Hot holding temperature in food safety
Hot holding refers to keeping food at a safe temperature after cooking and before service. The concept is widely discussed in food safety practice, with 63°C the commonly cited threshold. In Scotland, 63°C is a direct statutory requirement rather than a guidance benchmark.
The Scotland-specific legal position, including the statutory basis under Schedule 4 of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006, the available exemptions, and how hot holding is assessed during inspection, is addressed in What Temperature Must Hot Food Be Kept At in Scotland?
This page provides a short explanatory summary. The legal position, including the statutory exemptions that apply in defined circumstances, is addressed in the What Temperature Must Hot Food Be Kept At in Scotland? explainer.
Hot Holding Temperature
| Activity | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Hot holding | 63°C or above |
Temperature control in Scotland
The wider structure of temperature control in Scotland, including how the 63°C hot holding threshold sits within Scottish legislation, is examined in the Temperature Control hub.
The Scotland-specific legal position on hot holding, including Schedule 4 of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the available exemptions, is covered in What Temperature Must Hot Food Be Kept At in Scotland?
Related areas include the reheating requirement addressed in Is 82°C a Legal Requirement for Reheating Food in Scotland? and the Food Safety Temperature Cheat Sheet for a concise reference summary.
Frequently asked questions
Is 63°C a legal requirement for hot holding?
63°C is the statutory hot holding threshold in Scotland. How it applies in practice, including the relevant exemptions, is covered in the dedicated hot holding explainer page.
Is this page specific to Scotland?
This page is framed around temperature references commonly encountered in food safety practice in Scotland.
Does this page replace legislation or official guidance?
No. It is a publisher-produced explanatory summary. It does not constitute legal advice or a definitive statement of legal requirements.