Quiz Show - Cut Watermelon in Alcohol

The term 'TCS' is often used to refer to food requiring temperature or time control for food safety and seven-day date marking. So let the games begin and test your knowledge.

Once the watermelon is cut, it is considered a TCS food, requiring temperature control and 7-day shelf life. But... what about if it is soaking in alcohol? Does that still apply?

Answer:

FDA doesn't have any restrictions regarding alcohol-infused fruits and vegetables. Alcohol infusion is allowed at room temperature even if the vegetables and fruit are considered TCS foods. Using smaller chunks of food should allow for the alcohol to infuse more quickly.

Large chunks of TCS foods may not allow for adequate penetration of the alcohol into the food, so refrigeration is recommended.

Many facilities strain out the solids, discarding them, and keeping only the flavored alcohol at the end of the process, which is allowed.

Suppose the facility plans to serve the vodka-soaked fruits or vegetables separately. In that case, temperature control and date marking will apply once the cooked vegetables (or cut watermelon as they are a TCS/PHF food) are removed from the alcohol.