Meat cooking temperature guide. When are steaks, chops, chicken, and other foods done?
Print this page, clip the table below, and stick it to the fridge. I want my meats tender, juicy, and flavorful, and I also want them safe. The temperature of the meat controls these things. Only the best pros can tell by looking and feeling. The rest of us need a good instant-read meat thermometer and a good oven thermometer. Nothing will save you from apologizing to your guests and keep you from wasting money as well as good thermometers. Click here for my Buying Guide to Thermometers. Important disclaimer. I am a cook, not a food safety expert. The temperatures recommended below are similar to the temps restaurant chefs use and they may be slightly different from those recommended in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. To be absolutely perfectly safe from a microbial standpoint, you should follow USDA guidelines exactly. I cannot be responsible for your health or safety if you do not follow USDA guidelines. You also need to know that the temps are not exac
