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How To Buy The Best Instant Read Thermometers
Click Here To Search 200+ Thermometers Tested, Rated, and Reviewed
An instant read thermometer is probably the most important tool in a cook’s arsenal. It provides the most accurate and direct indication of food’s readiness. Forget old chef’s tales of visual inspection or prodding with a finger; there are too many variables in the visual and tactile qualities of a piece of meat to rely on sight or touch as the indicator of doneness. If you want to know the precise state of readiness, the best option is to impale your food with a fast and accurate temperature probe. So, what should you look for when buying one?
The speed at which a thermometer can display a stable temperature is paramount. When assessing the doneness of a piece of food, the cook will slowly insert the tip of the instrument into the meat and observe the temperature changes. As the probe penetrates, the temp will drop as the tip approaches the center of the meat, and will then rise as it nears the opposite side.
The lowest temp shown is the figure of merit here – it represents the least cooked part of the food. If there is significant lag between the actual temperature and the displayed temperature, the reading won’t be useful. Sure, you could take several minutes slowly inserting the probe, but who has time for that? You want a quick and accurate reading of the temperature at the probe tip right now. The best instant read thermometers will stabilize in a second or two, yielding a near-instantaneous value that precisely indicates doneness.
Temperature accuracy is important, of course; however all but the cheapest thermometers are within a degree or two, so this is one of the variables that shouldn’t be an issue. Because thermometers are used in a challenging environment – think dampness here – a quality unit will be sealed against moisture. Cheap units will have battery compartments that will flood if the thermometer is inadvertently dropped into the sink. Cases with mating surfaces that can admit water contain electronics that will likely succumb to spray and steam, shortening their useful lives. Cases that might leak are also more likely to break if dropped, so look for quality construction that is water resistant.
Ergonomics can also be a factor, especially if you’re left-handed. Folding thermometers, pioneered by the ThermoWorks Thermapen are popular for their long probes that can be safely stowed when put in the pocket. Quality units have a display that rotates so that the numbers are properly oriented whatever the position of the case. This saves mental gymnastics when trying to decide whether that 2 is a 5 or a 2 or vice-versa.
Most units will have a backlight so you can read them in poor lighting. Some require pressing a button; others auto-sense the ambient light and illuminate automatically, a handy feature. The better thermometers also have long battery life. There can be few more frustrating situations than having the button battery croak just as you’re assessing the Thanksgiving turkey’s readiness for the table.
We weigh these factors when assigning our product ratings: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Not Recommended. There are many quality products out there, as well as some junk, so peruse our database and find the product that best meets your needs. Then buy with confidence.
ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE Review
Read our complete review of the highly popular Thermapen instant-read thermometer- the super fast Thermapen ONE - with a one second response time, improved accuracy, and a brighter backlight.
ThermoPro TP-620 Instant Read Food Thermometer Review
Read our full review of the new ThermoPro TP-620 instant read thermometer that has all the bells and whistles to make a cook's job easier.
SnS Grills SnS-100 Instant Read Thermometer Review
The SNS Grills SNS-100 instant read thermometer is a full-featured hand-held food thermometer that displays good accuracy, quick response time, an ambidextrous readout, and a backlight in a waterproof package. Check out our full product review.
ThermoPro TP-15H Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our review of the ThermoPro TP-15H, a fast instant-read food thermometer that had excellent accuracy and is built to allow rinsing under running water
ThermoPro TP-19 Review
The ThermoPro TP-19 is a well-made instant-read food thermometer at an attractive price. We give it a Gold Medal for overall excellence.
ThermoPro TP-15 Instant Read Thermometer Review
The ThermoPro TP-15 is an excellent handheld instant read thermometer with a remarkably low price (under $20), a great warranty, and accurate readings within 4 seconds. It has features that many more expensive units lack. Highly recommended with a Platinum Medal.
ThermoWorks ProNeedle Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our complete review of the ThermoWorks ProNeedle digital instant read thermometer that performs very well, earning another Gold Medal.
ThermoPro TP-18 Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our complete review of the ThermoPro TP-18 hand-held, instant-read thermometer whose performance and price point earned it a Silver Medal.
ThermoPro TP-03A Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our review of the ThermoPro TP-03A, an inexpensive folding-type instant read thermometer with decent response times and good accuracy. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoPro TP-01A Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our review of the ThermoPro TP-01A, a small and inexpensive instant read thermometer that exhibits good accuracy and quick response times and received a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks Thermapen IR Review
The ThermoWorks Thermapen IR has both an instant-read temperature probe and an infrared sensor in one package. It features a rotating display to enable easy reading in any orientation. It is well constructed, as is usual for ThermoWorks products and exhibits excellent performance. A solid top rating!
ThermoPro TP-02S Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our review of the ThermoPro TP-02S, a hand-held, quick-read thermometer. It features a long 5.375" (13.6cm) probe with a narrow tip to improve response times. I'll give it a Bronze Medal for value if not quality.
Maverick Pocket Knife PT-60 Review
Read the full review of the Maverick Pocket Knife Thermometer that incorporates a folding instant-read thermometer and some Swiss Army knife tools in one package. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
OXO Chef’s Precision Thermocouple Thermometer Review
The OXO Chef's Precision Thermocouple Thermometer is a high-end instant read thermometer that is waterproof to IP66 standards (excellent protection) and incorporates some features that make it attractive for left-handed users. Its unique features and solid construction rate our top award.
Lavatools Javelin Pro Review
Read our comprehensive test of the Lavatools Javelin Pro, a full-featured, hand-held, instant-read thermometer with very good accuracy and quick response times. We gave it a Gold Medal for its performance, construction and accuracy, making it an excellent buy for the serious cook.
Maverick PT-55 Waterproof Instant-Read Thermometer Review
Here is a complete review of the Maverick PT-55 waterproof thermometer, a full-featured, hand-held, instant read thermometer that received a Gold Medal for its fast response.
Maverick PT-75 Review
See the complete review of the Maverick PT-75, the company's newest entry into the instant-read category of food thermometer. It received a Gold Medal for its performance and feature set.
Maverick PT-50 Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our complete review of the Maverick PT-50 Instant Read Thermometer, a fast-responding, accurate thermometer for testing food temperatures. We give it a Silver Medal for its performance.
Cappec Flare KTH04 Review
Read a complete review of the Cappec Flare KTH04, a folding instant read thermometer with a temperature alarm and average response times. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Lavatools Javelin Review
Read our complete review of the popular Lavatools Javelin, a compact folding instant-read thermometer with good accuracy and very fast response times. It gets a Silver Medal overall.
ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk 4 Review
The ThemoWorks Thermapen Mk 4 is the latest version of a product that has long been considered the gold standard thermometer. The Mk 4 has the original Thermapen's shape and basic operation, but includes features that are common on high-end instruments: automatic backlight and rotating display. It gets our top rating.
Digital 00295 Review
Read our review of the AcuRite Digital 00295, a thermometer that works reasonably well but disappoints in its construction. We do not recommend this product.
ProAccurate TCT572 Review
Read our comprehensive review of the CDN ProAccurate TCT572, a full-featured hand-held instant-read thermometer that has good performance and a reasonable price. We gave it a Gold Medal for excellent performance and a full feature set.
ThermoWorks DOT TX-1200 Review
The ThermoWorks DOT TX-1200 is intended for use in food while cooking. It has a large readout, an easily-set alarm temperature and a long probe cable. It has a rapid response time that would allow it to double as an instant-read thermometer if desired. We gave it a top rating for its build quality and performance.
ThermoWorks Reference Thermapen Review
See our analysis of the ThermoWorks Reference Thermapen, a high-accuracy version of the standard unit, but it is slower to respond. We give it only a Silver Medal because it's not really intended to be a cooking thermometer.
Saber Grills A00AA3814 EZ Temp Digital Thermometer Review
Here is the complete review of the Saber Grills EZ Temp Digital Thermometer, a well-made, accurate, and fast-reading handheld unit that got a Gold Medal for its fine performance.
ThermoWorks Semi-Pro BBQ Kit Review
Read our review of the ThermoWorks Semi-Pro BBQ Kit, a setup for serious cooks who want quality and value. It's a Gold Medal winner.
Tel-Tru QT303F Infrared and Probe Thermometer Review
Read our full review of the Tel-Tru QT303F Infrared/Probe Thermometer, a dual mode unit that can measure a wide temperature range accurately. We give it a Silver Medal for its accuracy and construction.
ThermoWorks Food Check Review
Read our thorough evaluation of the ThermoWorks Food Check thermometer, a pricey unit that delivers excellent accuracy and rapid response times in an industrial-strength package. We give it a Silver Medal for its construction and accuracy.
ThermoWorks RT610B-12 Waterproof Digital Thermometer Review
Click here to read our review of the ThermoWorks RT610B-12, a relatively inexpensive unit that has a long probe, a wide temperature range and is sealed against moisture. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks RT600B Waterproof Digital Thermometer Review
Read our review of the ThermoWorks RT600B, an accurate thermometer that is splash-resistant, but its response time is too slow to be used as an instant-read tool. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks RT304 Water Resistant Thermometer Review
See our review of the ThermoWorks RT304 Water Resistant Thermometer that has good accuracy, fairly good response times and is immune to incidental moisture. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks Combo Thermometer Review
Read our complete evaluation of the ThermoWorks Combo Thermometer that combines a high-accuracy probe with fair response times and an infrared sensor to check surface temperatures. We give it a Silver Medal for utility.
Polder THM-160 Safe-Serve Instant Read Thermometer Review
See our comments on the Polder THM-160, a fragile thermometer that has a slow response time and unrealistically high safe serve temperatures. We do not recommend this product.
Polder THM-375 Speed-Read Instant Read Thermometer Review
Here is the full review of the Polder THM-375 Speed-Read Instant Read Thermometer, an inexpensive unit that has good accuracy and average response time. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks TempTest 1 Review
Read the complete review of the ThermoWorks 221-910 TempTest1, a small, hand-held thermometer that exhibited excellent accuracy and had all the wish-list features to win a Gold medal.
ThermoWorks 6032 Long Stem Digital Thermometer Review
See our review of the ThermoWorks Long Stem Digital Thermometer, a well-made unit with excellent accuracy but slow response times. We do not recommend this unit if you're looking for an instant read thermometer.
ThermoWorks RT8400 Talking Digital Thermometer Review
See our review of the ThermoWorks RT8400 Talking Digital Thermometer that speaks the temperature when the yellow button is pressed. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks RT600C Super-Fast Digital Thermometer Review
Read the complete review of the ThermoWorks RT600C Digital Thermometer that has a temperature range wide enough for most food usages and very rapid response times. Gold Medal for performance and low price.
ThermoWorks RT610B Waterproof Digital Thermometer Review
Read our analysis of the ThermoWorks RT610B that has good accuracy, good water resistance but only fair response times. We do not recommend this product.
Polder THM-379 Stable-Read Thermometer Review
Read the full review of the Polder THM-379, an instant-read that has spotty accuracy but very rapid response time and an irritating "hold" feature that makes reading it iffy. We gave it a Bronze Medal, just.
ThermoWorks Y-232-101 Therma Waterproof Kit Review
Here is our complete review of the ThermoWorks Therma Waterproof, a rugged, industrial-grade rapid read thermometer that has industry leading speed. We give it a Gold Medal for its build quality and flexibility of use.
ThermoWorks Therma K Plus with 313-158 Probe Review
Read our complete review of the ThermoWorks Therma K Plus Kit, an expensive thermometer that exhibits superb accuracy and very rapid response times. We give it a Gold Medal for its solid construction and flexibility in use.
ThermoWorks MTC Mini Handheld with 113-159 Probe Review
Here's our review of the kit that includes the ThermoWorks MTC Mini Hand Held Thermometer with 113-159 probe, a basic unit with very good accuracy, fast response times and a fairly high price. Gold Medal for performance and quality construction.
ThermoWorks RT301WA Super-Fast Pocket Thermometer Review
See our comprehensive review of the ThermoWorks RT301WA, an extremely fast-responding handheld unit with excellent accuracy and basic features. We give it a Silver Medal for its excellent value.
ThermoWorks RT301 Digital Thermometer Review
Click here to read our review of the ThermoWorks RT301 Digital Thermometer that has high accuracy and moderate response times. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
ThermoWorks RT616 Super-Fast Mini Thermometer Review
Here is the full skinny on the ThermoWorks RT616 Super-Fast Mini Thermometer which has excellent accuracy and very rapid response times. We gave it a Gold Medal.
Polder THM-372 Speed-Read Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our review of the Polder THM-372 thermometer that has pre-programmed meat/doneness combinations that are overly high and not user-adjustable. We do not recommend this product.
ThermoWorks Therma 20 Plus with 174-166 Probe Review
Read our complete review of the ThermoWorks Therma 20 Plus, a solidly-built, full-featured, highly accurate thermometer and probe that are built to last. We give it a Silver Medal due to its somewhat limited temperature range.
ThermoWorks BlueTherm Probe Review
See our thorough review of the BlueTherm probe that has no readout of its own, it must be used with a Bluetooth device to measure and record temperatures. We give it a Silver Medal for quality construction and performance.
Taylor 9306N Review
See our complete review of the Taylor 9306N that has both a meat probe and an infrared sensor. It exhibits good performance. We give it a Silver Medal.
Cooper DFP450W Review
Here is a comprehensive review of the Cooper DFP450W a relatively inexpensive thermometer that features excellent accuracy, fast response time, and several nice features. We gave it a Gold Medal for its performance and price, making it an excellent choice for the cook on a budget.
Comark PDT300 Review
Read our detailed review of the Comark PDT300, an inexpensive, compact thermometer that features good accuracy and a quick response time. We give it a Silver Medal for performance, but find the probe a bit on the short side.
Weber 6492 Instant Read Thermometer Review
Here is our complete review of the Weber 6492, an instant-read thermometer with good accuracy and quick response time, as well as a low price. We gave it a Silver Medal.
TP3001 Digital Thermometer Reviewed And Rated
Read our analysis of the TP3001, an inexpensive digital thermometer has good accuracy but very slow response times. We do not recommend this product.
Taylor Connoisseur 518 Review
Here's our analysis of the Taylor Connoisseur 518, an inexpensive probe with good accuracy and reasonable response time. The ergonomics are good, as is the readability. We give it a Bronze Medal.
Norpro 5985 Review
Read our analysis of the Norpro 5985, an inexpensive thermometer that has good accuracy but a slow response time. We do not recommend this product.
CDN DTQ450X Review
Read our review of the CDN DTQ450X, an inexpensive instant-read food thermometer with very good accuracy and a rapid response time. We gave this unit a Gold Medal for its performance, making it a good choice for quick temperature readings at a very reasonable price.
Weber 6419 Digital Pocket Thermometer Review
See our review of the Weber 6419, an inexpensive thermometer with good accuracy and reasonable response time. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Maverick ET-68 Digital Grilling Fork Review
Read the full review of the Maverick ET-68 fork that reads temperature via a sensor in the right tine. It has timer and a pie chart showing doneness. The tines are detachable for cleaning. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Maverick ET-683 Combo Digital Fork and Probe Review
Here is the complete review of the Maverick ET-683 fork that reads temperature via a sensor located in the right tine or via an interchangeable probe. The probe and tines are dishwasher safe. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Weber 6491 Original Pocket Thermometer Review
See our analysis of the Weber 6491, a moderately priced folding thermometer that exhibited good accuracy but slow response times. We do not recommend this product.
ThermoWorks ThermoPop (TX-3100-XX) Review
The ThermoPop is an inexpensive, high-performance, rapid-read handheld thermometer for food usage. It has a rotating display that makes it easy to read from any angle. It gives precise readings in under four seconds. We tested it thoroughly and gave it a top rating for its performance and build quality.
Chic Cuisine Food Thermometer Review
Read our review of the Chic Cuisine, an inexpensive hand-held probe that has reasonable performance but lacks any manufacturer contact info or warranty. We do not recommend this product.
Taylor Pro 9842N Review
Read our analysis of the Taylor Pro 9842N, an inexpensive thermometer that has good accuracy and modest performance. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Taylor Pro 9847N Review
Read our analysis of the Taylor Pro 9847N, an inexpensive thermometer that has good accuracy, good readability, and easy-to-operate buttons, but has a slow response time. We do not recommend this product.
Maverick DT-09GG Fast Read Digital Probe Thermometer Review
Read our full review of the Maverick DT-09C, a relatively inexpensive hand-held, instant-read thermometer with reasonably good accuracy and fast response times. We give it a Silver Medal for good performance.
Maverick ET-41 BBQ Probe with LCD Review
See our review of the Maverick ET-41, a VERY LARGE hand-held rapid-read thermometer that has a long probe, moderate response time, and a limited temperature range. We don't recommend this unit.
Maverick ET-66 Redi-Fork Probe with Light Review
Read our analysis and review of the Maverick ET-66 fork that reads temperature via a sensor located in the right tine only. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Maverick ET-67 Rapid-Read Digital Fork with Timer Review
Read our review of the Maverick ET-67 fork that reads temperature via a sensor located in the right tine only. It has a backlight and an LED that can illuminate the tines. We give it a Bronze Medal.
Polder THM-390 Safe-Serve Instant Read Thermometer Review
Read our analysis of the Polder THM-390, a folding thermometer that has good accuracy and a respectable response time. It features a built-in light that illuminates the probe. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Maverick DT-12 Review
See our analysis of the Maverick DT-12, a hand-held digital thermometer designed for testing food temperatures. We do not recommend this product.
Maverick PT-100BBQ Review
Read our thorough analysis of the Maverick PT-100, a rapid-read, handheld digital thermometer with a large, back-lit readout and a chart of suggested food temperatures for safety. We give it a Silver Medal for performance and features.
Maverick ET-64 Redi-Fork LCD with Rapid Read tip Review
Click here for the review of the Maverick ET-64, a fork that reads temperature via a sensor located in the right tine. It features an LED light that can be turned on to illuminate the tines. We gave it a Bronze Medal.
Maverick ET-54 Bar-B-Fork with LCD Review
Read our analysis of the Maverick ET-54 fork that has user-settable temperatures for meat doneness, and a backlight. Its response times are too slow to be an effective thermometer. We don't recommend this product.
Maverick ET-32 Redi-Check Rapid Read Probe Review
Read our analysis of the Maverick ET-32, a LARGE hand-held rapid-read thermometer that has a long probe, fairly quick response time, and a limited temperature range. We don't recommend this product.
BlizeTec Barbecue Review
See our analysis of the BlizeTec digital thermometer, an inexpensive unit intended for food use. We do not recommend this product.
ThermoWorks ThermaPen Classic Review
Here is a complete review of the ThermoWorks Thermapen, a rapid-reading handheld digital thermometer that sets the standard for speed and accuracy. One of the most popular thermometers of all time, it gets a solid Gold Medal for performance and quality of construction.Related articles
Published On: 9/27/2019 Last Modified: 6/22/2024
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