Food Handlers Card Practice Test
These practice questions for your food handlers card test cover washing your hands, keeping food at safe temperatures, cooking, cooling, and what to do when you're sick. Every question here includes the answer, so you can quiz yourself as you move along. These questions follow the food safety rules set by state and federal agencies.
Practice Questions and Answers
Try to answer each question in your head before you look at the answer provided. Anything you miss is worth a second look before you take the real test.
How much time should you spend scrubbing your hands with soap?
Give it a good 20 seconds at minimum — that's what the USDA hand washing guide recommends.
How cold should cold food be held?
Cold food stays safe at 41 °F or below.
How hot should hot food be held?
Hot food stays safe at 135 °F or above.
What does the temperature danger zone mean?
This is the stretch where food isn't held safely, whether hot or cold. It runs from 41 °F to 135 °F, per the FDA.
How hot must chicken and other poultry get?
Chicken and other poultry need to hit 165 °F for 15 seconds.
How hot must a hamburger or other ground meat get?
A hamburger or other ground meat must reach 155 °F and hold it there for 15 seconds.
How hot must fish or a steak get?
Both of these are done at 145 °F, which you hold for 15 seconds.
How quickly does cooked food have to cool?
Cooked food has 2 hours to fall from 135 °F down to 70 °F, and then must reach 41 °F or below within 6 hours total, counting from when cooling started. The Minnesota Department of Health cooling guide is the source for these timings.
What should happen if a worker has jaundice?
A food worker with jaundice has to tell the person in charge, and the person in charge keeps them out of the establishment.
Key Answers in One View
Here are the key temperatures and times gathered together, handy for a fast refresher ahead of test day.
| Topic | Answer |
|---|---|
| Washing hands with soap | 20 seconds minimum |
| Holding cold food | 41 °F or colder |
| Holding hot food | 135 °F or hotter |
| Danger zone | 41 °F to 135 °F |
| Poultry | 165 °F, held 15 seconds |
| Ground meat | 155 °F, held 15 seconds |
| Fish and whole cuts of meat | 145 °F, held 15 seconds |
| Cooling | 135 °F to 70 °F in 2 hours; down to 41 °F within 6 hours total |
| Jaundice | Tell the person in charge; worker is kept out |
How Many Questions Does the Real Test Have?
That varies by testing program. The group behind the exam decides how many questions to ask, what score counts as passing, and how many attempts you're allowed. A dash means we haven't included that detail here.
| Test | Questions | Passing Score | Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark County, first card | 20 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes | 70% | — |
| Clark County, renewal | 10 | — | — |
| Alaska food worker card | 20 | 15 correct or more | As often as needed while the ID stays active |
| StateFoodSafety (Texas) | — | 70% | 2 |
| ServSafe Food Handler | — | — | 3 attempts online |
Common Questions
Is there a free practice test for the food handlers card?
The questions on this page are free. If you're in Alaska, the state also offers its own optional online practice test on its food worker card testing site, and since Alaska accepts only its own card, that's the one to try there.
Are notes allowed at the SNHD test in Las Vegas?
No. Clark County, which covers Las Vegas, issues cards only through the Southern Nevada Health District, and a first card requires testing in person. During the Clark County test, looking at notes, books, or a phone means an automatic fail.
What languages is the ServSafe Food Handler course available in?
You can take the ServSafe Food Handler course in English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese. That certificate is good for three years.
Is the test the same everywhere?
The questions here use temperatures and times from state and federal health guides, but who issues the card and which cards are accepted changes from place to place. In Washington and Alaska, no out-of-state card will do — you have to earn the one your state issues. County requirements vary too: Clark County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County issue their own cards; San Diego County requires a county-approved course; Maricopa County requires a course accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board.