Best Cooking Thermometers, 200+ Lab Tested And Reviewed
Our searchable database can save you money and maybe your life.
Click Here To Search 200+ Thermometers Tested, Rated, and Reviewed
A digital thermometer is the most important tool in a cook’s arsenal. Thermometers save lives and money. They are the only reliable way to determine if food is safe and if you are cooking too hot or cold. In early 2014 Consumer Reports tested more than 300 chickens and found that 90% contained pathogenic bacteria and half of them had antibiotic resistant strains. They said, “It’s vital that you check using a meat thermometer.”
You cannot tell when chicken is safe by looking at the color of the juices. The difference between a medium rare and well-done steak is pretty narrow. The difference between moist tender turkey and a dry chalky bird is just a few degrees. Two pork chops sitting side by side can cook at different rates.
A perfectly cooked steak can quickly become shoe leather if the internal temperature isn’t monitored. Poking with your finger or cutting the meat to determine doneness is just plain guessing. A filet mignon is much softer than a sirloin. The color of meat is vastly different under sunlight, incandescent, fluorescent, or LED light. And it changes when exposed to oxygen. And don’t worry, poking it with a thermometer will not dry it out!
Thermometers are more sophisticated than they used to be. Hand-held instant-reads have gotten much faster and more accurate, and some thermometers come with apps that run on wireless devices such as a cell phone. The biggest changes have been in the in-food/in-oven products.
Initially, a cabled thermometer would just read out the current temperature. Today’s units have programmable alarms that alert the user when the temperature reaches a set level. Many have separate receivers and transmitters that allow you to monitor temperatures from a distance.
The more sophisticated units connect with the internet via Wi-Fi and allow you to view the cooking progress from anywhere you have internet access. Modern thermostatic controllers (similar to the devices that keep a steady temperature in your basic home oven) now allow you to change the cooking profile from an app that runs on both Apple and Android devices.
Wireless connectivity has revolutionized the way outdoor cooking can be done. Bimetal dial thermometers are a technology more than 100 years old. They are slow and not nearly as precise as digital. Liquid thermometers can be very accurate, but they are also slow. They are best for refrigerators and freezers.
How To Pick Thermometers
1) Read Up On The Different Types
You can’t trust that round bi-metal temperature gauge that comes in the lid of most grills and smokers. It can be off my more than 30 degrees! To find out what kind of thermometer you need, bone up on thermometer basics.
2) Use Our Searchable Database
Bill McGrath, our electrical engineer and thermometer expert has tested more than 200, rated and reviewed them, and built a searchable database located on this page. There is nothing like it in the world, and it’s easy to use. Just check the search boxes and you’re off. You can check our ratings on a thermometer you are considering, or search for top rated products by thermometer type.
Click here to search our database of more than 200 rated and reviewed thermometers
Bill uses precision equipment and real world scenarios to test and evaluate based on (1) accuracy, (2) speed, (3) features, (4) construction quality, and (5) value. Suppliers are never charged to have products reviewed and the website purchases almost all the products it tests. Here he explains some of how he does it:
3) Use Our Platinum Medals
Once a year, McGrath selects the best of the best and names our Platinum Medal winners. Each of these devices received a Gold Medal during our initial review and has now earned our highest accolade, a Platinum Medal. To see the absolute cream of the crop, click the link below.
Click here for all of Platinum Medal Winning Thermometers
How to Buy the Best In-Food And In-Cooker Thermometer
An in-food/in-cooker thermometer should be a part of every chef's tool collection. It displays the temperatures of the food(s) and the cooker simultaneously and is much more reliable than the dial thermometer that comes with most grills. Here's what to look for and how to buy the best in-food/in-cooker thermometer.
How to Buy the Best Infrared Thermometer
An infrared thermometer is a handy device to have, even if it's not essential. It differs from other thermometers in that it measures the temperature of your cooking surface, which can be useful when making things like pizza on a hot baking stone. Here's what to look for and how to buy the best infrared thermometer.
Platinum Medal Winning Thermometers
Here are our favorite cooking thermometers, both instant-read and leave-in varieties. Our experts have tested over 150 units and rated them in our searchable database. Once a year, we review everything and select the best of the best. The thermometers here have been selected as the cream of the crop.Related articles
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- Ratings And Reviews Of Hundreds Of Grills, Smokers, Hog Roasters, And More
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Published On: 5/13/2019 Last Modified: 4/26/2021
GrillGrates Take Gas Grills To The Infrared Zone
GrillGrates(TM) amplify heat, prevent flareups, make flipping foods easier, kill hotspots, flip over to make a fine griddle, and can be easily moved from one grill to another. You can even throw wood chips, pellets, or sawdust between the rails and deliver a quick burst of smoke.
Click here for more about what makes these grates so special
The Pit Barrel Cooker May Be Too Easy
The PBC has a rabid cult following for good reason. It is absolutely positively without a doubt the best bargain on a smoker in the world. Period. This baby will cook circles around the cheap offset sideways barrel smokers because temperature control is so much easier.
Click here to read our detailed review and the raves from people who own them
Finally, A Great Portable Pellet Smoker
Green Mountain’s portable Davy Crockett Pellet Smoker is one mean tailgating and picnic machine. But it’s also gaining popularity with people who want to add a small, set it and forget it pellet smoker to their backyard arsenal. And with their WiFi capabilities you can control and monitor Davy Crocket from your smart phone or laptop.
Click here to read our detailed review and to order
Compact Powerful Sear Machine For Your Next Tailgater
Char-Broil’s Grill2Go x200 is a super-portable, fun little sizzler made of heavy, rust-proof cast aluminum. The lid snaps shut. Grab the handle and you’re off to the party! Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared design produces searing heat while reducing fuel consumption. A 16 ounce LP gas canister is enough to keep you flipping burgers for hours.
Click here to read our detailed review and to order
The Cool Kettle With The Hinged Hood We Always Wanted
Napoleon’s NK22CK-C Charcoal Kettle Grill puts a few spins on the familiar kettle design. In fact, the hinged lid with a handle on the front, spins in a rotary motion 180 degrees. It’s hard to beat a Weber kettle, but Napoleon holds its own and adds some unique features to make the NK22CK-C a viable alternative.
Click here for more about what makes this grill special
The Undisputed Champion!
The Thermoworks Thermapen MK4 is considered by the pros, and our team, to be the single best instant read thermometer. The MK4 includes features that are common on high-end instruments: automatic backlight and rotating display. Don’t accept cheap substitutes.
Click here to read our comprehensive Platinum Medal review
Bring The Heat With Broil King Signet’s Dual Tube Burners
The Broil King Signet 320 is a modestly priced, 3-burner gas grill that packs a lot of value and power under the hood. Broil King’s proprietary, dual-tube burners get hot fast and are able to achieve high, searing temps that rival most comparatively priced gas grills. The quality cast aluminum housing carries a Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Click here to read our complete review
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