Abstract
Outbreaks of food-borne illness have emphasized the need for proper cooking of ground beef patties. Because of difficulties in measuring internal temperature of ground beef patties, visual indicators usually are used to estimate degree of doneness. As internal temperature increases from 130 to 170EF, the internal appearance is expected to change from very red to brown and juice color from red to clear. Based on ground beef patties from three sources, we found that internal color over-estimated internal temperature. Expressible juice decreased in redness as internal temperature increased but did not run clear even at temperatures over 160EF. Regardless, expressible juice color was a better indicator of degree of doneness than internal color.
Highlights
The need for thorough cooking of ground beef patties has been identified by USDA as a food safety concern, since cases of food-borne illness have been linked to undercooked ground beef
Based on ground beef patties from three sources, we found that internal color over-estimated internal temperature
Expressible juice decreased in redness as internal temperature increased but did not run clear even at temperatures over 160 ÌŠF
Summary
The need for thorough cooking of ground beef patties has been identified by USDA as a food safety concern, since cases of food-borne illness have been linked to undercooked ground beef. Individuals at highest risk are the very young, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. Most outbreaks have occurred in smaller food establishments and in homes, likely due to difficulty in monitoring the actual degree of doneness. Large establishments have more carefully controlled cooking procedures to assure that specified end-point temperatures are reached. Ground beef patty shape makes it difficult to measure end-point temperature. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) developed the following recommendation to assure heating to 160EF. "Heat all meat patties until they are hot, steaming, and juices run clear. The center of the patty should be grayish-brown with no evidence of pink color."
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