The Biggest Mistake You’re Making With Turkey (And How To Fix It)

No one wants to set an underdone turkey on the holiday table, sending the whole family into the throes of food poisoning. Really, though, the thing you’re most likely to do is overcook the turkey. I appreciate poultry that's cooked to a safe internal temperature, but I don't want a leg that's bone-dry.

When you overcook the turkey, a couple of things happen. First, as the bird roasts, its muscle fibers contract. When you take that too far, the resulting meat is tough to chew. It also saps the turkey of moisture—as its natural juices evaporate during a too-long cook, the meat develops a painfully dry texture that you might remember from unfortunate past Thanksgivings.

Fortunately, there’s a fairly easy way to fully cook a turkey without overcooking it. You need only one tool to make it happen: a meat thermometer. 

“A common Thanksgiving mistake is overcooking, and it's one of the fastest ways to dry out your turkey,” says Jennie-O senior brand manager Kim Anderson. "Use a meat thermometer and remove the turkey when the thickest part of the thigh is 180°F for juicy, perfectly cooked meat."

Checking the turkey’s internal temperature regularly as it cooks with an instant-read meat thermometer is the best way to keep track of how much time it needs to roast. As Anderson notes, you’ll want to keep inserting the thermometer’s probe into the same region of the bird—ideally, that thickest part of the thigh—to ensure that it’s at the right temperature.

Then, make sure to let the finished turkey rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes before carving. This simple step locks a surprising amount of moisture and flavor, Anderson says. The resting period also prevents the steam from the bird’s interior from ruining a crispy skin that you worked hours to achieve. 

When All Else Fails

If you find yourself with a turkey conundrum on Thanksgiving Day, don’t freak out. Instead, call the Jennie-O Turkey Hotline at 1-800-TURKEYS. (Yes, that's the real number.) Simply Recipes' food editors will also be monitoring the comments sections on our Thanksgiving recipes in case readers have a burning question.

If you’re freaking out about preparing the turkey this year, it’s going to be okay. All you need to succeed at preparing this bird is patience, a good meat thermometer, and, in the event of an emergency, a phone to call Jennie-O’s turkey experts.