Turkey burgers have become an increasingly popular healthy alternative to beef burgers. With less fat and calories than beef, turkey allows you to enjoy a flavorful burger without the guilt. However, properly cooking turkey burgers can be tricky. It’s crucial to fully cook poultry to 165°F internal temperature to eliminate foodborne illness risk. So how do you know when your turkey burgers are done and safe to eat?
This comprehensive guide provides foolproof techniques to ensure your turkey burgers are perfectly cooked every time
Use a Digital Meat Thermometer
The most reliable way to check turkey burger doneness is using an instant-read digital meat thermometer. Thermometers provide an accurate reading of the internal temperature, eliminating the guesswork in determining doneness
To use a thermometer:
- Insert the probe into the thickest part of the patty. It should reach 165°F for safety.
- If under 165°F, return the patties to the grill or pan for a few more minutes until fully cooked.
Having a thermometer on hand is essential for cooking turkey burgers perfectly and safely. It definitively confirms they are fully cooked and safe to eat.
Check Internal Color
When cutting into a cooked turkey burger, you may notice some pink coloration in the center. This pink hue is normal and does not necessarily mean the burger is undercooked.
Turkey naturally contains myoglobin protein that remains pink after thorough cooking. As long as the internal temperature has reached 165°F, a pinkish turkey burger is fully safe to eat. The pink color does not indicate rareness like with beef.
Use a thermometer to double check the internal temperature if you notice pink. As long as it’s above 165°F, the burger is properly cooked. The pinkish tone is the natural color of safely cooked turkey.
Look for Clear Juices
A great visual clue your turkey burgers are cooked through is checking the juices. When you press a turkey burger patty, the juices should run completely clear without traces of pink.
Pink or red juices signal the burger needs more time cooking. If the juices are translucent and clear, you can be sure the burger is fully cooked to a safe internal temperature.
Gently press the patty and watch for clear juices to flow. It’s a handy technique to gauge doneness when a thermometer isn’t available.
Check External Browning and Firmness
The exterior appearance of your turkey burger can also indicate doneness. When fully cooked, the outer surface should be nicely browned. A pale, pinkish raw-looking exterior means more cooking time is needed.
The texture of the cooked patty also reveals doneness. A fully cooked turkey burger will be firm to the touch, not squishy or mushy. Use tongs to gently press the burger. It should feel set and spring back slightly.
While less reliable than temperature, checking exterior color and texture can provide useful visual cues.
Follow Recommended Cook Times
You can estimate turkey burger doneness based on recommended cooking times from the USDA:
- Grill 4 ounce patties for at least 5 minutes per side on a preheated grill or pan.
- For frozen patties, cook 7-8 minutes per side.
- Bake ground turkey loaves or meatballs for 15-20 minutes at 350°F.
However, factors like patty thickness and heat level can alter required cook times. Rely on the visual and temperature tests for accuracy rather than just estimating by time. But these baseline USDA times provide a helpful starting reference point.
Why Proper Cooking is Essential
Cooking turkey burgers to 165°F internal temperature is critical because poultry is prone to harboring harmful bacteria if undercooked.
Salmonella and E. coli are common foodborne pathogens found in raw turkey. Consuming undercooked turkey burgers risks food poisoning from these bacteria. Heating to 165°F sufficiently destroys any pathogens present.
While a medium rare beef burger may be fine, turkey burgers must reach a hotter internal temperature for safety. Use a thermometer and visual tests regularly as you learn to judge turkey doneness. You’ll be rewarded with flavorful, perfectly cooked turkey burgers that never pose a safety risk.
Handy Tips for Cooking Turkey Burgers
Mastering turkey burger cooking takes trial and error. Here are useful tips:
- Pound patties evenly for even cooking.
- Brush with oil to prevent sticking.
- Flip only once during cooking for better browning.
- Add a teaspoon of oil to the meat mix for juicier burgers.
- Generously season with herbs and spices for lots of flavor.
- Allow patties to rest before serving so temperature rises further.
- Avoid pressing patties while cooking to prevent drying.
- Mix in breadcrumbs to help retain moisture.
- Use lower heat to prevent burning the exterior before the inside cooks.
Turkey Burger Food Safety
When handling raw turkey:
- Thoroughly wash hands and tools after touching raw patties.
- Store raw patties sealed on the bottom fridge shelf to prevent dripping juices.
- Use separate cutting boards for raw turkey versus ready-to-eat foods.
- Refrigerate cooked turkey burgers promptly.
With the right techniques like using a meat thermometer and visual checks, you can consistently cook delicious, safe turkey burgers. Properly cooking them to 165°F internal temperature and avoiding overcooking are the keys to success. Enjoy your juicy, flavorful turkey burgers cooked to perfection!
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Use a thermometer to ensure you don’t overcook and dry out the turkey burgers. They’ll continue cooking for a few minutes after being taken off the heat, so cook them to an internal temperature of 160°F. Allow them to rest a few minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Onion, 1 cup(s), chopped, measured after chopping in food processor
- Ground turkey, extremely lean, ½ lb(s), look for “ground turkey breast” or “fat-free ground turkey”
- Garlic powder, ½ tsp(s)
- Onion powder, ½ tsp(s)
- Cumin, ground, ½ tsp(s)
- Cilantro, fresh, 2 tbsp(s), chopped
- Salt, ½ tsp(s)
- Black pepper, ¼ tsp(s), ground
- Eggs, 1 large
- Olive oil spray, 1 x two-second spray(s)
- Panko breadcrumbs, ¼ cup(s), (to be used if mixture is too wet)
Method
Chop the onion in a food processor. In a medium bowl, mix the turkey breast, onion, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cilantro, salt, pepper and egg.
Heat a grill or medium nonstick sauté pan to medium heat. Lightly coat the grill or pan with cooking spray. Form the burger mixture into two 4-ounce patties. If the mixture is too wet, add the panko.
Place the patties on the grill or in the pan and cook approximately 5 minutes on each side or until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F. Remove the patties from the heat and let rest until reaching a temperature of 165°F.
Serve the turkey burger patties on whole wheat buns with your choice of condiments.
Nutrition facts per serving Makes 2 servings
Food Groups
| V Vegetables | 1.3 |
| F Fruits | 0 |
| C Carbohydrates | 0.8 |
| PD Protein/Dairy | 1.5 |
| Ft Fats | 0.2 |
| S Sweets | 0 |
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 264 |
| Total Fat | 6.4 g |
| – Saturated Fat | 1.7 g |
| Cholesterol | 155.4 mg |
| Sodium | 779 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 18.8 g |
| – Dietary Fiber | 2.3 g |
| – Total Sugars | 4.4 g |
| — Added Sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 32.9 g |
How to tell when a turkey burger is fully cooked?
FAQ
How do you know when a turkey burger is fully cooked?
Because poultry burgers dry out so easily, it’s best to take the guesswork out of the equation — use an instant-read thermometer to determine doneness. Turkey burgers are ready to pull from the grill once the meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
How to tell if turkey burgers are done without a thermometer?
- Color: The meat should appear completely browned on the outside and have no visible pink color in the center when pressed gently.
- Juice test: When you pierce the burger with a fork, the juices that come out should be clear, not pink or bloody.
- Firmness: The burger should feel firm to the touch, not soft or squishy.
Can turkey burger be a little pink?
- Use a thermometer: The most accurate way to tell if a turkey burger is fully cooked is to check its internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
- Safe temperature: For turkey, the safe internal temperature is 165°F.
- Pink can be okay: Even if a turkey burger is slightly pink, it can still be safe to eat if it has reached the proper temperature.
How to know if ground turkey is done?
- Use a thermometer: Always use a food thermometer to accurately determine if your ground turkey is cooked through.
- Temperature to aim for: The safe internal temperature for ground turkey is 165°F.
- Don’t rely on color: Ground turkey can remain slightly pink even when cooked to a safe temperature, so color is not a reliable indicator.
How do you know when turkey burgers are cooked?
The easiest way to know when turkey burgers are done is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have access to a meat thermometer you will need to cut into the burgers to check. They are done when they are cooked through and the juice is clear.
What temperature should a turkey burger be cooked to?
Never consume a turkey burger that’s been cooked to a medium or medium-rare temperature. The most reliable way to test meat for doneness is with a high-quality instant-read thermometer. When the temperature reads 165 degrees, the turkey burger is safe to eat. You should always insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the patty.
Can you eat a turkey burger at 165 degrees?
When the temperature reads 165 degrees, the turkey burger is safe to eat. You should always insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the patty. The edges of the turkey burger will cook faster than the centers. If you take the temperature from around the edges, there’s no guarantee that the rest of the burger will be fully cooked.
What does a turkey burger taste like?
As one of the crew members’ top-rated plant-based protein products, these turkey burger taste-alikes feature pea protein, mushroom powder, nutritional yeast and more so they sizzle up with a flavor and texture that’s quite similar to a ground poultry patty.
How do you know if a burger is cooked?
Just slice into the meat with a small, sharp knife, or pierce it with a fork. Take a close look at the juices that run out of the patty. If they’re clear, then the meat is done. On the other hand, if the juices look pink or red, then you’ll need to leave the burger on the grill for a bit longer.
How long do you cook a turkey burger on a grill?
Fresh raw turkey burgers should cook over medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes per side. We would suggest keeping the lid of the grill closed as much as possible to lock in the heat. If the meat still doesn’t appear to be done, let it cook for another 5 minutes.