Tips, tricks, and helpful hints:

• Pork Safety: The USDA recommends cooking ground pork patties and ground pork mixtures such as meat loaf to 160°F. Cook all organ and variety meats (such as heart, kidney, liver, tongue, and chitterlings) to 160°F. Cook all raw pork steaks, chops, and roasts to a minimum internal temperature of 145°F as measured with a food thermometer before removing meat from the heat source. For safety and quality, allow meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or consuming. For reasons of personal preference, consumers may choose to cook meat to higher temperatures.

• To Rinse or Not to Rinse: It isn't necessary to wash raw pork before cooking it. Any bacteria which might be present on the surface would be destroyed by cooking

• USDA Information on Pork

​