Final answer:
Empanadas should cool for a few minutes before serving to prevent mouth burns and allow the filling to set. Always keep hot foods hot, and promptly refrigerate leftovers to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Empanadas should be allowed to cool for a few minutes before serving. This cooling period serves two purposes: it allows the filling to set, which can help prevent the empanada from falling apart when eaten, and it reduces the chances of burning one's mouth on the hot filling. However, it is also essential to consider food safety practices. Foods that are meant to be eaten hot should indeed be kept hot until served to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
Empanadas should be served warm rather than piping hot, and if there are leftovers, they should be refrigerated as soon as possible. Perishable foods, like the fillings in empanadas, should not be left out at temperatures between 4 and 60 degrees C (40 and 140 degrees F) for more than two hours.