Cooking destroys disease causing bacteria that may be present on food. Depending on the type of food, different final cooking temperatures are recommended. Whenever checking food temperatures, be sure to place the sensing part of the food thermometer in the thickest part or geometric center of the food. This is usually the coldest part of the food during cooking. Be sure to cook the following foods listed below to the recommended internal final-cook temperature.
Food thermometers are readily available and only cost a few dollars.
Thermometers are a great investment in food safety. F All ground meat products and poultry should be cooked until they show no signs of pink. Properly cooked ground meat products should be brown in the middle and poultry should be white in the middle. During grilling, be sure to check that the middle of the meat is cooked properly and that the juices from the meat are clear and not bloody. If not, keep on cooking.