• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Fast Recipe Food Blog
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Latest Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Latest Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cooking Tips

    Where do you put the thermometer in a turkey?

    Published by: TheFastRecipe November 24, 2022 · Last modified: September 12, 2023 Leave a comment

    Sharing is caring!

    1 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    When it comes to cooking a turkey, one of the most important things to keep in mind is its internal temperature. Specifically, you need to make sure the turkey is cooked all the way through - not over or under-cooked. So, where do you put the thermometer in turkey?

    The photo of a person putting a meat thermometer into a roasted turkey.

    The holiday season is the time when people cook their best turkey recipes. It’s not only about food, but also about family & friends gatherings, parties, and celebrations. This is why we love cooking our best dishes on these special days.

    While there are many turkey recipes out there, for different tastes and more traditional or not, all of them have this feature: all the turkeys are cooked all the way through, so make certain that your turkey is thoroughly cooked and shiny!

    Jump to:
    • What tools do I need to gauge the right temperature?
    • What is the safe temperature for turkey?
    • Where to put the thermometer in the turkey?
    • Suggested Turkey Recipe
    • Best place to put a thermometer in the turkey
    • No meat thermometer?
    • More Thanksgiving Recipes
    • 💬 Comments

    What tools do I need to gauge the right temperature?

    In order to accurately measure the right temperature when cooking turkey, you need an instant-read meat thermometer or an oven-proof thermometer. Both of them work great, but as a friend of mine says, the best cooking thermometer is the one that you already own 😊 so let’s get going with this guide, we'll cover all the possibilities!

    Oven-proof meat thermometer, a tool  to check the temperature when cooking turkey.

    What is the safe temperature for turkey?

    Cooking meat is a very important part of preparing a Thanksgiving feast. When cooking a raw turkey, it is important to ensure that the meat is cooked thoroughly to avoid foodborne illness.

    The safe temperature for turkey is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure that your turkey is roasted to perfection, use a meat thermometer to measure the temperature.

    The recommended cooking time is about 20 minutes per pound of the unstuffed turkey, depending on the weight, the bird will be ready in 3 to 5 hours – add 20-30 more minutes to the cooking time if you use stuffing.

    20120106-OC-AMW-0079
    Source USDA Flickr Image

    Where to put the thermometer in the turkey?

    How do you know if your turkey is cooked, using a meat thermometer? It’s simple. There are a few key places to check to know when your turkey is done.

    There are different viewpoints on placing the thermometer in a turkey. Some people believe that the best spot to put the digital thermometer is in the turkey's breast meat. Other people believe that the best place, to put the oven-safe leave-in thermometer in turkey is, in the thigh.

    Others would use both, but in our experience, and the fact that digital instant-read thermometers are nowadays more and more accurate, it’s enough to use one of the two, whichever you have.

    Inserting a thermometer into a turkey takes some practice. It’s best to use a digital thermometer so you can see how close your target temperature is. You may want to place the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat, not near the bone. This will give you a better reading.

    Once your turkey has been cooked to the correct temperature, you can serve it up hot and fresh. Make sure to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving feast!

    Suggested Turkey Recipe

    Easy Air Fryer Turkey Legs

    Best place to put a thermometer in the turkey

    The best place to insert a food thermometer in a turkey is in the thickest part of the bird. This will ensure that the temperature reading is accurate. Insert the thermometer into the breast, turkey thigh, or even the inner wing. Make sure that the cooking thermometer is not touching bone or cartilage.

    If you want the shiniest turkey for your Thanksgiving day, ensure to measure the temperature at intervals of 15 minutes and in many areas of the bird.

    If you’re not cooking the whole turkey, it’s even easier to measure the internal temp! When the meat thermometer shows 165 F, your bird is ready!

    Before carving you can apply some aluminum foil to the turkey for 30 minutes so that the meat would become tender, juicier & more flavorful.

    If you are worried about overcooking the thigh while the turkey breast is not done, then check the internal temp in the thigh meat. By following our tips, you can be sure that your cooked turkey will be perfect this Thanksgiving.

    An image showing a Thanksgiving dinner table.

    No meat thermometer?

    Use this method to see if your turkey is cooked.

    The fork test is a great way to check if the turkey is done without a food thermometer. Simply insert a fork into the thickest part of the turkey breast and pull it out. If the tines come away clean, the bird is ready. Make sure the turkey is fully cooked and safe for your family to eat, by checking in several spots.

    This method will help you quickly test the doneness, but a meat thermometer is the most reliable method - from a food safety perspective. Ensure the bird is fully thawed before you begin cooking to ensure the turkey will be evenly cooked.

    More Thanksgiving Recipes

    Spicy Sweet Potato, Coconut and Chili Soup

    Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

    • air fryer baked sweet potatoes served with butter and parsley on a plate.
      Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
    • thanksgiving chicken carved on a platter and served with sprouts.
      Thanksgiving Chicken Recipe (with Gravy)
    • overhead view of a bowl with creamy sweet potato pumpkin soup with pepitas on top.
      Creamy Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Soup
    • overhead view of a small bowl full of air fryer turkey meatballs.
      Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
    • slice of philadelphia pumpkin cheesecake with a fork.
      Creamy Philadelphia Pumpkin Cheesecake (No-Bake)

    So, what is the best place to put the thermometer in the turkey? Ultimately, it is up to you.

    I hope that our quick guide is helping you make the best turkey recipe for Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

    How useful was this post?

    Click on a HEART to rate it!

    Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 4

    No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

    More Essential Cooking Tips for Mastering Your Culinary Skills

    • close up of parboiled and then baked chicken wings.
      How to Parboil Chicken Wings

    Sharing is caring!

    1 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Adina Beck the recipe writer, creator, and photographer behind The Fast Recipe Food Blog.

    Hi, I'm Adina! I am a foodie, creator, writer, and photographer, creating and photographing recipes for my blogs and clients.

    More about me →

    Most Popular

    • quick pork belly bites sprinkled with green onions on a white plate.
      Quick Pork Belly Bites
    • sandwich pinwheels arranged on a plate with basil leaves between them.
      Easy Sandwich Pinwheels
    • red dutch oven with mac and cheese without flour.
      Simple Mac and Cheese without Flour
    • close up of many small cucumber wraps decorated with fresh dill.
      Cucumber Cream Cheese Wraps Recipe
    • small bowl of creamy ricotta mac and cheese on a white cloth with blue flowers.
      Creamy Ricotta Mac and Cheese
    • honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs close up with lemon slices.
      Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Seasonal

    • close up of golden instnat pot chicken legs on parchment paper.
      Instant Pot Chicken Legs
    • what to serve with mac and cheese 30 quick recipe ideas.
      What to Serve with Mac and Cheese: 30+ Quick Dishes
    • carrot and broccoli soup in a brown bowl with roasted broccoli florets in it.
      Carrot and Broccoli Soup
    • two slices of cottage cheese toast with avocado and with sliced tomatoes.
      Cottage Cheese Toast (with Avocado and Tomatoes)
    • cottage cheese with fruit bowl, topped with blueberries, raspberries and plums.
      Cottage Cheese with Fruit
    • bowl of blended cottage cheese served with garlic crackers and tomatoes.
      Blended Cottage Cheese

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Check out our Web Stories

    Contact

    If you have any questions or want to work with us, please email us @ yummy@thefastrecipe.com

    If you would like to use one of our photos in your editorial content, please feel free to do so as long as a link back to thefastrecipe.com is provided. Thank you.

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023