The Best Temperatures for Cooking Different Types of Meat

When it comes to cooking meat, you need to make sure you are using a safe temperature that will kill bacteria and other harmful microorganisms that can cause potential damage to your health. You do not want to risk serving your family food which can result in food poisoning. The flesh of animals is a breeding ground for bacteria and often contaminated with microorganisms that can result in food borne diseases. This includes different kinds of meat, such as beef, seafood, pork and poultry. Here is your guide to safe cooking temperatures for different kinds of meats:

Beef

Beef is generally available in a variety of forms, such as steaks, grounds and roasts. Regardless of the form, it is advisable you cook beef at a safe temperature. The best temperature for cooking beef is 160o F that will kill potential bacteria and harmful microorganisms. A temperature of 145o F for cooking beef is ideal if you want to keep it medium to rare. Roasts and steaks reach 160o F, it is to be noted even after when the correct temperature is reached, you need to let the beef sit for at least 3 minutes.

Poultry

When it comes to poultry, you need to be careful about the cooking temperature if you do not want your chicken to go too dry. At the same time, you need to make sure your chicken is being cooked in a safe temperature that can destroy potential pathogens and bacteria. Chicken should be cooked at no less than 165o F. This is minimum safe cooking temperature. While cooking whole chicken, 180o is the ideal temperature. While checking the temperature of poultry, it is best to test the temperature in the thickest portion of the meat.

Pork

The ideal cooking temperature for pork depends on the type of pork you are cooking. Different variety of pork, such as chops, steaks, roasts, and whole cuts of fresh pork have to be cooked at least at 145o F. It is to be noted pork needs to rest for approximately three to four minutes during which the temperature will continue to rise. Also, pork ground does not need to rest but it must reach an ideal temperature of at least 160o to kill pathogens and harmful bacteria.

Seafood

Nearly all seafood needs to be cooked at 145o F to eliminate and kill harmful bacteria. This is why you need a meat thermometer. All kinds of seafood need to be cooked at a minimum temperature of 145o F. While cooking seafood, appearance also plays an important role in determining the doneness. To test the doneness of fish, judge it by its appearance. At the appropriate temperature, fish will flake easily and its flesh will appear more opaque. On the other hand, shrimp and cooked lobster will have a difference appearance as it does not turn opaque.

So, as you can see, the ideal temperature for cooking different types of meat is different. You need to know the right temperature to ensure the meat you cook is done perfectly.

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