You can kill most bacteria in food by which of the following methods?

• A. Storing at room temperature
• B. Adding salt without cooking
• C. Heating to an appropriate temperature
• D. Freezing the food

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that bacteria in food can be killed by methods that disrupt their cellular structures or metabolic processes, typically involving heat.
2. Evaluate each option: storing at room temperature generally allows bacteria to grow rather than kill them, so it is not effective for killing bacteria.
3. Adding salt without cooking can inhibit bacterial growth by creating a hypertonic environment, but it does not kill most bacteria outright.
4. Freezing food slows down bacterial metabolism and growth but does not kill most bacteria; it only preserves them in a dormant state.
5. Heating food to an appropriate temperature denatures bacterial proteins and enzymes, effectively killing most bacteria, which is why this method is the correct choice.