It’s a worthwhile investment, especially for cooks who often prepare long-cooking meals. Its programmable alarms, remote cooking functionality, and handy app make it easy to keep track of your food’s temperature even when you’re busy.
The best models here give a solid reading within seconds and can withstand high temperatures for extended periods. They also have convenient features like LED night lights and voice activation.
Accuracy
A cooking thermometer is the best tool for ensuring your proteins reach optimal internal temperatures. That’s because it lets you avoid wasting money, calories and taste on under-cooked meat.
The best digital instant-read thermometers are quick and accurate enough to be trusted by professional cooks. They can tell you when your food reaches the right temperature in about 15 to 20 seconds.
Whether roasting a turkey or making candy, you’ll want your thermometer to give an accurate reading. Accuracy is how closely your results match a known value.
Thermometers can have random and systematic errors. For a thermometer to be considered high accuracy, it should have low precision and trueness. Most quality thermometers have published accuracy specifications in the box or their instruction manual.
Speed
Thermometers that quickly give you a read-out are ideal for those with hectic schedules or who don’t have time to wait around while food cooks. They help to avoid over- or undercooked foods, which can affect taste and safety.
Instant-read thermometers have a small footprint, take up little room in your drawer, and are simple to use. They can’t be left in the oven or on your grill during cooking, so you’ll need to take them out and check the temperature toward the end of your estimated cooking time.
Safety
Thermometers give cooks confidence that their meals are safe to eat. They can take the guesswork from roasting meats, baking bread, making candy, and other desserts. They are particularly helpful for those who want to get more granular with their cooking and grilling, narrowing down their doneness preferences degree by degree.
In addition to basic instant-read thermometers, probe-style thermometers can withstand higher temperatures and alert you when the food is hot or cold. These thermometers tend to be more expensive but have a lot of settings and features to offer cooks. Many of the best models feature a foldable probe and auto-shutoff functions. Some are also completely waterproof, which can be important for outdoor grilling or kitchens close to sinks.
Convenience
Whether you’re a seasoned cook who wants to get super-granular with your roasting and grilling or newer to the game, a thermometer can help you make more confident decisions about how much heat to apply. It can also eliminate the guesswork of getting your proteins to the desired doneness.
Digital instant-read thermometers can read temperatures in a few seconds and stabilize quickly at boiling-water temperatures. They’re the ones chefs most often recommend for home users, especially for checking meats in the oven or to confirm that they’ve reached their proper temperatures.
Corded probe thermometers can stay in the food while it’s cooking, and some come with functions like alerts and connected apps that let you monitor a dish from anywhere. However, they tend to be pricier due to the extra bells and whistles.
Value
Whether replacing your old, slightly rusty analog thermometer or a more recent model, the best cooking thermometers in our review will save you time, money and stress by ensuring your food is cooked to the correct temperature. They also help protect you from ingesting bacteria like salmonella and E. coli that can cause food poisoning.
When shopping for a digital thermometer, remember that there are different models to choose from, including instant-read digital thermometers, wireless probe units and dual-probe models. In addition, consider features such as a waterproof design and battery life when choosing your perfect team. If you want to go beyond basic features, look for a thermometer with an app that offers cooking presets and alerts.