Take a walk through any neighborhood this time of year, and you’re bound to smell the enticing aroma of food being prepared on outdoor grills. Whether you use your oven or the outdoor grill, cooking food to the proper temperature is critical to the safety of your family. Dr. Mary Bielamowicz, Regents Fellow, professor and nutrition specialist with the Texas Cooperative Extension, explains how to ensure the food you are preparing is ready to eat.
How do you determine if the food you are cooking is done? If your answer is by looking at it, you may be putting yourself and your family at risk. While a hamburger patty may look done on the outside, the temperature on the inside may not be high enough to kill disease-causing microorganisms. Internal temperatures that are high, but not high enough, actually create an environment in which the dangerous microorganisms multiply rapidly. When the internal temperature is high enough to kill the microorganisms, the food is ready to eat:
| Food | Degrees F |
|---|---|
| Ground meat and meat mixtures of beef, pork, veal and/or lamb | 160 |
| Ground meat and meat mixtures of turkey and/or chicken | 165 |
| Fresh beef, veal, lamb | 145 to 170 |
| Poultry | 165 |
| Fresh pork | 160 to 170 |
| Pre-cooked ham (to reheat) | 140 |
| Pre-cooked, commercially prepared roast beef (to reheat) | 140 |
| Egg dishes, sauces, custards | 160 |
| Leftovers | 165 |
To accurately measure the internal temperature of a food, use a food thermometer. Two types of instant-read food thermometers are available. Neither type is designed to remain in the food during cooking. Instead, periodically insert the thermometer as described below.
Having determined the internal temperature is adequate, you can relax and enjoy your meal, knowing that you’ve helped protect yourself and your family from undercooked food and possibly foodborne illnesses.
This article is provided as a courtesy by Texas Cooperative Extension. The temperature chart is intended for consumer use and not for commercial or industrial purposes. For more information, contact your local county extension agent or registered dietitian. 
H.E.A.D.s Up is a monthly column that features articles on a wide array of Health, Exercise And Diet issues. Information for these articles is provided by health and wellness professionals from throughout the A&M System. If you have questions or story ideas for this column, email Ruth McMullan.