Don’t Trust The Pop-Up Thermometer In Your Turkey—Here’s Why

Every November, the stress and excitement of preparing Thanksgiving dinner begins. Deciding the size and how long the turkey needs to cook is part of the equation, along with knowing the bird has reached the right temperature and is ready to take out of the oven.

Some turkeys include pop-up thermometers that are already placed in the bird to make life more convenient. The idea is basic: the thermometers will pop up when the predetermined temperature is reached. But these handy indicators might not be as helpful as you think.  

We spoke to two food safety experts about why pop-up thermometers serve as an indicator rather than a reliable temperature reading, where the best place to check the temperature of a turkey is, and why it’s vital to utilize a meat thermometer to know when your turkey is done. 

Meet The Experts

• Keith Schneider is a food safety professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida.
• Kimberly Baker is a food systems and safety program team director at Clemson University, South Carolina

Why You Shouldn’t Rely On A Pop-Up Thermometer

If you’ve purchased a turkey with a pop-up thermometer, it may seem that all you have to do is set the oven temperature, put the turkey in the oven, and wait until it pops up to let you know the turkey is ready.

The idea may seem basic and practical, but food safety experts don’t recommend relying on this type of thermometer alone to know when the turkey is cooked. “They’re not very accurate and not very precise,” Keith Schneider, a food safety professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the internal minimum temperature of a turkey needs to reach 165°F to be unthreatening. “People should avoid relying solely on pop-up thermometers to ensure their turkey has reached the safe internal temperature of 165°F, ” says Kimberly Baker, a food systems and safety program team director at Clemson University, South Carolina.

“While these thermometers are generally accurate within 1 to 2°F, they can sometimes pop up before the turkey is fully cooked, potentially signaling temperatures just below the safe threshold,” Baker says.   

Undercooked turkey

Schneider agrees that the temperature could be off by a couple of degrees and you won’t know unless you utilize a meat thermometer. The worst-case scenario, he says, is you pull the turkey out of the oven when the thermometer pops up but the bird is undercooked, potentially putting guests at risk for illness.

If you start slicing the bird and find it’s not fully cooked, not only does that delay dinner, but you’ll have to put it back in the oven and may not know exactly when it’s ready. 

Issues with pop-up thermometers

Other issues that can occur with a pop-up thermometer, Schneider points out, is that they don’t pop up at all, or pop up too slow, leaving you with an overcooked bird.

Baker says there is also the possibility of having a faulty device. “There is a minor risk of manufacturer defects that may cause the thermometer to indicate the turkey has reached the safe 165°F, even if it has not,” she says.

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What If You Only Have A Pop-Up Thermometer?

If you only have a pop-up thermometer, Baker and Schneider agree that they serve as an indicator and are better than nothing. “If you don’t have a thermometer, and your bird comes with a pop-up thermometer, that’s a good indication of when it is done,” says Schneider. “The problem I have with them is I don’t know what temperature it is [when] it pops up. Is it at 155°F, 175°F, or is it 180°F?”

Relying on a meat thermometer is the best for food safety, convenience, and knowing exactly when the turkey is ready. 

Use A Meat Thermometer For Accurate Temperature Readings

Investing in a meat thermometer is worth the diminutive cost to have a successful cooking turkey experience. “You can get one from your favorite online shopping store or box store in town for about $15 [or] even less,” says Schneider. They are more right and allow you to check the turkey in multiple locations to ensure it’s properly cooked, he adds.

“Using a digital or dial meat thermometer is a more reliable way to ensure your turkey reaches the safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F, as it provides a precise temperature readout,” says Baker, “Rather than just an indicator, like a pop-up thermometer.” 

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Where To Check The Turkey’s Temperature

Where you measure the temperature is key to getting an right reading on your turkey. Check the temperature in the two thickest parts of the bird, the thighs and the breast, say Baker and Schneider. “Checking both areas ensures they have each reached the safe minimum of 165°F,” says Baker. 

Make sure to take precautions when inserting the thermometer because if it hits the bone, it could give an incorrect reading. “Be careful to keep the thermometer probe from touching any bones or the roasting pan, as these can conduct heat and lead to inaccurate readings,” says Baker.

Another tip for taking the temperature correctly is to, “Ensure that the entire sensing area of the thermometer probe is fully inserted into the meat for the most accurate result,” says Baker.

How To Check The Accuracy Of Your Meat Thermometer

Whether you cook a lot of meat year-round or only have a meat thermometer on hand for holiday meals, conducting an accuracy check to verify the readings can provide peace of mind.

One straightforward way to check your thermometer’s accuracy according to Baker is, “You can immerse the thermometer in an ice-water slurry, which should read 32°F, or in boiling water, which should read 212°F. ”

She also recommends consulting the thermometer’s manufacturer’s instructions for specific guidelines on the best way to do an accuracy check.