Doneness, safety, and fridge life for chicken, steak, pork, and the sides next to them.
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Meat cooking temperatures for beef, pork, poultry, ground meat, seafood and leftovers, with USDA rest times and how to place and calibrate a meat thermometer.
A steak doneness guide from blue to well done: common temperatures, how each looks and feels, medium vs medium rare, rare steak safety and how to order it.
Is 145°F safe for chicken? 165°F is the standard safe minimum. USDA tables allow 145°F only if held there for close to 10 minutes, which home cooks rarely do.
How to reheat steak: a low, slow oven and then a quick, hot sear bring leftovers back close to fresh. A microwave or high heat is what actually overcooks it.
How to reheat french fries: an air fryer, oven or skillet, all dry heat with airflow, brings them back crispy. A microwave steams them soft, so skip that one.
How long can cooked steak stay in the fridge? 3 to 4 days at 40°F or below, per USDA guidance, the same as most other cooked meat. How to store and reheat it.