What color should ground pork be when cooked?

Does ground pork stay pink when cooked?

Cooked muscle meats can be pink even when the meat has reached a safe internal temperature. … Cook all raw ground pork to an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe.

What color should cooked ground pork look like?

Color-wise, the slogan worked because pork cooked to 160 degrees is a pale, languid white-gray color. In contrast, pork cooked to 145 degrees remains decidedly pink. It’s not “bloody” like rare-cooked beef but still, the pork’s color can be described only as pink-pink-pink.

How can you tell if raw ground pork is bad?

The best way is to smell and look at the ground pork: signs of bad ground pork are a sour smell, dull color and slimy texture; discard any ground pork with an off smell or appearance.

How long does ground pork need to cook?

How long does it take to brown ground pork? Cook the pork for three to four minutes, or until it is browned evenly with no pink. Ground pork must reach an internal temperature of 160 F.

Is it okay to eat ground pork a little pink?

A Little Pink Is OK: USDA Revises Cooking Temperature For Pork : The Two-Way The U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered the recommended cooking temperature of pork to 145 degrees Fahrenheit. That, it says, may leave some pork looking pink, but the meat is still safe to eat.

What happens if you eat undercooked ground pork?

Trichinosis is a food-borne illness that is caused by eating raw or undercooked meats, particularly pork products infested with a particular worm. Typical symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills and headaches.

Why does pork turn pink when cooked?

Table 1 – Internal Color of Cooked Pork Loin Chops. Myoglobin, the red, watersoluble protein in muscle, is responsible for the pink/ red color of muscle foods. … The chemical reactions of oxygenation and oxidation-reduction produce the three forms, which lead to the change in color as meat is exposed to heat.

What are symptoms of trichinosis?

Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and abdominal discomfort are often the first symptoms of trichinellosis. Headaches, fevers, chills, cough, swelling of the face and eyes, aching joints and muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhea, or constipation may follow the first symptoms.

Is discolored meat bad?

Color changes are normal for fresh product. With spoilage there can be a change in color—often a fading or darkening. In addition to the color change, the meat or poultry will have an off odor, be sticky or tacky to the touch, or it may be slimy. If meat has developed these characteristics, it should not be used.