Hot Holding Temperature
Hot holding refers to keeping food hot after cooking and before service. In Scotland, 63°C is the statutory hot holding threshold commonly referenced in food safety discussions.
Hot holding temperature in practice
Hot holding refers to keeping food hot after cooking and before service. In Scotland, 63°C is the statutory hot holding threshold commonly referenced in food safety discussions.
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 alongside other temperature obligations — is examined in the Temperature Control publication. The temperature control hub brings together related explainers and publication links.
Related reading
What Temperature Must Hot Food Be Kept At in Scotland?
How the 63°C hot holding threshold operates in Scotland, including the statutory exemptions that apply in defined circumstances.
Read moreTemperature Control in Food Businesses (Scotland)
The broader hub covering temperature control law and inspection practice in Scotland.
View hubTemperature Control
Legal foundation title explaining how temperature control duties are structured in Scottish law, including where direct statutory thresholds apply and where broader outcome-based duties and guidance benchmarks shape the wider framework.
View publicationFrequently 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.