Ideal cooking temperature
Chicken, Turkey, Poultry Temperature Chart
Poultry and chicken taste delicious, but overcooking it can quickly lead to dry meat and ruin the experience.
Check our temperature charts for preparing your favorite turkey or chicken recipes
Poultry Internal Temperature Chart
When it comes to cooking poultry, it’s absolutely essential to prepare the meat to a safe internal temperature. Otherwise, you open yourself up to the possibility of contracting food-borne illness through harmful bacteria like Salmonella. By using a reliable food thermometer, you can check to make sure that your poultry is safe to eat.
To check the internal temperature of poultry like chicken or duck, place your food thermometer at the innermost portion of the thigh, wing, and thickest part of the breast. Keep in mind that the bird will continue to cook after it’s removed from the heat through carry-over cooking.
During this time, the internal temperature will rise by approximately 5°F-10°F (-15 to -12.22°C) within a few minutes. You should always give your meat a few minutes to rest before checking the temperature once more.
Fahrenheit and Celsius Cooking Temperatures
Internal Temperature Description
Meat type | Internal Core Temperature in Fahrenheit | Internal Core Temperature in Celsius | Internal Description |
---|---|---|---|
Dark meat | 160°F to 165°F | 71°C to 74°C | |
Breast meat | 160°F to 165°F | 71°C to 74°C | |
Thighs, Wings, and Legs | 160°F to 165°F | 71°C to 74°C | |
Ground Poultry (Chicken and Turkey) |
160°F to 165°F | 71°C to 74°C | For patties, insert the digital food thermometer through the side of the patty, all the way to the middle. |
Whole Chicken or Duck | 160°F to 165°F | 71°C to 74°C | Insert it in the inner thigh area near the breast of the bird, but not touching the bone. Cook until juices run clear |
Turkey Stuffing (cooked alone or in turkey) |
165°F | 74°C | For the stuffing inside of a turkey, duck, or chicken: place the thermometer to the center of the stuffing. |
Whole Turkey – Oven Roasted Turkey | 165°F | 74°C | Juices run clear and leg moves easily. |
Deep Fried or Cajun Fried Turkey | 170°F (in the breast) | 76°C |