How to Use a Meat Thermometer in a BBQ

Using a BBQ is a fun and easy way to make delicious meals for yourself and your family, especially in the summertime. Using a meat thermometer can help keep your family and friends safe by ensuring that meat is cooked thoroughly to prevent food-borne illnesses. Using a meat thermometer can also protect your dinner from being burned to a crisp!

Things You'll Need

• Meat thermometer (traditional or digital)
• Meat

Instructions

Grill and Test Your Meat

1. Buy an instant-read thermometer designed for reading the internal temperature of meat. You can find one at almost any department store, kitchen or hardware store by browsing the cooking or grilling section. Traditional meat thermometers feature circular heads with clock-like read-outs, many of which are inscribed with the temperatures at which different types of meat are safe for consumption. Digital meat thermometers have also become popular as of late, and many converts believe they are easier to use than the traditional models.

2. Find a BBQ recipe and follow the instructions for preparing and grilling the meat.

3. Follow instructions as to how long the meat should be cooked. Before the allotted time is up, open the BBQ's lid to test the temperature. It is also possible to test the temperature throughout the cooking process if a very specific level of doneness is desired (particularly if your guests like their meat rare to medium rare).

4. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and toward its center. It is recommended that the probe be inserted 2 inches into the meat. Do not let the probe touch bone and do not insert the thermometer into a fatty section of the meat.

5. Hold the thermometer in the meat for 10 to 15 seconds. Otherwise, an accurate temperature will not be registered.

Follow Simple Guidelines for Cooking Food Safely

1. Cook your BBQ to its desired temperature. For beef and lamb, meat should be at least 125 to 135 degrees F (for rare meat). Medium-rare beef and lamb should register a temperature of 140 to 145 degrees F. Cook your beef and lamb to 150 to 160 degrees F for medium, 165 to 170 degrees F for medium well and 170 to 190 degrees F for well-done BBQ.

2. Cook pork, chicken and turkey following stricter safety guidelines. Medium pork can be enjoyed when the thermometer reads 160 to 165 degrees F, but chicken and turkey should be cooked to a minimum of 170 degrees F and a maximum of 190 degrees F.

Tips & Warnings

• Oven thermometers are also available for purchase to test the temperature of meats cooked in your oven.

• Eating undercooked meat could lead to E. coli or salmonella food poisoning or other illnesses caused by bacteria found in raw meat. Cooking your meat thoroughly will destroy this bacteria.

• Use sanitary methods during meat preparation to avoid transferring bacteria to other surfaces and food.

• Remember to clean the meat thermometer after each use.