Meat thermometers should be cleaned after each use. Frequent hand washing also decreases the risk of cross contamination by reducing the number of bacteria that pass from raw to cooked foods. As an alternative, before leaving on a picnic, pack soapy cloths and wet toweletts if hand-washing facilities are not available. Reaching safe food cooking temperatures is another necessary precaution to insure cooked meats and poultry are safe to eat. Color is not a reliable method of determining doneness.
Thermometers are the only reliable method for determining doneness.
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