What is the correct internal temperature for rabbit meat?
I have never cooked rabbit before, and my charts don't include rabbit. Are there food safety considerations speaking for thorough heating, as with chicken, or is it acceptable to cook it medium rare? Also, what temperature corresponds with the different grades of doneness? I intend to roast half a small rabbit in the oven; the meat doesn't look suited for collagen-based cooking, the animal is probably too young.
Best Answer
In the food safety section of Modernist Cuisine (1-138) it says that all wild rabbit must be cooked through:
Wild rabbit must be cooked well done to kill any tularemia bacteria; for rare or medium cooked rabbit dishes, chefs can substitute farm-raised rabbits that have been kept segregated from their wild relatives by trustworthy breeders.
The section on meat (3-96) recommends bringing rabbit loin to an internal temperature of 59C (138F) and going by the section I've just quoted this is obviously only for farmed meat. The recommendation for the legs is to cook sous vide for 1 hour @ 66C (151F) which again obviously refers to farmed because that's definitely not long enough to tenderise wild rabbit meat.
I would really recommend cooking the leg meat and loin separately as I find that the loin dries out long before the legs are cooked through. The legs are much nicer braised too.
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How do you know when rabbit is cooked?
Cooking rabbit is similar to chicken, fry on a moderate heat for 20 minutes or so until the internal temperature reaches 71\xb0C.Can you serve rabbit pink?
To serve reheat the stock, add the rabbit and cook until the meat is cooked through. My tip is to add the big bits like legs first then wait a while before adding the loins. Rabbit can be served slightly pink if that is your preference. Put it all into a large serving bowl, pour the wine and serve with bread.Should rabbit be cooked well done?
Wild rabbit must be cooked well done to kill any tularemia bacteria; for rare or medium cooked rabbit dishes, chefs can substitute farm-raised rabbits that have been kept segregated from their wild relatives by trustworthy breeders.Is undercooked rabbit safe?
Tularemia can also be transmitted through consumption of meat that is not thoroughly cooked, so be sure to heat rabbit meat to a safe temperature that kills any potential disease (minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit).Smoked Meats: 101 Safe Internal Cooking Temperature
More answers regarding what is the correct internal temperature for rabbit meat?
Answer 2
Rabbits are host to a bacteria called Francisella tularensis which can cause a nasty disease, Tularemia (also called Rabbit Fever). This causes lesions, fever, lethargy, and if untreated, possible death. For that reason it is advisable to cook rabbit as thoroughly as you would, say, chicken. It can also be a good idea to wear gloves when handling the meat, just in case.
In any case, wild rabbits spend their lives sprinting about the countryside and so the meat is naturally quite tough, despite being lean. Most recipes I have seen use braising as the cooking method. Treat it as you would chicken thighs and you should be fine - perhaps rabbit cacciatore?
Answer 3
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) says 160F (71C) is sufficient as an internal temperature for rabbit (and other red game meats) to be safe. They also say that it is ok for the meat to still look "pink", so long as this temperature has been reached.
Answer 4
I baked it to 72 dec C with bacon on top to keep it moist and it was way over cooked and tough but still tasted good. Next time I will cook it to 66 deg and let it sit for 10 mins before eating.
Answer 5
I consume Rabbit from both field and farm and I treat it as I would, if cooking a Coyote. I became sick in High School with it, and here at 70 I still remember how ill I became.
While overseas in military, I insisted that Chef get out the Burnzomatic to make sure there was no pink. Chefs are dangerous when it comes to when fish or game is done, especially when it comes to an experienced Rabbit conisiusour like myself.
The minimum temperature should always be 155?-160?, unless in a stew, or you are starving up in the mountains. Take it from a guy that's hunted all his life; there is no reason in the world to eat any game whether wild or domestic, a step away from jerky.
It will still be tasty and you will never experience cramps from Rabbit Hades. Chefs do not eat their own food as they cover their goof-ups with some type of sauce.
Answer 6
You always treat rabbit like chicken ;) temps are same. cook well. internal temp 165 . 2pounders are best for pan frying. Stew ..braising... baking..roasting.. all great ways to make rabbit :)
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