University of Wisconsin - Extension

MADISON, Wis.—Juicy grilled hamburgers and succulent grilled chicken – delicious foods that are part of many 4th of July gatherings. Add food safety to your list of holiday favorites by using a food thermometer to check for doneness, says Barbara Ingham, University of Wisconsin-Extension food scientist. Using a food thermometer when cooking meat, poultry, and even egg dishes is the only reliable way to make sure you are preparing a safe and delicious meal for your family. A new USDA food safety campaign called "Is it DONE yet?" promotes food thermometer usage when preparing meat and poultry to prevent foodborne illness.

“One out of every four hamburgers looks done before it has reached a safe internal temperature of 160 degrees F,” says Ingham. “The truth is, you can’t tell by looking. You have to use a food thermometer to be sure.”

The ’Is It Done Yet?' campaign is designed to build consumer awareness of basic food safety principles -- especially using a food thermometer. A large number of the estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illness per year are preventable.

Everyone is at risk for foodborne illness. Young children under 10 are especially vulnerable. One effective way to prevent illness is to use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of meat, poultry, seafood and egg dishes. Using a food thermometer not only keeps your family safe from harmful food bacteria, but it also helps you to avoid overcooking, giving you a safe and flavorful meal that is done on time.

“The food thermometer should be placed in the thickest part of the food and should not be touching bone, fat, or gristle,” Ingham says. “Begin checking the temperature toward the end of cooking, but before you expect the food to be ‘done.’”

Compare your thermometer reading to the USDA Recommended Temperatures to determine if your food is done. Because there are so many types of food thermometers, it is important to follow the instructions for your food thermometer. Make sure to clean your food thermometer with hot soapy water before and after each use! USDA Recommended Internal Temperatures for common meats include: steaks & roasts, 145 °F; pork, 160 °F; ground beef, 160 °F; chicken breasts, 170 °F; whole chicken, 180 °F.

For more information about food thermometer use, visit: www.IsItDoneYet.gov. For more information in English and Spanish, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or TTY: 1-800-256-7072, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. Or visit the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov . E-mail inquiries can be directed to mphotline.fsis@usda.gov .