How To Use A Meat Thermometer

Ensuring your meat reaches the proper temperature is crucial for successful cooking. Overcooking leads to wasted food, while undercooking poses serious health risks due to foodborne illnesses. Each year, many people suffer from these preventable conditions. Using a high-quality food thermometer can make all the difference, ensuring your food is both safe and delicious.

In this guide, we’ll explore the versatile uses of cooking thermometers, the types available, and how to choose the right one for your needs. Whether you’re a professional chef, a home cook, or just someone who loves to grill, a reliable thermometer is an essential tool in your kitchen.

What do I use the cooking thermometer for?

You can use it in all cooking applications: Taking temperature of soup, cakes, cookies, liquids, steak, chicken, salmon, bass, catfish, baby food, ice cream, milk, vegetables, rice, steam, tea, coffee, pie, hamburgers, hot dogs, noodles, spaghetti, pizza,  apples, grapes,  beer, wine, juice, sauce, toppings, frosting, cheese-making, sugar, spices,  broiling, grilling, potatoes, chocolate, candy, meat, and deep frying.

Taylor-Professional-9306-DuTaylor Splash-proof Dual Temperature Infrared Thermocouple Thermometer is a safe, non-contact device that measures surface temperatures. It is not the cheapest, but surely one of the best.
It features a 4-inch fold-out probe that measures internal temperatures and has an infrared range from -67 to 482 degrees Fahrenheit and -55 to 250 degrees Celsius.
It has a thermocouple range from -67 to 626 degrees Fahrenheit and -55 to 330 degrees celsius
Other features include a white light targeting illumination zone, a HACCP check warning light system and adjustable sensitivity.
Buy your Taylor Professional 9306 Dual Temp IR/Thermocouple Thermometer at Amazon.

What kind of people use a cooking thermometer?

Professional cooks, cafeteria workers, bartenders, restaurants, home kitchens, public schools, culinary schools, beginner chefs, sues chefs,  kids, BBQ competitions, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandma, grandpa, Santa, and the Easter bunny… and so on.

What kind of cooking thermometer do I need?

That is a question that is hard to answer. The type of thermometer is a matter of taste and is also based on the use you have for it. Some people use it a lot outside of the house or while camping. In those cases, I would go for the pocket cooking thermometer. If you do a lot of big meat cuts in the comfort of your house, where you do other things in between, then you might want one that gives off a signal to let you know when your meat is fully cooked.

Think about the use that you will have for it. Maybe you’ll find that you want both types. Everything is possible. Have a look at the small film and see how you can use the two types of cooking thermometers.

71bHa2kCaUL._SL1500_Digital, programmable thermometer; high-heat, stainless steel probe and cable
Great for roasts, barbecue, candy-making, and deep-fat frying
Check internal food temperatures without opening oven door; alarm sounds when food is done
Runs off a single AAA battery (included)
Measures temperatures from 32 to 482 degrees Fahrenheit (0 to 250 degrees Celsius) Buy your Programmable Probe Thermometer at Amazon.

If you are buying a food thermometer, then ask yourself the following questions:

– Do I need a huge temperature range? Am I also using it for ice cream or baking cakes?
– Do I need one with a certain grip? Do I work with gloves on or do I have big hands.
– Do I need to carry it around with me? Am I using it while camping or at home?
– Do I like to have a timer? (some digital thermometers also have handy built-in timers with an alarm)
– Can I buy a cheap one. How often do I use it. The more expensive ones last considerably longer

Does my meat get dry if I puncture it with a Cooking thermometer?

The answer to that is simple: NO. Unless you are planning to repeatedly stab your steak with your new toy there will be no problem whatsoever. Some juice might come out of the puncture hole but your meat is 75% liquids, so three drops lost will not harm your meat.

tips

TIP> Look for more information on how to cook your perfect steak with the use of the cooking thermometer on the ‘How to cook a perfect steak‘ page.

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Will Frost

Will Frost

When Will is not behind the grill at one of his two Texas Steakhouses, He can be found exploring new recipes, researching the latest grilling gadgets, or sharing his culinary adventures on social media. Join Will Frost on CookAsteak.com as he embarks on a flavorful journey, unlocking the secrets to mastering outdoor cooking and creating unforgettable meals that bring people together.


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