This Thanksgiving, there’s one tool you need to keep out of the kitchen in order to cook the perfect turkey. Ironically, it’s the pop-up turkey timer.
A pop-up turkey timer ― the kind that comes pre-inserted in your store-bought bird ― is probably one of the most unreliable kitchen gadgets of all time. By the time the timer does actually pop, your turkey will be overcooked and as dry as sawdust. Advertisement
That’s because commercial turkey buttons are set to pop at 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, even though you should actually remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches 160 degrees F (then you temperature will continue rising as it rests on the counter, to the FDA-recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit). If you use a pop-up timer, you end up drastically overcooking your turkey.
As Thanksgiving approaches, many home cooks are getting ready to roast a turkey for their holiday feast Most supermarket turkeys come with a pop-up timer already inserted that is supposed to indicate when the turkey is fully cooked. But can you really trust these pop-up timers to accurately gauge doneness? The short answer is no. While pop-up timers provide a general indication, they should not be solely relied upon Here’s a closer look at why pop-up timers can be unreliable, and the best methods for properly testing turkey doneness.
A Brief History of the Pop-Up Turkey Timer
The pop-up turkey timer has been around since the 1960s. It was invented as a way to help home cooks with roasting times which were previously unreliable using just the minutes per pound method. The pop-up timer provided a visual cue indicating when the turkey was finished cooking.
The original pop-up timers had some issues – they would sometimes fail to pop up at the right temperature or the red indicator would pop completely out of the turkey. The design has been refined over the decades, but experts still recommend not fully depending on it to gauge doneness.
How Do Pop-Up Turkey Timers Work?
A pop-up timer consists of a few key components:
- A barrel that sits inside the turkey breast
- A red plunger
- A spring
- A blob of food-grade wax
It operates based on the melting point of the wax, which is calibrated to melt at 180-185°F. When the turkey reaches this temperature, the wax melts, releasing the spring to push the red plunger up to pop out.
The problem is that 180-185°F is hotter than the USDA-recommended safe minimum temperature of 165°F for poultry doneness.
Why Pop-Up Timers Can Be Unreliable
There are several reasons why many cooking experts recommend not solely relying on the pop-up timer:
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Inconsistent cooking temperatures – Turkeys often have varying thicknesses which leads to uneven cooking. The area immediately around the timer may reach 185°F before the rest of the turkey is properly cooked through.
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Failure to pop – In some cases, the pop-up timer never pops up. This could be due to a malfunction or the turkey failing to reach the target temperature.
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Pops too early – There have been reports of timers popping before the turkey has hit the safe 165°F internal temperature, leading to undercooked poultry.
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One temperature reading – The pop-up only measures the temperature in a very small section rather than throughout the whole turkey.
Alternative Methods for Testing Turkey Doneness
Instead of depending on the pop-up timer alone, experts recommend using the following techniques to fully test your turkey’s doneness:
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Meat thermometer – Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh, without touching bone. It should read 165°F. Test in multiple areas.
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Cut into the breast – Slice into the breast meat with a knife. It should be white throughout with no traces of pink.
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Leg wiggle – Twist the leg gently. It should rotate easily in the socket.
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Juice color – Pierce the turkey to check juices. They should run clear rather than pink or red.
Safety Tips for Roasting Turkey
To ensure your holiday turkey is cooked safely, keep these tips in mind:
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Never solely rely on the pop-up timer – always use a meat thermometer too.
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Check the temperature in several different thick and thin sections.
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Let the turkey rest 20 minutes before carving to allow juices to redistribute.
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Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours after cooking.
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Reheat leftovers to 165°F until steaming hot.
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Wash hands, sinks, tools after contact with raw poultry.
Should You Ditch the Pop-Up Timer?
The pop-up timer was created to give home cooks a better way to test turkey doneness. However, we now know these timers can be inconsistent and unreliable. Modern instant-read thermometers provide a much more foolproof method for accurately gauging temperature. Checking the internal temperature in multiple areas leaves little room for error.
While the pop-up timer will likely continue to come included in store-bought turkeys, it’s clear that cooks should not depend wholly on this fallible device. For assured food safety and perfect doneness, bypass the pop-up and go straight for the trusty meat thermometer instead. It really is the best way to monitor the doneness of your Thanksgiving turkey.
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This Thanksgiving, there’s one tool you need to keep out of the kitchen in order to cook the perfect turkey. Ironically, it’s the pop-up turkey timer.
A pop-up turkey timer ― the kind that comes pre-inserted in your store-bought bird ― is probably one of the most unreliable kitchen gadgets of all time. By the time the timer does actually pop, your turkey will be overcooked and as dry as sawdust. Advertisement
That’s because commercial turkey buttons are set to pop at 180 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit, even though you should actually remove the turkey from the oven when it reaches 160 degrees F (then you temperature will continue rising as it rests on the counter, to the FDA-recommended 165 degrees Fahrenheit). If you use a pop-up timer, you end up drastically overcooking your turkey.
But the best way to take the temperature of a turkey is with a digital instant-read thermometer.
It’s not that hard to jab a turkey with a thermometer and see if it’s done or not. Simply insert a digital instant-read thermometer into the space between the thigh and the breast to get an accurate reading. We also recommend probe-style digital thermometers, which can be inserted into your bird with a wire leading out of the oven door to a digital display that monitors the temperature. (And if you buy a turkey that already has a pop-up timer inserted, either ignore it or pull it out, if you can do so without mangling the bird.)
Get yourself a good meat thermometer before it’s too late.
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This affordable ThermoPro TP03 with rechargeable batteries will fit in your pocket and take an accurate temperature in just a few seconds.
A more old-school version of the digital one, this Rubbermaid model wont work as quickly but will get the job done.
This ThermoPro TP-16 probe digital thermometer will monitor your meat the entire time its in the oven, meaning you can spend less time opening the oven door and losing heat.
The Turkey Pop Up Timer!
FAQ
Are pop-up turkey timers accurate?
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.
What triggers the pop-up thermometer in a turkey?
First inspired by fire sprinkler systems, the gadgets pop when a material that softens in heat releases a spring.Nov 22, 2017
What if the turkey timer doesn’t pop-up?
If your turkey didn’t include a pop-up timer, you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature for doneness. Simply insert the thermometer into the innermost part of the turkey’s thigh and wing, and the thickest part of the breast, being sure not to hit bone.
How does a pop-up Turkey timer work?
Inside a standard pop-up turkey timer, there’s a red plastic indicator stick that sits in a plastic casing. 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.
Do turkeys need a pop-up timer?
While pop-up timers can be helpful, it’s best to use a meat thermometer to verify the turkey’s internal temperature in multiple spots for accuracy. 3. Are there different types of pop-up timers available for turkeys? Yes, there are various kinds of pop-up timers, including those with different temperature settings and materials. 4.
Should you use a plastic pop-up timer to test a Turkey?
But few, if any chefs these days will recommend that you use the plastic pop-up timer to test the bird for doneness. Those of us over a certain age can be forgiven for thinking all turkeys were born and bred to sport a plastic pop-up button, mainly because it always seemed that way.
What happens if you touch a Turkey pop-up timer?
Turkey cooking pop-up timers are made of metal, which can become hot during cooking. If you touch the timer while it is in the oven, you could burn yourself. Additionally, if the timer falls into the turkey, it could cause a fire.
Can a pop-up timer tell if a Turkey is cooked?
As many experienced cooks can attest pop-up timers should not actually be trusted as the sole indicator of turkey doneness. While they can provide a ballpark estimate relying too heavily on the popper can lead to overcooked or even undercooked turkey.
Are pop-up timers bad?
If you use a pop-up timer, you end up drastically overcooking your turkey. Food industry professionals don’t like pop-up timers. If you need any more proof that pop-up timers are bad, just know that Butterball turkey doesn’t use them, Consumer Reports doesn’t recommend them and food writers despise them.