At What Temp is Turkey Done and Safe to Eat? Here's What to Know (2024)

FAQs

At What Temp is Turkey Done and Safe to Eat? Here's What to Know? ›

First thing first: The Agriculture Department says that the safe internal temperature for a turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It recommends confirming this in the thickest part of the breast, innermost part of the thigh and innermost part of the wing. All those should be taken away from any bone.

5. For safety and doneness, the internal temperature should be checked with a food thermometer. The temperature of the turkey and the center of the stuffing must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. Check the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

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.

Note: There are three important temperatures to remember when cooking meat or eggs at home: Eggs and all ground meats must be cooked to 160°F; poultry and fowl to 165°F; and fresh meat steaks, chops and roasts to 145°F.

First thing first: The Agriculture Department says that the safe internal temperature for a turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. It recommends confirming this in the thickest part of the breast, innermost part of the thigh and innermost part of the wing. All those should be taken away from any bone.

Whole turkey temperature

Check the internal temperature in multiple spots, but the most important one is the thigh because this is the thickest part of the turkey. Once the temperature has reached 165°F (73.9°C), your bird is safe to eat.

We recommend roasting turkey at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 13 minutes per pound for an unstuffed turkey. We've done the math for you — check out the chart below to determine both turkey cook times and estimated servings (with leftovers!).

Only by using a food thermometer can one accurately determine that poultry has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F throughout the product. Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink.

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Drain juices and pat dry with clean paper towels. Place turkey breast-side-up on a flat rack in a shallow roasting pan 2 to 2½ inches deep. Turn the wings back to hold the neck skin in place.

How long will it take a turkey to go from 150 to 165? ›

For the juiciest meat, you'll want to remove your bird from the oven when the temperature reaches 150°F. The temperature will continue to rise as the turkey rests and should reach 165°F within 30 minutes of being removed from the oven.

In a whole turkey, the thickest part is between the breast and the leg. If you are cooking a turkey crown or a boned and rolled turkey the thickest part is at the centre of the joint. You can use a digital or dial meat thermometer. The turkey is fully cooked when the temperature reaches 75ºC.

Oven Temps: Best roasting is two stage process—425°F (218°C) for 1 hour, then down to 325°F (163°C) for however long it takes until the turkey is done. If you read a post telling you exactly “how long to cook a turkey,” hit the back button fast.

How long to rest turkey. It is essential to rest your turkey for 30-45 mins before carving (the temperature will continue to rise, but there's no need to test). Put the bird in a warm place, tented with foil. It won't get cold, but it will become juicier and easier to carve.

The food-safe temperature for a turkey is 165°F, and it's best to temp between the thigh bone and the breast.

Using a food thermometer is the only sure way of knowing if your food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria. All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9 °C) as measured with a food thermometer.

You may eat the turkey cold or reheat to 165 F. meat off the bone. Legs and wings may be left whole, but the breast should be sliced. Refrigerate leftovers in shallow containers (i.e., containers 2-3 inches thick).