge at 10:00, you’ve got until 14:00 to use or discard it. The four-hour limit is designed to keep safety, since waiting longer could allow harmful bacteria to grow even without maintaining a specific heat or cold temperature.