USDA Meat Internal Temp Quick Reference Guide
Authentic reference chart and data matrix for USDA Meat Internal Temp in Meat & Seafood Temps. Use the interactive table below or print it / save it as a PDF with the button below.
Quick-Reference Table
The full data from this cheat sheet, right on the page.
| Meat / Protein Type | Minimum Safe Internal Temp (USDA) | Resting Time Required | Culinary / Chef Target Temp | Temperature Probe Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poultry (Chicken & Turkey Whole or Ground) | 165°F (73.9°C) | None required (5 mins recommended) | 165°F (Breast) / 175°F (Thighs/Dark Meat) | Thickest part of breast or thigh, avoiding bone |
| Ground Meats (Beef, Pork, Lamb, Veal) | 160°F (71.1°C) | None required | 160°F (No pink center) | Center of thickest patty or meatloaf |
| Fresh Beef, Veal, Lamb (Steaks, Chops) | 145°F (62.8°C) | 3 Minutes rest on warm board | 130°F–135°F (Medium-Rare) / 145°F (Medium) | Center of steak horizontally away from fat or bone |
| Fresh Pork (Chops, Roasts, Loin) | 145°F (62.8°C) | 3 Minutes rest on warm board | 145°F (Slight blush pink in center) | Thickest portion away from bone |
| Fish & Fin Shellfish | 145°F (62.8°C) | None required | 125°F–135°F (Salmon flakes easily with fork) | Thickest section of fillet |
| Leftovers & Casseroles | 165°F (73.9°C) | 2 Minutes rest | 165°F steaming hot throughout | Center of casserole dish |
How to Use This Chart
Pin this chart where you work: it packs 6 entries and 5 columns (Meat / Protein Type, Minimum Safe Internal Temp (USDA), Resting Time Required, Culinary / Chef Target Temp, Temperature Probe Placement) into one printable page, built for quick lookups.
Scan down the Meat / Protein Type column to your item, then read across for Minimum Safe Internal Temp (USDA), Resting Time Required.
Example: for Poultry (Chicken & Turkey Whole or Ground), the chart gives Minimum Safe Internal Temp (USDA) of 165°F (73.9°C).
- Compare values down a single column to spot the pattern before you commit to a choice.
- When two rows look close, the Temperature Probe Placement column usually breaks the tie.
- Print it once and keep it where you work — that's the whole point of a cheat sheet.
Printable Sheet Preview
High-Contrast Layout
Download Your Free Printable Sheet
Download the printable PDF below. It is the same sheet shown in the preview above, ready to print on US Letter or A4 — open it and choose Print, with Scale set to Fit to Page.
💡 Pro Printing Tip: In your printer settings, set Scale to “Fit to Printable Area” and enable “Background Graphics” for color headers.