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Meat thermometers
Buying guide
Where to Insert a Meat Thermometer in Chicken
Insert the sensing tip into the thickest part of the breast or the innermost thigh, avoiding bone. Check more than one area in a whole bird.
Where to Place a Meat Thermometer in Chicken
Place the probe's sensing area in the deepest edible section, away from bone and the cavity. Whole birds need checks in both breast and inner thigh areas.
How to Use a Meat Thermometer for Chicken Correctly
Insert a clean digital thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken without touching bone. Check more than one spot and follow Health Canada's temperature guidance for the cut you are cooking.
What Meat Thermometer Temperature Should Chicken Reach?
Health Canada lists 82°C for whole poultry and 74°C for poultry pieces. Take the reading in the thickest edible area without touching bone.
Common questions
Questions before you buy
What should a meat thermometer read for chicken?
Health Canada lists 74°C for poultry pieces and 82°C for whole poultry. Check its current safe-temperature chart for the exact food you are cooking.
Where do you put a meat thermometer in a chicken breast?
Insert it into the thickest part, aiming for the centre and avoiding bone. For a thin breast, enter from the side to keep more of the sensing area inside.
Can a thermometer touch chicken bone?
Avoid bone because it can distort the reading and does not represent the coolest edible meat. Reposition the probe if it contacts bone.
Should every chicken piece be checked?
Yes. Health Canada advises checking each piece separately because pieces can reach a safe internal temperature at different times.