Why do frozen foods that are fully cooked still need to be heated to the same temperature raw items require?
Do they put it on the boxes just in case they didn't really cook it through?
Best Answer
As a rule, frozen foods that are fully cooked do not have that requirement. If the label says "fully cooked", you can eat it still frozen if you want. Where have you seen "fully cooked" and "must be cooked before serving" on the same label?
Here is a typical example. The directions say "until warm" for esthetic reasons only. There is no need to reach 165F, which would be the USDA requirement for raw chicken.
EDIT: Wow, look at this, from the USDA
They're saying leftovers must be heated to 165F. There's overly conservative, then there is SOOO overly conservative as to strip them of credibility. I'm just flummoxed.
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Quick Answer about "Why do frozen foods that are fully cooked still need to be heated to the same temperature raw items require?"
The heating requirements protect against foodborne illness and also insure that the flavor and consistency of the foods is restored to levels appropriate for most expectations.Can you eat frozen food without heating?
Frozen and raw produce can also carry germs that can cause foodborne illnesses. It is important to handle produce properly to prevent the spread of germs to your food and kitchen. Even if you are preparing a cold salad, frozen produce must be cooked first.Why is it important that frozen food is Defrost thoroughly before cooking?
Correct defrosting of frozen food is important. Mistakes can mean that food does not cook properly, or that bacteria can be spread to other food. Incorrect defrosting is a common cause of food poisoning.Why should you not reheat frozen food?
Whether it's a prepackaged meal from the grocery store or something you made\u2026a while ago that's ready to heat up, reheating frozen food in the microwave is a simple and fast way to put a meal together, but it could also be dangerous as heating frozen food up in a microwave can lead to you ingesting bacteria that are ...Can you eat fully cooked frozen food?
Always check the product packaging to see if the food is fully cooked (and therefore ready-to-eat) or not-ready-to-eat. Frozen products may be labeled with phrases such as "Cook and Serve," "Ready to Cook" and "Oven Ready" to indicate they must be fully cooked to safe internal temperatures to be eaten safely.You Can't Reheat Some Foods Under Any Circumstances
More answers regarding why do frozen foods that are fully cooked still need to be heated to the same temperature raw items require?
Answer 2
The USDA says this about the label "Fully Cooked": FULLY COOKED or COOKED: Needs no further cooking because it is fully cooked at the establishment where it was produced and packaged. Product can be eaten right out of the package or reheated. Fully cooked is synonymous with cooked.
Answer 3
You can count on foods identified as "fully cooked" to be fully cooked. The heating requirements protect against foodborne illness and also insure that the flavor and consistency of the foods is restored to levels appropriate for most expectations. Depending on the recommended heating method, much of the food might appear to be piping hot while the center is frozen - that could be unsafe as well as unappetizing.
Answer 4
This situation varies. If it is fully cooked out of a reputable retailers commercial freezer and you get hungry for it cold then you are almost always safe. On the other hand, if it is thawed from frozen food that has been moved from a distributor to a wholesaler followed by a third party retailer at the local convenience store then always heat it up all the way. The more handling and temperature change, the higher the risk. Read the ingredients and instructions. Fully Cooked is best.
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