What temperature should a meat thermometer read for chicken?
Use 165°F as the safe minimum internal temperature for chicken. The USDA applies this target to breasts, whole birds, legs, thighs, wings, ground poultry, giblets, and stuffing.
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Guide
What Meat Thermometer Temperature Is Safe for Chicken?
Chicken is safe when its internal temperature reaches 165°F, according to USDA guidance. Check the thickest areas and keep the probe away from bone.
Where do you put the thermometer in a whole chicken?
Check the innermost thigh, the innermost wing, and the thickest part of the breast. Keep the sensing tip away from bone, which can distort the reading, and confirm the target in every location.
How do you check chicken breasts and thighs?
Place the probe in the thickest section without touching bone. For a thin breast or cutlet, insert from the side so the sensing area sits in the center rather than passing through it.
Does stuffed chicken need a separate check?
Yes. The center of the stuffing must also reach 165°F. Measure the meat and the stuffing separately because one can heat more slowly than the other.
When should you take more than one reading?
Check multiple spots in a large or irregular piece and check individual pieces when sizes vary. A single reading cannot show whether every cold spot has reached the safe minimum.
How do you avoid contaminating cooked chicken?
Clean the probe as directed before and after use. If you check early and the chicken is not ready, clean the probe before inserting it again so raw juices are not carried onto cooked surfaces.
Common questions
Questions before you buy
Is chicken safe at 160°F?
USDA consumer guidance sets 165°F as the safe minimum internal temperature for all poultry. Keep cooking until the checked locations reach that temperature.
What is the correct meat thermometer temperature for chicken breast?
The thickest part of a chicken breast should reach 165°F. Avoid bone and insert from the side when the piece is too thin for a top-down reading.
Where should I check a whole chicken?
Check the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest portion of the breast, without touching bone.
Can cooked chicken still look pink at 165°F?
Color is not a reliable safety test. Use the thermometer reading at the correct locations as your guide.
Does ground chicken also need to reach 165°F?
Yes. USDA guidance lists 165°F for ground poultry as well as whole birds and poultry pieces.
Sources and how we chose
- USDA FSIS, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart · 2026-10-15
- USDA FSIS, Chicken from Farm to Table · 2026-10-15
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