About this reference page
A small set of temperature figures (63°C, 82°C, 8°C, 75°C) is widely repeated across food safety training, inspection discussions, and industry guidance in Scotland. These figures do not all carry the same legal status.
This page provides a concise reference summary of each figure and its position within the framework.
Common Food Safety Temperature Benchmarks
| Activity | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Cooking high-risk food | 75°C (commonly used cooking benchmark) |
| Hot holding | 63°C or above |
| Reheating food | 82°C (statutory requirement in defined circumstances) |
| Chilled storage | 5°C or below (typical operational target) |
| Legal chilled reference | 8°C |
| Frozen storage | −18°C (widely used frozen storage benchmark) |
Temperature control in Scotland
Temperature control in Scotland operates within a broader regulatory framework. The structure of temperature control law for food businesses is covered in the Temperature Control hub. The legal status of individual figures, including which are statutory thresholds and which are guidance benchmarks, is examined in the Temperature Control publication.
For the specific legal position on each threshold: hot holding is addressed in What Temperature Must Hot Food Be Kept At in Scotland?, reheating in Is 82°C a Legal Requirement for Reheating Food in Scotland?, and cold holding in Is 8°C a Legal Limit for Chilled Food in Scotland?
Frequently asked questions
Is this page specific to Scotland?
Yes. This page is framed around temperature benchmarks as they are commonly encountered within the Scottish food hygiene framework.
Are all these temperatures legal requirements?
No. The figures carry different legal status. 63°C for hot holding and 82°C for reheating in defined circumstances are statutory thresholds. 75°C for cooking is a commonly used benchmark rather than a direct statutory requirement. The structure of the framework is explained in the Temperature Control in Food Businesses (Scotland) page.
Does this page replace legislation or official guidance?
No. It is a publisher-produced reference page intended to summarise commonly discussed benchmarks. It does not constitute legal advice.