Which practice helps ensure that food is cooked to safe levels?

Cooking food to safe levels is essential to prevent foodborne illnesses, and the most reliable method to ensure this is by using a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the food. By measuring the temperature, you can verify that the food has reached a temperature that is high enough to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens, ensuring food safety. Each type of food has specific temperature requirements that need to be met, and a food thermometer provides an accurate way to monitor these temperatures, thus guaranteeing that food is cooked properly and safe to consume.

Using color as an indicator of doneness can be misleading, as some foods may look fully cooked while still harboring harmful bacteria. Cooking foods in large batches might not allow for even cooking throughout, potentially leaving some portions undercooked. Estimating cooking time lacks precision and can lead to inconsistent results, increasing the risk of serving undercooked food. Therefore, relying on a food thermometer is the best practice for ensuring that food is cooked to safe levels.