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Food Cooking Temperatures

Last Updated: June 30, 2011

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Cooking foods to a high enough temperature will kill harmful bacteria and help keep foods safe for consumption.

The temperature to which food needs to be cooked in order to eliminate bacteria depends on the type of food.

Remember, you can’t judge doneness based on color! The safest way to determine if your food is cooked properly is by taking its internal temperature with the appropriate thermometer.

There are only 3 cooking temperatures to remember:

  • 145 °F whole meats
  • 160 °F for ground meats
  • 165 °F for all poultry.

 

For more information check out these sites:

USDA Revises Recommended Cooking Temperature for All Whole Cuts of Meat, Including Pork, to 145 °F

 

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