chicken temp

USDA recommends that all poultry cook to 165 internal temp before allowing it to rest. There is a reason they recommend this to consumers and require it in all USDA inspected poultry plants that do further cooking. Too many studies have been done by land grant universities to justify these numbers. Just look at the most recent recall by Cargill for ground turkey. But even more important is how you handle poultry in your home so to prevent cross contamination during its raw state.

I usually cook my chicken to 155, then pull it and cover it until it comes up to 160 as it rests. If you're roasting a whole bird, take the temperature of the space between the leg and the breast. Otherwise, I'll just check the largest of the individual similar pieces. (For example, a chicken breast generally cooks faster than a leg/thigh. Don't check the breast and assume the thigh is also done - check both white meat and dark meat separately.)