Under or overcooked meals can be embarrassing. Especially if you have organized a special dinner for other people. Save yourself from the embarrassment and invest in a meat thermometer to gauge the accurate amount of cooking that’s happening. Medium rare is what is preferred, but not everyone can achieve that kind of perfection – not without a proper tool, of course!
There’s a reason why many popular chefs and steakhouses use meat thermometers. It is their go-to tool for assessing the meat’s temperature to be able to asses if it is still rare, or overcooked. You’ll rarely ever come across a bad steak at a reputable steakhouse owing to the specialized tools that they have to cook that perfect medium rare.
Do Real Chefs Use Meat Thermometers?
Even the best of the best chefs in the world use a meat thermometer to make sure that their meats are cooked to utmost perfection. Since their reputation and livelihood is on stake, they are less likely to take the risk of sending out poor quality or dry meat to their customers. Even a single minor mistake can result in saying goodbye to their whole career for which they spent years to build.
What’s The Best Place To Insert A Meat Thermometer?
If you want to be aware of the accurate reading, then you must ensure that the meat thermometer is inserted into the thickest portion of the meet. Make sure you avoid the fat and bone. The idea here is that you want to find the lowest internal temperature which is the most accurate one for the core of the meat, letting you know when to stop cooking or when to leave it for a few more minutes.
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What’s The Benefit Of Meat Thermometers?
Here are some of the benefits of using a meat thermometer:
- No Undercooked Meat
The number one benefit of having a meat thermometer is that you get to have ‘cooked’ meals, instead of chewing on raw meat which can ruin your appetite and cause stomach problems too. By making sure the meat reaches the ideal temperature, you are killing the bacteria such as E coli. - No Over Cooked Meat
Similar to how no one appreciates raw meat on their plate, no one likes overcooked dry meat either. The juicier the meat, the better it tastes. A thermometer ensures that you don’t have to face this problem and that your meat, whether it’s chicken or turkey, remains moist and flavorful. - Ease of Use
There are many types of meat thermometer available that are easy to use. Digital thermometers are one of them. You simply have to insert them into the thickest part of the meat making and you’ll be good to go.
Features To Look Out For
Here are some features to look out for when buying a meat thermometer:
- Audible Alarm Alert
When it comes to meat thermometers, you have to ignore most aspects like aesthetics and instead go for what you require. One of the most important aspects includes audible alarm alert which indicates that the meat has reached the preset temperature. - Programmable Temperature
With an audible alarm alert comes the need for programmable temperature too. This helps you set the target temperature and monitor the meat. - Good Display
The temperature should be visible on the display clearly for you to assess how well the meat is cooking. The display should ideally indicate via dial or digitally on a screen. Also, it should display the reading for at least 5 minutes or longer to create more ease for you.
Without further Ado, let’s get into it.
Our Recommended Compact Meat Thermometers
1. Escali
Ranking at the very top with the most simplistic design that gets the job done right, this meat thermometer comes at an economical price and is sure to impress you. It comes with good temperate range and the probe length is long enough to go into the thickest portion of the meat. It features a premium quality stainless steel material.
Key features:
- A decent temperature range 140° to 190°F / 60° to 87°C
- Probe length is good enough to reach the thickest area of the meat and this is useful for turkey and whole chicken
- It comes with a large and easy to read dial
- Thermometer can stay in meat through the entire cooking process
2. Alpha Grillers
Another great meat thermometer that’s sure to catch your attention would be this one. It comes with an interesting design with an instant read feature. With accurate reading and 2-3 seconds response time, you can’t go wrong with this one. Another great thing about it is that it come with a life time warranty.
Key features:
- Comes with advanced technology and gives you results in 2-3 seconds
- Acts as a multipurpose solution for your cooking needs as it can be used for BBQ, deep frying, etc.
- It is water resistant so it can be washed easily under running tap water
- Comes with a digital display which is clear to see as compared to dials
3. KIZEN
Featuring another useful and convenient meat thermometer that’s sure to make you stunned by its functionality – it comes with ultra fast response time, multipurpose usage, easy to read display and it is waterproof! It’s a great tool to carry even if you’re having a BBQ party. It is compact and lightweight.
Key features
- It is waterproof and easy to clean
- It is super fast as the response time is less than 3 seconds
- Multipurpose – you can use it for beverages, frying oil, candy making, etc.
- Comes with a pristine display with an LED screen
- An ideal gift for a cooking enthusiast
4. Govee
Let’s interest you in something unique and exquisite. This meat thermometer is nothing ordinary. It comes with advanced technology and features a unique display. With Bluetooth feature, this thermometer stands out from the rest of the digital ones. It also generates smart alerts for you to get an immediate notification on your phone about temperature ranges.
Key features:
- Premium looking finish
- A Two-Stage Cooking System
- Sensor cooking options
5. SMARTRO
Another good looking meat thermometer would be this one. It is not only NSF certified for public health, but also offers a range of amazing functionality. It comes with instant results and motion sensing along with a seamless waterproof design. With an intuitive user interface, you can monitor the temperature easily.
Key features:
- Easy to use and understand
- Clear digital display
- NSF certified for health standards
- Instant and accurate results in less than 3 seconds
- It comes with a motion sensor. This means that it comes with backlit motion sensing display sleeping and waking automatically and illuminated enough for you to see.
- Comes with a waterproof design
- Intuitively designed UI
6. ThermoPro
Featuring another unique, yet a creative option for all the meat cooking enthusiasts would be this one. It comes with robust technology and stellar performance that’s sure to leave you satisfied with your purchase. Featuring an array of interesting features, it is sure to blow you away via it’s impressive functionality.
Key features:
- Unique and creatively designed
- Comes with color coded probes so you can simultaneously monitor up to 4 kinds of meat which can save your time too
- It has preset USDA recommended temperatures and a smart alarm which can make your life a lot easier
- It comes with a built-in timer that lets you mingle around without the need to constantly hover around your grill
- Comes a large backlit LCD and a multiple placement option which makes it more convenient
7. SIYOTEAM
Presenting you yet another innovative design in terms of meat thermometers and the one that you shouldn’t be ignoring – this one comes with wireless and hassle free cooking. You don’t need APP and it is super easy to operate.
Key features:
- Completely wires and connects probe automatically
- Comes with Bluetooth as well
- Comes with programming setup and guided temperature system to make your life easier
- It is waterproof
- Built in timers and customization of temperature mode can be a great perk that comes along with if
8. NAMON
Featuring a great option in terms of meat thermometer that you shouldn’t ignore would be this one. Coming in a striking appearance and with powerful features, this one is sure to impress you. With wireless feature, easy setup and precise sensor along with many other functionalities, it’s sure to have you sold at the first glance.
Key features:
- Comes with remote wireless range and with two meat probes
- Easy set up and is much more simplistic than pairing up mobile phones with the device
- Comes with a backlit LCD screen to show temperatures of both proves
9. MEATER
Presenting you yet another innovative design in terms of meat thermometers and the one that you shouldn’t be ignoring – this one comes with wireless and hassle free cooking. You don’t need APP and it is super easy to operate.
Key features:
- Completely wires and connects probe automatically
- Comes with Bluetooth as well
- Comes with programming setup and guided temperature system to make your life easier
- It is waterproof
- Built in timers and customization of temperature mode can be a great perk that comes along with if
10. CookPerfect
Last, but not the least, this meat thermometer is another luxury and a high end option for you to consider. Made up of the finest and premium quality materials, this device can last you a long time and offer you the best kind of convenience. It supports two probes and comes with a unique patent technology.
Key features:
- Comes with two probes – you can save your time!
- Comes with a unique patented technology – it uses four sensors in each probe to detect the temperature accurately
- It features unlimited range of built in WiFi and comes with Bluetooth connectivity feature as well
- Consists of a rechargeable docking station to save the environment and your money too!
Final advice
Bringing an end to our discussion, it can be said that buying options are unlimited, but the commonly preferred meat thermometers include digital and wireless ones. No one likes to stand by the stove, staring at the dial until it shows the accurate temperature.
This highly advanced era has robust technology to make life easier for you. With Alexa, Google Assistant and so many other technological advancements, you’re just one voice command away from switching off the TV, locking the door and so on and so forth.
Hence in the light of that, we suggest you to buy a digital or a smart meat thermometer which you can easily connect with your phone and manage the temperature, monitor it whenever you are. It not only saves your time, but makes you more productive as you’ll be able to focus on other work while the meat is cooking.
Just a tip that we’d like to offer would be to make sure you get a thermometer that has an auto switch off option. Additionally, the battery life is equally important too, so do look into that before making your final picks. We hope you found this article to be useful for you.
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