What's the ideal cooling temperature for hamburger soup?

[Prutsald]

After cooking up a pot of delicious hamburger soup, I'm wondering how long I should let it cool and what temperature it should reach before storing it in the fridge. Any insights on the perfect cooling process? Let's keep our soup safe and tasty!

 

[eihra520]

For safe and delicious leftover soup, I personally aim for 40°F (4°C) or below before storing it in the fridge Let it cool naturally for a bit, then transfer it to shallow containers to speed up the process .. Nobody likes lukewarm soup, right? Enjoy your leftovers!

 

[frustratedcook]

Great question. Generally, you want to cool your soup down to below 40°F (4°C) within two hours of cooking to prevent bacterial growth. So, I usually let my soup cool on the stovetop for about 30 minutes or so before transferring it to the fridge. Some people even use an ice bath to speed up the process. Just make sure it's in a shallow container so it cools evenly.