For safety, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends cooking hamburgers and ground beef mixtures such as meat loaf to 160 °F (71.1 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. Cook all organ and variety meats (such as heart, kidney, liver and tongue) to 160 °F (71.1 °C).
You might be wondering “What temperature is beef well done at?”
The USDA recommends steaks and roasts be cooked to 145°F (medium) and then rested for at least 3 minutes. To ensure food safety, ground beef should be cooked to a minimum 160°F (well done). Be sure to check with a thermometer, as color alone is not a foolproof indicator.
You should be asking “What is the lowest temperature for beef?”
Bake / By James Lewis The USDA recommends a minimum cooking temperature of 325 degrees Fahrenheit for beef, although traditional recipes may allow for lower temperatures.
Why is it important to cook meat to safe temperatures?
Animal-based protein sources like beef, chicken, and lamb contain many nutrients ( 1 ). However, these meats can also harbor bacteria, including Salmonella, Campylobacter, E., coli o157: H7, and Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause serious foodborne illnesses. Hence, it’s important to cook meat to safe temperatures before eating it ( 2, 3, 4 ).
What should temperature of meat be before cooking?
Maillard browning on the outside (high temperature, low water)An even core temperature on the inside ( moderate temperature, high moisture).A limited region of grey dry overcooked meat between the two.
Meat products can pose a high risk of foodborne illnesses, which can be very serious. Safe internal cooking temperatures vary depending on the type of meat but are commonly around 145°F (65°C) for whole meats and 160–165°F (70–75°C) for ground meats.
Beef, pork, veal and lamb steaks, chops and roasts should reach 145 degrees with a 3-minute rest time. Ham, fresh or smoked, should reach 145 degrees with a 3-minute rest time. All poultry should reach 165 degrees. Leftovers and casseroles also should reach 165 degrees .
What temperature should hamburgers be cooked to?
About one in ten hamburgers were undercooked (cooked to less than 155°F ). The FDA Food Code says that restaurants should cook ground beef to 155°F for 15 seconds. But CDC and USDA say that consumers should cook ground beef to 160°F.