Final answer:
Italian dressing is considered a ready-to-eat food because it can be consumed directly from the bottle without further preparation. Peeled potatoes, fresh refrigerated pasta, and ready-to-bake cookies are not ready-to-eat because they require cooking before consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ready-to-eat foods are items that can be consumed without further preparation, washing, or cooking. From the options provided, Italian dressing would be considered a ready-to-eat food. This is because it is typically used directly from the bottle and does not require any cooking or additional preparation before consumption.
Peeled potatoes are not ready-to-eat as they usually require cooking. Fresh refrigerated pasta often needs to be boiled before it is safe to eat. Ready-to-bake cookies are also not considered ready-to-eat because they need to be baked before they are safe to consume.
Ready-to-eat foods can include a variety of items such as pasta, salad dressing, and oil, once they are in a form that doesn't require additional cooking. Other examples of ready-to-eat foods are pudding and pie fillings, gelatin dessert mixes, salad dressings, and sauces.