Body Show Take the guesswork out of cooking!Here are tips for using a meat thermometer to ensure that the safe minimum internal temperature of meat is reached. That way, you know when it’s done, at peak flavor, and also safe for eating. Are You Cooking Meat Safely?Meat and poultry are cooked and juicy at certain temperatures but become dry and tough if cooked much longer. Traditionally, judging when a bird is done roasting has meant visually checking the interior color of the meat while it is cooking—the redder the color, the rarer the meat. But this involves guesswork, which is neither accurate nor safe! Instead, it’s recommended that you use a meat thermometer to guage when your pork roast, chicken breast, or other cut of meat is truly ready to be served. According to the USDA, different meats must reach different temperatures to be considered safe. (Consult the chart below for minimum internal temperatures.) How to Use a Meat ThermometerTo be certain, we recommend using an instant-read thermometer. Round-dial and digital instant-read thermometers are available from kitchen supply stores and hardware stores and cost from $12 to $20. Instant-read thermometers give readings quickly, but they are not oven-safe and must not be left in the meat while it is cooking. Use the thermometer toward the end of the minimum cooking time and allow it to remain in the meat for only 15 seconds, at a depth of 2 inches or to the indicator mark on the thermometer’s stem. Follow these guidelines for accurate thermometer readings:
Minimum Internal Temperature Chart
Do you use a meat thermometer? Share your safety tips in the comments below! What should meat thermometer read for chicken?The basic rule of thumb is to cook whole chicken to an internal temperature of 180°F (82°C) and chicken cuts like chicken breast to 165°F (74°C).
Is chicken done at 165 or 180?Current federal recommendations list various safe cooking temperatures for poultry, including 180°F for whole chickens and 170°F for breasts. The USDA said it wants to clarify that the key temperature for safety is 165°F.
How far do you stick a meat thermometer in chicken?For best results, it is important that your probe placement is accurate. The best place to insert a probe into a whole chicken is deep into the breast. Using the length of the probe, measure three quarters along the breast, marking on the probe with your fingers.
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