Don't Overcook Meat
Army kitchen poster: a red sheet headed 'Don't Overcook Meat' with a column of arrows pointing down to a roasting-time table and a drawing of a cut of meat. Three benefits of low-temperature cooking are listed and no drawbacks, a card-stacking pattern; the sheet is mostly a practical chart, so the technique is faint.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Army, Office of the Quartermaster General (Army Conservation Project No. 80-Q-32)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- War and the military, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Army, Office of the Quartermaster General. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-682 (NAID 514161).
Text on the object
DON'T OVERCOOK MEAT Cook at Low Temperature Prevents Shrinkage Saves Food Values Seals in Natural Juices and Flavors TIMETABLE FOR ROASTING MEATS* OVEN TEMPERATURE 325° F. KIND OF MEAT | WEIGHT | Approximate Cooking Time Per Pound: RARE | MEDIUM | WELL DONE Beef, boneless | 6-8 lb. | 25-30 Min. | 30-35 Min. | 35-40 Min. Lamb, boneless | 3-6 lb. | Never rare | 35-40 Min. | 40-45 Min. Pork, boneless | 4-6 lb. | Always Well Done | 45-50 Min. Veal, boneless | 4-6 lb. | Always Well Done | 40-45 Min. Smoked, ham | 8-10 lb. | Always Well Done | 30 Min. Smoked, ham | 10-12 lb. | Always Well Done | 25 Min. Smoked, ham | 12-16 lb. | Always Well Done | 20 Min. Smoked, picnic | 4-8 lb. | Always Well Done | 35-45 Min. Note: Place uniform size pieces in roasting pan fat side up. * This timetable supersedes roasting data contained in TM 10-405. FOR BEST ROASTING RESULTS ALWAYS CHECK WITH THIS CHART [emblem:] U.S. ARMY SAVE CONSERVATION PROGRAM THIS POSTER TO BE DISPLAYED IN KITCHENS ONLY ARMY CONSERVATION PROJECT No. 80-Q-32 [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-586283 OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER GENERAL [handwritten:] Conservation - food
