Temperature guide
Chicken drumstick temperature near the bone
The internal minimum for a chicken drumstick is 165°F (74°C) in its thickest meat.
U.S. home food-safety guidance.Check the source and scope
What to do
- Enter from the fleshy side toward the thick end, parallel to the bone when possible.
- Pause before the tip reaches bone; withdraw and try a second angle if the number changes sharply.
- Select both a large and a small drumstick from different tray positions and check each.
Conditions and limits
- The narrow ankle end may finish before the thick end.
- Darkened meat right beside a bone is not by itself proof of undercooking; confirm with a valid reading.
Source and scope
Primary reference: FoodSafety.gov minimum temperatures. Equipment-specific steps and quality suggestions are practical guidance; check the appliance or product instructions for your model. How this site uses sources.