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Meat Temperature Guide: Safe Internal Cooking Temperatures for All Meats

🌡️ Meat Temperature Safety Guide

Safe internal cooking temperatures for all meats with interactive temperature checker

165°F Poultry Safety Temp
145°F Beef/Pork Safety Temp
160°F Ground Meat Safety

🚨 Food Safety Critical

Use a food thermometer! Visual cues alone cannot determine if meat is safely cooked. Always check internal temperature in the thickest part, avoiding bone, fat, and gristle.

🌡️ Temperature Safety Checker

Showing all meat types

Click any meat for detailed cooking temperature guide

🥩 Beef Doneness Guide

120-125°F
Rare
Cool red center, very soft
130-135°F
Medium Rare
Warm red center, soft and juicy
135-145°F
Medium
Warm pink center, firm texture
145-155°F
Medium Well
Slightly pink center, quite firm
155°F+
Well Done
No pink, fully cooked throughout
⚠️ Food Safety Note: USDA recommends 145°F + 3-minute rest for beef steaks and roasts. Ground beef must reach 160°F.

🌡️ Essential Thermometer Tips

📍 Proper Placement

Insert thermometer into thickest part of meat, avoiding bone, fat, and gristle. For whole poultry, check both breast and thigh.

⏱️ Instant vs Leave-in

Instant-read thermometers give quick results but shouldn’t stay in oven. Leave-in thermometers monitor temperature during cooking.

🎯 Calibration

Test accuracy in ice water (32°F) and boiling water (212°F at sea level). Adjust or replace if readings are off by more than 2°F.

🧽 Cleaning

Clean thermometer probe with hot soapy water before and after each use. Sanitize with alcohol wipes to prevent cross-contamination.