You can’t rely on pop-up thermometers alone.

Every November, the stress and excitement of preparation Thanksgiving Dinner begin. Deciding on turkey size and cooking time is part of the equation, as is knowing that the bird has reached the right temperature and is ready to come out of the oven.

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

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

Meet the experts

• Keith Schneider is a professor of food safety in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Florida.

• Kimberly Baker is team director of the Food Systems and Food Security Program at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Why you shouldn’t rely on a pop-up thermometer

If you have bought a turkey With a pop-up thermometer, it may seem like all you have to do is set the oven temperature, put the turkey in the oven, and wait for it to pop up to tell you the turkey is ready.

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

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that the minimum internal temperature of a turkey should reach 165°F to be safe. “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, director of the Food Systems and Safety Program Team at Clemson University, South Carolina.

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

Undercooked turkey

Schneider agrees that the temperature could drop a few degrees and you won’t know unless you use a meat thermometer. The worst-case scenario, he says, is that you remove the turkey from the oven when the thermometer shows, but the bird isn’t cooked enough, potentially putting guests at risk of illness.

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

Problems with pop-up thermometers

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

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

Related: Uh-Oh: You overcooked the Thanksgiving turkey. Here’s how to fix it

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What if you only had 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 came with a pop-up thermometer, that’s a good indication of when it’s finished,” Schneider says. “The problem I have with them is I don’t know what temperature it is (when) it appears. Is it 155°F, 175°F or is it 180°F?”

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

Use a meat thermometer for accurate temperature readings

Invest in a meat thermometer worth the small cost to have a successful turkey cooking experience. “You can get one at your favorite online shopping store or store in town for around $15 (or) even less,” Schneider says. They’re more precise and allow you to check the turkey in multiple places to make sure it’s cooked properly, 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 because it provides an accurate temperature reading,” says Baker. “Rather than just an indicator, like a soft drink. -a thermometer.”

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Where to Check Turkey Temperature

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

Be sure to take precautions when inserting the thermometer, because if it touches the bone it could give an incorrect reading. “Be careful that the thermometer probe does not touch bones or roasting panbecause they can conduct heat and lead to inaccurate readings,” says Baker.

Another tip for taking temperature correctly is to “ensure the entire sensing area of ​​the thermometer probe is fully inserted into the meat to get the most accurate result possible,” 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, performing an accuracy check to verify readings can give you peace of mind .

According to Baker, a simple way to check the accuracy of your thermometer is as follows: “You can immerse the thermometer in a slurry of ice water, which should read 32°F, or in boiling water, which should read 212°F.”

She also recommends checking the thermometer manufacturer’s instructions for specific guidelines on how best to check for accuracy.