How To Select The Best Food Thermometer

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Since I’m a food safety freak (there’s nothing wrong with that). I decided for today’s post I would teach you how to select the best food thermometer for your needs. It’s short, sweet, and too the point.

If you’re interested in learning about the different types of food thermometers, then you’ve come to the right place. Food thermometers are available locally in discount stores such as Walmart and Target, as well as your local grocery store, or my favorite place to buy just about everything; Amazon. Hopefully, you will gain some insight with regards to the types of food thermometers that are readily available, and determine which is the best food thermometer for your needs.

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Here is my listing of the best food thermometers out on the market today.

Oven-safe meat thermometer – Dial Oven-Safe

• Reads in 1-2 minutes
• Place 2-2½” deep in the thickest part of the food
• Can be used in roasts, casseroles, and soups
• Not appropriate for thin foods
• Can remain in the food while it’s cooking
• Heat conduction of metal stem can cause a false high reading
• Some models can be calibrated; check the manufacturer’s instructions

Digital instant read meat thermometer

• Reads in 10 seconds
• Place at least “½” deep
• Gives fast reading
• Can measure temperature in thin and thick foods
• Not designed to remain in the food while it’s cooking
• Check the internal temperature of food near the end of cooking time
• Some models can be calibrated; check manufacturer’s instructions
• Available in “kitchen” stores

Instant read cooking thermometer – Dial instant read

• Reads in 15-20 seconds
• Place 2-2½” deep in the thickest part of the food
• Can be used in roasts, casseroles, and soups
• Temperature is averaged along with the probe, from tip to 2-3″ up the stem
• Cannot measure thin foods unless inserted sideways
• Not designed to remain in the food while it is cooking
• Use to check the internal temperature of food at the end of cooking time
• Some models can be calibrated; check manufacturer’s instructions
• Readily available in store

The best meat thermometer for grilling – Thermometer-fork combination

• Reads in 2-10 seconds
• Place at least “¼” deep in the thickest part of the food
• Can be used in most foods
• Not designed to remain in the food while it is cooking
• The sensor in the tine of the fork must be fully inserted
• Check the internal temperature of food near the end of cooking time
• Cannot be calibrated
• Convenient for grilling

Best instant read digital thermometer – Thermocouple

• Reads in 2-5 seconds
• Place ¼” or deeper, as needed
• Gives the fastest reading
• Good for measuring temperatures of thick and thin foods
• Not designed to remain in the food while it’s cooking
• Check the internal temperature of food near the end of cooking time
• Can be calibrated
• More costly; may be difficult for consumers to find in stores

Pop up meat thermometer

• Commonly used in turkeys and roasting chickens
• Pops up when food reaches the final temperature for safety and doneness
• Checking the temperature in other parts of the food with a conventional food thermometer is recommended

Disposable temperature indicators – to be used only once then discarded

• Reads in 5-10 seconds
• Place approximately ½” deep (follow manufacturer’s directions)
• Designed to be used only once
• Designed for specific temperature ranges
• Should only be used with food for which they are intended
• Temperature-sensitive material changes color when the desired temperature is reached

The best digital meat thermometer – Oven probe with cord

• Can be used in most foods
• Can also be used outside the oven
• Designed to remain in the food while it is cooking in an oven or in a covered pot
• The base unit sits on stovetop or counter
• Cannot be calibrated

If you’d like to learn more about using thermometers check out my post How to use a food thermometer the right way.

Visit Volk Enterprises to learn more about the COOK’D RIGHT™ SENSOR

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