What is that plastic thing in the breast of turkey?
That piece of plastic is called a hock lock. It’s designed to keep the turkey’s legs (also known as hocks) from flopping around while the bird is processed and packaged. These are sometimes made of metal, but more often than not, companies use heat-resistant nylon to make the hock locks.
Recommended Readings: Can You Cook The Plastic Leg Holder
Where do you put pop-up timer in a turkey?
Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually come with a plastic or metal crimp, called a hock lock, holding the legs together at the back. You can leave it on or take it off; the legs may cook more evenly without it. Rinse the turkey thoroughly in cold water, inside and out.
What is the white plastic thing in turkey?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. These pop-up timers are actually inaccurate. There’s a reason that turkey has a reputation for being dry, and it’s because of these timers. If they ever pop at all, it can be too late.
Should I remove the plastic thing from the turkey?
If the plastic has deteriorated in any way, don’t eat the giblets or the turkey. Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually come with a plastic or metal crimp, called a hock lock, holding the legs together at the back. You can leave it on or take it off; the legs may cook more evenly without it
What is the plastic pin in a turkey?
Inside a standard pop-up turkey timer, there’s a red plastic indicator stick housed in a plastic casing. The soft metal in the tip is solid at room temperature but warms as the turkey cooks and eventually melts at around 165 degrees F (73 degrees C).
How do you take the plastic thing out of the turkey?
Before cooking, remove the hock lock, the device that secures the legs. Even though hock locks are most often made of heat-resistant materials, leaving them on during cooking can make it much more difficult to cook the bird evenly.
Where is the best place to put a thermometer in a turkey?
thigh
Can you trust the pop up timer in a turkey?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. These pop-up timers are actually inaccurate. There’s a reason that turkey has a reputation for being dry, and it’s because of these timers. If they ever pop at all, it can be too late.
How do the pop up thermometers in turkeys work?
The stick has a spring wrapped around it. The soft metal in the tip warms as the turkey roasts and eventually melts at around 180 degrees F. Then the red stick is released from the metal and the spring makes it pop up.
Do I leave the plastic thing on the turkey?
Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually come with a plastic or metal crimp, called a hock lock, holding the legs together at the back. You can leave it on or take it off; the legs may cook more evenly without it. Rinse the turkey thoroughly in cold water, inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.
Do you keep the plastic leg holder on turkey while cooking?
Inside a standard pop-up turkey timer, there’s a red plastic indicator stick housed in a plastic casing. The soft metal in the tip is solid at room temperature but warms as the turkey cooks and eventually melts at around 165 degrees F (73 degrees C).
Does the plastic piece stay in the turkey?
The plastic thing on the turkey legs is the hock lock. It secures the hind legs, or hock, of a chicken or turkey. It can be made of heat-resistant nylon or metal, and it’s perfectly safe to leave it in the bird while it roasts.
Do you remove the plastic leg holder from turkey?
Yes, it’s fine to leave this piece in place as long as you’re not deep-frying the turkey. It’s made of heat-resistant nylon, so it’s safe at temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Should you decide to deep-fry the bird, you should remove both the leg holder and the plastic pop-up indicator.
What is the pin on the turkey?
What is it, should I remove it before cooking the turkey? The button you referred to is a pop-up temperature indicator, commonly called a Pop-Up Timer. No, the Pop-Up Timer should not be removed before cooking. This thermometer is precisely positioned to assure that your food will be cooked correctly.
Should you remove the pop up timer in a turkey?
The red, rubbery part on a turkey’s beak is called a wattle. Male turkeys use these for courtship purposes. When they want to attract a female turkey their wattles will turn red to woo the female.
Do I remove the hock lock?
Before cooking, remove the hock lock, the device that secures the legs. Even though hock locks are most often made of heat-resistant materials, leaving them on during cooking can make it much more difficult to cook the bird evenly.
Do you remove plastic turkey leg holder?
TO PREP THE TURKEY: Remove neck and giblets from turkey main and neck cavities. (These can be discarded or used to make broth for gravy or soup.) If turkey has a metal or plastic clamp holding the legs together, remove and discard it
Do you remove the plastic insert from the turkey?
Speaking of plastic, turkeys usually come with a plastic or metal crimp, called a hock lock, holding the legs together at the back. You can leave it on or take it off; the legs may cook more evenly without it. Rinse the turkey thoroughly in cold water, inside and out.
Can the plastic piece on turkey go in oven?
Even if the hock lock is made of plastic, it is technically safe to leave it on and to roast the bird with it in place, because the plastic used is certified heat-safe on food.