"Is it done yet?" This national campaign encourages use of food
thermometers when preparing meat, poultry and egg dishes to
prevent foodborne illness. Studies show that using a food
thermometer is the only way to tell if harmful bacteria have
been destroyed. Research found that even if hamburgers look
fully cooked, 1 in 4 hamburgers may not be safely cooked. Yet
only 6 percent of home cooks use a food thermometer for
hamburgers and only 10 percent use a food thermometer for
chicken breasts, according a government survey. Food safety
experts recommend using a dial or digital food thermometer to
check if meat, poultry, or egg dishes are done. You will also
prevent overcooking. Food cooked to a safe internal temperature
is juicy and flavorful. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) updated its recommendations for safely cooking steaks,
roasts, and chops, including pork, in May 2011. USDA recommends
cooking all whole cuts of beef, pork, lamb or goat meat to 145°
F as measured by food thermometer, followed by 3