We have bad news for those of you who like their burgers almost pink and juicy. While the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics standards say its fine to eat your steak cooked rare, it’s unsafe to do the same with hamburger and other ground meat. The reason? Food safety experts say it’s all in the process. Usually pathogens are found on the surface of the muscle tissue, so once you start grinding up the meat, you’re mixing the pathogens throughout the meat patty.” So, if you serve a burger that’s rare or undercooked, any germs that haven’t been killed off are still alive and well inside, increasing the risk of food poisoning. For ground meat to be enjoyed risk free, the meat needs to reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, or nice and brown inside making it well done. So, if you choose to eat a rare burger, keep in mind that there’s a chance that bacteria are present. Luckily, with steak, because the pathogens are only on the surface, as long as the outside is seared, it can be safely eaten at a lower degree of doneness such as rare or medium rare.
Pork and fish must be cooked all the way through to be safe.…..Ed
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