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Where Do You Put Thermometer in Chicken?
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It’s not an easy task to cook chicken thoroughly and still have it come out juicy and tasty. In the way of this success are two ways of failing. If you undercook your chicken, this can lead to foodborne diseases like diarrhea and stomach bloating. On the other hand, overcooked chicken tastes very dry and hard to chew. So how do you ensure your cooked chicken is safe to eat and still remain delicious? The solution lies in one simple kitchen tool: a meat thermometer.
And yet, an important question remains. Once you get a meat thermometer in your hand, where should you put it in a chicken for the best results? To answer this, we’d like to share with you the best way to use a meat thermometer and cook chicken at the right temperature. Whether you are roasting chicken for a family gathering or grilling chicken thigh for a summer barbecue, knowing where to put thermometer in chicken is the key to making a perfect chicken dish.
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Why Use a Meat Thermometer to Measure Chicken Temperature?
Cooking chicken doesn’t have to be difficult. Although the finnicky texture of chicken meat will change with temperature, it’s easy to measure the levels of doneness using a meat thermometer. This device features a meat probe that can be inserted deep into the center of the chicken to detect its true temperature. In this way, a meat thermometer is the best way to cook chicken to a safe and ideal temperature and prevent foodborne illness.
Precise Temperature Readings
Where the meat thermometer succeeds the most is in its ability to provide accurate temperature measurements. As mentioned above, cooking chicken to the correct temperature is essential to making sure it is cooked to perfect doneness. With a reliable meat thermometer, you can easily monitor the internal temperature of your chicken to achieve the desired doneness.
Ensure Food Safety
It’s quite important to ensure food safety when you cook chicken, especially when grilling outdoors. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends cooking chicken to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F (73.9°C) to ensure that any harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella or E. coli, are completely eradicated. A recommended way to ensure chicken reaches the proper internal temperature when cooking is to use a meat thermometer. In thiss way, a meat thermometer helps you avoid the risks of consuming undercooked or contaminated meat, ensuring the health and well-being of yourself and your family.
Avoid the Guesswork
Gone are the days when you’re unsure how to tell when chicken is done without a thermometer. With a meat thermometer, you can take the guesswork out of the cooking completely. It gives you precise temperature readings in mere seconds, letting you know exactly when your chicken is done. This takes the stress out of cooking, ensuring a more relaxing and enjoyable cooking experience.
Support Baking, Smoking, Grilling & Deep Frying
A quality meat thermometer can measure various kinds of food, like chicken, steak, turkey, candy, and milk. It can also be used for oven baking, smoking, grilling, and even deep frying. This versatility of a meat thermometer makes it a must-have tool in any kitchen, as it can be used to cook a variety of dishes to perfection. So whether you’re preparing a holiday feast or just prepping a weekday dinner, the meat thermometer can serve as your reliable cooking tool.
Where to Put Thermometer in Chicken?
By understanding the importance of accurate temperature readings, you can take the guesswork out of cooking chicken. However, simply having a meat thermometer isn’t enough. To get the most out of this essential kitchen tool, you need to know where to place it to get those perfect and reliable readings. Let’s walk through the spots where to insert thermometer in chicken.
When measuring the internal temperature of a chicken, you should concentrate on the thickest parts of the meat. This means areas such as the breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Additionally, it’s important to check the temperature in more than one place when you cook a whole chicken.
Chicken Thigh
The thickest part of the thigh, just above the drumstick, is often considered the most reliable place to measure the internal temperature of a whole chicken. Insert the meat thermometer into the thigh. Make sure it doesn’t touch the bone; doing so will conducts heat faster than the meat, which can lead to an inaccurate reading. This spot is ideal because the thigh is one of the last parts of the chicken to fully cook, so if it’s reached a safe temperature, the rest of the bird is likely done as well.
Chicken Breast
Another ideal spot to measure internal temperature is the chicken breast. Insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast. Be careful to avoid touching any bones. The breast cooks more quickly than the thighs, so once it has reached a safe temperature first. Checking both the breast and the thigh ensures that all parts of the chicken are cooked through.
Stuffed Chicken
If you’re cooking a stuffed chicken, an additional step is required to ensure the safety of your diners. Not only does the chicken itself need to reach 165°F, but the stuffing inside should also reach that temperature. So when cooking a stuffed chicken, be sure to also insert the thermometer into the center of the stuffing to check its temperature.
Whether you’re cooking a whole chicken or just a part of it, you need to know where to put thermometer in chicken. Follow the suggestions mentioned above to measure the internal temperature of cooked chicken.
How to Measure Chicken Temperature with a Meat Thermometer
Cooking chicken perfectly every time just got easier with the ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus 600FT Wireless Meat Thermometer. With it, you can measure the internal temperatures of two different parts of the chicken at the same time from up to 600ft away, making sure your cooked chicken is a perfect dish.
Key Features of ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus 600FT Wireless Meat Thermometer
The ThermoPro TP972 is packed with features that make it a powerful and easy-to-use kitchen tool for both novice and experienced cooks.
Twin Meat Probes
Equipped with two meat probes, the ThermoPro TP972 enables you to monitor the temperatures of two parts of chicken simultaneously, like breast and thigh, ensuring that the thickest parts of the chicken reach the correct temperature without overcooking or undercooking. The two probes are color-coded so that you won’t confuse the measured temperatures. Additionally, the probes are designed to withstand high temperatures, making them suitable for grilling, roasting, and smoking.
Measure Temperature from up to 600ft away
The ThermoPro TP972 uses Bluetooth 5.2 technology to deliver accurate temperature readings from up to 600ft away, enabling you to do other tasks while continuing to keep an eye on the chicken temperature.
Monitor Temperature on Your Smartphone
ThermoPro TP972 comes with the TempSpike app, which allows you to set custom temperature alarms and cooking timers on your smartphone. With this app, you’ll never miss the right time to take your chicken off the heat.
How to Use ThermoPro TP972 to Measure Chicken Temperature
Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to show you how to use the ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus 600FT Wireless Meat Thermometer to measure chicken temperature.
Step 1. Download and install the TempSpike App
Once you get a ThermoPro TP972, scan the QR code on its operating manual to download the TempSpike App on your smartphone. You can also download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play store. This device is compatible with both iOS and Android.
Step 2. Enable Bluetooth on your smartphone
On your smartphone, go to Settings and turn on your Bluetooth.
Step 3. Charge the booster and probe
Connect the provided USB charging cable to any USB charger to charge the booster.
Step 4. Pair the probe to the booster
The booster and the probes come already pre-paired via Bluetooth. After removing the probe from the booster, you will see the temperature measured by this probe appear on the LCD display.
Step 5. Pair the booster to your smartphone
Turn on the booster by pressing the “S” button. Oor, removing any probe from the booster will activate the device. Launch TempSpike app on your Smartphone and tap the “Add Device” button. Then, select Twin TempSpike Plus from the list.
Step 6. Insert the probe into the chicken
Before starting the cooking process, insert the probes into the deepest parts of the chicken, like the breast and thigh.Set your desired meat temperature or choose the meat type and doneness in the TempSpike app. Once the chicken reaches your target temperature, an alarm will sound from the app and/or the booster.
Note: For best results, fully insert the probe into the chicken, leaving only the handle exposed outside.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Placing the Thermometer in Chicken
There are a few common mistakes that can lead to inaccurate temperature readings or unevenly cooked chicken. Here’s what to watch out for:
Place the Thermometer Too Close to the Bone:
As bones heat up faster than the meat, placing the meat probe too close to a bone can give a false reading. The best practice is to insert the meat probe into the thickest part of the chicken, away from the bones.
Insert the Thermometer Shallowly
Another common mistake is not inserting the meat probe deeply enough into the chicken. If the probe is too close to the surface, it might measure the temperature of the outer layer rather than the core of the chicken. To avoid this, make sure to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken.
Not Calibrating the Thermometer
If your meat thermometer isn’t properly calibrated, it can give inaccurate readings. Regularly check and calibrate your meat thermometer according to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure it provides the correct temperature readings. You can calibrate a meat thermometer by using an ice bath.
Ignore Different Chicken Parts
Different parts of the chicken should be cooked at different rates. For example, the breast cooks faster than the thigh. It’s important to check the temperature of both the breast and thigh to ensure that all parts of the chicken are safely cooked. Focusing on just one area can result in undercooked or overcooked portions.
Neglect Rest Time
After cooking, let the chicken rest for a while before cutting into it. Resting allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a juicy and tender final product. During this period, the internal temperature can continue to rise slightly, so it’s important to take this into account when checking the temperature.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can cook a perfect chicken dish. It’s safe to eat, and full of flavor.
Conclusion
Throughout this article, we’ve mentioned the importance of reaching the correct internal temperature while cooking chicken to avoid foodborne illnesses, where to stick thermometer in chicken for precise readings, how to use the ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus 600FT Wireless Meat Thermometer to monitor chicken temperature, and some mistakes you should avoid during the cooking process.
Whether you’re preparing a whole chicken, or just the breasts or thighs, use this meat thermometer to get real-time accurate temperature readings to make sure your chicken dish is both safe and delicious.
Are you interested in getting a thermometer to measure chicken temperature? ThermoPro offers a wide lineup of chicken thermometers and more. Checkout our online store for more!