Cooking Poultry - When Is It Done?

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Cooking poultry to the right temperature is the only way to ensure that it is safe to eat. Place a digital food thermometer into the thickest part of the breast or thigh meat, not touching bone, then use the following chart to determine if it is done.

Type of Food	Health Canada's Recommended Internal Cooking Temperatures
Whole birds	85°C (185°F)
Ground poultry Poultry parts Chicken nuggets and other poultry products	74°C (165°F)

Using a thermometer is the only way to be sure that your poultry is cooked properly. Instant-read, digital food thermometers are quick and easy to use. However, if you don't have a thermometer, be sure to look for other clues to help you determine if your poultry is done.

If you can answer yes to the questions below, it's probably safe to eat your poultry:

• Is the food steaming hot?
• Do the juices run clear? (There should be no blood.)
• Is there no pink meat?