As we know, all raw meat contains naturally existing bacteria, such as listeria, E.coli, and maybe salmonella, so it is essential to know if the meat is cooked correctly or not because cooking makes sure that all the poisonous and harmful bacteria get killed so they would not cause any stomach issue such as food poisoning. It does not matter if you are grilling chicken breast or doing BBQ; temperature ranges make the meat safe for consumption. Temperature is not only important for proper cooking but also fantastic texture and flavor.
But we all have this confusion in our mind: how can we know if this temperature is enough for proper cooking and texture and flavor? There is no need to worry now as technology has provided an instrument, a meat thermometer, to ensure that meat is cooking at the right temperature. It is not when we store meat at 40 F, but its cooking temperature must be at least 140 F, even if it’s on a burner or in an oven. Following are the optimum temperatures for a different type of meat.
Poultry
White meat: 160 F or 70 C
Dark meat: 165 F or 75 C
Ground poultry
165 F
75 C
Beef
Rare: 115 F or 55 C
Medium rare: 130 F or 55 C
Medium: 140 F or 60 C
Medium well: 150 F or 65 C
Well done: 155 F or 70 C
Ground beef: 160 F or 70 C
Effect of temperature on texture and flavor:
As we know that the nutrition and energy provided but the meat does not depend on the amount of meat we consume but how its cooked or prepared. Generally, if the meat is undercooked, it will contain bacteria. If it is overcooked, it will lose all its nutrients; that’s why it is recommended to cook it at optimum temperature. Optimum temperature conserves and enhances the natural taste and also blends the flavor of other ingredients with meat. Cooking meat at the right temperature means giving it a firm texture and fantastic color. Perfectly cooked meat is easy to digest and does not cause any stomach issues.
Meat thermometer
To know if the meat has reached the perfect temperature, we need a simple tool and what’s better than a food thermometer as it helps to measure the temperature of the food in both restaurants and home kitchens. Using a food thermometer is not as difficult as it looks; you have to select a good thermometer such as a digital thermometer.
A digital thermometer is efficient and fast and shows accurate temperature in digits, and it only takes a few seconds. As the surface of the meat will be hotter, it is essential to stick the thermometer in the thick part of the meat and make sure it is in the flesh, not in the bone, for accurate temperature. Then check the temperature when the meat is nearly cooked and then let it rest for a while because some meats like pork or brisket keep on cooking after the heat is removed. Check the temperature last to make sure its adequately cooked, and then clean the thermometer after using it.
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