
No, meat thermometers are not meant for professional chefs and butchers alone. If you like to cook or grill meat at home, then it is a very good idea to have a meat thermometer. You may know about several simple and less expensive hacks to check if your meat is at the right temperature. But, although those methods (such pressing of the hand or cutting a slice of the meat) may be fairly reliable, nothing beats the precision that a meat thermometer offers. When it comes to temperature, a degree too high or too low can affect the quality and taste of your meat. In this article, we have reviewed the best meat thermometers you should be investing in. Also, keep an eye out for our top picks.
The Best Meat Thermometer
1
ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
It is best to kick-start with ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer as it is our pick for the best choice. You cannot talk about the best meat thermometer without talking about ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer.
This digital cooking thermometer features almost four inches food-grade stainless steel and offers an instant readout within three to five seconds with a high precision sensor. This food thermometer offers a temperature range from 15 degrees Fahrenheit to an impressive 172 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, it is ideal for both indoor and outdoor cooking. It is easy to use and easy to store as it comes in a foldable probe design and a magnetic back that allows for convenient storage.
Three years warranty
Foldable
Magnetic back for convenient storage
Auto shut-off after ten seconds of reading
- BrandThermoPro
- ModelFBA_TP03A
- Weight 2.4 ounces
2
Habor 022 Meat Thermometer
Up next, we have Habor 022 Meat Thermometer. First of all, this digital meat thermometer is available in three different colors to choose from. Each color comes with a probe that measures just over four and a half inches.
It is an instant read thermometer that offers four to six seconds ultra-fast response time. This falls just a couple of seconds short of our top pick. However, it offers an accuracy of plus or minus one degree Celsius and, thus, saves from the error of guesswork while ensuring that the flavor of your meat is intact. It can also be used as a grill thermometer for all your grilled chicken and turkey recipes. It comes with a protective sheath and auto shuts off after ten minutes of reading.
Four to six seconds of response time
Over four and a half inches probe
58 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit range
The probe is made of food-grade stainless steel
- BrandHabor
- Model Habor 022 Meat Thermometer
- Weight 1.12 ounces
3
Polder Safe-Serve Instant Read Kitchen Thermometer
Moving on, we have the Polder Safe-Serve Instant Read Kitchen Thermometer. This heat thermometer offers instant reading in as fast as eight seconds. This falls a few seconds short of the first two thermometers already reviewed. However, Polder Safe-Serve Instant Read Kitchen Thermometer makes it up with an ergonomic design that makes for very easy handling.
It also has a lower temperature range of zero to a hundred degrees Celsius, which, in all honesty, is more than enough for any home-based cooking. However, it comes with a probe that is made of food-grade stainless steel and measures an impressive ten inches long – longer than the ones already reviewed. This gives your hands a comparatively safer distance from the heat. Other features include an audible alert sound and a torch.
Ten inches long probe
Probe is made of food-grade stainless steel
Digital indicator
Readout time of eight seconds
- BrandPolder
- Model THM-390-39
- Weight 7.2 ounces
4
ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Remote Digital Meat Thermometer
ThermoPro returns onto our list with the ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Remote Cooking Food Meat Thermometer. Plus, it is our pick for the premium choice. First of all, just as its name suggests, the ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Remote Cooking Food Meat Thermometer is a wireless instant-read digital thermometer with a dual probe that can monitor your food from a safe distance.
Thus, you do not need to be getting up to check on your cooking every minute. Plus, it features a large LCD that indicates both the temperature of the food as well as the temperature of the oven. The display comes with a back-light that offers better visibility in poorly-lit areas. The dual probes are made of food-grade stainless steel and can stand temperatures up to seven hundred and sixteen degrees Fahrenheit.
Three years warranty
Handles temperatures up to seven hundred and sixteen degrees Fahrenheit
Back-lit displays
Preset temperature settings
- BrandThermoPro
- Model TP-20
- Weight 1 pounds
5
Alpha Grillers Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Up next on our list, we have https://www.amazonAlpha Grillers Instant Read Meat Thermometer. Just like the Polder Safe-Serve Instant Read Kitchen Thermometer, this one also comes in an ergonomic design that makes it very easy to handle. It is foldable and begins to read the temperature the second you flip the probe.
It comes with a back-lit indicator that improves readability in low visibility and offers an impressive readout time of two to five seconds, which is among the fastest in this review. Each package comes with accessories that include a comprehensive laminated meat temperature guide for quick reference. And, to make your decision less difficult, it comes with a lifetime money-back guarantee.
Back-lit digital indicator
Foldable
Two to five seconds of readout time
Food-grade stainless steel probe
- BrandAlpha Grillers
- Model Vegena
- Weight 4.8 ounces
6
Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Up next is the Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer. If you are looking for a meat thermometer that offers the widest range of color options, then you cannot look past Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer.
This is because it is available in eight different colors to choose from. But this thermometer is not all about appearance as it delivers three to four seconds ultra-fast response time. Plus, it offers an impressive accuracy rate. The thermometer also comes with a large, easy-to-read digital display screen with a foldable probe made of food-grade stainless steel that is ideal for any kind of cooking project. And, if you are still not impressed, there is a three-year limited warranty backing this product.
Foldable probe
Probe made of food-grade stainless steel
Three to four seconds response time
Large digital display screen
- BrandLavatools
- Model PT12
- Weight 1.44 ounces
7
Char-Broil Instant-Read Digital Thermometer
Char-Broil Instant Read Digital Thermometer is the next entry onto our list. This simple looking meat thermometer may not offer the elegance you want. But it gives you reliable results. It comes in a foldable design that makes for very efficient storage and offers different measuring angles. It also features a digital screen with a back-light that improves readability in low visibility.
The digital indicator also displays the current and target temperature readouts to ensure that you do not overcook your food. Indeed, to ensure that you have the perfect cooking results, this thermometer offers seven doneness levels for seven kinds of meat. And, to add to that, it also comes with an audible temperature alarm to prompt you when you are not closeby. The probe is made of food-grade premium stainless steel.
Foldable design for efficient storage
Premium stainless steel probe
Audible temperature alarm
Back-lit LCD screen
- BrandChar-Broil
- Model4867720
- Weight 5.6 ounces
8
ThermoPro TP18 Ultra Fast Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Another entry onto our list from ThermoPro with the ThermoPro TP18 Ultra-Fast Thermocouple Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer. You cannot have enough of ThermoPro. This is because of the quality their thermometers come with. And, this ThermoPro TP18 Ultra-Fast Thermocouple Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer tolls the same quality line.
Just as its name suggests, this digital grill thermometer comes with an advanced thermocouple technology that provides an impressive two to three seconds response time – the fastest at the moment. It also features a foldable stainless steel probe that measures four inches and guarantees accurate temperature reading of just under plus or minus one degree Fahrenheit. It also features a large backlit display with large LED indicators to make for very easy reading even in poor visibility. Also, there is a three years warranty cushion if you decide to opt for this meat thermometer.
Features an advanced thermocouple technology
Two to three seconds response time
Fourteen to five hundred and seventy-two degrees Fahrenheit temperature range
Foldable stainless steel probe
- BrandThermoPro
- ModelTP18
- Weight 5.6 ounces
9
CDN DT450X Digital Pocket Thermometer
It is time to talk about our pick for the best value with this CDN DT450X Digital Pocket Thermometer. There are several reasons why the CDN DT450X Digital Pocket Thermometer is our pick for the best value. First, it is available in four different colors to choose from. Secondly, just as its name suggests, it is a pocket thermometer and comes with a food-grade stainless steel stem with a measurement of just over two inches.
It offers a respectable response time of six to eight seconds with a very accurate reading. It also features plastic housing with a large digital display and has a temperature range of minus forty degrees to four hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit. The plastic handle includes a temperature guide. To add to that, this pocket thermometer comes with an auto-off feature after ten minutes. To top it all, it is very affordable.
Pocket size thermometer
Available in four different colors
Probe made of stainless steel
Large digital display
- BrandCDN
- ModelDT450X
- Weight 0.8 ounces
10
OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Thermometer
And, for the last but definitely not least entry, we have OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Leave-In Thermometer. Just as its name suggests, this thermometer offers a chef’s precision with it comes to ensuring that your cooking is on point with respect to the temperature.
It comes with a twenty-four-hour timer that allows you to choose between nine types of meat, fish, and poultry. And, if you are looking for an oven meat thermometer, the OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Leave-In Thermometer offers an ideal choice. It also comes with a simple interface that comprises a large, easy-to-read LCD digital display with a leave-in stainless steel probe that monitors the internal temperature of your cooking. Attached to the probe is a stainless steel cord that can be used in ovens, grills, and broilers. It can withstand temperatures up to seven hundred degrees Fahrenheit and offers a ten-degree warning alert. The cord and probe can be stored inside an available base to make for efficient storage.
Stainless steel probe
Twenty-four-hour timer
Large LCD screen
Can withstand temperatures up to seven hundred degrees Fahrenheit
- BrandOXO
- Model11231300
- Weight 11.8 ounces
The Best Meat Thermometer Buying Guide & FAQ
Factors To Consider When Buying A Meat Thermometer
There are a few things to take into consideration before dashing off to purchase a meat thermometer.
- Reading time: If you are looking for an instant-read thermometer, it is best to opt for the one that offers quick response time. The thermometers that have been reviewed in this article come with different response times.
- Digital display: Digital displays on thermometers come in different sizes. The size of the digital screen determines the size of the text. Also, it will be best to opt for one with a back-light.
- Accuracy: Also, look out for the level of accuracy the thermometer offers. This is very important as it may affect the taste and quality of your cooking.
- Probe Length: The meat thermometers are available in different probe lengths to choose from. Pick out the size that best suits your type of cooking. Also, make sure that it is made of food-grade stainless steel as that will ensure that your food is safe for consumption.
Types Of Meat Thermometers
When it comes to offering the best results, there are two main types of meat thermometers to consider. The first type is the digital instant-read meat thermometer. The second type is the probe thermometer with a cord.
The digital instant-read meat thermometer takes very little time to determine the temperature of your meat. It usually takes ten seconds or less to read. It can be used in different types of meat but cannot be left inside the cooking.
The probe thermometer with a cord, however, can be left in the food while it is cooking in the oven. However, it is a bit pricey when compared with the cordless one. It is also designed to give you an alert when your cooking reaches the optimum temperature.
Tips For Properly Using Heat Thermometer
It is one thing having a heat thermometer, and it is quite another thing knowing the proper way to use it.
The first tip to remember is to always measure the temperature when you are close to the end of your cooking and not mid-way. Ideally, you should only measure the temperature once, as too many times may affect the appearance and taste of your meat.
If you are using a digital thermometer, always insert the tip of the probe about one inch into the thickest part of the meat as such areas will give you the most accurate reading. Always make sure that you do not push too deeply into the meat to touch a bone. Check the reading on the indicator to be sure that you are at the optimum temperature.
It is also important to remember that the meat will continue to cook for about five minutes after it is taken out of the oven. Thus, avoid cutting through it as soon as you get it out of the oven.
Best Meat Thermometer FAQ:
Q: Why a cooking thermometer is a must-have?
A: A cooking thermometer plays an important role not only in ensuring that you do not overcook or burn your meat but also in helping to maintain the right texture and taste of your cooking. In order for your meat to turn out very well, you need to cook it under the optimum temperature. And, this is where your thermometer will come in. It will save you the headache of having to constantly open the oven to check on the appearance of your cooking - which can yield a very unreliable result.
Q: How do I know if my food thermometer is accurate?
A: Here is a simple hack that you can try. First, fill a cup with ice, pour some cold water over it and stir. Next, submerge the probe of your thermometer about two inches into the ice and hold it there for about one minute. Next, observe the temperature reading. It should read zero degrees Celsius or thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. It is at this temperature that water freezes.
Q: Can I leave a cooking thermometer in the meat while It's cooking?
A: This depends on the type of thermometer that you are using. As mentioned earlier, there are two main types of meat thermometers - the digital instant-read meat thermometer and the probe thermometer with a cord. The probe thermometer with a cord can be left in the food while it is cooking in the oven. However, the digital instant read thermometer should only be used outside the oven.
Our Top Pick
As mentioned earlier, our top pick remains the ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer. Here is a quick recap of its features. First, it features an almost four inches food-grade stainless steel construction and offers three to five seconds readout time. It also features a high precision sensor and comes with a 58 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit range. It is foldable, comes with a magnetic back for convenient storage, and auto shut-off after every ten seconds feature.