Welcome to the EGGhead Forum - a great place to visit and packed with tips and EGGspert advice! You can also join the conversation and get more information and amazing kamado recipes by following Big Green Egg to Experience our World of Flavor™ at:
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Pinterest  |  Youtube  |  Vimeo
Share your photos by tagging us and using the hashtag #BigGreenEgg.

Want to see how the EGG is made? Click to Watch

To what temp should a turkey thigh be cooked?

fergi
fergi Posts: 138
I'm cooking turkey thighs tonight and was wondering if 165 is ok for thighs by themselves?

Fort Worth Texas

Large & XL Green Egg

Comments

  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    I personally like them about 180-190.  

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    165-170 as carry over cooking will take it to 175-180. 
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
  • fergi
    fergi Posts: 138
    I personally like them about 180-190.  

    Is that because it taste better or a safety consideration?

    Fort Worth Texas

    Large & XL Green Egg

  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    165 is safe and moist.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
  • SmokeyPitt
    SmokeyPitt Posts: 10,490
    It is safe at 160, but IMO best to take it up to 180ish.  The thighs have more fat so it will cook off some of the excess.  It will still be moist at 180+ and the skin will be better. 


    Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

  • Chubbs
    Chubbs Posts: 6,929
    It is safe at 160, but IMO best to take it up to 180ish.  The thighs have more fat so it will cook off some of the excess.  It will still be moist at 180+ and the skin will be better. 
    Agree take it higher to take care of some fat. Will still be moist. 
    Columbia, SC --- LBGE 2011 -- MINI BGE 2013
  • fergi
    fergi Posts: 138
    Chubbs said:
    It is safe at 160, but IMO best to take it up to 180ish.  The thighs have more fat so it will cook off some of the excess.  It will still be moist at 180+ and the skin will be better. 
    Agree take it higher to take care of some fat. Will still be moist. 
    Thanks for the quick response! I'll cook them to 180.

    Fort Worth Texas

    Large & XL Green Egg

  • Mattman3969
    Mattman3969 Posts: 10,458
    fergi said:
    I personally like them about 180-190.  

    Is that because it taste better or a safety consideration?
    Texture.   I do the same with chicken thighs. They achieve the texture I like around 185ish.  I've run them as high as 200. 

    -----------------------------------------

    analyze adapt overcome

    2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
  • fergi
    fergi Posts: 138

    Fort Worth Texas

    Large & XL Green Egg

  • BGnogin
    BGnogin Posts: 76
    I run them up to 185 or so also.  Renders the fat a bit more and makes the skin nice.  Bone in-skin on, Us
    indirect around 325* for an hour or so. 
  • safe at 140 actually.  but mushy

    like chicken legs, most people seem to prefer them much firmer, 160 easily, sometimes as high as 180+
    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,887
    safe at 140 actually.  
    Now, now. The food police will pop your hand for this ;)

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
    Which is is why I recommended 165, way safe and moist.
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
  • Which is why i emphasize that safety and quality are two different things 

    it is "safe" at 140

    it is mushy and rubbery at 140 though. So most of is take it much higher

    saying that "165 is safe and moist" can seem to be saying (to those inclined to not pay attention) that 165 is the threshold for safe. 

    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    Here is some data from the USDA to effectively "pasteurize" chicken.  Temperatures are the lowest internal.  Keep in mind with the carryover cooking and typical lag in time between cooking and eating, you would be hard pressed not to meet any of the safe time/temp requirements...and these are fudged to the side of safety. 

    You are more likely to get sick eating pre-packaged lunch meat or vegetables.  And more likely to contaminate those through cross contamination of something that you cook from a knife, hand, sink or cutting board.



    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,887


    A lot of big numbers in there my friend ;)

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    SGH said:


    A lot of big numbers in there my friend ;)
    Perhaps....
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109

    SGH said:


    A lot of big numbers in there my friend ;)
    ....so
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,887
    @nolaegghead
    Now I'm buying a calculator and a dictionary ;)

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

  • that chart is for holding sous vide at a certain temp, no?

    at 145 i can plunge and be "safe" in eight minutes

    but when grilling, meat temp is rising. So when it hits 145, how long has it already been at 136, or 140 for example?


    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    I made a graph yesterday of the numbers posted. Took me some time to get used to the "done when temp hits X degrees," as opposed to safe to eat after a sufficient time at all sorts of temps.


    The y-axis is in seconds.  From what I understand, most mammals and fowl can be cooked pretty much the same way fas far as safety goes.

    This also assumes that the food is already contaminated enough that it needs a million fold reduction in bugs.
  • My thinking is that by the time. Pork roast hits 145 at center, i don't need to keep it over the fire for a further eight minutes for it to be 'safe' because it's already been at 135 and higher for the requisite time. What's more, my roast wouldn't  flatline at 145 for eight more minutes, it would be climbing through 146, 147, 148 if i kept it on the grill

    even if i pull it off at 140, it will carryover and sit at those temps (resting, no foil) long enough anyway

    Pick a number and stick with it, i say.

    logarithms may kick in for the food lab or sous vide, but they have no place at a grill :)



    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    My thinking is that by the time. Pork roast hits 145 at center, i don't need to keep it over the fire for a further eight minutes for it to be 'safe' because it's already been at 135 and higher for the requisite time. What's more, my roast wouldn't  flatline at 145 for eight more minutes, it would be climbing through 146, 147, 148 if i kept it on the grill

    even if i pull it off at 140, it will carryover and sit at those temps (resting, no foil) long enough anyway

    Pick a number and stick with it, i say.

    logarithms may kick in for the food lab or sous vide, but they have no place at a grill :)



    Those numbers are just numbers for a six sigma reduction in pathogens.  But yes, there is a formula for SV where, based on the thickness, you can be reasonably sure the set point temp is reached throughout and you can hold it.  Most of the pathogens are on the outside of the meat - the part that heats up immediately when cooking by any means. 

    Point is, the FDA "safe" recommended temperatures are bs.  Makes people overcook their food, to the detriment of quality.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
  • I'm the original "pathogens are on the outside" dude here! Don't take that away from me man!

    Anyway....  published safe temps are based on an assumption that the cook is taking the temperature improperly, with an incalibrated thermometer, after mishandling the food, a food assumed in the first place to be swimming in pathogens


    [social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others]

  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 33,537
    for turkey thighs, off the grill around 170 works for me for taste and texture. for safety theres that shuttle launching countdown sequence chart that was posted =)
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • jtcBoynton
    jtcBoynton Posts: 2,814
    "pathogens are on the outside"   Except with modern meat packing, needle tenderizing has helped to move some of the pathogens to the inside.  You used to be able to not worry about inside temps on a nice steak. Now I sometimes think twice before consuming that nice rare steak (think twice, but never stops me!).
    Southeast Florida - LBGE
    In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’  Dare to think for yourself.