Insert your oven-safe meat thermometer in the thigh, not touching bone, before placing your bird in the oven. Position it in so you can read while the turkey is roasting.

If your thermometer isn’t oven-safe, don’t leave it in the turkey during roasting. Check temperatures by inserting the tip in the thigh muscle just below the drumstick. Careful not to touch the bone. You must also test the stuffing temperature deep in the center of the body cavity. The turkey is not cooked until the stuffing reaches a minimum 165°F (74°C).