How can I tell when chicken thighs are sufficiently cooked to eat?
Last night I was grilling chicken thighs on a barbecue and I was told that if there was any pink inside them, they are not safe to eat. My question is twofold:
(a) Is this true?
(b) Is there a way to tell that doesn't involve cutting the thighs open to have a look at the colour?
Best Answer
Pink has to do with blood, which typically runs clear once it reaches a certain temperature. This is not a great rule of thumb for making delicious food.
It's particularly problematic with thighs, because they contain a vein that can remain red or pink well through the cooking process. This is less so if the chicken is washed or the veins cleaned.
The key is temperature, not color. If you have a meat thermometer, aim for 165-170°F (74-77°C), keeping in mind that meat will continue cooking for 5-10°F (3-6°C) once it's pulled and allowed to rest for 5 minutes. If you don't have a thermometer, aim for meat that is responsively tender but not too firm, opaque rather than transparent, and not slimy or gelatinous in texture. Thighs are a little more tolerant than breasts when it comes to drying out because they have more fat, but nothing is sadder than overcooked meat (except maybe salmonella poisoning).
Pictures about "How can I tell when chicken thighs are sufficiently cooked to eat?"
Quick Answer about "How can I tell when chicken thighs are sufficiently cooked to eat?"
To check the chicken is adequately heated through, get out your trusty food thermometer and make sure the internal temperature has reached 165F (it should take about 30 minutes).How do you know when chicken thighs are fully cooked?
You can take a paring knife and gently prod from the bare side of the thigh around the bone to see if the meat is done\u2014if you're seeing a lot of pink, give it a couple minutes more. For a more accurate reading, use a meat thermometer to make sure that your thighs have reached 160\xb0.Can chicken thighs be a little pink?
That's because chicken thighs can be slightly pink and still be fully cooked through. In fact, if you're making smoked chicken thighs, the meat will have a pinkish tinge beneath the surface even if they're overcooked. A hint of pink in the juice doesn't mean the meat is still raw.Can chicken thighs be pink when fully cooked?
If the dark meat of your chicken thigh is overshadowed by a pink hue, it could still be cook thoroughly enough to eat. The pink color in a fully cooked chicken thigh usually results from nothing more than a heat-related chemical reaction.What happens if you eat undercooked chicken thigh?
It is true that if you eat undercooked chicken, you run the risk of contracting potentially lethal bacteria. It's dangerous to eat raw or undercooked chicken due to the possible presence of bacteria such as salmonella or campylobacter.How can I tell when chicken thighs are sufficiently cooked to eat?
More answers regarding how can I tell when chicken thighs are sufficiently cooked to eat?
Answer 2
From a food safety perspective, the only meaningful measure is temperature. Hit 165f for 10 seconds throughout the thigh, and you're good. The nice thing about thighs, at least in my opinion, is that the temperature for quality significantly exceeds any target safety temperatures. I prefer my thighs to be closer to 180f, with meat visibly beginning to pull from the bone (sort of similar to what you would see if you were making ribs). I find that thighs cooked to the minimum safe temperature tend to have a gummy, unpleasant texture. So if I'm willing to eat the thigh, you can bet it's safe.
Answer 3
I have found that when i cut up chicken to be used in curry or what not, the chicken is fully done when I can cut it easily with a spatula. If it sinks through and doesn't cut all the way then it's not done.
Answer 4
I have heard that you can stick a fork in and if it comes out with a light shake the thigh is done, if it is hard to shake the thigh off it needs more cooking.
For me I just time it, I know how long it takes for the different recipes I make.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Kent Ng, Kent Ng, Kent Ng, Artem Beliaikin