Final answer:
b) 165°F (74°C) Ground beef cooked in a microwave must reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure food safety. This temperature is needed to kill harmful bacteria, and a meat thermometer can be used to check this. Microwave ovens and pressure cookers can reach varying temperatures that greatly affect cooking times.
Step-by-step explanation:
The internal temperature ground beef cooked in a microwave oven must reach to ensure it is safe to eat is 165°F (74°C). This temperature kills harmful bacteria and pathogens potentially present in the beef, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses. In comparison, a cool oven might go down to 150°F, and a meat thermometer can be used to check whether the proper temperature has been reached.When using appliances, such as microwave ovens or pressure cookers, it's important to note that their power settings and the duration of heating affect the temperature that foods reach.
For instance, pressure cookers can create environments with temperatures as high as 252°F (122°C) due to the build-up of steam pressure. However, with microwaves, less energy is usually converted to heat the food, as indicated by the effective power absorption rates provided in typical examples such as the warming of burritos or pasta.The correct answer is b) 165°F (74°C). Ground beef cooked in a microwave oven must reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is safe to eat. This temperature is recommended by food safety guidelines to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in the meat.