Why does cooking some foods make them safe to eat?

Cooking certain foods can make them safe to eat by destroying or reducing the presence of harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria and parasites, that may cause foodborne illnesses.

Here's a more detailed explanation of how cooking makes some foods safe to eat:

1. Killing Harmful Microorganisms:

- Cooking foods to a sufficient temperature kills most bacteria, viruses, and parasites that may be present. The most effective way to ensure the safety of food is to cook it until it reaches an internal temperature that is high enough to destroy these microorganisms.

- Different microorganisms have different temperature sensitivities, so it's important to cook the food to the recommended internal temperature to eliminate potential health risks. For example, the USDA recommends cooking poultry to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) to ensure the destruction of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter.

2. Denaturing Toxins:

- Cooking can also help denature or inactivate toxins that may be present in certain foods, such as bacterial toxins or plant toxins. These toxins can be harmful if consumed, but cooking can reduce the risk by breaking down or destroying them. For instance, cooking mushrooms properly can denature the toxins present in some varieties, making them safe to eat.

3. Breaking Down Harmful Substances:

- Cooking can break down or reduce certain harmful compounds in foods, such as antinutrients or natural toxins. Antinutrients can interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients, while some natural toxins can be harmful to health. Cooking can help deactivate these substances, making the food safer to consume.

4. Altering the Food Structure:

- Cooking can alter the physical characteristics and structure of food, making it less hospitable to microbial growth. For example, cooking meat changes the protein structure, making it more difficult for bacteria to attach and multiply.

It's important to follow proper food safety guidelines and cooking temperatures to ensure that foods are cooked thoroughly and safe to eat. Using a food thermometer to verify the internal temperature of cooked foods is a reliable way to ensure that they have reached the recommended safe temperatures.