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Every dad has had this moment.
You're outside at the grill. Tongs in hand. Family watching. Confidence
fading.
And you're secretly Googling:
"medium steak temp"
Don't worry. We've all done it.
This is the cheat sheet I wish I had saved in my phone years ago ---
the meat temperature chart every dad should know before firing up the
grill, oven, or smoker.
Bookmark this. Screenshot it. Print it. This one saves dinner.
Meat Temperature Chart Every Dad Should Know
Steak Temps
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium Rare: 135°F
- Medium: 145°F
- Medium Well: 150°F
- Well Done: 160°F
- Safe Temp: 145°F
Burger Temps
- Medium: 155°F
- Medium Well: 160°F
- Well Done: 165°F
- Safe Temp: 160°F
Salmon Temps
- Medium Rare: 125°F
- Medium: 130°F
- Medium Well: 135°F
- Well Done: 140°F
- Safe Temp: 145°F
Pork Chop Temps
- Medium: 145°F
- Medium Well: 150°F
- Well Done: 160°F
- Safe Temp: 145°F
Pulled Pork / Pork Butt Temps (BBQ)
- Done Temp: 195–205°F
- Ideal for shredding: 200°F
Meatloaf Internal Temp
- Safe Temp: 160°F
These temps line up with the USDA safe minimum internal temperatures used for food safety in home kitchens and restaurants.
Steak Temps Explained
If you've ever searched medium steak temp, this is what you're
looking for.
- Rare steak temp: 125°F
- Medium rare steak temp: 135°F
- Medium steak temp: 145°F
- Medium well steak temp: 150°F
- Well done steak temp: 160°F
Pull the steak off the grill about 5 degrees early. It keeps cooking
while resting. This is called carryover cooking and is exactly why you should let steak rest after cooking.
Burger Temps Explained
Ground beef is different from steak. It must be cooked more
thoroughly.
- Medium burger temp: 155°F
- Medium well burger temp: 160°F
- Well done burger temp: 165°F
- Safe internal temp for burgers: 160°F
Salmon Temps Explained
Salmon cooks fast and dries out faster.
This is where most dads mess up. We treat salmon like steak and leave it on the grill too long because we’re waiting for it to “look done.” By the time it looks done, it’s already overcooked.
- Medium rare salmon temp: 125°F
- Medium salmon temp: 130°F
- Well done salmon temp: 140°F
- Safe temp for cooked salmon: 145°F
But here’s the trick nobody tells you…
Salmon keeps cooking after you pull it off the heat. If you wait until it hits 145°F on the grill or in the pan, it will be dry by the time it hits the plate.
The sweet spot most people love is 130°F.
That’s when salmon is flaky, juicy, and still full of flavor.
Dad Tip
Pull the salmon off the heat at 125–130°F and let it rest for a few minutes. The carryover heat will finish the job without ruining dinner.
How to tell salmon is done (without cutting it open)
- The fish flakes easily with a fork
- The center is slightly translucent, not raw
- The outside is firm but not dry
Once you cook salmon this way, you’ll never go back to guessing.
Pork Temps for BBQ Dads
This is where patience pays off.
- Pork chop safe temp: 145°F
- Pulled pork temp: 195--205°F
- Pork butt temp: 195--205°F
Low and slow. When it hits 200°F, it falls apart like magic.
Meatloaf Internal Temp
Nobody wants undercooked meatloaf.
- Meatloaf internal temp: 160°F
Printable Meat Temperature Chart for Dads
This is the part you don’t just read — you save.
Screenshot it. Print it. Stick it on the fridge. Tape it inside the grill lid. Keep it in your phone favorites.
Because this is the chart you’ll come back to every single time you cook.
No more panic-Googling:
- “medium steak temp”
- “burger temp”
- “temp for salmon”
- “pulled pork temp”
It’s all right here.
Why this chart matters
Cooking meat isn’t about guessing. It’s about hitting the right internal temperature so your food is:
- Safe to eat
- Juicy and flavorful
- Not overcooked and dry
- Cooked exactly how your family likes it
Once you know these numbers, you stop cooking like a beginner and start cooking like a backyard legend.
Dad Move: Keep This Near the Grill
Most dads don’t mess up because they can’t cook.
They mess up because they can’t remember the exact temp when they’re standing over heat with hungry people watching.
That’s where this chart saves dinner.
Pro Tip
Pair this chart with a simple digital meat thermometer.
No cutting into steaks. No guessing burgers. No dry salmon. No undercooked pork.
Just perfect food every time.
(Place your vertical Pinterest-style “Meat Temp Chart for Dads” image right here.)
FAQ: Meat Temperatures Dads Always Google
What is the medium steak temp?
Medium steak is 145°F.
What temp should a burger be cooked to?
Burgers should reach 160°F internally for safety.
What is the safe temp for salmon?
Salmon is safe at 145°F, but many prefer it at 130°F for better
texture.
What temp is pulled pork done?
Pulled pork is ready between 195°F and 205°F when it easily shreds.
What is the internal temp for meatloaf?
Meatloaf should be cooked to 160°F internally.
Final Thoughts from a Dad at the Grill
You don’t need to be a chef to cook great food for your family.
You don’t need fancy recipes, complicated marinades, or a smoker that costs more than your first car.
You just need to know the numbers.
That’s it.
Because the difference between a dry steak and a perfect steak…
Between overcooked salmon and flaky salmon…
Between burgers everyone politely eats and burgers everyone asks for again…
…is about 10 degrees.
Every dad has stood at the grill pretending to “just check on things” while secretly trying to remember the right temp. I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it.
That’s why this chart matters.
Once you know these meat temperatures, cooking stops feeling stressful and starts feeling easy. You stop guessing. You stop overthinking. You stop overcooking.
You start trusting the thermometer instead of your nerves.
And suddenly, you’re the dad who “just knows how to grill.”
Keep this chart saved. Keep a thermometer nearby. And the next time you’re outside with tongs in hand and hungry people watching, you’ll know exactly what to do.
