HILLSBORO, Ohio — The Highland County Health Department is giving away free meat thermometers throughout November to help residents cook holiday meals safely, the agency said in a social media post.
Residents can stop by the department’s office at 1487 N. High St., Suite 400, in Hillsboro to pick up a thermometer while supplies last, the health department said.
The department said color alone cannot show whether meat has been cooked thoroughly, and a food thermometer is the only reliable way to confirm that a dish has reached a safe internal temperature and that harmful bacteria have been killed.
The health department listed the following minimum safe internal temperatures for common holiday dishes:
- Turkey, chicken and other poultry: 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Ground beef and pork: 160 degrees Fahrenheit
- Beef, pork and lamb steaks, roasts and chops: 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a three-minute rest
- Leftovers and casseroles: 165 degrees Fahrenheit
The giveaway falls under the health department’s Food Safety Program, which licenses food service operations and retail food establishments across Highland County and inspects every licensed restaurant in the county at least once a year to ensure compliance with Ohio’s food safety code, according to the department. The Highland County Health Department has served the county since 1920.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Highland County Health Department.
