GE 49-8723 Roasting Guide, Frozen Roasts, Why is my roast crumbling when I try to carve it?

ROASTING

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Questions and Answers

Q. Is it necessary to check for doneness with a meat thermometer?

A. Checking the finished internal temperature at the completion of cooking time is recommended. Temperatures are shown in the Roasting Guide. For roasts over 8 lbs., check with thermometer at half-hour intervals after half the cooking time has passed.

Q. Why is my roast crumbling when I try to carve it?

A. Roasts are easier to slice if allowed to cool 10 to 20 minutes after removing them from the oven. Be sure to cut across the grain of the meat.

Q. Do I need to preheat my oven each time I cook a roast or poultry?

A. It is not necessary to preheat your oven.

Q. When buying a roast, are there any special tips that would help me cook it more evenly?

A. Yes. Buy a roast as even in thickness as possible, or buy rolled roasts.

Q. Can I seal the sides of my foil “tent” when roasting a turkey?

A. Sealing the foil will steam the meat. Leaving it unsealed allows the air to circulate and brown the meat.

ROASTING GUIDE

Frozen Roasts

Frozen roasts of beef, pork, lamb, etc., can be started without thawing, but allow 10 to 25 minutes per pound additional time (10 minutes per pound for roasts under 5 pounds, more time for larger roasts).

Make sure poultry is thawed before roasting. Unthawed poultry often does not cook evenly. Some commercial frozen poultry can be cooked successfully without thawing. Follow the directions given on the package label.

	Oven		Approximate Roasting Time		Internal
Type	Temperature	Doneness	in Minutes per Pound		Temperature °F.
Meat			3 to 5 lbs.	6 to 8 lbs.
Tender cuts; rib, high quality	325°	Rare:	24–33	18–22	140°–150°†
sirloin tip, rump or top round*		Medium:	35–39	22–29	150°–160°
		Well Done:	40–45	30–35	170°–185°
Lamb leg or bone-in shoulder*	325°	Rare:	21–25	20–23	140°–150°†
		Medium:	25–30	24–28	150°–160°
		Well Done:	30–35	28–33	170°–185°
Veal shoulder, leg or loin*	325°	Well Done:	35–45	30–40	170°–180°
Pork loin, rib or shoulder*	325°	Well Done:	35–45	30–40	170°–180°
Ham, precooked	325°	To Warm:	17–20 minutes per pound (any weight)		115°–120°
Poultry			3 to 5 lbs.	Over 5 lbs.
Chicken or Duck	325°	Well Done:	35–40	30–35	185°–190°
Chicken pieces	350°	Well Done:	35–40		185°–190°
			10 to 15 lbs.	Over 15 lbs.	In thigh:
Turkey	325°	Well Done:	18–25	15–20	185°–190°

*For boneless rolled roasts over 6 inches thick, add 5 to 10 minutes per pound to times given above.

†The U. S. Department of Agriculture says “Rare beef is popular, but you should know that cooking it to only 140°F. means some food poisoning organisms may survive.” (Source: Safe Food Book. Your Kitchen Guide. USDA Rev. June 1985.)

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