10/15/2026
🌡️ Is it done? Don't rely on color, use a food thermometer.
One of the simplest food-safety lessons to learn is also one of the most important: you can't reliably tell whether meat is safely cooked just by looking at it. Ground beef, in particular, can brown before it reaches a temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria.
For beef:
🥩 Steaks, roasts and chops: 145°F, followed by a 3-minute rest
🍔 Ground beef: 160°F
A food thermometer is the best way to verify that beef has reached a safe minimum internal temperature.
And remember the four basics of food safety: Clean. Separate. Cook. Chill.
It's a small kitchen habit that can make a big difference, especially when we're cooking for children, older adults or anyone more vulnerable to foodborne illness.
👉 Find more beef cooking and food-safety resources at FloridaBeef.org.
Nutrition education provided by a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist in partnership with the Florida Beef Council.
https://www.facebook.com/FloridaBeef/ https://www.facebook.com/JamieLeeRDN/