Bake it, roast it, or sauté it – the temperature of the finished dish is key to a juicy, tender piece of meat, a perfectly done chicken, or fish that falls into moist flakes at the touch of a fork. It’s easier than you think to get great results, with the help of a good thermometer.
Digital Thermometers Are Essential
Forget the old dial types and get yourself a digital thermometer. If you rarely use the oven, a small instant-read digital is convenient for pan-cooked food. For baking and roasting you’ll want the type where the probe stays inside the food during cooking, while the readout stays outside of the oven for easy checking. Most such thermometers allow you to set an alarm for the ideal temperature, making perfect results even easier.
Correct Temperature Makes Tender Meat
Beef and lamb. Cook beef to 135 degrees Fahrenheit for rare, 145 degrees for medium rare, 160 for medium, and 170 for well done. Celsius equivalents are 57 degrees for rare, 63 for medium rare, 71 for medium, and 76 for well done.
Pork. Many sources, which follow old cookbooks or conservative USDA guidelines, suggest a final temperature of 160 to 170 degrees F (71 to 76 C). At that temperature your beautiful pork chop or tenderloin will be as tender and appetizing as shoe leather. Cook your pork instead until the internal temperature measures 145 to 150 F (62 to 65 C) for a safe and juicy dinner.
Fish. Cook to 135 to 140 degrees F for fully cooked fish, or 57 to 60 degrees C. To enjoy fish such as tuna and swordfish rare, cook to 125 F or 51 C.
Poultry. The breast should be cooked to 165 to 170 degrees F or 74 to 79 C Thighs and legs, which are moister, darker meat, should register at least 170 degrees F or 79 C.
Stop the Cooking on Time
Since multitasking is standard when cooking, set your thermometer a few degrees low. This gives you time to put down what you’re working on and get to the oven while your meat or fish is reaching the ideal temperature.
This is the secret – not special rubs, different cuts, or restaurant ovens. With a digital thermometer and temperature list, you’ll discover you can cook meat, fish, and poultry like a pro. Enjoy!