When cooking any meat, poultry, and egg products, a food thermometer is the best tool in your kitchen to determine if the food is done and safe for consumption.
What does “doneness” mean? It is when the food is cooked properly and has desirable sensory aspects of the food such as texture, appearance, and juiciness. These are subjective.
Food Safety Education Month - Food Thermometers
Safely cooked food is when pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause illness, are destroyed. The “doneness” temperature is the minimum internal temperature to destroy these harmful microorganisms. This temperature varies by food product. The food thermometer is the best tool to measure temperature accurately. It can also help keep from overcooking the food. In celebration of Food Safety Education Month, we will give either a food thermometer or refrigerator thermometer to the first five people who come by either of our Extension offices in Great Bend or Hays.
Using color to determine “doneness” is not reliable. Research has shown that using meat color is unpredictable. Hamburger patties may be brown in the middle, yet the temperature has not reached the 160°F minimum temperature. Also, the patty may be pink in the middle, yet the temperature has reached the 160°F temperature.
Remember these three temperatures:
• 145°F for steaks, roasts, chops, fish
• 160°F for ground meat; egg recipes
• 165°F for all poultry; reheating leftovers; casseroles
Source: USDA FSIS Kitchen Thermometers and Safe
Minimum Internal Temperature Chart
Cottonwood District Extension will be having a booth at the Great Bend Tribune Women's Expo set for September 27 from 3:30-7:00pm at the Event Center. Donna and several FCS Program Development Committee members will have the blender bike for participants to try out. We'll be offering fresh salsa and chips for those who stop by our booth.
Great Bend Tribune Women's Expo
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