Maintaining the right temperature for your food item while cooking is crucial, especially when cooking a medium-rare steak. A slight negligence could either leave it under-cooked or burn it by overcooking. Hence, it is necessary to have the best meat thermometer than to rely on a random everyday living meat thermometer.
A meat thermometer is one piece of equipment with a significant place more than other electronics in your kitchen. You might not know, but a good meat thermometer can last a long.
Hence, to get accurate temperature readings, you must invest in meat thermometers with a broader temperature reading option to cater to your cooking needs—they can work multipurpose too.
In this article, I list some best meat thermometers for ease, so you don’t have to search.
· Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo Ambidextrous Food Thermometer
· Char-Broil Instant Read Digital Thermometer
· Oxo Good Grip Thermocouple Thermometer
· Kizen digital Instant read temperature thermometer
· Oxo Good Grip Chef’s Analog Leave-in thermometer
· Meater Plus smart thermometer
Let’s begin with the thermometer types to maintain a stabilized temperature for food safety.
Types of Meat Thermometers
The commonly used meat thermometers are these three
· Probe thermometer/ leave in thermometers
· Remote thermometers
· Instant-read thermometers
1. Probe the thermometer or leave in thermometer
As you can get the hint from the name, you can use the probe thermometer while cooking by putting it in the pot with the food. The probe is placed in the food while the thermometer stays outside.
Some of them come with modern features of timers and alarms that let you know when the required temperature is reached.
You can use them for deep frying and for as a candy thermometer. However, the downside is that it is comparatively slower, so I will not recommend that if you want it for a fast cooking process.
2. Remote thermometer
They look similar to a probe thermometer, i.e., leave the thin metal in the bottom but have an additional feature, a pager that allows temperature monitoring.
This one is a popular option for grilling and ovens. These are the latest ones, as some of them can be connected to your smartphone.
The negative side of this type of thermometer is that they are bulky and expensive.
3. Instant read thermometers
These digital thermometers read the temperature as quickly as in three seconds; because of their accuracy, they are used to handle multiple kitchen tasks.
It is smart yet slim that offers an easy grip. This digital thermometer is suitable for ovens, induction cooktop, stovetop and grills.
However, the drawback is that the temperature might be lost when you remove the lid and will also increase the cooking time.
Now, here I have listed some top rated meat thermometers
The list of best meat thermometers include
1. Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo Ambidextrous Food Thermometer
Product Specification
· Dimension: 4.3 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
· Weight: 4.6 Oz.
· Item length: 4.3 inches
· Power source: Battery powered
· Number of batteries: 1 Lithium
· Battery life: 4000 hr.
· Unit Count: 1.0 count
· Temperature range: -49.9 C to 250 C
· Accuracy: +/- 0.9 degrees F
This kitchen thermometer underwent rigorous tests before making it to the market, which helped it to ace the thermometer. Consider this thermometer the best grill thermometer due to the thin tip that can reach deep down in the meat and in the long cuts.
The design is compact and handy so that it offers convenient storage; it is magnetic so that you can hang and pop it with your grill, fridge, etc. or hang it with its loop.
A little one touch backlit display option makes the temperature more readable in bad light conditioning or while cooking at night.
Further, it also features an auto-rotation feature that makes it easy to use for left- or right-handed people.
Pros
· It is designed as splash proof thermometer
· Accurate thermometer with a longer probe
· It is an instant read thermometer that displays the ambient temperature fast
Cons
2. Char-Broil Instant Read Digital Thermometer
Product Specification
· Dimension: 1.4 x 2.4 x 8.6 inches
· Weight: 0.03 Oz.
· Item length: 1.4 inches
· Power source: Battery powered
· Number of batteries: 2 AA. 1.5 Volt
· Battery life: 2000 hr.
· Unit Count: 1.0 count
· Temperature range: -49.9 C to 299.9 C
· Accuracy: +/- 0.3 degree
This small digital instant-read thermometer did well in our tests, providing precise temperature readings within 10 seconds and earning a four out of five for responsiveness.
It has features like auto-off, seven different meat varieties with their recommended levels of doneness, and it is available in 7 languages.
The alarm will let you know when your meat is cooked properly.
Pros
· It comes with auto shut off
· This meat thermometer is inexpensive
Cons
· Slightly slower, it takes 10 seconds to check the reading
3. Oxo Good Grip Thermocouple Thermometer
Product Specification
· Dimension: 1.6 x 3.45 x 8.75 inches
· Weight: 6.38 Oz.
· Item length: 1.4 inches
· Power source: Battery powered
· Number of batteries: 2 AA. 1.5 Volt
· Battery life: 2000 hr.
· Unit Count: 1.0 count
· Temperature range: -50 C to 300 C
· Accuracy: +/- 0.9 degree
The third meat thermometer that I like is OXO. It reads the internal temperature in a minimum of 3 seconds. This one allows a good grip and will never disappoint in terms of temperature accuracy with its thin tip that can poke the thick meat easily.
Although the design of this meat thermometer is sleek but handling it is a little tricky due to its steam-coated surface that slips it from the hand.
The temperature setting i.e. changing the unit from F to C or vice versa, is hidden behind the battery panel, which is also a little effort as it comes off with at screwdriver.
Pros
· It is an instant read thermometer with quick temperature reading
· Ensure food safety with a broader temperature reading
Cons
· Slippery, difficult to hold
· To access the settings, it requires battery removal
4. Kizen digital Instant read temperature thermometer
Product Specification
· Dimension: 6.73 x 1.85 x 0.87 inches
· Weight: 2.39 Oz.
· Item length: 9 inches
· Power source: Battery powered
· Number of batteries: 2 lithium Metal
· Battery life: 2000 hr.
· Unit Count: 1.0 count
· Temperature range: -50 C to 300 C
· Accuracy: +/- 0.9 degree
Another best seller for the internal temperature reader is this meat thermometer. It has easy to read with the backlight display.
This handheld thermometer has an auto shut-off/on feature that starts instantly, but sometimes it lags and does not display temperature accurately.
You can get a small yet quick meat guide for the temperature that is helpful for new and home cooks. Overall, it is neither a fast nor a slow thermometer.
It can also be used for candy temperature too.
Pros
· Auto shut-off
· Backlit display for improved readability
· Great temperature range
Cons
· Sometimes, it lags and the temperature is low
5. Oxo Good Grip Chef’s Analog Leave-in thermometer
Product Specification
· Dimension: 2 x 3 x 9 inches
· Weight: 3.2 Oz.
· Item length: 2 inches
· Component: Analog Meat thermometer
· Unit Count: 1.0 count
· Temperature range: -50 C to 300 C
· Accuracy: High
This one is a dial thermometer that displays the temperature accurately regardless of meat type. It is an analog thermometer, which is a bit slower than the digital thermometer. However, the accuracy is top-notch.
The dial is capable of showing temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius; you can probe the temperature with it fearlessly as it is USDA and chef-recommended.
This one is oven safe, you can place it with food too. To measure the temperature right, the probe is shaded so that the user should know how deep to go in the meat.
Overall, this is one of the best dial thermometer due to its performance.
Pros
· You can leave this thermometer with the food
· Oven safe
· Works without batteries
· Suitable for all types of meat
Cons
· Slower than a digital thermometer
6. Meater Plus smart thermometer
Product Specification
· Dimension: 1.46 x 1.1 x 6.18 inches
· Weight: 7.4 Oz.
· Item length: 3.7 cm
· Power source: Battery powered
· Number of batteries: 1 AAA
· Connectivity: Bluetooth
· Unit Count: 1.0 count
· Temperature range: 100 C to 275 C
· Accuracy: +/- 1 F degree
The final product allows smart cooking as it connects with your mobile so that you can keep monitoring the temperature when you are away.
As said, it is a smart thermometer; it allows control remotely through the app; you need to let it know what your want to cook, and it will provide you with the estimated cooking time for your meal.
The magnetic storage back allows easy storage, it is a battery-operated meat thermometer, so, it will let you know when it is fully charged.
Pros
· This one is a smart thermometer as it connects with your phone via Bluetooth
· It can be washed in the dishwasher
Cons
· It probes one food at a time for every probe
Aamna Ayub
How to know which meat thermometer is the best?
A few factors will help you to determine what meat thermometer will be the best. The key parameters for buying the right one are
1. Accuracy
Accuracy is the key to getting a precise temperature reading for every food thermometer. Consider one with a small error range, such as +/- 1 degrees F.
2. Speed
Some thermometers provide instant readings, while others take several seconds to show the temperature. Consider how fast you need the reading and choose a thermometer that fits your needs.
3. Range
Different types of meat require different internal temperatures to be fully cooked, so choose a thermometer with a wide temperature range that covers the temperatures you need for the meat you cook.
4. Ease of Use
Look for a thermometer that is easy to use and read. For example, a digital display can be easier to read than an analog dial.
5. Durability
Choose a thermometer built to last and withstand high temperatures and repeated use.
6. Type of thermometer
Consider what type of thermometer would best suit your cooking needs. Do you need a thermometer that can be left in the meat while it cooks or one that provides an instant reading? Do you need a wireless thermometer for outdoor cooking or a leave-in thermometer for more significant cuts of meat?
7. Price
Meat thermometers come at different prices, so consider your budget when selecting.
These factors will help you choose a meat thermometer that meets your needs and helps you cook meat perfectly.
How to use a meat thermometer?
The best way to get the accurate temperature for your meat is by aiming for the thickest part of the meat. This way, you will get the exact temperature, but remember to measure from multiple places.
Make sure to place it in the middle, as that part takes much time to cook.
How to read the temperature from a thermometer?
Reading a thermometer is easy as some come with a large display that prompts the temperature in a few seconds.
However, it would be tricky, especially when cooking a steak, and the temperature fluctuates fast, so saying one temperature is exact is difficult. Hence, this can be dealt with by taking the temperature from different parts of the steaks and considering the lowest temperature as the right.
Aamna Ayub
Conclusion | Meat Thermometer with Wide Temperature Range
The everyday living meat thermometer should have a wide temperature range and provide accurate readings. It should be easy to use with an LCD that is bright enough to read in dim lighting to avoid over-cooking or undercooking your food items. It must also have the required durability and versatility to make it suitable for multiple tasks, like baking and grilling. The suitable thermometer will ensure that your food is cooked perfectly every time without fail.
Remember: Without an accurate meat thermometer, getting the desired results is nearly impossible. So invest in a good one for cooking perfection.
