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Is 145-150 internal temp ok for ground meat

Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:22 pm
Posted by EWE TIGER
Houma
Member since Sep 2009
924 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:22 pm
I'm smoking a meatloaf (for the first time) on the egg for dinner. The recipe I'm using says to cook it to 155-160 IT, then let rest for 10 minutes. Alton Brown has a smoked meatloaf recipe and he says to pull it at 140 IT, and rest for 30 minutes. I assume it would get to 145-150 during the rest period. Both recipes have ground beef and pork. I researched and it seems like 160 is the recommended standard for all ground meat (excluding poultry). This is store bought, not ground at home. Anybody else cook store bought ground beef and pork to less than 160?
Posted by Buga_Scores
L.C
Member since Jul 2014
1834 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:24 pm to
quote:

Due to the natural nitrate content of certain ingredients often used in meatloaf, such as onions, celery and bell peppers, meatloaf may remain pink even when a 160°F internal temperature has been reached. Always check the internal temperature of meatloaf using a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer to be certain it reaches 160°F.
Posted by Zach
Gizmonic Institute
Member since May 2005
112495 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:25 pm to
I love Alton Brown. But the idea of checking internal temp is against my religion. I'm from the Church of Ole Skool. I know when my meat is cooked by looking at it.
Posted by Woody
Member since Nov 2004
2452 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:25 pm to
I'd go to 160. Done meatloaf on the primo many times, and it still falls apart at 160. 140 would still be mush IMO.
Posted by FT
REDACTED
Member since Oct 2003
26925 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:53 pm to
quote:

I know when my meat is cooked by touching it.


FIFY
Posted by SpartyGator
Detroit Lions fan
Member since Oct 2011
75453 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 3:59 pm to
quote:

. But the idea of checking internal temp is against my religion. I'm from the Church of Ole Skool. I know when my meat is cooked by looking at it.



I'll still do it, but i prefer look at the juice color of the meat.
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
21932 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 4:51 pm to
I would go to 160...... who wants a rare meatloaf other than Gaston?
Posted by EWE TIGER
Houma
Member since Sep 2009
924 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 5:31 pm to
I think I'll go to just over 150 and leave the probe in while it rests for 30 minutes. I think it should get pretty close to 160. If it doesn't get to 160 in the middle, I figure it will on the ends, and the middle can be nuked as leftovers. I'll let y'all know how it turns out.

Posted by Gaston
Dirty Coast
Member since Aug 2008
39021 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 5:48 pm to
Not sure I'd eat a mushy meatloaf. Maybe, but sounds a bit gross.
Posted by robins08
Alexandria
Member since Mar 2012
609 posts
Posted on 8/2/14 at 6:20 pm to
Ground beef is 155 for 15 seconds . Poultry is 165 . seafood and steaks is 145 . pork, beef , veal , and lamb roast 145 for 4 minutes .
Posted by EWE TIGER
Houma
Member since Sep 2009
924 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 7:20 pm to
quote:

I'll let y'all know how it turns out.


So, I smoked it to just over 150. When resting, it got up to at least 159. It was cooked through, and had a good texture. No problem with the doneness, but overall it was just ok. I got this idea in my head that smoking a meatloaf was going to produce this great new dish. I may change up the recipe and try again down the road, but at this point, I'm not ready to put it into the regular rotation. Thanks for all the advice.
Posted by ruzil
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2012
16916 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 8:38 pm to
quote:

Ground beef is 155 for 15 seconds . Poultry is 165 . seafood and steaks is 145 . pork, beef , veal , and lamb roast 145 for 4 minutes .



Wow, cooking a steak to 145 is a waste of good meat. It is not so much a factor of temp as it is how much time spent at which temp that guides food safety.

I routinely eat very rare hamburger that is cooked to an internal temp of 132 without a problem.
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76526 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 8:51 pm to
quote:

I routinely eat very rare hamburger that is cooked to an internal temp of 132 without a problem.


By the book, that's a dangerous practice.

Ground meat by it's very nature is a way different animal than steak. Many people don't understand this.
Posted by ruzil
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2012
16916 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 9:10 pm to
quote:

By the book, that's a dangerous practice.

Ground meat by it's very nature is a way different animal than steak. Many people don't understand this.


quote:

It is not so much a factor of temp as it is how much time spent at which temp that guides food safety.


What if I cook it sous vide?
This post was edited on 8/3/14 at 9:12 pm
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76526 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 9:23 pm to
quote:

What if I cook it sous vide?


quote:

I routinely eat very rare hamburger that is cooked to an internal temp of 132 without a problem.


Even if you cook it in a sous vide to 132 degrees it's still dangerous. You aren't killing bacteria at that temperature. In all actuality it might be worse to cook it in a sous vide to 132 because bacteria love warm temperatures under 140 degrees you could be creating a breeding ground.
Posted by ruzil
Baton Rouge
Member since Feb 2012
16916 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 10:57 pm to
quote:

Even if you cook it in a sous vide to 132 degrees it's still dangerous. You aren't killing bacteria at that temperature. In all actuality it might be worse to cook it in a sous vide to 132 because bacteria love warm temperatures under 140 degrees you could be creating a breeding ground.




Douglas Baldwin has a site on the interwebz that you could learn from, if you are so inclined.
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76526 posts
Posted on 8/3/14 at 11:38 pm to
I don't see the advantage of holding it at 130 rather than 140, you still get medium rare burgers with just a quick, simple sear on both sides.

Why even tempt salmonella.

Just my thought, but that is a very informative website.

Thanks.

I love a good rare steak, but I just don't mess around with ground meats. To each his own
This post was edited on 8/3/14 at 11:40 pm
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