Grilled to Perfection
Identifying Degree of Doneness to Satisfy the Preference of Every Palate
Pork
Nutrition:
- Many cuts of pork are as lean or leaner than chicken. Six cuts of pork meet the USDA guidelines for ‘lean,’ with less than 10 grams of fat per serving.
- Pork provides 9 key nutrients and is naturally low in sodium.
- One serving of pork is 3 ounces, or roughly the size of a deck of cards.
Cooking:
- Cook chops, roasts, loins, and tenderloin to an internal temperature of 145°F, followed by a three-minute rest. Ground pork should always be cooked to 160°F, according to the USDA.
- Washing meat before cooking is not recommended.
Storage:
- Sealed, pre-packed raw pork products can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-4 days after purchase. Sealed ground pork can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Cooked leftovers should be refrigerated within 1-2 hours of serving. Cooked pork can be refrigerated for 4-5 days.
- Pork freezes well if wrapped and sealed well (be sure to use air-tight packaging). Repackage meat into airtight storage containers or bags before freezing. Uncooked chops, roasts, and loins generally keep well in the freezer for up to 6 months. Uncooked ground pork keeps well in the freezer for about 3 months.
- Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, microwave, or immersed in cold water.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, National Pork Board
Beef
Nutrition:
- Beef provides 10 essential nutrients including protein, iron, choline, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, and selenium.
- One serving of beef is 3 ounces, or roughly the size of a deck of cards.
Cooking:
- The safe minimum cooking temperature for beef, as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture, is and internal temperature of 145°F with a three-minute rest time. Ground beef should always be cooked to a minimum temperature of 160°F.
- Washing meat before cooking is not recommended.
Storage:
- Most sealed, raw beef products can be safely kept in the refrigerator for 3-5 days after purchase. Raw ground beef that is sealed tightly can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days after purchase.
- Cooked beef products can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days after preparation.
- Beef products freeze well. Products can be frozen in their original packaging but should be transferred to airtight packaging to preserve quality. Raw beef products generally keep well in the freezer for up to 12 months. Raw ground beef keeps well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Cooked beef products should be used within 3 months.
- Always thaw meat in the refrigerator, microwave, or immersed in cold water.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture