Meat Thermometers - What brand/Which Type

As I prepare for the big day on Thursday, I'm feeling the need to buy a new meat thermometer. I currently have an instant read one that I've had for several years, but I keep looking at the remote kind so I can put the probe in the bird and leave the oven door closed. I've searched through Amazon and several other sites, read reviews (including Cooks Illustrated), but still not getting the feeling that any one model is THE one. I don't care if the thing beeps me in the other room, or that I can go 100 feet away from the oven. I'm simply after accuracy. On the other hand, is the remote read really the way to go? Would love to hear the opinions of you all.

Thanks much!

I have one that isn't a remote, but you put it in the bird and a thin wire comes out (doesn't interfere with door seal) and it plugs into a receiver that sits on the counter. It seems pretty good to me. It's not Polder, but a similar product. I think it was $24 or so. It has a "beep when it reaches this temp" mode that you can have on or off.

I have used the Polder and Taylor versions of remote thermometers. Both have worked fine for years. I have about 8 of them total and have abused them severely over the years by leaving some of them outside for weeks on end through rain, snow, wind, ice, heat, etc. Sometimes they have stopped working after this type of abuse, but I'll put them in a plastic bag with some pasta for a few days which absorbs the moisture and change the batteries and they are back to working fine.

Either brand would work fine. I'm happy with them. I haven't tried the wireless versions, I'm sure they work well too. I don't think there is much difference in the quality, a little in the bells and whistles is all.

I bought a CDN remote thermometer a few years ago (the corded type - Model DTTC -with a wire that snakes out through the oven seal). It worked well for about two months, then started beeping inexplicably, whether it was in use or not (it has a start-stop button, but no on-off switch).

Since it was still under warranty, I returned it to the manufacturer, and they sent a new replacement, no charge (except for postage). Again it worked well for about two months, then the same random beeping. So I won't bother returning it, I'll just avoid that model in the future. Of course, YMMV.

HI,

I have the remote thermometer, which I like very much. If we are having pasta with lunch, then I will throw in the probe in the pot. I go back to my office with the receiver. When the water is at a rolling boil, then I return to throw in the pasta.

If I use the remote thermometer in my smoker, then I have to drag a chair next to it to hold the battery pack/readout. If the battery pack gets too close to the heat source, then it causes problems for the display.

I also keep an instant read to double check.

Regards,

I've had good luck with my Ikea Fantast thermometer. Magnetic backed, steel braided wire, timer, temp beeper setpoint, takes 1 common AAA battery. I can't speak to the calibration but the price is right.

Cathy,

Which make and model of remote thermometer do you have?

Thanks!

If you want to use it on the grill/smoker, I have had great luck with the Maverick RediChek Remote Wireless Smoker Thermometer. It has 2 probes, one to read oven temp and one to put into the meat. Perhaps not as useful for an oven where temp is more controlled, but great if you want to use it on a grill as well. Google for it as I know I got mine for like $35 shipped, but can't remember from where.

I also love this Taylor 9842 Professional Waterproof Digital Thermometer. This is an instant read, but if anyone needs a replacement, give this one a shot.

If you just need a regular old probe thermometer, I'd agree with Bruce and say just get the Polder or Taylor. They all function fairly similarly, but do make sure you get one that allows you to actually set the target temp for alarm, rather than already having settings for Turkey, Beef, etc. The presets are way higher than I'd like to cook most things.

Jamie

HI,

I have the Maverick Redi Check Remote (Edison, NJ) with one probe. While it works great, the only flaw the receiver is always on and cannot be turned off. Yet the probe-transponder can be turned off.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

I have the Maverick Redi Check Remote (Edison, NJ) with one probe. While it works great, the only flaw the receiver is always on and cannot be turned off. Yet the probe-transponder can be turned off.

Regards,

Huh, that is sort of odd. I know on my model, both units have a power switch.
Jamie

I've been using an Oregon Scientific Model AW129 and I don't think I'd really recommend it for anyone else due to a couple of annoying flaws. (It only worked twice, in total.)

1.) It doesn't allow you to select a temperature, instead requiring you to tell it what kind of meat you're cooking (from a pretty limited variety) and how you'd like it done. It doesn't allow you to account for carry-over or cooking things in multiple steps that don't require dishes to be fully done in the first step.

2.) It likes to randomly lose sync between the probe and the display unit. Repeatedly resetting the units and replacing the batteries and swearing in it's general direction sometimes fixes it. For 5 minutes. And then you get to try again.

3.) After the second use (both being done indoors with the unit being cleaned and put back in it's box after each use) it decided that it'd register 40 degrees higher than the actual temperature. (And required me to -really- hope that this mis-reporting would remain linear as the true temperature went up. It didn't.)

So, yeah - I'd advise against people purchasing this thing. I'm looking to be rid of mine as soon as the next garbage day rolls around.

Resurrecting an old thread but the gist is the same.

Big day, Thanksgiving, and I am looking for a good (not a million dollars good) wired dual digital thermometer.

Things have changed I am sure since this 12 year old thread was created.

Thanks in advance!

Panther in the Den wrote:Things have changed I am sure since this 12 year old thread was created.

Thermoworks is the only one I use/trust based on multiple decades of experience.

Its not dual but Thermoworks Dot
Probe-Style Alarm Thermometer is on sale today for $34.

Main Thermoworks thread. ----> Link

Panther in the Den wrote:Resurrecting an old thread but the gist is the same.

Big day, Thanksgiving, and I am looking for a good (not a million dollars good) wired dual digital thermometer.

Things have changed I am sure since this 12 year old thread was created.

Thanks in advance!

I have a ThermoPro TP-08S that I've been pretty happy with. Dual probes with high temperature leads/probes that can take up to 716°f.

Coogles wrote:I have a ThermoPro TP-08S that I've been pretty happy with.

I have not used this product might be a gem, and Coogles is "pretty happy" with it. Just wanted to point out that, regardless of similar name, is not made by ThermoWorks

ThermoWorks Probes & Accessories Sales

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