05/15/06 Have you cooked your Goose!

Have you cooked your goose? For years the USDA has recommend that the poultry we consume be cooked to at least 180 degrees. Now you can often get away with this with when preparing chicken but boy when you are cooking up wild ducks, pheasant or goose 180 degrees can make them one tough bird. So in a 180 degree turn, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced earlier this month that they are reducing their recommended poultry cooking temperature to 165 degrees. After testing was completed by the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (that's a mouthful in itself) The USDA found that 165 degrees does the trick to zap nasty salmonella, bacteria's and even the avian flu virus. For more on the commissioned study visit contact the USDA. I don't know how many of us actually use a thermometer when cooking poultry, if your like me and just cut and look, with these lower USDA recommended temperatures better make sure your goose is cooked!.