360 Training Food Handlers Practice Exam

What should be done with soup immediately after cooking?

1. Leave it out for cooling

2. Refrigerate it

3. Freeze it for later use

4. Serve it immediately

The correct answer is: Refrigerate it

The best practice after cooking soup is to refrigerate it immediately. This is essential for food safety, as allowing soup to cool at room temperature can promote the growth of harmful bacteria. When soup is left out, it enters the temperature danger zone (between 40°F and 140°F), where bacteria can thrive and multiply quickly. Refrigerating the soup to a temperature below 40°F allows it to cool safely and slows down bacterial growth, minimizing the risk of foodborne illnesses. While freezing soup is an option for long-term storage, this should only be done after proper cooling in the refrigerator has occurred. Serving it immediately may not be feasible in all situations and does not address the important need for cooling. Therefore, refrigerating soup immediately after cooking is the most responsible and safest choice.