Food Safety & Recipe Disclaimer

Cook Bake Taste shares recipes, a meal planner and food quizzes for general information and entertainment. We work hard to get things right, but we're a small team and we can make mistakes. Please read this before you cook from anything on the site.

Cook Food to a Safe Temperature

Cooking times in our recipes are a guide. Ovens, stoves, pans and ingredients all vary, so use a food thermometer and cook to a safe minimum internal temperature, measured in the thickest part:

  • Chicken, turkey and other poultry (whole, pieces or ground): 165°F (74°C)
  • Ground beef, pork and lamb: 160°F (71°C)
  • Beef, pork, veal and lamb steaks, chops and roasts: 145°F (63°C), then rest for 3 minutes
  • Fish and shellfish: 145°F (63°C), or until the flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork
  • Egg dishes: 160°F (71°C)
  • Leftovers and reheated dishes: 165°F (74°C)

These figures follow common US food safety guidance from the USDA and FoodSafety.gov. If the guidance where you live is different, follow your local authority.

Handle and Store Food Safely

Wash your hands, surfaces and utensils often. Keep raw meat, poultry and seafood away from food that won't be cooked. Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking (one hour if it's above 90°F / 32°C), eat them within three to four days, and reheat them until piping hot. Leftover nights in the meal planner assume food has been cooled and refrigerated promptly.

Allergies and Dietary Needs

The diet and allergen filters in our meal planner, and any diet labels on our recipes, are based only on each recipe's listed ingredients. They can't account for different brands, substitutions, or cross-contact in your kitchen or where a product was made. Everyday ingredients such as stock, sauces, spice blends, tortillas and bread often contain hidden allergens, including gluten, dairy, soy, eggs and nuts.

Always read the label of every product you use. If you or anyone you're cooking for has a food allergy, an intolerance or celiac disease, check every ingredient yourself and follow the advice of your doctor or dietitian.

Nutrition Information

Calorie and protein figures are rough estimates per serving. They change with the brands, portion sizes and substitutions you use, and they aren't suitable for managing a medical condition.

Not Professional Advice

Nothing on Cook Bake Taste is medical, nutritional or professional food safety advice. Our quizzes are written for fun, and while we aim for accurate answers, some may be out of date or simply wrong. Pregnant people, young children, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system should take extra care with higher-risk foods such as undercooked eggs, meat and seafood, and follow the advice of a health professional.

Spotted a Mistake?

If you find an error in a recipe, a cooking temperature or a quiz answer, please let us know and we'll put it right.

By using the recipes, meal planner or other content on this site, you accept that you do so at your own risk, and that Cook Bake Taste is not liable for any illness, injury, allergic reaction or loss arising from that use.