Is it true that foods can be kept uncovered during the cooling step?

The correct answer reflects food safety guidelines that recommend covering food during the cooling process to prevent contamination and maintain hygiene. Keeping food uncovered can expose it to airborne contaminants, pests, and potential pathogens, which can lead to foodborne illnesses. Covering food helps to create a barrier against these risks.

It is vital to cool food quickly and safely to reduce the time it spends in the temperature danger zone, where bacteria can multiply rapidly. The best practice is to use shallow containers or divide large amounts of food into smaller portions to facilitate faster cooling. During this process, food should be covered to ensure its safety and quality.

The options that suggest other conditions for keeping food uncovered do not align with established food safety protocols. Whether it's for short periods, only if the food is hot, or at all, the general consensus in food safety is to cover foods during cooling to prevent possible contamination.