cook beef perfectly

I was hanging out at the Texas Beef Council Friday trying to learn all their secrets. If anyone knows how to cook beef, THESE people do. My last visit with them taught me to use a meat thermometer every time I cook beef so I could learn what temperature I prefer.   Once you know your temperature, you can consistently cook it perfectly. I used my meat thermometer faithfully, but wasn’t getting optimal results. I was still over-cooking on a regular basis. While grilling with one of the TBC GrillMASTERS, I grilled him about how he is able to always get great results trying to find the error of my beef-cooking ways. Turns out I was taking the beef’s temperature incorrectly. This is the proper way to take a hamburger’s temperature:

Tips for cooking beef:

• While cooking, turn the beef as little as possible – once is optimal – which helps contain the natural juices…step away from the tongs.
• Turn the meat over when you see condensation appearing on the uncooked side.
• Use a meat thermometer to determine if the beef it done.
• When taking the beef’s temperature, lift the meat from the heat source and insert the thermometer from the side so it goes in at least 1/4 th inch (beyond the heat sensor line on the thermometer).

Go forth and grill with confidence… I was a guest at Appetite for Inspiration hosted by the Texas Beef Council in Austin which included beef-related gifts.   It is a program that I have been excited to work with over the last 6 months and hope to continue because they are just great beef people.   All opinions expressed are my own.