Field guide · cooking
Check the centre, not the photo.
Understand why the centre of food matters, how to use a clean food thermometer, and what a photo cannot confirm.
Read with sources
Cooking safety depends on the food, the temperature reached and the time held there. A photo of a browned surface cannot measure the middle. A clean food thermometer can help you check the centre of food that must be cooked thoroughly. This guide follows Food Standards Agency guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; use the guidance for your location and the specific food you are cooking. Source: FSA cooking your food.
Follow the recipe and the pack
The FSA advises following recipe or package cooking instructions, checking that food is cooked completely, and considering a thermometer to verify the temperature. Different foods and appliances need different handling. Do not transfer a time or setting from one dish to another because the two look similar. Source: FSA cooking your food, section 1.
Measure where heat reaches last
Use a clean food thermometer to check the middle or thickest part, avoiding bone when checking meat. Clean the probe after each use to avoid cross-contamination. The FSA lists equivalent centre temperature and time combinations for fully cooked food, including 70°C for two minutes or 75°C for 30 seconds. Those numbers are a UK FSA general guide; the relevant food's instructions and special guidance still apply. Source: FSA cooking your food, sections 2–4.
Appearance offers clues, not a temperature reading
If a thermometer is unavailable, the FSA describes several visual checks, including steam rising from the middle when a dish is cut. Some meat and seafood have additional checks; the right method varies. A still image cannot show the actual centre temperature, holding time or how the food was prepared. Do not use Food Says Hi to decide whether meat or another food is safe to eat. Source: FSA cooking your food, sections 2–5.
Keep the result in context
A thermometer reading is only meaningful if it measures the right part of the right food with a clean probe and is interpreted against appropriate guidance. It is not a diagnosis, and this guide cannot cover every food or individual health circumstance. Consult the FSA's full cooking advice and follow any food-specific or local instructions.