# What temperature are the hot foods/drinks we consume? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526 "2014-09-25T14:39:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/1 "2014-09-25T14:39:17Z")
See topic. Tried googling this but all I found was a lot of regulations, not actual temperatures - I’m curious what temperature hot food is, from the top temperature where we can just barely eat a small bite or take a sip to the lower temperatures where eating or drinking isn’t limited by getting burned. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/2 "2014-09-25T15:03:57Z")
Most frozen dinner items like pot pies, lasagna, etc. recommend cooking until 165 degrees. I use a cooking thermometer to confirm the internal temp. Way too hot to eat. It has to cool down to maybe 120 to 110 degrees? Some people might tolerate coffee at 125 degrees, but mine has to cool down more before I can sip it. > [@](#): > > McDonald’s Operations Manual required the franchisee to hold its coffee at 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit; - See more at: [Scarab Media Offline](http://www.hotcoffeethemovie.com/default.asp?pg=mcdonalds_case#sthash.9D70Wenc.dpuf) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/3 "2014-09-25T15:12:34Z")
McDonald’s was notoriously keeping its coffee between 180-190 degrees, which, as we learned, is [enough to cause third-degree burns.](https://www.caoc.org/?pg=facts) A temperature of 131 is [enough to cause a second-degree (blisters) burn.](http://www.nist.gov/fire/fire_behavior.cfm) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/4 "2014-09-25T15:23:39Z")
It’s a lot easier to sip hot drinks than eat hot food. Nothing worse than hot food sticking to the inside of my mouth. I have known people that start sipping coffee right after pouring it out of the carafe. They may blow on it just a little but it has to be very close to 130 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/5 "2014-09-25T15:27:25Z")
From my own observation, I can eat anything I can touch with my fingers. My mouth is more heat tolerant than my fingers, and if I can pick it up and hold it, it is cool enough to wolf down. If I can put my finger in a bowl of soup or a cup of coffee and hold it there, I can drink it. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/6 "2014-09-25T15:36:22Z")
I’m curious now. I’ll test my next cup of coffee with my thermometer. See how hot it was when first poured and when I could sip it. I’ll admit now it won’t be scalding hot. I’m a wuss when it comes to hot drinks. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-temperature-are-the-hot-foods-drinks-we-consume/699526/7 "2014-09-25T15:39:19Z")
I found this: > [@](#): > > The preferred drinking temperature of coffee is specified in the literature as 140+/-15 degrees F (60+/-8.3 degrees C) for a population of 300 subjects. A linear (with respect to temperature) figure of merit merged the two effects to identify an optimal drinking temperature of approximately 136 degrees F (57.8 degrees C). > **[Calculating the optimum temperature for serving hot beverages - PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18226454/)** > > Hot beverages such as tea, hot chocolate, and coffee are frequently served at temperatures between 160 degrees F (71.1 degrees C) and 185 degrees F (85 degrees C). Brief exposures to liquids in this temperature range can cause significant scald...