Say, what’s this plastic thing holding the legs together on our turkey? Won’t it melt if we put it inthe oven?” asks a confused cook. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the answer to this and other food safety questions about meat and poultry.
“It’s a hock lock,” answers the technical information specialist in Washington, DC, answering the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline’s toll-free number
at 1 (888) MPHotline (888-674-6854).
“A what?” the caller responds.
“A hock lock secures the hind legs — or hock — of a chicken or turkey. It can be made of heatresistant nylon or metal, and it’s perfectly safe to
leave it in the bird while it roasts. However,” the Hotline specialist goes on, “it’s more difficult to get a bird done evenly, especially in the leg joints,
if the legs are locked or trussed together.”
