It's important that you cook meat well enough to make it safe for you and your family to eat. Each type of meat has a recommended doneness temperature that it should reach before you put it on a dinner plate. We suggest that you purchase a good meat thermometer to ensure that the meats reach these safe temperatures. Here are the minimum cooking temperatures, according to FoodSafety.gov: Ground beef, pork, and lamb: 160°F Poultry: 165°F Steak, roasts, and chops: 145°F Fresh pork: 145°F Fish with fins: 145°F Shrimp, lobster, crab, and scallops: Until pearly or white, and opaque Clams, oysters, and mussels: Until shells open during cooking Some recipes, such as rare steaks, call for lower temperatures. You should prepare these recipes carefully.