If you often cook at home, then it might be usual to face a situation where your chicken looks beautifully browned from the outside but still raw or undercooked from the inside – especially when you are grilling over high heat. This doesn’t only waste your time but also cause some serious health issues.
To kill all of the potentially harmful pathogens and bacteria in meat, such as E. coli and salmonella, it is highly recommended to cook food at the right internal temperatures. While overcooking seems to be a safe choice, it could spoil your dinner. So how would you know if your chicken or beef has reached these levels? Fortunately, there is a much simpler solution to try: a food thermometer. With this handy gadget, you can exactly read these measurements and keep your food from overcooking or protect your family from food poisoning.
So if you are ready to buy a food thermometer, check out these five picks below. Also, keep reading to learn more useful information and choose the right one for you.
What Is A Food Thermometer And Why Do You Need One?
A food thermometer is a small device which can measure the internal temperatures of cooking ingredients. A standard unit comes with two main parts: a temperature rod and display. Once you push the rod into the meat, it will transfer the heat to the machine and keep track of the temperatures.
As said earlier, the main benefits of using a food thermometer is to ensure food safety. Many cooks often check their meat visually by looking at the outside colour and texture. However, this could lead to undercooked beef or lamb, meaning that many harmful bacteria still exists inside and might cause food poisoning. With a food thermometer, you could track the internal temperature and know when to lower the heat.
Types of Food Thermometer
Though it is a simple device, there are actually many different types of meat thermometers on the market. These include:
a) Leave-in analogue food thermometer
This is an old-fashioned type of dial food thermometer which still remains in the meat while you are cooking. While it is easy to use and inexpensive, you might find it quite challenging to read without removing the food from the oven. In some cases, the readings might be higher than the actual temperatures.
b) Instant-read analogue food thermometer
Readily available and inexpensive, these dial-top models require less than one minute give you a temperature reading after being inserted into the thickest area of the food. However, it might be difficult to measure, and you would also get a false result when you insert it incorrectly. Unlike the previous unit, you don’t need to keep it in the meat while cooking.
c) Digital instant-read food thermometer
This type of food thermometer doesn’t require to stay inside when you cook the meat. Just push its probe into the thickest area t of the food, wait a couple of seconds, then read the result.
d) Thermometer forks
This device is designed just like a large, 2-prong cooking fork. It can be especially helpful for outdoor grilling with a nearly instant result.
e) Leave-in wireless digital thermometers
These units are perhaps the most advanced options available out there. You can keep it probe remain inside the food, while its base unit still sits on the counter where you could read it easily. The results will be transmitted wirelessly to ensure accuracy. Thus, this type of food thermometer is ideal for both indoor cooking and outdoor grilling.
Which Features To Look For When Choosing A Food Thermometer?
Basically, a food thermometer does nothing more than just indicate the temperature; some others might also come with whistles and bells. Every device, whether fancy or simple, should provide easy-to-read and accurate results in the quickest time. If you want something beyond the basic, here are some useful features to look for when choosing a food thermometer:
- Temperature alert/alarm: A flashing light, beep, or combination of both alerts you as the food reaches the right temperature level
- Timer: This features will count down the cooking time
- Programmable temperature: A cook could choose her own desired temperature
- Present temperature: These units will be preprogrammed with the recommended temperatures to ensure safety
- High-temperature alarm: When the food’s temperature exceeds the recommended setting, you will receive a flashing light or an audible alert
- Auto-off: the unit will shut off automatically when you aren’t using it to save battery life
- Dual probes: A probe monitors the grill’s temperature, while the other is pushed into your food
- Water-resistant: A food thermometer should tolerate sauce splashes, cooking juices, and water when calibrating or washing
- Rotating display: This is a helpful feature when you need to cook different kinds of meat at the same time. The digital readout will rotate to track temperatures from different angles.
- Price: Just like other products, the price is always an important thing to consider. You don’t have to break your budget for a food thermometer.
Main brands of food thermometer
These days, there is a variety of food thermometer models available on the market. However, not all of them are good. Here are 5 best brands which are known for their high-quality, well-designed, and affordable models:
- ThermoPro
- Lavatools
- Hesten Blumenthal
- Topelek
- Criacr
Top 5 Best Food Thermometers Reviews
1. TOPELEK Multi-Functional Digital Instant Read Food Thermometer Review
There are many reasons why the TOPELEK food thermometer should be a must-have tool for your daily cooking routine. Providing an extensive temperature range from -500C to 3000C, it can be used for both indoor and outdoor cooking. You can get an accurate and fast reading within 5 seconds thanks to a highly sensitive function. The whole unit is made of 304 stainless steel which can stand ultra-high temperature and corrosion. It also features a backlight LCD display to help you read the results easily in dark cooking conditions. After 10 minutes of not in use, the display will turn off automatically to save your battery life.
Main features:
- Backlight LCD display
- A wide range of temperatures, in Fahrenheit and Celsius
- Premium stainless steel construction
- Auto shut-off
- Highly sensitive for an accurate and quick reading
- 5.9-inch long probe
Package included:
- 1 user manual
- 1 LR44 battery
- 1 digital food thermometer
2. ThermoPro TP16 Kitchen Thermometer Review
The ThermoPro food thermometer is one of the best options for novice users as it comes with a very simple-to-use design. The manufacturer provides recommended temperatures for 6 different types of food, including poultry, pork, veal, ham, fish, and beef so that you could easily cook a delicious meal without overcooking or undercooking. Of course, it is possible to set the desired temperature manually in the timer mode to meet your tastes. The probe is 6 inches in length and made of food-grade stainless steel to get temperatures quickly and precisely. Also, there is a black magnet on its back to help the unit mount strongly on any metal surface like a fridge or oven.
Main features:
- 6 preset temperatures for different food
- Temperature range: 0˚C to 300˚C
- Large LCD display
- Black magnet and flip-out stand for easy operation
- Long and heat-resistant probe
Package included:
- 1 instruction manual
- 1 AAA battery
- 1 food thermometer
3. ETI Multi-Function Digital Probe Catering Thermometer Review
The ETI multi-function catering thermometer features a large, easy-to-read LCD display which shows both the alarm set and actual temperatures. This makes it an ideal option for cafes, bars, restaurants, and those who look for an affordable solution. With a wide range of temperature, from -49.9°C to 149.9°C, you can use it for different types of food. The thermometer has a stainless steel pointed probe with 5 inches in length to ensure you can reach the thickest part of the food without burning your hand. It also incorporates a min/max memory function together with a fully adjustable audible low/high-temperature alarm.
Main features:
- Temperature range: -49.9°C to 149.9°C
- Auto shut-off
- Min/max memory function
- Long stainless steel pointed probe
- Low/high audible alarm
Package included:
- 1 AAA battery
- 1 food thermometer
4. Criacr Brifit Digital Instant Food Thermometer Review
Say goodbye to undercooked and burnt food with the Brifit digital food thermometer by Criacr. With an easy-to-read electronic display, you can see precise temperature readings in less than 7 seconds. Also, the wide range of temperature from -50°C to 300°C makes it a great option when grilling your meat. The unit has a smart design to allow for ease of use. You can rotate the probe in 180 degrees and easily switch the button from Fahrenheit to Celcius. It is simple to clean the probe after cooking with a damp cloth as it is made of stainless steel.
Main features:
- Quick responding time: 4 to 7 seconds
- Temperature range: -50°C to 300°C
- 180-degree rotate probe
- Fahrenheit/Celcius switch button
- Calibration function
Package included:
- 1 food thermometer
5. Heston Blumenthal Silver Digital Food Thermometer
With the ultimate precision, this digital food thermometer by Heston Blumenthal is ideal for both professional chefs and home cooks. It comes with a highly sensitive probe which can read the temperature within 5 seconds. Also, the package includes an info card with recommended temperatures for different foods, including BBQ food, confectionery, jam, or meat. Thanks to a classic shape, the unit can be used safely and conveniently to meet most of your needs in the kitchen. It has a wide range of temperature and small tolerance to ensure the ultimate accuracy.
Main features:
- Temperature range: -40°C to 200°C
- Magnetic information card with recommended temperatures
- Easy-to-hold silicone grip
- Quick response time less than 5 seconds
Package included:
- 1 ideal temperature card
- 1 instruction booklet
- 1 LR44 battery
- 1 food thermometer
