I know that some of you like your beef rare but with all of the problems this country has experienced with food making you sick, cook your ground beef to an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees. This means until there are no pink juices and the center is no longer pink. I know, I know…but it could mean the difference between getting very sick and staying healthy.

For steaks, cook to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees and it is ok for them to have a pink center. If you don’t have an instant-read thermometer get your Dad one for Father’s Day. Look in your grocery store near the meat case. You’ll often find them located there or in most any food/cookware department or store.

An instant-read thermometer measures the meat’s temperature in about 15 seconds. These are not meant to be left in the food while it cooks but to determine whether the food is done and cooked to a safe temperature.