What is the minimum internal temperature for ground meat?

What is the minimum internal temperature for ground meat?

• A. 165 degrees F
• B. 145 degrees F
• C. 155 degrees F
• D. 150 degrees F

Answer: (C)

Grinding meat distributes any bacteria from the surface throughout the product, so cooking it to a higher internal temperature is needed to reliably destroy pathogens. The minimum safe internal temperature for ground meat is 155°F (often specified as 155°F for a short hold, like 15 seconds) to ensure safety. This is higher than the 145°F guideline for whole cuts, where bacteria are mostly on the surface and can be killed with heat met by searing. The other temperatures don’t align with the safety standard for ground meat.

Grinding meat distributes any bacteria from the surface throughout the product, so cooking it to a higher internal temperature is needed to reliably destroy pathogens. The minimum safe internal temperature for ground meat is 155°F (often specified as 155°F for a short hold, like 15 seconds) to ensure safety. This is higher than the 145°F guideline for whole cuts, where bacteria are mostly on the surface and can be killed with heat met by searing. The other temperatures don’t align with the safety standard for ground meat.