The How’s and Why’s of using a food thermometer when cooking burgers, chicken breasts, pork chops

and sausage patties

By the end of this presentation, you will learn:

How to be a better cook

How to be a safer cook

Why you can’t judge a burger by its color

About the flip side of flipping burgers

Why use a food thermometer when

cooking small cuts of meat?

Why use a food thermometer when cooking small cuts of meat?

Safety

Quality

Quick

Easy to use

What is a small cut of meat?

Hamburgers

Turkey Burgers

Pork Chops

Chicken Breasts

Sausage Patties

Millions of people get sick from dangerous bacteria in food every year . . .

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates . . .

•76 million stomach and intestinal illness

•325,000 hospitalizations

•5000 deaths

. . . occur each year in the United States due to foodborne illness.

Two of the Healthy People 2010 objectives focus on food safety recommendations . . .

To reduce by 50 percent the number of infections caused by key foodborne pathogens

To increase by 10 percent the proportion of consumers who follow key food safety practices

. . . but many people don’t link their illness to foodborne

bacteria and viruses.

SafetSafetyy Raw meat may contain

harmful bacteria.

These bacteria are killed when meat is cooked to 160 º F

SafetSafetyy Many people rely on the internal color to check doneness

BUT . . .

Research shows that color is NOT a good indicator of doneness

USDA Research (1998) Showed:

One out of every four hamburgers turns brown before cooked to safe internal temperature

Only 3 out of 100 consumers checked hamburgers with a food thermometer

This IS a safely cooked hamburger, even though

it’s pink inside

This IS NOT a safely cooked hamburger, even though

it’s brown inside

The ONLY way to be sure

when meat is safe to eat is by testing the temperature

with a thermometer!

You should use a food thermometer when you are cooking

Ground meat patties and meatloaf

Beef, veal, lamb

Poultry (chicken and turkey)

Pork

Ham

Including small cuts of meat

How do I use a food thermometer?

Step 1For thin meat, use a dial or digital instant read thermometer.

Insert the probe into the side of the meat

Quick and easy steps to check your meat for proper temperature

Step 2

Insert the probe so at least 2-3” (dial) or ½-inch (digital) is in the center of the meat

Quick and easy steps to check your meat for proper temperature

An instant-read DIAL thermometer reads the temperature along 2-3” of the probe-this means 2-3” of the probe must be inside the food.

An instant read DIGITAL thermometer has its temperature sensor in the tip. The probe must be inserted at least 1/2 –inch into the food.

1/2 “ sensing area

2-3 “ sensing area

Step 3

Allow 15-20 seconds for the temperature to stabilize

Quick and easy steps to check your meat for proper temperature

Clean the spatula and thermometer between uses by:

•Rinsing under hot running water for 5 seconds

AND

•Wiping with a clean paper towel

Beef Roasts and Steaks

Cook to 145°F because bacteria are usually only on the surface of

the meat.

Poultry

Safely cooked at 160°F, but may not look done until cooked to

170 - 180 °F

QualityQuality Meat cooked to 160 º F is juicy and tender Overcooked meat is tough and dry Unless you use a thermometer, it is very easy to overcook meat

The

Flip Side of

Flipping Bugers

A study conducted at Washington State University compared methods of cooking hamburgers for their effectiveness in killing E. coli O157:H7.

Clam shell-type grill, patties were not turned

Frying pan, patties were turned every 30 seconds

Frying pan, patties were turned only once

Consumers should either

Cook hamburger patties in a clam

shell-type grill

OR

Turn patties often when cooking on a single-sided grill

Today We Have Covered:Today We Have Covered:

Raw and undercooked meat can contain harmful bacteria

Millions of people get sick from dangerous bacteria in food every year

Color is NOT a good indicator of doneness

Using a food thermometer is the ONLY way to determine is meat is cooked to a safe temperature of 160°F

Today We Have Covered:Today We Have Covered:

Using a food thermometer can improve the quality and safety of small cuts of meat

Quick & easy steps for using a food thermometer when cooking small cuts of meat.

The quickest and most effective method for reducing E. coli O157:H7 in hamburger patties is using a clam-shell type grill or flipping several times during cooking.

Now You’re Cooking!