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Official manufacturer imageThermoPro TP19H
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Official manufacturer imageThermoWorks DOT
Check price on Amazon UKMeat thermometers
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Meat thermometers
Buying guide

Meat Thermometer Temperature for Cooked Chicken
For chicken, the UK Food Standards Agency advises a core temperature of 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent time-and-temperature combination. Check the thickest part without touching bone.

How to Use a Meat Thermometer for Chicken
Insert a clean probe into the thickest part without touching bone. Check both the breast and the innermost thigh on a whole bird, then clean the probe before any repeat check.

Where to Insert a Meat Thermometer in a Whole Chicken
Check the thickest breast meat and the inner thigh near the body, keeping the sensing tip away from bone. Test more than one place because poultry does not heat evenly.

Where to Insert a Meat Thermometer in a Whole Chicken
Check a whole chicken in two places: the centre of the thickest breast and the innermost thigh near the body. Keep the sensing tip clear of bone, joints and the empty cavity.
Common questions
Questions before you buy
Where do you put a meat thermometer in a chicken?
Insert it into the thickest meat without touching bone, the cavity or the tray. Check another thick section because a whole bird heats unevenly.
Can you leave a thermometer in roast chicken?
Only use a probe designed for continuous oven use. Position it before cooking and keep its sensor in the meat throughout.
Why check more than one part of a chicken?
Breast, thigh and different portions can heat at different rates. Multiple checks help locate the coolest relevant centre.
Can an infrared thermometer check cooked chicken?
It reads the surface, not the centre. Use a clean penetration probe to assess internal temperature.
