This Thanksgiving, there’s one tool you need to keep out of the kitchen in order to cook the perfect turkey. Ironically, it’s the pop-up turkey timer.
A pop-up turkey timer ― the kind that comes pre-inserted in your store-bought bird ― is probably one of the most unreliable kitchen gadgets of all time. By the time the timer does actually pop, your turkey will be overcooked and as dry as sawdust. Advertisement
That’s because commercial turkey buttons are set to pop at 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, even though you should actually remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches 160 degrees F (then you temperature will continue rising as it rests on the counter, to the FDA-recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit). If you use a pop-up timer, you end up drastically overcooking your turkey.
That little plastic pop-up timer that comes in the turkey breast or shows up at the grocery store sounds like a brilliant convenience. No more worrying about over or undercooking the bird – just wait for the timer to pop and your turkey is ready! However you may be wondering if these timers truly indicate doneness or if you still need an old-fashioned meat thermometer. After thorough testing, the verdict is in on pop-up turkey timers.
How Do Pop-Up Turkey Timers Work?
The pop-up timer consists of a small plastic rod inserted into the turkey breast. It is held down by a natural protein that coagulates and hardens at around 165°F, the USDA recommended minimum temperature for poultry to destroy bacteria. As the turkey cooks and hits 165°F in the thickest part of the breast, the protein releases the timer and allows it to “pop” up, signaling the turkey is fully cooked.
This technology seems like an easy foolproof system. But in practice, reliability varies greatly between different pop-up timers.
Problems With Pop-Up Timers
Consumer Reports rigorously tested the accuracy of pop-up turkey timers by inserting them in whole turkeys and turkey breasts and then tracking the actual internal temperature using reference thermometers. The results revealed some potential risks with relying solely on the pop-up:
-
Inconsistent Temps: Timers popped up anywhere from 140°F to over 165°F. Only about half popped precisely at 165.
-
Early Pops: A few timers popped up when the internal temperature was still below the safe 165°F, meaning the turkey was undercooked.
-
Late Pops Some timers didn’t pop until 10-15 degrees beyond 165, leading to potential overcooking
-
Placement Issues: Proper timer placement in the thickest part of breast is essential yet not always consistent in pre-inserted timers.
The early pops below 165°F are particularly worrisome from a food safety perspective. Poultry cooked below 165°F can potentially contain harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning, like salmonella and campylobacter. Relying solely on the pop-up could allow bacteria to survive.
Use a Meat Thermometer for Accuracy
While pop-up turkey timers provide a general ballpark estimate, there are clearly risks with depending on them as the sole indicator of doneness. To guarantee your turkey reaches a safe minimum internal temperature experts recommend always double checking with an accurate meat thermometer.
Using the pop-up timer in conjunction with a thermometer provides an added layer of assurance. But the thermometer itself is considered more reliable.
To properly check temperature, insert an instant-read thermometer deep into the thickest part of the breast, thigh, and wing, verifying it reaches 165°F in multiple spots before removing the turkey from the oven.
Tips for Using Pop-Up Timers
While pop-up turkey timers alone shouldn’t be trusted, you can still use them as one doneness indicator along with the thermometer. Here are a few tips:
-
Carefully read package instructions for proper timer placement and cook times specific to your turkey’s weight.
-
Only use pop-up timers from a reputable brand that you trust, not generic unbranded ones.
-
Visually inspect that the timer pops fully upright, not just partially.
-
When the timer pops, start periodically checking temperature so you don’t overcook.
-
Don’t let the timer replace checking temperature before serving to guests or leftovers.
Best Practices for Safely Cooking Turkey
To enjoy a perfectly cooked, safe Thanksgiving turkey, keep these food safety guidelines in mind:
-
Thaw turkey in the fridge 1 day for every 4 lbs of turkey. Cook immediately after thawing.
-
Use a meat thermometer to verify 165°F in breast, thigh, and wing.
-
Let the turkey rest 20 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
-
Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours and reheat fully to 165°F before eating.
-
Wash hands, utensils, sink, and anything else touching raw turkey to avoid cross-contamination.
While pop-up turkey timers provide some guidance, a good meat thermometer remains the safest way to confirm your holiday bird reaches the proper internal temperature. Follow proper food safety practices, and your Thanksgiving turkey will be perfectly cooked from the inside out.
Here’s how turkey timers actually work.
Inside a standard pop-up turkey timer, there’s a red plastic indicator stick that sits in a plastic casing. The stick has a spring wrapped around it. The soft metal in the tip warms as the turkey roasts and eventually melts at around 180 degrees F. Then the red stick is released from the metal and the spring makes it pop up. That’s 15 degrees higher than the recommended 165, making your turkey extremely dry.Advertisement
For Our Partners
Everything Thanksgiving: Get all our Thanksgiving recipes, how-to’s and more!
This Thanksgiving, there’s one tool you need to keep out of the kitchen in order to cook the perfect turkey. Ironically, it’s the pop-up turkey timer.
A pop-up turkey timer ― the kind that comes pre-inserted in your store-bought bird ― is probably one of the most unreliable kitchen gadgets of all time. By the time the timer does actually pop, your turkey will be overcooked and as dry as sawdust. Advertisement
That’s because commercial turkey buttons are set to pop at 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, even though you should actually remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches 160 degrees F (then you temperature will continue rising as it rests on the counter, to the FDA-recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit). If you use a pop-up timer, you end up drastically overcooking your turkey.
How Do Pop-Up Timers Work?
FAQ
Is turkey done when the timer pops out?
Can you trust a pop-up timer?
Why don’t turkeys have pop-up timers anymore?
How does a pop-up timer work?
For many people, roasting a turkey is a little bit easier thanks to a simple little gadget known as the pop-up timer. This smart piece of technology lets you know when your turkey is done so you don’t have to stress over it. All you have to do is wait until the red indicator stick pops up and you know the bird is done and it’s time to eat.
Does a Turkey have a pop-up timer?
If your turkey has a pre-inserted pop-up timer — most turkeys you buy from the grocery store do — you don’t have to worry about using a separate meat thermometer. When the turkey’s timer pops up, it’s signaling to you the bird is done. Here’s how it works: A pop-up timer found in a turkey or chicken normally has four parts (see image above):
Should you use a plastic pop-up timer to test a Turkey?
But few, if any chefs these days will recommend that you use the plastic pop-up timer to test the bird for doneness. Those of us over a certain age can be forgiven for thinking all turkeys were born and bred to sport a plastic pop-up button, mainly because it always seemed that way.
Are pop-up timers accurate?
Pop-up timers aren’t the most accurate. You may want to use a regular meat thermometer to double-check the doneness of your turkey. Are Pop-up Timers Reliable? No, pop-up timers aren’t known for their reliability.