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Many turkeys sold in supermarkets have a built-in timer that will activate when the internal temperature reaches 178 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you wait that long, the breast meat will be overcooked and dry. When the breast temperature reaches 165 degrees and the thickest part of the thighs reaches 170 to 175 degrees, it is advised that you take the bird out of the oven.
How to Take the Turkey Temperature
Turkey Breast Temperature To take the temperature of the breast, insert the thermometer into the deepest part of the breast, holding it parallel to the bird at the neck end. Confirm the temperature by inserting the thermometer in both sides of the breast, being careful to not go so deep as to hit the bone (which can compromise the reading).
Turkey Thigh Temperature Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, away from the bone, to take the temperature. Confirm the temperature by inserting the thermometer in both thighs.
Here are 3 more tips to know when your turkey is done:
1. Dont be afraid of a little pink meat. It’s not always a sign that a turkey slice is underdone if it has a pinkish tint. Typically, myoglobin, a red protein pigment found in the oxygen-storing muscle cells, gives meat its red or pink color.
2. Meat is perfectly safe to eat as long as your thermometer reads the recommended temperature for it. Due to the different ways that dark meat stores and uses oxygen, it takes longer to cook than white meat. The active muscles in turkey legs are fattier, denser, and take longer to reach the ideal turkey temperature.
3. The turkey needs to rest before carving. About 45 minutes or so gives it time to reabsorb the juices; otherwise they’ll dribble out when you slice, and the meat will be dry. Don’t tent the turkey with foil to keep it warm while it’s resting; it’s unnecessary and will make the skin soggy. As long as the turkey is intact, it will cool quite slowly.
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FAQ
Is turkey done at 165 or 180?
Hold the thermometer still until the numbers stop to properly read the temperature. The turkey is cooked if it reaches a temperature of between 160 and 165 degrees F.
Is turkey breast OK at 150?
The USDA’s own statistics show that as long as your turkey spends at least three It is safe to eat after 7 minutes at or above 150°F (66°C). To put it another way, once it has rested (you do let your turkey rest before carving, right? ), you should be good to go.
What temperature do you remove turkey breast from oven?
When the breast temperature reaches 165 degrees and the thickest part of the thighs reaches 170 to 175 degrees, it is advised that you take the bird out of the oven.
Is turkey breast OK at 155?
Cook your turkey until your thermometer reads 155 -160 degrees. (Yes, we are aware that the new safe cooking guidelines recommend cooking your turkey to 165 degrees (instead of 180! ), but keep in mind that your turkey will continue to cook after being taken out of the oven and that while it is resting, its temperature will rise by 10 degrees.