When Is It Cooked?

Steak
Use this handy guide to determine the doneness (numbers are for minutes per side) when cooking from thawed, as recommended for all M&M Meat Shops’ steaks.

Insert a digital food thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, away from any bones and use these temperatures as a guide to determine the doneness.

Medium-Rare: 145°F (63°C)
Medium: 160°F (70°C)
Well-Done: 170°F (75°C)

For smaller cuts of meat, such as meatballs, place or thread multiple pieces tightly together on the probe of your digital food thermometer so that you get a good reading.

Set it right!
Use this guide when barbecuing all your favourite meats:

• High setting 550°F (290°C): Use this setting for searing steaks and chops, for a fast warm-up or for burning food residue from the grills.  This setting is seldom used for extended cooking.
• Medium setting 450°F (230°C):  This setting is used for most grilling, roasting and baking, as well as for hamburgers and vegetables.
• Low setting 350°F (180°C):  Use this setting for rotisserie cooking and smoking.
• Cooking times in recipes are based on 20°C weather with little or no wind.  Allow more cooking time on cold or windy days, and less time on extremely hot days.
• Using a timer will help to alert you when “well-done” is about to become “over-done”.

Burgers
When your hamburgers are a dark brownish colour on both sides, they’re ready to be checked for doneness. Insert a digital food thermometer from the side of the burger into the middle. The internal temperature should be 165°F (74°C) or higher. You cannot tell if a burger is fully cooked by colour.

Chicken
Insert a digital food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken piece. It should be 165°F (74°C) or higher. For bone-in chicken pieces, do not touch the thermometer probe to the bone. If you are cooking a whole chicken, internal temperature should be 185°F (85°C) or higher in the thickest places. Juices should always run clear when you cut into chicken.

Pork
Like chicken, pork should be cooked clear through. But best to check that the internal temperature is at least 160°F (71°C).

All M&M sausages are pre-cooked making your cooking experience a little safer. Cook sausage from a frozen state according to the instructions on the package. Avoid piercing the skin to keep the juices locked inside. If splitting occurs, reduce heat on your barbecue.

Fish
For perfectly cooked fish, from fillets to skewers, simply follow the cooking instructions on the M&M package. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to use heavy aluminum foil when cooking fish on the grill.

Kabobs
M&M kabobs are best cooked from thawed. While still in their vacuum package, thaw the kabobs overnight in the refrigerator, or thaw in a sink of cold running water for about 30 minutes. Then follow the cooking instructions on the label, ensuring that a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached.