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Lamb 101

Is It Done Yet?

For those that do not have a lot of experience cooking with American Lamb, determining when it is done is the biggest challenge. An overcooked rack of lamb is an expensive mistake and carving into an undercooked roast can be an embarrassment at a dinner party. Do not rely on guesswork—a good meat thermometer will provide reliable results. DO NOT cut into a roast or chop to check doneness. Use an instant read thermometer to give you a quick, accurate reading.

American Lamb always benefits from rest before serving—the rest allows the meat's juices to settle. Give thin cuts like chops 5 minutes before serving and allow 20 minutes before carving roasts. Keep in mind that the meat's internal temperature typically rises 5-10 degrees as it rests. Remove lamb from cooking heat when the thermometer reads 5-10 degrees less than your desired temperature.

To ensure lamb remains safe throughout cooking, the USDA recommends cooking ground lamb to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160^oF as measured on a food thermometer. Other cuts, including roasts and chops, should be cooked to 145^oF for medium-rare, 160^oF for medium, and 170^oF for well-done. For approximate cooking times for use in meal planning, see the chart below.

CUT OF LAMB	SIZE	COOKING METHOD	COOKING TIME	INTERNAL TEMPERATURE
LAMB LEG, BONE IN	5-7 lbs.	Roast 325^oF	20-25 min/lb 25-30 min/lb 30-35 min/lb	Medium-Rare 145^oF Medium 160^oF Well-Done 170^oF
LAMB LEG, BONE IN	7-9 lbs.	Roast 325^oF	15-20 min/lb 20-25 min/lb 25-30 min/lb	Medium-Rare 145^oF Medium 160^oF Well-Done 170^oF
LAMB LEG, BONELESS, ROLLED	4-7 lbs.	Roast 325^oF	25-30 min/lb 30-35 min/lb 35-40 min/lb	Medium-Rare 145^oF Medium 160^oF Well-Done 170^oF
SHOULDER ROAST OR SHANK LEG, HALF	3-4 lbs.	Roast 325^oF	30-35 min/lb 40-45 min/lb 45-50 min/lb	Medium-Rare 145^oF Medium 160^oF Well-Done 170^oF
CUBES, FOR KEBOBS	1"-1.5"	Broil/Grill	8-12 minutes	Medium 160^oF
GROUND LAMB PATTIES	2" thick	Broil/Grill	7-11 minutes 15-19 minutes	Medium160^oF
CHOPS, RIB OR LOIN	1"-1.5" thick	Broil/Grill	7-11 minutes 15-19 minutes	Medium-Rare 145^oF
LEG STEAKS	.5" thick	Broil/Grill 4" from heat	14-18 minutes	Medium-Rare 145^oF
STEW MEAT, PIECES	1"-1.5"	Cover wtih liquid; simmer	1.5-2 hours	Medium-Rare 145^oF Medium 160^oF
SHANKS	.5-1 lb.	Cover wtih liquid; simmer	1.5-2 hours	Medium 160^oF