At what temperature should food be frozen to eliminate insect infestations?

Freezing food to eliminate insect infestations is a crucial step in maintaining food safety and preventing contamination. The correct choice, which is 0°F, is significant because this temperature effectively halts the development of insects and their larvae. At 0°F, most pests, including a variety of common insects found in stored food such as flour weevils and pantry moths, are rendered inactive and unable to reproduce or cause further harm to the food items.

Freezing food at temperatures below this, such as -10°F, would also be effective; however, the primary standard for food storage and pest control is typically considered to be 0°F. This is the temperature at which most home freezers operate and is recommended as a guideline by food safety organizations.

On the other hand, temperatures like 32°F, which is the freezing point of water, would not be sufficient to eliminate infestations, as this temperature allows for the survival of insects. Similarly, 20°F would not provide the necessary conditions to effectively kill pests, as it is still above the recommended freezing temperature for pest control. Thus, maintaining food at or below 0°F ensures that insect infestations can be adequately addressed.