New research on home cooks
New research from safefood reveals the practical role of using a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked meals.
- 32% have left or returned BBQ food that they felt was undercooked
- 43% of Irish adults now own a meat thermometer
- Only one in five people know that 75 degrees Celsius is the optimum temperature for safely cooked BBQ meats
- Two thirds of people rely on the “cut and check” method
03 August 2023: In light of the upcoming bank holiday weekend, safefood is encouraging home cooks to use a meat thermometer and make sure that BBQ meats like burgers, chicken, and sausages reach 75 degrees Celsius to make them as safe and tasty as possible.
New research¹ from safefood reveals the practical role of using a meat thermometer to ensure perfectly cooked meals. With nearly a third (32%) of adults admitting they have returned food at a BBQ because it was undercooked, it's time to take the guesswork out of cooking on the BBQ to ensure that meats are served safely.
The research revealed a promising trend in meat thermometer ownership, with 43% of adults claiming to own one - an increase from the previous research² carried out by safefood, where only two in five (37%) owned one.
The research also indicates a decline in the proportion of adults uncertain about the ideal cooking temperatures for meats such as chicken, sausages, and burgers. Last year, 42% of adults were unsure about how to correctly identify the temperature of 75 degrees Celsius as the desired internal temperature for safe and thorough cooking, but this year, that number has decreased significantly to 22%.
Also used by two-thirds of adults (64%) is the "cut and check" method to help determine if meat is cooked to their liking. Checks include colour of the meat, juices running clear and piping hot temperature.
My main piece of advice is to eliminate any guesswork by using a meat thermometer, a fool proof tool for all home chefs. It's incredibly easy—just insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and wait until it reaches a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius. - Chef Nico
Supporting the campaign, Chef Nico Reynolds said: “I'm thrilled to be involved in this safefood campaign. As someone who loves barbecuing, safety is always on my mind when it comes to cooking delicious meals. My main piece of advice is to eliminate any guesswork by using a meat thermometer, a fool proof tool for all home chefs. It's incredibly easy—just insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and wait until it reaches a temperature of 75 degrees Celsius. Once it reaches that point, you can rest assured that your meal is ready to be enjoyed!"
Dr Linda Gordon, Chief Specialist in Food Science at safefood added: “Whether it's for a summer barbeque or cooking in your kitchen, a meat thermometer adds that extra layer of reassurance when cooking meats like burgers, sausages, chicken and kebabs. It’s important that we prioritise good food safety practices when cooking these foods. If you don’t own a meat thermometer, it is important these foods are cooked until piping hot, with no pink meat and the juices running clear. “
For more information on cooking meat safely and using a meat thermometer, please visit www.safefood.net/news or follow safefood on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
ENDS
Sandra Flood, Wilson Hartnell
[email protected]@ogilvy.com
Mob: +353 (0)87 617 7130
Dermot Moriarty, safefood
[email protected]
Mob: +353 (0)86 381 1034
References:
¹ Online survey of 1,000 adults aged 18+ on the island of Ireland. (Empathy Research; June 2023).
² Assessment of the use of meat thermometers by consumers on the island of Ireland”; (safefood; Ulster University; & St. Angela’s College; 2021). The study comprised a literature review of meat thermometer ownership and usage; a survey of 1,052 adults on the island of Ireland; and six focus groups with 65 participants.
