The soft metal (D in the image) is solid at room temperature but turns to a liquid (melts) at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73 degrees Celsius). When the metal melts, it releases the red stick (A) and the spring (C) pops up the stick so you know the turkey is done.
How do turkey pop up thermometers work?
Here’s how it works. It has the stick that pops up, a spring and soft metal that’s solid at room temperature but metals and turns into a liquid at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. When the metal melts, the spring pops up the stick so you know the turkey is done.
Can you trust the pop up timer in a turkey?
Our food safety experts recommend that cooks not rely on these timers to tell whether their holiday bird is done. Instead, use a conventional meat thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the breast and in the thigh between the drumstick and the body, and take several readings.
How does pop up thermometer work?
This thermometer is precisely positioned to assure that your food will be cooked correctly. How does it work? A stainless steel spring inside a nylon tube releases when the surrounding meat has reached a pre-determined temperature, forcing the timer to “pop-up”.
Where does the pop up timer go in a turkey?
Push the pop up timer into the thickest part of the breast and pop the turkey into the oven. The pop up timer will ‘pop up’ when the meat reaches a temperature of 163 degrees Fahrenheit/ 73 degrees centigrade which is the internal temperature you want for it to be cooked.
Do pop up timers always work?
These pop-up timers are actually inaccurate. There’s a reason that turkey has a reputation for being dry, and it’s because of these timers. If they ever pop at all, it can be too late. Or even worse, they could rise too early and your turkey could be underdone, putting you and your guests at the risk of food poisoning.
What if the turkey popper doesn’t pop?
“If your popper didn’t pop, it doesn’t mean that the turkey’s not done. That’s where a lot of people kind of over-cook their birds — they’re worried about that popper,” he said. Mohan recommends first searing the bird, at 500 degrees. Then, he says, use a meat thermometer, which you can find at most grocery stores.
What does it mean when the red thing pops out of the turkey?
This smart piece of technology lets you know when your turkey is done so you don’t have to stress over it. All you have to do is wait until the red indicator stick pops up and you know the bird is done and it’s time to eat. But have you ever wondered how that timer knows exactly when your turkey is completely cooked?
How do you tell if a turkey is done?
But there’s only one way to be sure: the temperature. It just takes a simple reading with a meat thermometer to test if your turkey is ready to eat.
Check these places on your turkey and look for these temperatures:
- 180°F in thigh.
- 170°F in breast.
- 165°F in stuffing.
At what temperature does the pop up thermometer in a turkey pop up?
about 165 degrees Fahrenheit
The soft metal (D in the image) is solid at room temperature but turns to a liquid (melts) at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit (73 degrees Celsius). When the metal melts, it releases the red stick (A) and the spring (C) pops up the stick so you know the turkey is done.
What is the plastic thing in my turkey?
hock lock
The “plastic thing” on the turkey legs is the hock lock. It secures the hind legs, or hock, of a chicken or turkey. It can be made of heat-resistant nylon or metal, and it’s perfectly safe to leave it in the bird while it roasts.
What is white plastic in turkey?
Generally, this is referred to as the “hock lock” and is used to keep the turkey in form while it is being processed and packaged. Some turkeys will have a second piece of plastic in them, known as a pop-up indicator. This indicator will “pop” when the turkey is finished.
Who invented the pop up turkey timer?
Eugene Beals and collaborators helped banish the tough, overcooked Thanksgiving bird. It was an idea that simply popped up one day, nearly half a century ago, as the state’s turkey farmers were trying to figure out how to make the perennial Thanksgiving bird a bit less tough and a bit more popular.
Should you rinse your turkey before cooking?
Wash your hands, but not the turkey! Many consumers think that washing their turkey will remove bacteria and make it safer. However, it’s virtually impossible to wash bacteria off the bird. Instead, juices that splash during washing can transfer bacteria onto the surfaces of your kitchen, other foods and utensils.
Where is the turkey thigh for thermometer?
When taking your turkey’s temp with an instant-read meat thermometer, place it in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. If you’re using an oven-proof food thermometer, insert it in the thickest part of the inner thigh before placing your turkey in the oven.
How long do you have to smoke a turkey?
Set the smoker to 225° F. Place the turkey on a cooking rack and cook for 8 to 12 hours or until the inner thigh temperature reaches 180° F. Check the temperature of your turkey after 3½ hours. Your turkey must pass through a critical range of 40° F to 140° F in 4 hours or less.
What is a turkey timer?
Here’s how turkey timers actually work.
The stick has a spring wrapped around it. The soft metal in the tip warms as the turkey roasts and eventually melts at around 180 degrees F. Then the red stick is released from the metal and the spring makes it pop up.
How long do you cook a turkey?
How Long to Roast a Turkey:
- 4 to 8 pounds (breast only): 1 1/2 to 3 1/4 hours.
- 8 to 12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours.
- 12 to 14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours.
- 14 to 18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours.
- 18 to 20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours.
- 20 to 24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours.
How do you tell if a turkey is done without a thermometer?
To find out if your turkey is done without a thermometer, pierce it with a fork in the mid-thigh muscle, explains Nicole Johnson, the co-director of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. “When the juices run clear, and no longer reddish or pink in color, it’s a good indication that your turkey is done.”
Where do I poke turkey?
Insert the tip of a knife or a skewer into the thigh.
Poke the knife or skewer into the crease between the thigh and the breast. This will probably be covered with skin that you’ll have to cut through. You don’t need to cut very deep into the thigh.
How long does it take to cook a 21lb turkey?
If your turkey weighs 21 to 22 pounds, roast it at:
400°F for 4¼ to 4½ hours. 350°F for 4½ to 4¾ hours.