Wisconsin Nursing Home Administrators (NHA) Practice Exam

How should perishable food and drink outside of preparation or serving times be handled?

1. Kept in a cooler

2. Kept in a refrigerator

3. Kept on the counter

4. Thrown out

The correct answer is: Kept in a refrigerator

Perishable food and drink should be kept in a refrigerator outside of preparation or serving times to maintain their freshness and avoid bacterial growth that can lead to foodborne illnesses. Refrigeration helps to slow down the growth of bacteria and keep food at a safe temperature. Therefore, keeping perishable items in a refrigerator is the correct answer. Keeping them on the counter or in a cooler may not maintain the appropriate temperature to prevent bacterial growth, and throwing them out unnecessarily increases waste.