Applebee's, a popular Portland, Oregon eatery, made headlines when multiple critical temperature violations including improperly thawed raw protein.
An Applebee's franchise in southeast Portland was cited for five temperature-related violations after Multnomah County health inspectors found improperly thawed raw chicken and beef along with hot holding failures. The inspection found that proteins were being thawed at room temperature rather than under the required refrigerated or running cold water method.
The FDA Food Code requires hot foods to be held above 135°F and cold foods below 41°F. The temperature range between those thresholds is called the 'danger zone' — the range in which bacteria like Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus can double in number every 20 minutes.
According to the inspection report, raw chicken was found thawing in a tub on the counter at an ambient kitchen temperature of 72°F. Inspectors also noted that multiple items on the steam table were being held between 120°F and 128°F rather than the required 135°F minimum. The Oregonian reported that room temperature thawing allows the outer layer of frozen meat to reach the danger zone while the interior remains frozen.
Health inspectors follow a standardized checklist covering more than 50 individual food safety criteria. During this visit, the team flagged violations across multiple categories, indicating systemic rather than isolated failures.
Health officials remind consumers that a clean dining room does not guarantee a clean kitchen. The only reliable way to assess a restaurant's food safety practices is to review its most recent health inspection report, which is a public document in every U.S. state.
InspectorEats.com provides free access to health inspection records for thousands of restaurants across the country. Search your city to see which restaurants earned top marks — and which ones should be avoided.
The case highlights the importance of regular health inspections in protecting public health. Applebee's retrained all kitchen staff on approved thawing methods and passed reinspection the following week.