Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Food Service Exam Prep

Education EN ↓ 75 episodes

Food Service Exam Prep is a free, daily podcast by OpenExamPrep covering the most in-demand food service certification and licensing exams — including ServSafe Manager, ServSafe Food Handler, ServSafe Alcohol, ServSafe Allergens, NEHA Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM), CFPM, NEHA CP-FS, HACCP, FSMA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), TIPS Alcohol Service, Cicerone Certified Beer Server, Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory, ACF Certified Sous Chef and Pastry Culinarian, CFBE, and HSMAI CRME. Each 5-minute episode breaks down one exam topic with concrete kitchen-floor e...

Author

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Episodes

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 75, Storing Ice — Scoop Outside, Ice for Consumption Only 11.07.2026 3:39

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Ice scoops must be stored in a clean, protected location outsi...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 74, Chemical Storage 10.07.2026 3:52

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Chemicals must always be stored in a designated area, physical...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 73, Dry Storage Conditions 09.07.2026 3:04

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The specific temperature and humidity range required for dry s...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 72, Storage Off-Floor — 6 Inches Minimum 08.07.2026 3:03

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The specific requirement from the FDA Food Code is to store al...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 71, Why Poultry Stored on Bottom 07.07.2026 3:32

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Why poultry's 165°F minimum internal cooking temperature dicta...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 70, Walk-In Cooler Storage Order — Top to Bottom 06.07.2026 3:48

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The correct top-to-bottom storage order in a walk-in cooler is...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 69, Storage Temperature for Cold TCS 05.07.2026 3:18

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical temperature for cold TCS food storage is 41°F or...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 68, FIFO — First In First Out Rotation 04.07.2026 2:42

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - FIFO stands for First-In, First-Out, a mandatory stock rotatio...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 67, Date Marking Combined Foods — Earliest Date Wins 03.07.2026 2:35

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The discard date for a combined RTE TCS food is based on the u...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 66, Date Marking RTE TCS Food — The 7-Day Rule 02.07.2026 1:55

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - RTE TCS food held for longer than 24 hours must be clearly dat...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 65, Key Drop Deliveries — Off-Hours Receiving 01.07.2026 2:44

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A key drop delivery is an after-hours delivery where the suppl...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 64, Receiving Canned Goods — Specific Rejection Criteria 30.06.2026 3:26

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The immediate rejection of any swollen or bulging can due to t...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 63, Receiving Dry Goods 29.06.2026 2:54

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To always reject dry goods deliveries if packaging is torn, da...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 62, Rejecting Deliveries — When and How 28.06.2026 3:14

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical temperature thresholds for rejecting TCS foods (4...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 61, Receiving ROP, Sous Vide, and MAP 27.06.2026 3:14

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - All Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) foods must be received at a...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 60, Receiving Milk and Dairy 26.06.2026 3:47

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical receiving temperature for milk and dairy is 41°F...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 59, Receiving Eggs — 45°F or Lower from Approved Source 25.06.2026 3:15

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Shell eggs must be received at an ambient air temperature of 4...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 58, Receiving Fish — 41°F or Lower, On Self-Draining Ice 24.06.2026 2:47

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical receiving temperature for fresh fish is 41°F or l...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 57, Receiving Shucked Shellfish 23.06.2026 3:38

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The two-stage temperature rule: Receive shucked shellfish at 4...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 56, Receiving Live Shellfish and Shellstock Tags 22.06.2026 2:20

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Live shellfish must be received at an air temperature of 45°F...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 55, Receiving Temperatures — TCS Requirements 21.06.2026 2:09

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The critical receiving temperature for cold TCS foods like mea...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 54, Receiving Schedule and Procedures 20.06.2026 2:46

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To always schedule deliveries during off-peak hours to allow f...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 53, USDA vs FDA Jurisdiction 19.06.2026 3:31

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The crucial difference between the USDA's product-focused insp...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 52, Approved Reputable Suppliers 18.06.2026 3:35

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - To only purchase food from approved, reputable suppliers who a...

ServSafe Manager Exam Prep 51, Identifying Critical Control Points (CCPs) 17.06.2026 3:24

This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - A Critical Control Point (CCP) is the last step in a food's fl...