Final answer:
Cooked chicken breasts can be hot held at a temperature above 140 °F (60 °C) to prevent bacterial growth and maintain its safety and quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cooked chicken breasts can be hot held at a temperature above 140 °F (60 °C) to keep them safe for consumption. This temperature helps to prevent bacterial growth and maintain the quality of the cooked chicken. Holding the chicken at this temperature for a specific time period can help ensure its safety and palatability.
For example, the USDA recommends hot holding cooked chicken at a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) for at least 15 seconds. This ensures that any harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, are killed off and the chicken remains safe to eat.
It's important to use a food thermometer to accurately measure the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it reaches the recommended safe temperature for hot holding.
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