Using a meat thermometer, a fully cooked turkey should have a temperature of 165° F in the breast and 175° F in the thigh. If stuffed, the center of the stuffing must reach 165° F. Get our guide for how long to cook turkey.
Is Turkey done at 165 or 180?
Cook your turkey until your thermometer reads 155 -160 degrees. (Yes, we know that new safe cooking guidelines say to cook your bird to 165 degrees (they used to say 180!), but remember that your turkey will continue to cook after removed from the oven and it’s temperature will increase by 10 degrees while resting.
What temperature should a turkey breast be when fully cooked?
Cook until the thickest part of the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160 to 165ºF, about 30 to 45 minutes. Rest for 20 minutes before slicing.
Is turkey breast done at 160?
The USDA recommends that the internal temperature of turkey reach at least 165°F (74°C) for safety. But pull your turkey breast from the oven when it reaches 160°F (71°C) as it will continue to cook after you take it out of the oven.
How do you know when turkey breast is cooked?
The turkey is done when it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast meat. Start checking after 1 hour of roasting and continue checking every 10 to 15 minutes until the breast is cooked through.
Where do you put the thermometer in a turkey breast?
When preparing a whole turkey, insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the turkey breast, the innermost portion of thigh and the innermost portion of the wing. Make sure the thermometer does not touch bone, gristle or the pan.
How long do you let a turkey rest after cooking?
The turkey needs to rest before carving.
About 45 minutes or so gives it time to reabsorb the juices; otherwise they’ll dribble out when you slice, and the meat will be dry. Don’t tent the turkey with foil to keep it warm while it’s resting; it’s unnecessary and will make the skin soggy.
What is the lowest safe temperature to cook a turkey?
Make it safe – The United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) recommends temperatures no lower than 325 degrees Fahrenheit for cooking meat and poultry. Cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
How many hours per pound do you cook a turkey breast?
Roasting times for a turkey breast cooked in a 325 degrees F oven: Unstuffed, a 2 to 3-pound turkey will cook from 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Unstuffed, a 7 to 8-pound turkey will cook from 2 1/4 to 3 1/4 hours; if stuffed, it will cook in 3 to 4 hours.
How do you know when a turkey breast is done without a thermometer?
If you don’t have a thermometer, you can opt to look at the clarity of the juices. When the turkey is done, there will be no more pink in the juice. Make a cut between the thigh and the breast and look at the juice that’s released — if it’s at all pink or red, put the bird back in the oven.
Does Turkey really need to be 165?
Then, it revised its recommendations, stating that turkey is food-safe once it reaches 165 degrees, whether you’re talking about the white meat, the dark meat or the stuffing (if you’re into that kind of thing). Of course, just because the turkey is cooked enough to be safe doesn’t mean it’s cooked to your liking.
Should I start my turkey at a higher temperature?
I find it is best to start the turkey at a fairly high temperature (400°F), roast for about twenty minutes and then lower the heat to 350°F for the remainder of the cooking time. Sometimes I forget to lower the oven, though, and the turkey still comes out fine, just perhaps a little darker than I would like!
What is the best turkey breast to buy?
Read on to see how they stacked up.
- Fresh Bell & Evans Turkey. Weight: 13 lbs. …
- Fresh Eberly Organic Free-Range Turkey. Weight: 11.17 lbs. …
- Fresh Murray’s Natural Turkey. Weight: 10.57 lbs. …
- Fresh Plainville Turkey. Weight: 11 lbs. …
- Frozen Li’l Butterball. Weight: 10.16 lbs. …
- Fresh Empire Kosher Turkey. Weight: 9.66 lbs.
What happens if you eat undercooked turkey?
Chicken, Beef, Pork, and Turkey
Raw and undercooked meat and poultry can make you sick. Most raw poultry contains Campylobacter. It also may contain Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, and other bacteria. Raw meat may contain Salmonella, E. coli, Yersinia, and other bacteria.
Do you cook a turkey covered or uncovered?
Always cook your turkey until the skin is a light golden color. Cover your roasting pan with a lid or foil and cook covered for 2 hours (depending on size of your bird) and uncovered for the remaining time. Baste your turkey every half hour or so.
How do I know turkey is done?
You’ll need a meat thermometer to make sure you cook your turkey to the right temperature. Insert it close to, but not touching, the thigh bone. If it reads 180 degrees F in the thigh and 170 degrees F in the breast, it’s done and ready to serve.