Turkey Temp in Different Spots?

Unknown

I have always read that turkey is done at 180, but last night I read where you want the thigh at 180 but the breast at 160. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, theories?

Sundown

Jeremy,
The thighs and dark meat apprenatly absorb heat and energy at a different rate and slower than white meat. A lot of people Ice the breasts just before they pop them into the oven so as to make up for the absorbtion thing. Does that help at all?

Unknown

Sundown, yes, that helps, but have you(or anyone else) heard that the target temp for the breast is 160(or any temp lower than 180 as the thigh).

Nature Boy

Jeremy,
The thigh meat has more colagen and fat and is not really good and tender until it gets to 180. The breast is lean and prone to drying out, and much past 160 and you start losing moisture. This is one of the challenges of cooking a turkey, getting completely cooked thighs without drying the breast meat out. Max suggests a bag of ice on the breast before you start cooking, and this is solid advice.
Happy cookin!
Chris

Unknown

Nature Boy, So is the prefered temperature for the breast meat 160 and 180 for the thigh?

Nature Boy

Jeremy,
Yes.
165 in the breast and 175 in the thigh will be okay too, but 160/180 I think is better.
Cheers!
Chris