Why are some people advised to re-heat lunch meats and hot dogs before eating them?
Lunch meats and hot dogs are fully cooked by the manufacturer. However, occasionally these meats are re-contaminated with bacteria after cooking. The advice to re-heat processed meats is due to concern about killing a bacteria called Listeria that is risky for some people, including pregnant women, elderly and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeria bacteria can reproduce in the refrigerator so that if a few bacteria are in the package of lunch meat or hot dogs, the number of Listeria can become very high during the time these meats are stored in the refrigerator. Back to top Why doesnt chicken look done when it is cooked to 160°? Chicken looks done at a higher temperature than is required to pasteurize it or cook it sufficiently to kill pathogens. Most people prefer chicken cooked to 170° for pieces and 180° for whole chicken. Back to top Why isnt color a good way to tell whether ground beef is cooked? Sometimes ground beef will turn brown at a temperature well below that which
