The USDA is famously firm on this one: your turkey must reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the breast, thigh, and wing. It’s not arbitrary—this is the magic point where salmonella and other uninvited guests get evicted for good. Think of it as the bouncer at the club of your dinner table.
But here’s a fun little fact: some chefs argue that cooking the breast to 165°F can leave it a bit dry, like a handshake that goes on too long. That’s because the breast meat is leaner and cooks faster than the dark meat. The solution? Spatchcocking—butterflying the bird to flatten it—which helps everything cook more evenly and avoids that awkward “one part is done, the other is raw” dance.