According to the Food Partnership for Food Safety Education, “Food is safely cooked when it reaches a high enough internal temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause food borne illness.”
Here are the Food Partnership for Food Safety recommendations when it comes to cooking food to avoid illnesses from improperly prepared foods:
- Use a food thermometer which measures the internal temperature of cooked meat, poultry and egg dishes, to make sure that the food is cooked to a safe internal temperature.
- Cook roasts and steaks to a minimum of 145°F. All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast with a food thermometer.
- Cook ground meat, where bacteria can spread during grinding, to at least 160°F. Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) links eating under cooked ground beef with a higher risk of illness. Remember, color is not a reliable indicator of “doneness.” Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your burgers.
- Cook eggs until the yolk and white are firm, not runny. Don’t use recipes in which eggs remain raw or only partially cooked.
- Cook fish to 145°F or until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork.
- Make sure there are no cold spots in food (where bacteria can survive) when cooking in a microwave oven. For best results, cover food, stir and rotate for even cooking. If there is no turntable, rotate the dish by hand once or twice during cooking.
- Bring sauces, soups and gravy to a boil when reheating. Heat other leftovers thoroughly to 165°F.
This is Dr. Jim for Be Healthy! Be Happy! Powering your path to happiness!
References:
Fight Bac! Partnership for Food Safety Education, 2017. Online [available at]: http://www.fightbac.org/food-safety-basics/the-core-four-practices/