My grandpa's BBQ rule led to a smoked turkey disaster last year

He always said you could tell if meat was done by how it felt, like a soft pillow. We tried that on a big turkey and it came out still pink in the middle. Everyone had to wait hours while we cooked it more in the oven. Now I check with a thermometer, but his old way makes for a good story.

2 comments

2 Comments

fisher.thomas2d ago

My buddy tried his dad's "poke test" on some ribs last summer. They looked done but were totally raw inside, such a mess. Now he swears by his instant read thermometer too.

ruby_thomas2d ago

Honestly, that "poke test" method is just asking for trouble. Tbh, if poking meat told us everything, we wouldn't need science. Your buddy learning the hard way that ribs can look done but be raw inside is peak summer cookout drama. Now he uses a thermometer, which is basically a cheat code for not poisoning your friends. Ngl, I'd trust a tiny screen over my finger any day, unless you're aiming for a surprise raw center. Stuff like that is why some old kitchen tricks should stay in the past, no matter who taught them.