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Meat thermometers
Buying guide
Where to Put a Meat Thermometer in a Turkey
Check the thickest breast area plus the innermost thigh and wing areas. Keep the sensing tip in meat, away from bone and outside the cavity.
Where to Insert a Meat Thermometer in a Whole Turkey
Insert into the thickest breast and the innermost thigh, keeping the sensing area clear of bone and the cavity. Recheck from another angle and use the lowest valid reading.
Where to Stick a Meat Thermometer in a Turkey
Check a whole turkey in three places: the thickest breast, the innermost thigh and the innermost wing. Keep the sensing area in meat rather than against bone, and verify every location reaches 165°F.
Where to Place a Meat Thermometer in a Turkey
Aim for the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest breast. The probe must sit in meat, not against bone.
Where Do You Place a Meat Thermometer in a Turkey?
Use three checkpoints: inner thigh, inner wing, and thickest breast. The sensing zone belongs in meat and clear of bone.
Where Do You Stick a Meat Thermometer in a Turkey?
Insert into the center of the thickest edible meat, not the cavity or bone. Repeat in the inner thigh, inner wing, and breast.
Common questions
Questions before you buy
Where does a meat thermometer go in a whole turkey?
Check the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest breast. Keep the probe tip and sensing area away from bone.
Should the thermometer touch the turkey bone?
No. Bone can distort the reading, so reposition the probe into the center of the meat.
How many places should you check on a turkey?
USDA guidance calls for checks in the innermost thigh and wing and the thickest breast. Check the center of stuffing separately if the bird is stuffed.
What temperature should every turkey area reach?
USDA states that the turkey and any stuffing must reach 165°F.