FYI: Internal Cooking Temperature Parameters
Every year, many Singaporeans get sick because of food poisoning and other food-related illnesses. It is difficult to battle it since harmful contaminants are invisible – it cannot be seen, tasted, touched or even smelled. The single most thing that you can do is to ensure that the internal cooking temperature parameter is observed.
Foods should meet internal temperature to ensure that it can be consumed safely. Knowing this, you have to protect the family against food poisoning using a food thermometer. Food thermometer can help you determine whether the cooked food reached its safe cooking temperature. Food thermometers are readily available here so you won’t have a hard time looking for it.
Using it is pretty simply, you just need to pierce it through the cooked meat, seafood or poultry after the cooking time (make sure to remove it from the fire). If it did not reach a specific temperature, it means it needs more cooking and heating. Make sure to choose digital food thermometers since their readings are more accurate than others.
Here are the internal cooking temperature parameters:
- Meat: The temperature will depend on the doneness. For example, the temperature of the medium rare beef should be 63°C or about 145°F. The medium beef is 71°C or 160°F while the well done beef should be at least 77°C or about 170°F. For pork products like pork loin, ham and ribs, the temperature should be at least 71°C or 160°C.
- Poultry: For poultry products like chicken, duck and turkey, the temperature should be at least 74°C or 165°F for pieces and 82°C or 180°F for whole. For egg dishes, the temperature should be at least 74°C or 165°F.
- Seafood: Fishes should be at least 70°C or 158°F while shellfishes (like lobster, scallops, oysters and shrimp) should be at least 74°C or 165°F. Since it is hard to pierce thermometer, just discard shellfishes that do not open after cooking.
Now that you know the internal cooking temperature parameters, you have to know the recommended storage time as well as it is part of ensuring safe consumption of food. The recommended storage time for steaks is three to four days, chops on the other hand should only be stored for three to four days, roasts are three to five days, hotdog is one week and ham is six to seven days.
It does not end there because there are still many things that you can do to ensure the safety of food consumed. Never forget to wash hands and sanitize tools and utensils. These activities can help eradicate bacteria thereby reducing the risk of food poisoning and other food-related illnesses.
Fancy a Frozen Egg?
Eggs are a staple here in Singapore just like rice and noodles. The breakfast table is never complete without it. After purchasing the egg, you take it out from its cartoon and arrange it in the egg caddy inside the fridge. Sure this looks pretty and neat however experts are recommending that you do not take the egg out from the cartoon.
It can consume much space but the cartoon can in fact help protect eggs from absorbing strong flavors and odors of other foods inside the fridge. Another reason not to discard cartoons is that you can always see the Best Before Date which is a crucial part in food safety. It is also important that you know the recommended storage times for eggs so you will know when it is not safe to consume it. For hard-cooked eggs, you can still consume it within one week after storage. For leftover whites or yolks, you have to consume it within two to four days.
Now that you know many things about egg, it is time that you actually learn freezing it. Eggs can be frozen using the following guidelines:
- For whole eggs: You have to beat the eggs first until fully blended. Pour it in a container and make sure to seal firmly. The important thing here is to label the container with the date and number of eggs then freeze.
- For egg whites only: If you have left over egg whites, you can still use it for other dishes. You have to make sure not to mix the yolk with whites. Pour the whites in a container and seal firmly. Like whole eggs, label the container with date and number of whites then freeze.
- For egg yolks only: Egg yolks should be handled carefully if you do not want it to spoil. Remember that the gelatine property of the yolk will thicken once frozen. If it gets thick, it would be hard to use to it for other recipes. The best way to deal with it is to beat it then add salt or corn syrup. Label the container with date and number of yolks.
- For hard-cooked yolk: Hard-cooked eggs can be used for other recipes as a topping or garnish. After heating it, you can proceed to packing it for freezing. Remember that hard-cooked egg whites and whole eggs can become watery and tough when frozen so avoid freezing them.
Frozen eggs are commonly used for baking. If you need to use it, you need to thaw them overnight.
The Worlds Top Ice Cream Selling Brands
For a fine summer afternoon, what is your ideal snack? Others would think of lemonade or iced tea while others think of the good old ice cream. Ice creams are famous here in Singapore. It doesn’t matter if it is a rainy or hot day because it has become a staple in the refrigerator especially if there are kids around.
Ice creams are not only for the kids. Kids at heart can also enjoy it any time of the day and regardless of the occasion. But what are the top ice cream selling brands in the world? It is time to know the list. Forbes actually compiled a list of the top ice cream selling brands in the world. The data is from Euromonitor – a market researcher.
Here is the world’s top ice cream selling brands:
- Magnum: The number one ice cream best-selling brand in the world is Magnum manufactured and distributed by Unilever Group.
- Haagen-Dazs: The second ice cream best-selling brand in the world is Haagen-Dazs manufactured by General Mills Inc.
- Cornetto: The third ice cream best-selling brand in the world is Cornetto produced by Unilever Group.
- Ben & Jerry’s: Ben & Jerry’s is the fourth best-selling ice cream brand in the word manufactured by Unilever Group.
- Breyers: Breyers is the fifth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Unilever Group.
- Carte d’Or: Carte d’Or is the sixth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Unilever Group.
- Dreyer’s/Edy’s: Dreyer’s/Edy’s is the seventh best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Nestle SA.
- Blue Bunny: Blue Bunny is the eight best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Wells’ Dairy Inc.
- Klondike: Klondike is the ninth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Unilever Group.
- Mihan: Mihan is the tenth best- selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Mihan Dairy Group.
- Drumstick: Drumstick is the eleventh best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Nestle SA.
- Nestle: Nestle is the twelfth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Nestle SA.
- Outshine: Outshine is the thirteenth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Nestle SA.
- Popsicle: Popsicle is the fourteenth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Unilever Group.
- Meiji: Meiji is the fifteenth best-selling ice cream brand in the world manufactured by Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd.
There you go. Now you know the best-selling ice cream brand in the world. If your favorite brand did not make it to this list, there is still hope next year just continue to patronize it.
