Question

In the two-stage cooling method, what is the maximum amount of time allowed to cool food from 135 degrees F or more to 70 degrees F or less?

Answer 1

it's either 4 hours or 6 hours.
culinary?

Answer 2

(better answer) to explain the 4 or 6.
In the past, restaurants had four hours, straight through, to cool food to 41°F or lower. Now the FDA recommends cooling food in two stages -- from 135°F to 70°F in two hours then from 70°F to 41°F or lower in an additional four hours for a total cooling time of six hours.