Many frozen turkeys come with a handy pop-up device to tell you when that turkey is done. How reliable and how safe is that device?

Participants: Gary Crawford and Meredith Carothers, with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline number is 888-MPHOTLINE (888-674-6854). You can also go online to Ask.usda.gov. The hotline will be staffed Thanksgiving day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST

Transcript

I love those little pop-up things on the turkeys.

I just wish they made a little sound when they pop up, like "turkey's done!"

But actually food safety experts say just because the pop-up goes "turkey's done," that turkey may not be up to a bacteria-killing temperature in all parts of it.

So pop-ups can be deceiving because...

They're only taking the temperature in one portion of the turkey.

Meredith Carruthers with the USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline says first we really should be using a food thermometer on that big bird.

And we really recommend to check the temperature in three places.

Oh, Chicago, Cucamonga, and New York?

No, no.

No, no.

Try these places.

The thickest part of the breast, the innermost part of the wing, and the innermost part of the thigh.

They all need to be at least 165 degrees to kill any bacteria.

For answers to your holiday meal questions, call the Meat and Poultry Hotline, 1-888-MP-HOTLINE, or go online to ask.usda.gov.

The experts will be working even on Thanksgiving Day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eastern Time.

Turkey's done!

No, not necessarily.

Gary Crawford for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.