what should chicken be cooked to
The correct chicken cooking temperature is critical to destroying pathogens such as Salmonella, which is extremely heat-resistant and can cause severe illness. To safely destroy dangerous bacteria the internal temperature of cooked chicken should reach no less than 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the minimum temperature for safe cooking, however, for maximum safety a higher chicken cooking temperature may be preferable, particularly for breast meat and whole chickens. For whole chickens 180 degrees is a safe temperature, and 170 degrees Fahrenheit is safest for chicken breasts.