Meat and poultry safety charts

The keys to basic food safety are cooking it to the right temperature and storing it properly.

Foods are properly cooked when they are heated for a long enough time and at a high enough temperature to kill the harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness. Properly storing foods preserves food quality and prevents both spoilage and food poisoning. Consult the easy-to-read charts below to learn how to cook and store your food the right way.

Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures: Cook all food to these minimum internal temperatures as measured with a food thermometer for safety.

Cold Food Storage Chart: Storage guidelines for home-refrigerated foods to keep them from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat.

Meat and Poultry Charts: Use these timetables to determine how long to cook meat & poultry products. Times are approximate.

Food Safety in a Disaster or Emergency: How to keep food safe during and after an emergency, such as a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power.