Meat thermometers are one of those kitchen gadgets that sometimes has us stumped. Let’s demystify them and put them to good use.
When we were discussing meat thermometers amongst our team, we admitted that a few of us haven’t had luck with them. We’ve collectively sliced too many Prime Ribs that were completely raw in the center to know that it was just not our thing.
There’s one thing we did know. We could use some good guidance from cooks in the know. And if we would appreciate some tips, then it’s likely that there’s lots of you out there that would too.
Thank you to Zehava Krohn and Rivka Korf, who took us back to the basics and made it not-so-scary to use our meat thermometers to better, more consistently cooked meats. The tried and true recommendations below include options that are either super simple or have nice bells and whistles, to suit all types of cooks.
Easiest to Use
Escali Stainless Steel Oven Safe Meat Thermometer
Why We Like It: It’s well-made, sturdy, and accurate, and though it doesn’t have any of the bells and whistles, it does the job, will stand the test of time, and can stand up to oven heat. It gives a quick, accurate reading (within a few seconds), and the numbers are large so it’s easy to see, even without opening the oven door. If you’re scared that you don’t know how to use a meat thermometer, this one couldn’t be simpler as there’s nothing digital to play around with. Simply set the red arrow to your desired temperature so you can see if your meat is ready at the quickest glance.
Most Convenient When Grilling
Taylor Instant Read Meat Thermometer
As it’s not oven-safe, and you would need to take meat out of an oven to get a reading, we prefer to save this one for when we’re grilling. Because it’s so small and super cute, the Taylor is super convenient to just keep in a pocket when you’re outdoors at the grill (restaurant chefs keep this one in particular in their pockets at all times). It doesn’t give an instant reading, but after about 20 seconds, you’ll get a very accurate reading. Simply stick it into your meat or chicken and wait a few seconds. You don’t have to worry about replacing batteries here because the thermometer costs less than the batteries themselves.
Best Gift for BBQ Enthusiasts
Inkbird Bluetooth/WiFi Meat Thermometer
The Inkbird wireless meat thermometer has 4 color probes and lets you monitor temperatures via Bluetooth/WiFi. You’ll get alerted on your phone when your meat has reached the perfect doneness. It’s great for monitoring foods when you don’t want to be babysitting them, such as when you put meat in a smoker, or are preparing larger pieces of meat that need a longer cooking time – you can monitor the doneness of your meats using the app. There are four probes, so you can even monitor multiple items at the same time. This is a great gift for BBQ enthusiasts who love gadgets!
See the rest of our reviews in the Best of series
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