Use this chart and a food thermometer to ensure that meat, poultry, seafood, and other cooked foods reach a safe minimum internal temperature.
Remember, you can’t tell whether meat is safely cooked by looking at it. Any cooked, uncured red meats – including pork – can be pink, even when the meat has reached a safe internal temperature.
Why the Rest Time is Important
After you remove meat from a grill, oven, or other heat source, allow it to rest for the specified amount of time. During the rest time, its temperature remains constant or continues to rise, which destroys harmful germs.
Category
Food
Temperature (°F)
Rest Time
Ground Meat & Meat Mixtures
Beef, Pork, Veal, Lamb
160
None
Turkey, Chicken
165
None
Fresh Beef, Veal, Lamb
Steaks, roasts, chops
145
3 minutes
Poultry
Chicken & Turkey, whole
165
None
Poultry breasts, roasts
165
None
Poultry thighs, legs, wings
165
None
Duck & Goose
165
None
Stuffing (cooked alone or in bird)
165
None
Pork and Ham
Fresh pork
145
3 minutes
Fresh ham (raw)
145
3 minutes
Precooked ham (to reheat)
140
None
Eggs & Egg Dishes
Eggs
Cook until yolk and white are firm
None
Egg dishes
160
None
Leftovers & Casseroles
Leftovers
165
None
Casseroles
165
None
Seafood
Fin Fish
145 or cook until flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork.
None
Shrimp, lobster, and crabs
Cook until flesh is pearly and opaque.
None
Clams, oysters, and mussels
Cook until shells open during cooking.
None
Scallops
Cook until flesh is milky white or opaque and firm.