Just as there may be more than one way to skin a cat, there is more than one way to work out whether a Thanksgiving turkey is ready to come out of the oven. You can twist a drumstick ever so slightly to see if the leg gives at the knee, stab the roasting bird with a fork or knife to see if its juices run clear, or use a thermometer to see if the birds internal temperature is at 165 degrees, per Los Angeles Times. 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. The Washington Post says turkeys began sporting the widget in the sixties, and it was a way to help cooks at home serve up a respectable bird, especially during a time when recommendations for time-per-pound were considered to be unreliable. Now, the script has been flipped and people no longer recommend trusting the built-in timer, but why?
The inventors behind the pop-up plastic timer had two objectives when they first thought of creating something that could help home cooks time their roasting birds properly: to teach home cooks how to cook turkeys so they were edible, and by extension, to help promote turkey sales beyond the Thanksgiving period, per The Washington Post. Because the original timer was unreliable and couldnt be counted on to pop at the right temperature, or pop out of the bird altogether, the inventors couldnt get food experts to buy into the idea, and they eventually spun off their pop-up timer before selling the idea to 3M.
Today, The Washington Post says the design patent for the pop-up gadget is owned by Volk Enterprises, and it is made with four different parts: a barrel, a red plunger, a spring, and blob of food-grade wax. The thermometer is activated when the bird reaches a preset temperature because it melts the wax, which releases spring and lets the cook know the bird is ready. But thats where the main problem lies.
Per Huffpost, the pop-up timer is set to go off when the wax melts at between 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, which is far hotter than the internal 165 degrees that the Food and Drug Administration considers to be a “safe” temperature for the bird. And even with a pop-up thermometer, the FDA says you still need a thermometer to check the turkey anyway.
Come Thanksgiving, many home cooks rely on those handy turkey pop-up timers to let them know when their bird is cooked to perfection. But just how dependable are these poppers at indicating doneness? Let’s take a closer look at how turkey poppers function and their overall reliability in determining when your turkey is ready.
What is a Turkey Popper?
A turkey popper, also called a pop-up timer, is a temperature-sensing device inserted into the breast of a whole turkey prior to roasting It consists of a thin metal rod with a circular indicator button at the top Inside is a coiled spring and a piece of wax or fat that melts at around 170-180°F. When the wax melts, the spring pops the indicator button up, signaling the turkey has reached the target internal temperature.
How Do Turkey Poppers Work?
The pop-up timer relies on the melting point of the wax or fat inside to determine doneness. Here’s the basic mechanism:
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The metal shaft of the popper conducts the internal heat of the cooking turkey.
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When the turkey reaches around 170-180°F, the wax or fat inside the popper melts
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The melted wax releases the coiled spring, causing the indicator button to pop up quickly.
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The pop-up button signals the turkey has hit the target temperature and is fully cooked.
Are Pop-Up Timers Always Accurate?
While pop-up timers provide a ballpark doneness estimate, they aren’t fail proof. Relying solely on them can lead to overcooked or undercooked turkey.
Factors impacting their accuracy include:
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Incorrect calibration – may pop up at wrong temperature.
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Placement in the turkey – should be deep in thickest part.
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Oven hot spots – can trigger early popping.
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Turkey size and shape – can affect internal temp.
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Problems with the spring mechanism.
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Improper insertion depth – can lead to false readout.
What’s the Ideal Turkey Internal Temp?
For food safety and ideal moistness, turkeys should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the breast and thigh areas.
However, pop-up timers are designed to pop around 170-180°F – too high for perfect doneness. This leads to overcooking.
Why Pop-Up Timers Can Overcook Turkey
The major issue with pop-up timers is they’re calibrated too high, closer to 180°F versus the optimal 165°F. This means they’ll likely pop up after the turkey is already overcooked.
By the time the button pops, indicating 180°F, the turkey will continue cooking to upwards of 190°F or more internally if left in the oven, becoming dry and overdone.
Can You Rely Solely on Turkey Poppers?
Experts warn against depending only on pop-up timers to gauge doneness. The possibility of malfunctions and inaccuracies means your turkey could turn out undercooked or dangerously overdone.
For ensured safety and proper doneness, check the internal temperature in multiple spots with an instant-read thermometer.
Tips for Using Turkey Poppers Effectively
While not completely foolproof, keep these tips in mind to use pop-up timers most effectively:
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Insert correctly into the thickest section of breast without hitting bone.
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Be prepared to start checking temperature manually before it pops up.
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Remove from oven when it pops AND double check temp with thermometer.
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Monitor cooking time and doneness signs – color, juice color, wiggly leg joint.
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Use it as one doneness indicator along with thermometer.
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Make sure it’s pointing straight up for most accurate reading.
Other Ways to Test Turkey Doneness
To avoid over reliance on pop-up timers, utilize these other methods for gauging completion:
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Digital instant-read thermometer (most accurate!)
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Visual test – golden, crispy skin, juices running clear
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Leg wiggle – loose, mobile joint
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Meat fork test – juices should run clear
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Temp probe with external digital readout
Get a Trusty Thermometer!
For foolproof turkey doneness, invest in a good digital instant-read thermometer. A few seconds is all it takes to insert the probe and get an accurate reading. Relying solely on pop-up timers is risky business, but an instant thermometer will have your back.
While those novel pop-up timers can provide a ballpark indication of when your turkey might be ready, their accuracy and reliability varies. For the safest and most delicious Thanksgiving turkey, bust out that instant-read thermometer and take temperatures in multiple areas. Let the popper serve as a possible early warning signal – then confirm with your thermometer before serving. Happy Thanksgiving!
How Do Pop-Up Timers Work?
FAQ
Can I trust the turkey popper?
What if the turkey popper doesn’t pop?
What temperature do turkey poppers pop at?
Is my turkey done when the red thing pops out?
Do turkeys come with a pop-up timer?
Lots of turkeys sold in the United States come with a cool little piece of cooking technology — the pop-up timer. Learn how they work at HowStuffWorks.
Do Turkey thermometers pop?
No, pop-up timers aren’t known for their reliability. They occasionally may pop before the bird has reached a temperature of 165 degrees F, resulting in an undercooked bird that can make your guests sick. A regular meat thermometer can help you to check the doneness of your turkey. What Happens If the Turkey Thermometer Doesn’t Pop?
What temperature does a Turkey pop up?
The soft metal in the tip is solid at room temperature but warms as the turkey cooks and eventually melts at around 165 degrees F (73 degrees C). The red stick is released from the now liquid metal, and the spring makes it pop up. Are Pop-up Timers Accurate?
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.