Want to Set it and Forget it While Cooking a Food?
Undercooked and overcooked, but never perfectly cooked. You’ve read the hacks, watched the videos. None seem to work consistently. If you’re tired of the guesswork and would like to get your roasts and steaks cooked just right every time, then you need to go out and get yourself a meat thermometer. However, that’s easier said than done. Not all meat thermometers are both reliable and accurate – two things you need in order to ensure food safety and consistent results. Of course, speed is also another necessity. After all, you don’t want the thermometer that takes too long to read the temperature. That way leads to more guessing and possibly madness. So, which meat thermometers deliver all three of these factors? We searched high and low until we came up with these:
ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Meat Thermometer
Review: If you want the very best of all meat thermometers, then there’s only one model you should look at – the ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Meat Thermometer. It’s the ultimate in convenience. It features dual probe technology which enables you to monitor two different pieces of meat at the same time. You can even use one for monitoring meat while the other monitors the internal temperature of your oven or grill. In addition, this meat thermometer has a receiver range of up to 300 feet which means that you are free to go Netflix and chill, hang out with friends, or go do chores while your food’s cooking. The receiver will let you know what’s happening with your food while you’re busy doing something else. The temperature accuracy of the thermometer is ±1.8°F (±1°C). It has a temperature range of 32°F to 572°F (0°C to 300°C). You can switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit. There’s also a countdown & count up timer. More importantly, the thermometer already comes to you preprogrammed with the USDA approved temperatures and USDA approved doneness levels for a different types of meat. It definitely takes the guesswork out of cooking! Other highlights include a large backlit LCD, a splash-proof receiver, a receiver pullout countertop stand, a receiver belt clip, and a rubber sleeve case.
ThermoPro TP03 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Review: There’s a reason why this is so popular among home cooks and professional chefs. Actually, there are several of them. Let’s list them down. First, accuracy. It can read the temperature and its range of error is ±0.9°F. How’s that for precise? Second, the temperature range of this meat thermometer is -58°F ~ 572°F (-50°C ~ 300°C) which is much wider than the TP20. Third, this thermometer features a 3.9″ food grade stainless steel probe that can get an almost instant readout – within 3 to 5 seconds! Fourth, it comes with a large LCD display so it’s easy to read. Fifth, it doesn’t have any other buttons but the on/off one, so it’s easy to use. In fact, this will automatically turn off if it’s been left on for 10 minutes. Sixth, it features a small but readable temperature chart to remind you of the perfect cooking temp of your favorite meats. Seventh, it comes with a hook as well as a magnetic back for easy storage. Last, but definitely not the least, this small thermometer is backed by a 3-year warranty.
Weber 6750 Meat Thermometer
Review: We must admit that we’re a bit biased when it comes to Weber. It’s THE brand when it comes to charcoal grills. We’ve trusted it for so many years, and we’ll probably continue trusting it for many years to come. So, when the brand came out with their own instant read meat thermometer, we have to say that we were predisposed to like it. Fortunately, our trust wasn’t misplaced. Now, compared to all the other meat thermometers on our list, the Weber 6750 Instant Read Meat Thermometer is very basic. It’s a no muss, no fuss kind of thermometer. There’s just two buttons – an on/off button and a button for switching between Fahrenheit and Celsius. The temperature range of this thermometer is 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 446 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a bit smaller than the ThermoPro thermometers but it should be enough for cooking steak well done. It provides instant readouts and the LCD display is easy to read. If you want something simple and easy to use that’s not hard on the wallet, then this is the meat thermometer for you.
Kizen Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Review: The Kizen Instant Read Meat Thermometer has a lot in common with the ThermoPor TP03. It takes a temperature reading within 2 to 3 seconds. It is accurate to to +/-1 degrees with a wide range of -58°F ~ 572°F (-50°C ~ 300°C). On the device itself, you’ll find a guide for the cooked temperature of various meats as well as their level of doneness. It comes with an automatic 10-minute shut off feature. You can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius. It has a large digital display with a bright LCD backlight that you can turn on for easy reading. And it comes with a 180-degree rotating probe made of food grade stainless steel. But the Kizen model also has several features that the TP03 does not. We love the fact that this thermometer can be recalibrated anytime to ensure that you always get accurate reads. It comes with 2 3V CR2032 batteries; the second one serves as an extra battery. It also comes with a meat temperature guide for beginners as well as 4 velcro dots that you can use to hang it near your grill, oven, or stove. Best of all, this thermometer is IP67 rated waterproof. You can wash it under running water for easy cleaning without worrying about the thermometer breaking down. The extra bucks you’ll be spending for this thermometer is more than worth it for that alone, in our opinion. And if that’s not enough, here’s one more delightful fact for you – this meat thermometer has a 100% lifetime warranty.
ThermoPro TP-16 Food Thermometer
Review: As much as we love the TP03 and the TP20, there’s one meat thermometer that has really caught our eye – the ThermoPro TP-16 Digital Meat Thermometer. It has a lot of the features of the two previous models. It comes with USDA preset temperature settings for cooking specific foods. Of course, should you have your own preference, you can reset these set temperatures and create your own. It has a timer mode that can countdown from and count up to 99 hours, 59 minutes. It features a 6.5″ food grade STEP-DOWN tip design stainless steel probe that can read temperature with a high accuracy (±1.8°F/1°C). And it has a wide temperature range – from 32°F to 572°F (0°C to 300°C). It also comes with a 3-year warranty. So, what’s so different then? Three things. This meat thermometer comes with a huge LCD display that makes it easy for even near-sighted people to read the temperature. No squinting required! In addition, it features a 40-inch stainless steel mesh cable that connects the thermometer to its base which enables you to place your display where it’s easiest to see. It has a powerful magnet at the back which enables you to leave it hanging on your oven’s control panel. It has a base stand, so you can leave it on your kitchen countertop. And it features a hanging hole which means you can opt to hang it over your stovetop if that’s where you need it at the moment. While it might not have the wireless capability of the TP20, it certainly still provides you some freedom of movement in the kitchen.
Smak Digital Instant Thermometer
Review: If the Kizen Instant Read Meat Thermometer is unavailable, here’s the second best thing – the Smak Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer. Like the Kizen thermometer, this one features a food grade stainless steel probe and an eco-friendly ABS plastic body for durability. It comes with a big, clear display as well as a bright LCD backlight that you can turn on for easy reading. It also automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of not being used. It is pre-calibrated but you can recalibrate it whenever the need arises. Like the Kizen model, this one also has the magnetic back. Aside from the large hanging hole that enables you to place this on your kitchen hook or grill hook, you can use the built-in magnet at the back to stick it on your refrigerator, oven, or any other metal surface when not in use. There’s also a button for switching between Fahrenheit and Celsius. You even get a meat temperature chart. So, what’s the difference then? Well, there’s really only two. First, the Smak meat thermometer is water resistant with an IP65 rating. This means that you can splash it but not submerge it. Second, it only comes with a 3-year warranty. That being said, this meat thermometer is still a pretty good deal.