Do leftover foods need to be thoroughly reheated?
It is important that leftovers be refrigerated promptly after they are first cooked to prevent bacteria growth. Reheating to 165 gives an additional measure of safety in case there was bacteria growth during the cooling process. Back to top How can I tell when eggs are cooked? When the protein in the egg changes from a liquid to a solid, the egg is cooked adequately to kill pathogens. For egg-containing dishes, testing the temperature with a thermometer is recommended. Back to top How do I know when food is adequately cooked? Most people use visual cues to determine whether meat and eggs are adequately cooked. For ground beef, cooking until the beef patty is no longer pink has been recommended. A much more accurate way to determine when ground beef is adequately cooked (pasteurized) is check the temperature with a thermometer a digital thermometer is recommended because it is the most accurate way to test temperature of thin meats such as ground beef patties, pork chops or chicken piec
