1. How do we know if our food is cooked?

2. Why is it important to cook our food thoroughly?
To ensure a good quality dish.
To ensure flavours and textures are correct.
To prevent any food poisoning from undercooked foods.
To keep a good reputation.

3. Temperature control.

4. How can we check temperature?
Use a temperature probe to ensure meat dishes reach a core temperature of 75 degrees Celsius or above!!
Remember: The core temperature means the middle of the food - not just the temperature at the top of the dish.

5. Visual appearance
We can sometimes use our eyes to judge whether we think a product is cooked or not. We can look at appearance, colour and change in texture.
For example, we can see that cheese has melted on cheese on toast.

6. Cakes – skewer test
Stabbing the centre of a cake with a skewer can tell us whether a cake is cooked.
If the skewer comes out clean, the cake is cooked.
If the skewer comes out dirty, the cake is not cooked.

7. Cakes – Finger test
Pressing down on a cake can also be an indication of whether it is cooked or not. If the sponge springs back up, the cake is cooked. If the sponge sinks in – it needs longer!

8. Bread
Tapping the underneath of the bread should create a hollow sound if it has been cooked for long enough.
If you don’t hear the sound, it made need a little longer.