Find out exactly how long to cook yours with our easy chart. That's right, folks. If you find yourself without a meat thermometer right as Thanksgiving dinner is supposed to start, or your thermometer becomes uncalibrated at the last minute, the only special kitchen tool you need to test for turkey doneness is a fork. Real Simple Cooking School. By Nora Horvath Updated June 24, Save FB Tweet More.
View Series. And in my opinion is actually better cooked to the higher temperature, becoming more fall-apart tender and juicier. To test the temperature of the breast, insert the thermometer probe into the deepest part of the flesh, avoiding the breast bone. The thigh temperature is measured near the joint that attaches to the body of the turkey.
Be sure that the probe tip doesn't touch bone. The trick of taking the turkey out of the cooker at just the right time is knowing this often overlooked fact:. The internal temperature of meat continues to rise after it's removed from the heat source. At first it sounds illogical. How in the world could food continue cooking when removed from the smoker, grill or oven? The reason it happens is due to the temperature variation between the outer surface of the food and the actual internal temperature.
And when it's taken out, the overall temperature of the food equalizes, and settles at a final internal temperature that's above the internal temp at the moment the turkey is pulled from the cooker. Some of that excess heat at the surface is lost to the air, but some travels inward, raising the internal temperature. That means that a turkey needs to be taken out when its internal temperature is a bit LOWER than the actual done temperature you're shooting for.
How much lower? That depends on the temperature the turkey was being cooked at. Taken from the oven, the internal temperature could easily rise another 5 degrees, or even more.
If you've hit the meatiest part, you should feel some resistance as you press the thermometer in. Hold the thermometer in place until the numbers stop moving or the red dial stops moving in the case of a mechanical thermometer.
If the turkey has reached degrees F or higher, it's done! If it hasn't, put it back in the oven. Note: If you stuffed your turkey , you'll also need to check that the stuffing's internal temperature has reached a minimum of degrees F. The turkey is not ready for carving just yet. Let it rest in the pan for anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. This will allow the juices to settle into the meat, rather than pour out onto your cutting board. Carving your turkey? Check out our picks for the best electric knives for carving.
How to Check the Temperature of a Turkey.
0コメント