What Is the Best Turkey Internal Temp?
Whether or not the festive season is looming, knowing the recommended turkey internal temp is a useful bit of knowledge to have in your culinary arsenal. Why is it an important question? Well, surely you don’t want to be that person who serves a horribly overcooked or worryingly undercooked turkey at the family dinner.
To ensure your feast (Thanksgiving or not) goes off without a hitch and the meat is deliciously tender while perfectly cooked, we have created an all-you-need-to-know guide on turkey temperature and cooking with confidence.
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- What Should the Internal Temp of Turkey Be?
- How To Check the Internal Temp of Turkey
- Learn To Cook Turkey With Confidence
What Should the Internal Temp of Turkey Be?
When it comes to cooking poultry, the turkey internal temp plays an important role because, unlike beef, undercooking poultry can cause food poisoning, which can put a serious damper on your Thanksgiving holidays. Your turkey will be ready to eat when the turkey internal temp is 165°F. This is the industry standard. Anything lower and you’re at risk of consuming undercooked poultry.
Undercooked turkey can still contain harmful bacteria like Campylobacter and Salmonella, which children, the elderly and immune-compromised people are more susceptible to. Depending on the size of the turkey, you can take it out of the oven if it is at 160°F. The different variants of meats may also have differences in the internal temp for turkey, which we’ll talk about in more depth in this guide.
So, why should your turkey internal temp be 165°F? We've mentioned the possibility of foodborne illnesses if the turkey internal temp is lower than the recommended standard, but a number that's too high can also cause issues; it can have a major impact on the color, taste and texture of your turkey. For example, overcooked turkey can become tasteless and dry, whereas a perfectly cooked turkey will be tender and juicy.
The Best Turkey Breast Internal Temp
While the overall recommended turkey internal temp is 165°F, the different parts of the meat, like the turkey legs and the breast, will have their own temperature guidelines which will determine whether the meat is edible or not.
The thickest part of the turkey breast that still has the bone in it will need to reach at least 170°F, whereas turkey breast meat without the bone should register at least 165°F. This is because as the breast cooks, it releases moisture, and the higher the temperature, the more it can dry out. No amount of gravy can hide an overcooked turkey.
The Best Ground Turkey Internal Temp
The great thing about the recommendation for a turkey internal temp is that whether you are cooking a whole turkey or ground turkey, it still needs to be 165°F. Easy! However, keep in mind that the temperature for turkey must not rise past this, as this will dry out the ground meat. Conversely, ground turkey that has not reached an internal temperature of 165°F can be dangerous to eat.
The Best Turkey Burger Internal Temp
If you’re skipping a whole turkey roast and are choosing to fry up some patties instead, the internal temp for turkey burgers is very important to keep in mind. The temperature for burgers should reach 160°F before you take them off the heat. You don’t want overcooked and dry turkey burgers, so taking the burgers off at 160°F allows them to rest and climb to turkey's correct internal temp of 165°F.
How To Check the Internal Temp of Turkey
To check the turkey's internal temp, you will need a meat thermometer like the Harold Import Co. Large Face Meat Thermometer. Follow these four simple steps to get it right:
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Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey, usually the thigh or breast. Ensure that the thermometer does not touch any fat, as this can result in a false reading.
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Hold the thermometer until the numbers become stationary or the red dial stops moving.
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It’s a good idea to check multiple areas of the turkey to ensure a uniform cook.
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If you've stuffed your turkey, you should also check that the stuffing reaches 165°F.
Although it is highly recommended to use a thermometer, there are some other ways to check your turkey's internal temp if you don't have one. First, you can tell if the turkey temperature is appropriate by its color — a properly cooked turkey will be golden-brown.
The juices and movement of the turkey can also be telling factors. Cut the thickest part of the turkey and check the juices that come out — if they are clear and not pink, your turkey is likely cooked properly. Another trick you can use is to move the turkey leg. If the leg moves fairly loosely, this is a good indicator that your turkey is ready to come out of the oven.
Finally, the texture can say a lot about the turkey temperature. Pierce the turkey with a fork; if it goes in smoothly and the meat feels tender, your turkey is likely done. Unfortunately, these methods are not fool-proof, the only surefire way of checking a turkey's internal temp is with a thermometer, so it pays to have one handy!
Learn To Cook Turkey With Confidence
Now that you’re aware of the correct temperature for turkey and how to check it, you can put these skills to practice by joining fun and immersive cooking classes near you where you’ll get to meet like-minded people, or take some eager friends and family along, and have some fun in the kitchen. You can choose to also cook from the comfort of your home by opting for informative and interactive online cooking classes.
In these classes, you’ll learn how to check a turkey's internal temp and cook one perfectly under the guidance of expert chefs. Get ready to wow your guests at your next lunch or dinner gathering with recipes like air fryer turkey burgers and turkey bolognese.
Join 200,000+ Culinary Enthusiasts
Learning the correct turkey internal temp will ensure you're able to cook a tender and juicy turkey, every time. Use our guide to ensure all parts of the meat are at the correct turkey internal temp, either by using a thermometer or with some of the handy tricks we provided.
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