Meat is a good source of iron, zinc, protein and riboflavin, which are all important for both you and your baby during pregnancy. However, you’ll need to take precautions when cooking meat to ensure that it’s safe. Many of the precautions are equally applicable to people who are not pregnant, but the risks involved in contracting food poisoning or listeriosis are so much greater for pregnant women that it makes sense to take all possible precautions. The American Pregnancy Association strongly advises against eating rare or undercooked meat while you’re pregnant due to the risk of the meat being contaminated with bacteria.
Step 1
Store your meat in a refrigerator or freezer to minimize bacteria growth. Check that your refrigerator is chilling food to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and that the temperature in your freezer dips to 0 degrees.
Step 2
Wash your hands carefully both before and after handling raw meat. Keep any chopping boards, knives or other utensils clean by washing them in hot, soapy water or using a sanitizer.
Step 3
Use one chopping board for cutting or trimming meat and a separate chopping board for fruit and vegetables to prevent cross-contamination. Keeping raw meat -- and the utensils you use to handle it -- separate from cooked meat and other foods helps to reduce your risk of infection.
Step 4
Cook the meat at a temperature of at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This advice applies to beef, lamb and veal roasts and steaks. You can obviously set the temperature of your oven using its controls, but using a meat thermometer lets you check the internal temperature of the meat when it’s cooked and may give you added peace of mind that your meat has been properly cooked.
Step 5
Check the cooked meat. Even if it appears to be cooked on the outside, stick a knife into it and look for the color of the juices that flow out; if the juices are clear, you know it’s safe to eat. If the juices are still red, cook the meat for a few more minutes and then repeat the test. The same applies to meat that is still pink inside: cook it for a longer period until all the meat has changed color.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Chopping board
- Knives
- Meat thermometer
References
- American Pregnancy Association; Essential Nutrients and Vitamins for Pregnancy; June 2011
- USDA; Food Safety, Keep You and Your Baby Safe from Listeriosis; June 2011
- American Pregnancy Association; Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy; June 2011
- FDA; Safe Eats: Meat, Poultry and Seafood; September 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Pregnancy Nutrition, Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy; May 2011
- CDC; Preventing Infections During Pregnancy; June 2009
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