Poultry doneness and joint looseness

HankB · Dec 9, 2013

I'm wondering about poultry doneness and some of the signs that can be seen as the bird cooks, particularly with something like a turkey where a little overdone results in a dry breast. Here are the signs I see:

Meat pulling back on the drumstick. And like ribs, when the meat pulls back, it is not done but is getting close. I've also noticed that if the birds are cooked low 'n slow there may be no pull back.
The drumstick to thigh joint loosens.
The thigh to body joint loosens.
The upper wing to body joint loosens. At this point, the breast will be dry.

Have any of you noticed this and if so, do you use any of these signs to determine when the bird is done? I'm not really that confident that when I stick a thermometer in the breast or thigh that I'm getting the least done part of the bird. Sometimes when I carve a bird the juices coming out of the area between the thigh and body are a little pink and I'm worried that it is not done enough. :shocked:

aawa · Dec 9, 2013

HankB said:
I'm wondering about poultry doneness and some of the signs that can be seen as the bird cooks, particularly with something like a turkey where a little overdone results in a dry breast. Here are the signs I see:

Meat pulling back on the drumstick. And like ribs, when the meat pulls back, it is not done but is getting close. I've also noticed that if the birds are cooked low 'n slow there may be no pull back.

The drumstick to thigh joint loosens.

The thigh to body joint loosens.

The upper wing to body joint loosens. At this point, the breast will be dry.

Have any of you noticed this and if so, do you use any of these signs to determine when the bird is done? I'm not really that confident that when I stick a thermometer in the breast or thigh that I'm getting the least done part of the bird. Sometimes when I carve a bird the juices coming out of the area between the thigh and body are a little pink and I'm worried that it is not done enough. :shocked:

I go by internal temperature. I look for 160-165 in the breast and 170-175 in the thigh. I always probe in the thickest parts of the breast and thigh as well.

What I do notice when the bird is done and I'm carving it up is that the drum stick, thigh bone loosed. The wing is loosened a bit but not as much as the thigh and drumstick.

Fwismoker · Dec 9, 2013

Yep always go by temp...if i had a dime for every time i lose or almost lose a quarter pulling my birds i'd have lots of money.:biggrin1:

Bludawg · Dec 9, 2013

Temp will never give you a bum Steer on poultry. The leg wiggle can be fairly accurate but will mislead you. I call it on whole & 1/2 birds when I can grab the Drum stick and twist it 360 in the socket if I don't have a temp stick handy.

Okie Sawbones · Dec 9, 2013

As others have said, go by the temp. I shoot for 165 in the breast.

captndan · Dec 10, 2013

Okie Sawbones said:
As others have said, go by the temp. I shoot for 165 in the breast.

And, don't worry about the pink color of the juice. It is not a sign of undercooked.

ironmanerik · Dec 10, 2013

Bludawg said:
Temp will never give you a bum Steer on poultry. The leg wiggle can be fairly accurate but will mislead you. I call it on whole & 1/2 birds when I can grab the Drum stick and twist it 360 in the socket if I don't have a temp stick handy.

I think Bludawg just confirmed he does in fact own a thermometer!!!!

Okie Sawbones · Dec 10, 2013

captndan said:
And, don't worry about the pink color of the juice. It is not a sign of undercooked.

Exactly. Even the meat might be pink, but it is done unless you hear the chicken cluck once or twice. :wink:

Bludawg · Dec 10, 2013

ironmanerik said:
I think Bludawg just confirmed he does in fact own a thermometer!!!!

I do and they have their uses like on poultry or roasts & smoking bacon where you don't want it to come out like a saddle fender made from the hide of a very old Bull. But I gayrontee you will never see it if I'm cooking what I consider BBQ ( Brisket, Butt, Clod, Shoulders, Ribs)

dummy que · Dec 10, 2013

poultrey doneness

i don`t know if this is alowed but go to www.amazing ribs .com meathead has a real good peice on how to tell when poultry is done :noidea:

Diesel Dave · Dec 10, 2013

I just wait for the button to pop up and take it out of the oven :tape: :doh:

buccaneer · Dec 10, 2013

Juice color is a myth.

I'm with Blu, thermometer for poultry, and my temp targets are lower than stated here, so feel safe because once you have been ten minutes at 135f you are no longer at bacterial risk, you are just targeting the texture and doneness you want.

bbqbull · Dec 10, 2013

I used to cook 600 to 700 chicken halves. If you lift the wing and it pops loose is one thing we looked for. Second test was grab the drumstick bone. If it spun easy the bird was done.
I confirmed this by checking the thigh with my thermo pen. All thighs were 190 to 195 internal. The breasts were still moist and we sold out every fall during our little fair.

FatCoyote · Dec 10, 2013

If you brine your bird for a bit, you can take the temperatures higher and have a more tender yet juicy bird. I take mine to 185 or 190 in the thigh and can easily remove the leg. The breast doesn't dry out this way but the skin can get tough if cooked at a low temp.

HankB · Dec 10, 2013

dummy que said:
i don`t know if this is alowed but go to www.amazing ribs .com meathead has a real good peice on how to tell when poultry is done :noidea:

I found it at http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_technique/mythbusting_chicken_is_done_when_juices_run_clear.html. (Links that are pertinent to the discussion and not obvious shilling for another site are acceptable here. (If in doubt, you can ask a moderator. I do when I'm not sure.)

Poultry doneness and joint looseness

HankB

is Blowin Smoke!

aawa

Babbling Farker

Fwismoker

somebody shut me the fark up.

Bludawg

somebody shut me the fark up.

Okie Sawbones

Banned

captndan

Quintessential Chatty Farker

ironmanerik

is Blowin Smoke!

Okie Sawbones

Banned

Bludawg

somebody shut me the fark up.

dummy que

Full Fledged Farker

Diesel Dave

Quintessential Chatty Farker

buccaneer

somebody shut me the fark up.

bbqbull

Watching over us.

FatCoyote

is one Smokin' Farker

HankB

is Blowin Smoke!

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