Why Rare Steak is Safe but NOT Rare Chicken

Rare steak is pretty safe to eat, because the germs of greatest concern are usually found on the surface and will be killed when seared. But, as Dr. Francisco Diez-Gonzalez of the University of Georgia’s Center for Food Safety explains, research shows similar germs can live deep inside the muscle of chicken, and therefore can’t be killed by simply searing the exterior. Ground beef is more dangerous than whole cuts because the exterior has been mixed into the interior. Fish is more complicated (depending on