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Original poster

Just eaten pink beef burger!

105 replies

Dancingflamingos · 21/11/2024 18:44

We cooked them in the frying pan for 10 mins + and checked with an internal thermometer- which showed 77 C and I believe that’s correct as it needs to be 160 F or 71 C. So temp was supposedly correct.
But as you can see from the photo it was this colour inside! I took a bite without realising - now I’m really worried! They are really thick. I feel like the juices weren’t as clear as they could be either.
I have included the packaging too.

Also excuse the cheese and condiments, I always go overboard when it comes to burgers!

Just eaten pink beef burger!
Just eaten pink beef burger!
OP posts:
Shade17 · 21/11/2024 20:00

The French would consider that ruined! You’ll be absolutely fine.

Miyagi99 · 21/11/2024 19:58

It’s beef so fine pink.

Bobbingtons · 21/11/2024 19:54

To avoid risk premade burgers should be cooked through, usually because of the risk of botulism but there can be other bacteria. The reason for this is because the bacteria live on the surface of red meet, unlike white meat where the bacteria live inside the meat. It's probably low risk if it was bought to temperature.
Rare burgers should only be cooked from freshly ground beef which should be ground and shaped just before cooking which is why in the UK restaurant burgers need to be cooked through as most restaurants don't prepare their burgers to order but have them premade.
There is a small chance you could get sick although over 70 degrees internally you should be fine

MereDintofPandiculation · 21/11/2024 19:46

I ate a meatball that was pink in the middle and was laid up with food poisoning for over a week. The good side was I list half a stone.

Portolaurel · 21/11/2024 19:46

I don't understand why you put a meat thermometer in a burger, rather than just cutting open slightly to check. They're designed for things like roasts surely. And the cooking instructions are guidance only, use your own judgement.

Onthesideofthespiders · 21/11/2024 19:45

Chersfrozenface · 21/11/2024 19:10

I was going to say, people eat steak tartare, which is basically raw mince.

It that was dangerous, lots of posh restaurants would be getting prosecuted.

No, it isn’t.

The part of beef you have to worry about is the part which has been in contact with the air. With mince, that’s all of it. So burger have to be cooked. With steak tartare, that isn’t the case because it’s made with a steak which has then been chopped up. Not made with mince.

CarrotPencil · 21/11/2024 19:45

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 21/11/2024 18:47

Well you can eat beef raw so I'm sure it's fine

The mincing process means you shouldn’t eat burgers (or any minced beef) pink. It churns the bacteria from the outside/surface of the meat all throughout the burger. Whereas if you were cooking a steak or a roast, the bacteria on the surface of the meat gets cooked off (unless you’re having it blue! 😬)

Having said that OP, I’m sure your mass produced burger will probably be fine (as opposed to a homemade one or whatever, probably more stringent processes!)

OneTC · 21/11/2024 19:42

I like a pink burger but not when it's mass produced fancy horse from the supermarket

stargazerlil · 21/11/2024 19:42

It’s the luck of the draw really 50/50 could be contaminated at the factory, possible food poisoning, but if not then the rare bit in the middle is packed full of vitamin b12 . Good luck!

Sethera · 21/11/2024 19:41

roastiepotato · 21/11/2024 19:18

https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/burgers

Show quote history

Ach, they're over-fussy. They have to cover themselves in case someone sues them.

Words · 21/11/2024 19:40

Perfect. Exactly as they should be

LoveIsLikeAFartIfYouHaveToPushItsUsuallyShit · 21/11/2024 19:39

Houseplanter · 21/11/2024 19:26

I had to have a food hygiene certificate for work a while ago.

They were very clear that minced beef Inc burgers should be well cooked. It's not the same as with joints or steaks

Well then they REALLY need to get onto all that restaurant incl mkchelin star swrving it pink. As it should and can be (unless previously frozen, then it's better fully through).

This is not raw anyway

Caerulea · 21/11/2024 19:38

Houseplanter · 21/11/2024 19:26

I had to have a food hygiene certificate for work a while ago.

They were very clear that minced beef Inc burgers should be well cooked. It's not the same as with joints or steaks

This is the case indeed. You are allowed to sell pink burgers (& steak tartar) BUT you have to go through a separate process to be allowed & use specifically cleared mince to do so. It's too onerous to do so few bother.

To another pp - yes, you can be prosecuted for serving pink burgers now, as of about 5/6 years ago.

BUT the guidelines & laws for the food industry are about as risk averse as it's possible to be. No one would handle/cook food like it at home, I certainly don't.

Long & short - you'll be fine OP, genuinely. Just do a lower heat next time on a thick burger so it can cook longer :)

Branleuse · 21/11/2024 19:37

That's how my husband likes his burgers.
Youll be fine. I prefer mine cooked through. I like steak medium, but not burgers

roastiepotato · 21/11/2024 19:36

That is disgusting @Southwest12

pointlesspoints · 21/11/2024 19:34

I'm a bit baffled that you used a thermometer over your eyes for this one tbh. Pink burger won't do you any harm, but a lesson in checking your food and not simply using a thermometer.

wordler · 21/11/2024 19:33

Unless you are pregnant I wouldn’t be at all worried about this - you can have burgers rare to medium.

Thepurplepig · 21/11/2024 19:32

Houseplanter · 21/11/2024 19:26

I had to have a food hygiene certificate for work a while ago.

They were very clear that minced beef Inc burgers should be well cooked. It's not the same as with joints or steaks

They say that because there is a small chance that contamination could occur during the grinding process. Beef doesn’t harbour germs in the same way as poultry. As long as it has been stored correctly I have more chance of being hit by a bus than you do of getting food poisoning from raw mince.

I eat it out if the packet when I’m frying. Yes, yes disgusting…sue me!! I’m yet to get ill and I’ve been doing it for 20 years.

tolerable · 21/11/2024 19:32

a good vet could put that back on the park.....
really worried about what?

StormingNorman · 21/11/2024 19:26

Dancingflamingos · 21/11/2024 19:20

The thermometer does work. We use it regularly for chicken etc.
It was also hot when bitten into and steaming.

It looks cooked. Raw mince would be a much darker red. It goes that rosey colour on it’s way to brown during cooking.

Houseplanter · 21/11/2024 19:26

I had to have a food hygiene certificate for work a while ago.

They were very clear that minced beef Inc burgers should be well cooked. It's not the same as with joints or steaks

Southwest12 · 21/11/2024 19:23

I eat raw mince out of the frying pan when I cook spag bol, so this would be well cooked to me!

Original poster
Dancingflamingos · 21/11/2024 19:20

The thermometer does work. We use it regularly for chicken etc.
It was also hot when bitten into and steaming.

OP posts:
roastiepotato · 21/11/2024 19:20

I don't know why people think pink mince isn't a risk. It is.

roastiepotato · 21/11/2024 19:18

Sethera · 21/11/2024 19:17

You'll be fine. Raw beef isn't a risk. I regularly have steak tartare in the summer.-

https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/burgers

Burgers

Food safety advice when preparing burgers at home and when eating burgers in restaurants

https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/burgers

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