Ontario Food Handler Certification Practice Exam

What is the best way to measure the temperature of food?

1. Using a food thermometer

2. Estimating with touch

3. Using a clock to guess cooking time

4. By smelling the food

The correct answer is: Using a food thermometer

Using a food thermometer is considered the best way to measure the temperature of food because it provides an accurate and reliable measurement of internal temperature. This accuracy is critical for ensuring that food is cooked to safe temperatures, which helps prevent foodborne illnesses by ensuring harmful bacteria are killed. Different types of food thermometers, such as instant-read, digital, or dial thermometers, are designed to quickly assess the temperature and are essential tools in both commercial and home kitchens. Estimating with touch, using a clock to guess cooking time, or relying on the smell of food can lead to inaccurate assessments. Each of these methods lacks the precision required to determine whether food has reached a safe cooking temperature, which can result in undercooked food that poses health risks. Thus, using a food thermometer remains the best and most dependable approach for measuring food temperature accurately.