Log – Cooling
Cooling is the step that quietly goes wrong while everyone’s busy with service. This log tracks the two-stage cool – 60 to 21 in two hours, then to 5 within six – so problems get caught while there’s still time to act.
Instructions: Start the log when cooling begins. Record temperatures at the defined intervals (e.g., every 30-60 minutes). If the food won’t hit the first-stage target, escalate early – divide it smaller, blast-chill it, ice-bath it. Don’t watch it miss and hope.
Record details
- Date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
- Product / batch:
- Quantity:
- Cooling method: [Blast chiller / ice bath / shallow trays]
Acceptance criteria
Anything outside these criteria is a deviation – act, record, and tell QA.
- 60 °C to 21 °C within 2 hours
- Then to <=5 °C within 6 hours total
- Food depth <=5 cm unless blast-chilled
Log
| Time | Temp (°C) | Elapsed time | On track? (Y/N) | Action taken | Initials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
| [Time] | [Temp (°C)] | [Elapsed time] | [On track? (Y/N)] | [Action taken] | [Initials] |
Notes and corrective action
When cooling fails, the cause is almost always portion size or a chiller loaded beyond its capacity. If you keep missing the limit, fix the method – the log will keep telling you the same story until you do.
- [Describe any deviation, action taken, and product disposition.]
Review
| Reviewed by (name / signature) | Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| [Name / Signature] | [YYYY-MM-DD] | [Comments] |