On May 24, the USDA changed the recommended cooking temperatures for meats in a significant way. Here’s what you need to know:
Rest time refers to the period of time a product spends at its final temperature after being taken off a grill, an oven, or another heat source. Meat remains at a constant temperature or continues to rise for three minutes after being removed from the heat source, killing any harmful bacteria.
Put the food thermometer in the food’s thickest part. It should not touch bone, fat, or gristle. When cooking is nearly finished, but before you anticipate it to be finished, begin monitoring the temperature. Before and after each use, be sure to wash your food thermometer with hot, soapy water.
See Thermometer Placement and Temperatures for information on where to place a food thermometer in various cuts of meat. See the Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures chart for more details on cooking temperatures for all types of food.
Feel free to get in touch with us at the Hotline (1-888-674-6854 toll-free) or online at Ask USDA if you have any queries about cooking meat.
What is the Proper Internal Temperature for Ground Beef?
Ground beef must reach a minimum internal temperature of 160°F before it is considered safe to consume, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
How to Know When Ground Beef is Done: Use an Instant Read Thermometer
The best way to check the doneness of ground beef is to use an instant-read thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 160°F, you will not be exposed to harmful bacteria that can make you sick.
How to Cook Ground Beef
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add some oil.
- Add the ground beef to the hot oil once it is hot, and allow it to sit for about a minute to let the water in the meat evaporate.
- To press more moisture out of the beef, use a wooden spoon.
- Season the beef with salt and pepper.
- Break up the beef and spread it out so that all of the meat is in contact with the hot skillet when the bottom of the beef begins to brown.
- The beef should be cooked and stirred continuously until there are no longer any pink spots and a crust forms.
- When the beef reaches 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, check its temperature and turn off the heat.
- Let the meat cool slightly and enjoy.
Advice: Take the ground beef out of the fridge ten to fifteen minutes before you intend to cook it. This will enable the skillet to stay hot after adding the meat.
How Long to Cook Ground Beef on the Stove
Cooking ground beef is simple and takes five minutes per pound of meat. Use a skillet with a little oil or a non-stick frying pan.
Tips to Avoid Overcooking Ground Beef
To ensure that the beef is cooked evenly throughout, stir it frequently. When burgers are finished grilling, you might want to wrap them in foil and move them to the cooler side of the grill.
Best Ground Beef for Cooking
Ground beef with 20% fat is a good option. The fat gives the meat flavor and keeps it moist.
Can Freezing Kill Bacteria in Ground Beef?
No. Freezing ground beef will not kill the bacteria. Instead, while the beef is frozen, the bacteria will be dormant and become active once the beef is thawed. The bacteria can only be eliminated by cooking ground beef to a temperature of 160°F.
Why Is the Minimum Temperature of a Hamburger Higher Than a Steak?
A piece of beef may have harmful bacteria on its surface, and when it is ground, it may spread to other parts of the meat. Because of this, it’s crucial to thoroughly cook ground beef to a minimum temperature of 160°F before consuming.
Should I Wash Ground Beef Before Cooking?
Ground beef shouldn’t be washed because doing so could change the texture of the meat if it takes in too much liquid. To ensure that all harmful bacteria have been eliminated, it is best to cook ground beef to a minimum temperature of 160°F.
Easy Ground Beef Patties RecipeGround beef is one of the most popular and convenient meats to use in many households. It can be included in a variety of dishes, from burgers to casseroles and stews. As with all types of meat, it’s important to properly cook ground beef so it’s safe to eat.
- ▢ Beef Patties
- ▢ 1 lb ground beef
- ▢ 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- Bobby Flay’s original recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of panko breadcrumbs; however, I find that using more breadcrumbs yields juicer steaks.
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic crushed to a paste
- ▢ 1 egg
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ▢ Gravy
- ▢ 1/2 onion white or yellow
- ▢ 5 oz cremini mushrooms about a dozen
- ▢ 1 cup beef broth
- ▢ 1 teaspoon Worcestershire
- ▢ 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- ▢ 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ chopped parsley for garnish
- Make beef patties
- Add breadcrumbs, minced garlic, grated parmesan, salt, and pepper to a sizable mixing bowl with the ground beef. Mix with fingers until the mixture becomes a bit “pasty”. This will ensure your patties hold together nicely.
- Pat firmly into four equal portions to form oval patties that are about 3/4 inch thick.
- Until it starts to simmer, heat the oil in a big cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the steak and cook for 3 minutes on each side for a total of 6 to 8 minutes. Remove onto a plate.
- Gravy
- In the same skillet, add sliced onions and mushrooms. Reduce the heat to medium. The onions should be slightly translucent after 4 minutes of cooking.
- Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth. Reduce heat and simmer for about 3 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and continue cooking for a few minutes more until the sauce has slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the patties back to the skillet. Spoon the juices over the patties.
- Remove steaks onto a serving plate. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve and enjoy!.
- Use lean ground chuck for the best results.
- Make sure the skillet is very hot before adding patties. This helps to caramelize the meat nicely.
Cooking 101: Proper cooking Temperatures to Ensure Safe Food – White Apron Catering, Lake Worth, Fl
FAQ
Is ground beef safe at 145?
There are three crucial temperatures to keep in mind when preparing meat or eggs at home: fresh meat steaks, chops, and roasts should be cooked to 145°F, and all ground meats and eggs must be cooked to 160°F.
Is ground beef safe at 155?
According to the FDA Food Code, restaurants should cook ground beef for 15 seconds at 155°F. However, according to the CDC and USDA, consumers should cook ground beef to 160°F.
What is the internal doneness for ground beef?
Use a food thermometer to cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160 °F. The color of cooked ground beef can be quite variable. A safely cooked patty may appear brown, pink, or some shade of brown or pink at 160 °F.
Can you eat ground beef at 130 degrees?
But for real meat lovers, 140°F is still too high. The fact of the matter is that if you completely avoid what Bruce Aidells refers to as “the germ-filled environment of the butcher shop or packinghouse,” you can safely grill and eat a moist, juicy hamburger at 130°F internal temperature (medium rare).