{"id":3612,"date":"2023-03-28T17:33:35","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T21:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/millenora.com\/?p=3612"},"modified":"2023-03-30T10:43:26","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T14:43:26","slug":"how-to-know-meat-is-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/millenora.com\/how-to-know-meat-is-done\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways To Know Meat Is Done & Levels of Doneness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Some people can easily tell that meat is done cooking while others need to carry out different processes to know if meat is ready to be served. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you fall into the latter category, you should read this article to help you know how to tell your meat is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overcooked meat doesn’t always taste good, except if you know how to repurpose it into meals. Undercooked meat isn’t good either. Moreover, it’s unhealthy. You’ll agree that meat is best enjoyed when it’s tender and juicy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are general signs to look out for to know if meat is done. If you want to avoid ending up with undercooked and overcooked meat, you need to know how to identify well-cooked meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the many vital kitchen utensils you should have is a food thermometer. A food thermometer gives you the exact heat level at which your food is being cooked. The average temperature to cook your meat is 165\u00b0F (74\u00b0C). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When cooking meat, always check the temperature of the meat with the food thermometer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To do this correctly, insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and make sure it does not touch any part of the bone or fat. If the thermometer comes in contact with the fat or bone, it will give you a wrong value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the steps to making good meals is to abide by all instructions labeled on groceries such as cooking procedures and duration. Follow the manufacturer’s information and instructions written on the pack of meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not go about looking for how long it will take food to cook or taking suggestions from friends. You will only end up getting different answers and too many cooks spoil the broth. To avoid this, ignore all unrecommended cooking times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Time suggestions do not work with meat dishes. If you apply time suggestions to cooking your meat dish, you may never know if your meat is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also improvise with your fingers to know when your meat is done. I wouldn’t say the fingers are better than a food thermometer, but it’s not a bad idea either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, the best option to test your grills is to use your fingers. And there’s something good about using your fingers to check your meat; it doesn’t allow the liquid spice in the meat to drain off, unlike the food thermometer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raw meat feels rough, tough, and squishy on the fingers while cooked meat feels tough but soft. However, the different levels of doneness may influence the texture of the meat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many home cooks stick to using the food thermometer to check if meat is done. Get used to using other methods like your face and fingers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like your finger test, the feeling you get when you touch your cheeks represents medium-rare or done meat, the forehead \u2013 medium meat, and the chin \u2013 medium-well meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a popular method everyone knows and uses. When meat is well cooked, it becomes smaller; a sign that it has absorbed enough heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are times when you might get a little bit confused. Like in moments when you do a \u201cwell done\u201d finger test for your meat, it feels like it’s done, but hasn’t reduced in size. Do not be deceived, your meat is not done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, if you notice the meat has reduced greatly, it is most likely overcooked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In essence, you cannot wholly rely on one method when testing for doneness in your meat. You should use at least two methods to be very sure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n