A woman, Gaby Dalkin, pouring water into a grill outside
Photography, Matt Armendariz

The right temperatures to grill meat beef, lamb, poultry and pork to perfection

Use this temperature cheat sheet to know when your food is cooked.

Cookbook author and food blogger Gaby Dalkin fires up the barbecue in her new book, What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling All the Things. In addition to easy, elevated recipes, Dalkin shares tips, tricks and hacks for aspiring grillmasters – such as this breakdown of at-a-glance temperatures to watch for. “No more doneness mysteries,” Dalkin writes.

Beef

Rare: 120ºF to 125ºF (48.9ºC to 51.5ºC)

Medium-Rare: 130ºF to 135ºF (54.4ºC to 57ºC)

Medium: 140ºF to 145ºF (60ºC to 63ºC)

Medium-Well: 150ºF to 155ºF (65.5ºC to 68.5ºC)

Well Done: 160ºF (71ºC) and above

Grilled beef recipes

T-Bone Steak with Coffee Chili Rub
Revive a steak dinner classic with a savoury rub that will leave you wanting more.
Get the recipe
Two T-bone steaks and smashed potatoes on a pan with knife.

Garam Masala Beef Keftas
Tamara Green and Sarah Grossman's recipe for garam-masala-spiced beef keftas served with a lemony tahini sauce.
Get the recipe
A blue plate with beef and salad

Akaushi Beef Skewers and Shrimp Brochette
Tender beef skewers and a classic shrimp brochette are served over veggie rice in this recipe from Tiago’s Cabo Grille in San Antonio, Texas.
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Grilled beef and shrimp skewers with drinks nearby on a bright blue surface

Lamb

Rare: 135ºF (57ºC)

Medium-Rare: 140ºF to 150ºF (60ºC to 65.5ºC)

Medium: 160ºF (71ºC)

Medium-Well: 150ºF to 155ºF (65.5ºC to 68.5ºC)

Well Done: 165ºF (74ºC) and above

Grilled lamb recipes

Grilled Lamb Loin Chops and Peppers
A simple Italian-style recipe for grilled lamb chops, from Domenica Marchetti's Everyday Italian cookbook.
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White plates with grilled lamb chops, red peppers and herbs

Lamb Burgers With Feta
Gaby Dalkin's recipe for lamb-kofta-inspired burgers with whipped feta and grilled cherry tomatoes.
Get the recipe
Burgers with feta cheese and cherry tomatoes

Poultry

Chicken: 165ºF to 175ºF (74ºC to 80ºC)

Turkey: 165°F to 175ºF (74ºC to 80ºC)

Grilled poultry recipes

Cajun Drumsticks with Spicy Grilled Pineapple
A sweet and sour grill-up of cajun-spiced drumsticks and spicy pineapple.
Get the recipe
Grilled drumsticks arranged on a tray.

Easy Grilled Chicken Thighs
This ready-to-grill chicken recipe has two flavour options: seasoning the meat with fresh herbs or a fiery North African-inspired harissa paste.
Get the recipe
A container filled with grilled chicken sits on a rock outside

Pork

Medium-Rare: 145ºF to 150ºF (63ºC to 65.5ºC)

Medium: 150ºF to 155ºF (65.5ºC to 68.5ºC)

Medium-Well: 155ºF to 160ºF (68.5ºC to 71ºC)

Well Done: 160ºF (71ºC)

Grilled pork recipes

Pork Chops with Caraway Seed Rub and Grilled Bread Rolls
Cheesy bread makes everything better, but these perfectly charred pork chops are the true stars here.
Get the recipe
Grilled pork chops arranged on a pan with bread and a fork.

A book cover in a light frame

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