Are Pop-up Timers Reliable?
No, pop-up timers aren't known for their reliability
. They occasionally may pop before the bird has reached a temperature of 165 degrees F, resulting in an undercooked bird that can make your guests sick. A regular meat thermometer can help you to check the doneness of your turkey.
Can I trust the pop up thermometer?
Trust a meat thermometer over a pop-up timer for your turkey
Our food safety experts recommend
that you not rely on pop-up
meat thermometers. … Getting the right answer is important—undercook it, and you risk sickening your guests with food poisoning; overcook it, and the meat ends up tough and dry.
At what temp does a turkey timer pop?
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).
What is the red plastic thing in my turkey?
What is it, should I remove it before cooking the turkey? The “button” you referred to is
a pop-up temperature indicator
, commonly called a Pop-Up Timer. No, the Pop-Up Timer should not be removed before cooking. This thermometer is precisely positioned to assure that your food will be cooked correctly.
What turkey brand has the pop up timer?
So far the brands of turkey with pop up timers are
Butterball, Jennie-O, Pilgrim's
, etc.
How do you tell if a turkey is done without a thermometer?
To find out if your turkey is done without a thermometer,
pierce it with a fork in the mid-thigh muscle
, explains Nicole Johnson, the co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. “When the juices run clear, and no longer reddish or pink in color, it's a good indication that your turkey is done.”
How do I know when my turkey is done with a thermometer?
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.
Do Butterball turkeys have a pop up timer?
Even Butterball, the brand probably most familiar to home cooks,
doesn't endorse the pop-up timer
. The company's birds have “never, never, never” had timers in them, says Carol Miller, supervisor for the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line.
Can you brine a turkey with a pop up timer?
Internal temperature guidelines courtesy of USDA Food Safety Facts.
Do NOT brine turkey if
it includes “basting” liquids that contain salt. If you purchase a turkey with a pop-up timer, leave it in place and ignore it. If removed, the timer will leave a gaping hole for juices to escape.
Do I keep the plastic thing on the turkey?
Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually come with a plastic or metal crimp, called
a hock lock
, holding the legs together at the back. You can leave it on or take it off; the legs may cook more evenly without it. … Instead, cook the stuffing in a casserole for the last hour the turkey is roasting.
Should you rinse your turkey before cooking?
Wash Hands and Surfaces; not the Turkey
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, or veal
before cooking it is not recommended
. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces.
Is it OK to cook turkey with plastic leg holder?
The “plastic thing” on the turkey legs is the hock lock. It secures the hind legs, or hock, of a chicken or turkey. It can be made of heat-resistant nylon or metal, and it's
perfectly safe to leave it in the bird while it roasts
.
Are pop up turkey timers accurate?
Are Pop-up Timers Reliable?
No, pop-up timers aren't known for their reliability
. They occasionally may pop before the bird has reached a temperature of 165 degrees F, resulting in an undercooked bird that can make your guests sick. A regular meat thermometer can help you to check the doneness of your turkey.
Should I cover my turkey with aluminum foil?
Just make sure you uncover the lid about 30 minutes before the turkey's done roasting so the skin has a chance to get crispy. … Covering the bird with foil
mimics what a roaster lid would do
— it traps steam and moistness so the turkey doesn't dry out — all the while allowing the skin to crisp up.
Do Honeysuckle turkeys have pop up timers?
A temperature of 165°F is required to be safe to eat, but the red color will not disappear until about 180°F. Our
turkey timers in whole turkeys pop up when the breast is 170°F.
