Safe Microwave Cooking of Pork

One safe way to cook pork – from the Bible to the broiler to the microwave. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health.

Pork is one of the meats most likely to contain the germ which causes trichinosis, today a somewhat rare but potentially serious disease. Thoroughly cooking pork is the basic answer to the problem, but the simplicity breaks down some when it comes to microwave cooking. Some microwave dishes, if untended, can result in cool spots within otherwise cooked foods, and if it’s present within a cool spot, the trichinosis germ will not be destroyed.

To help assure that microwave cooked pork is safe to eat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that pork cooked in a microwave reach an internal temperature of at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit. To help achieve this, the National Livestock and Meat Board has published some specific suggestions.

When cooking a boneless pork roast it suggest selecting an evenly shaped roast, putting in a microwave cooking bag and cooking approximately 22 minutes per pound on a medium low setting or until the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees.

For pork chops they recommend using chops three quarters to an inch thick, placing them in a tightly covered microwave dish, and cooking for 18 to 20 minutes per pound. Both chops and roasts should also be turned and rotated halfway into the total cooking time. For a copy of this script, access our web site, speakingofhealth.com. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, for CBS News Radio.