How Do Turkey Thermometers Work? A Look Inside These Handy Devices

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.

Come Thanksgiving a perfectly cooked turkey takes center stage. Monitoring the temperature is crucial but constantly opening the oven dries out the bird. Enter the pop-up turkey thermometer – a handy tool that signals doneness. But how does this little device know precisely when your turkey is ready? We’ll unpack what’s inside and how it works.

The Genius of the Pop-Up Turkey Thermometer

This ingenious thermometer eliminates guesswork and frees you from tedious temperature checks. When the red indicator pops up, you know your turkey has reached the ideal minimum 165°F internal temperature

It’s like having your own turkey sous chef! No more fretting over dry, overcooked meat or underdone poultry harboring harmful bacteria.

Inside the Pop-Up Turkey Thermometer

A standard pop-up timer contains:

Red plastic indicator stick
Plastic outer casing
Coiled spring
Small piece of metal alloy

The key is the metallic alloy inside the pointy tip. It’s solid at room temperature, so it keeps the red indicator depressed inside the casing.

As the turkey cooks, the alloy absorbs heat. Once it reaches 165°F, it melts, freeing the red stick. The loaded spring then pushes the indicator up quickly, providing an instant visual “done” signal.

How to Use a Pop-Up Thermometer

Using a pop-up thermometer is simple:

Insert it deep in the thickest part of the thigh without touching bone.
Avoid cavities holding ice or stuffing.
For stuffed birds, also check the center of stuffing, which should reach 165°F.
When the red indicator pops, check for clear juices and meat pulling easily from bones.

Doneness Tips for Whole Turkeys

While pop-up thermometers simplify cooking, there are a few caveats:

They may deploy early if near a heat source like bones. Always verify doneness.
Test turkeys over 12 pounds in both thighs to confirm thorough cooking.
If the pop-up indicator fails to deploy, continue cooking until the breast and thigh meat registers 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

For complete assurance, use a digital food thermometer in addition to the pop-up. Check the innermost parts of the thigh, wing, and thickest section of breast.

Choosing a Pop-Up Turkey Thermometer

When purchasing a pop-up thermometer, opt for:

Sensitive indicators that pop fully.
Clear casings allowing you to see the mechanism.
Stainless steel or other heat-resistant metals over plastic.
Probes at least 2.5 inches long to reach deep inside larger birds.
Indicators that re-set for multiple uses.

With minimal effort, pop-up turkey thermometers deliver perfect doneness. Just insert, cook, and wait for that satisfying “pop!” Enjoy the convenience and confidence of precise temperature control.

how do turkey thermometers work

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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.

But the best way to take the temperature of a turkey is with a digital instant-read thermometer.

It’s not that hard to jab a turkey with a thermometer and see if it’s done or not. Simply insert a digital instant-read thermometer into the space between the thigh and the breast to get an accurate reading. We also recommend probe-style digital thermometers, which can be inserted into your bird with a wire leading out of the oven door to a digital display that monitors the temperature. (And if you buy a turkey that already has a pop-up timer inserted, either ignore it or pull it out, if you can do so without mangling the bird.)

Get yourself a good meat thermometer before it’s too late.

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How do turkey thermometers work?

FAQ

Are turkey thermometers accurate?

Our food safety experts recommend that cooks not rely on these timers to tell whether their holiday bird is done. Instead, use a conventional meat thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast and in the thigh between the drumstick and the body, and take several readings.

Is turkey done at 165 or 180?

Hold the thermometer still until the numbers stop increasing. If it is not ready, return it to the oven. According to the Department of Agriculture, a turkey must reach 165 degrees F to be safe, but you can take it out of the oven as low as 160 degrees F because the temperature will rise at it rests.

How is temperature measured in turkey?

When taking your turkey’s temp with an instant-read meat thermometer, place it in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. If you’re using an oven-proof food thermometer, insert it in the thickest part of the inner thigh before placing your turkey in the oven.

Is my turkey done when the thermometer pops out?

When the turkey’s timer pops up, it’s signaling to you the bird is done. Here’s how it works. It has the stick that pops up, a spring and soft metal that’s solid at room temperature but metals and turns into a liquid at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit.