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Burger Temperature Chart

What temperature should a burger be cooked to? Here's a doneness chart from rare to well done in Fahrenheit and Celsius, plus the USDA safe temperatures for ground meat.

The short answer: the USDA recommends 160°F (71°C) for ground beef and 165°F (74°C) for ground poultry.

DonenessPull from heatFinal tempWhat it looks like
Food safety: the USDA recommends cooking ground beef, pork and lamb to 160°F and ground chicken or turkey to 165°F. Grinding spreads surface bacteria through the meat, so ground beef isn't treated like a steak. Rarer burgers carry more risk, especially for children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system.

Tips for an accurate reading

  • Insert the probe through the side of the patty into the center, not from the top.
  • Thick burgers keep rising a few degrees as they rest, so pull them slightly early and rest for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Thin smash burgers cook through in a couple of minutes, so they're usually well done by the time the crust is ready.
  • A fast instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out of it.

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