Free cooling time checker
Enter the time cooked food dropped to 135°F, plus any readings. The tool shows your deadlines under FDA Food Code 2022 3-501.14(A) (135→70°F within 2 h; 135→41°F within 6 h total). Runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
Times past midnight are handled as the next day. For foods made from ambient-temperature ingredients the rule is 41°F within 4 hours (3-501.14(B)) — this tool covers cooked food only.
General information, not legal advice. Values cite the FDA Food Code 2022, a model code that states and counties adopt with changes. Check your local health department — its rules take priority.
Background: two-stage cooling explained.
Skip the formatting. The Daily Food Safety Log Pack ($12) has 6 print-ready logs (cooler/freezer, hot & cold holding, 2-stage cooling, receiving, sanitizer, weekly cleaning) with the Food Code values printed on each page — PDF, Word and Excel. Or grab the free cooler log.
All three packs together: bundle $24.