Final answer:
The correct order for storing food in a refrigerator from top to bottom is ready-to-eat food, seafood, and raw meat, which prevents cross-contamination and maintains food safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The proper order from top to bottom in which pans of raw foods should be stored in a refrigerator is as follows: ready-to-eat food, seafood, raw meat. This method prevents cross-contamination, protecting ready-to-eat foods from the pathogens commonly carried by raw protein products like seafood and raw meat. The lowest shelf should house the raw meat because it poses the highest risk of dripping and contaminating other foods.
Key steps to ensure food safety include regular handwashing, proper rotation of food, maintaining appropriate refrigeration temperatures, thoroughly cooking foods to kill bacteria, and preventing cross-contamination between raw and prepared foods.
It's vital to keep ready-to-eat food above all other foods due to its high risk of becoming contaminated if stored below raw foods that can drip or spread bacteria and other pathogens. Following these storage practices alongside maintaining clean equipment is crucial for safeguarding against foodborne illnesses.