A Short And Simple Guide To Buying A Food Thermometer

Food thermometers are essential equipment when it comes to safe cooking and ensuring that your food is free from pathogenic bacteria.

Most of the harmful bacteria get stimulated at low temperatures, They multiply and thrive at mid-range temperatures These are destroyed at higher temperatures.

A food thermometer helps you record the internal temperature of foods which ensures optimum and safe cooking. There are several varieties of kitchen thermometers, each with a specific role and function. So whether its baking bread or grilling meat- pick the best thermometer that suits your needs with this simple guide. Broadly, these are the types of thermometers: Dial Thermometers ( Chef Probes) , Digital Thermometers ( instant reading and accurate i.e the Thermapen )

Instant read thermometers: They tell the exact core temperature at any given point of time. An instant-read thermometer is available in Various Models ,

An example of the instant-read thermometer is  Puja Engineerings Thermapen Super Fast Responce Digital Thermometer that reads the core temperature is just under 3 seconds. It is ideal to choose these thermometers to check the internal temperature of meat or poultry.

A few other types of food thermometers are:

Dial Oven Safe


The dial
Oven-safe thermometer is colour-coded and has a stainless steel body. It records a temperature range of  0-120 degrees Celcius . It takes about 1-2 minutes to read the Oven temperature. The thermometer needs to be inserted in the thickest part of the food and is ideal for recording internal temperatures of roast, casseroles and soups. It is not advisable to use this thermometer to measure Core temperatures of foods. This thermometer can remain in the food while it is cooking.

Digital Instant read


These thermometers record temperature in less than 30 seconds.  However, unlike the dial oven thermometers, they cannot remain in the food while cooking. These are ideal for checking temperatures in thick and thin foods.

Thermometer Fork Combination
It reads the temperature in less than 45 seconds. It can be used with both thick and thin foods but cannot be used to check the temperature while cooking. Care must be taken to completely insert the fork tines into the food for best results. These are the best options for checking the temperature of foods while grilling.

Dial instant-read


These thermometers take 15-25 seconds to read the temperature. They work best with roasts, casseroles and soups. They can also be used with other thin consistency foods. It is very simple to operate these thermometers- you only need to insert the probe in the food and note the readings. To measure the temperature of thin foods, it is recommended to insert the thermometer sideways. It cannot be inserted while the food is being cooked in the oven and can only be used at the end of cooking. This type of thermometer is very readily available.

Thermocouple Fast Responce Thermometers


A thermocouple records temperature in 2-7 seconds and is one of the fastest operating thermometers. The fine wires at the tip make it perfect for measuring temperatures of both thick and thin consistency foods. Do not leave these thermometers in the food while it is cooking. Simply insert them in the food and check the reading. They are Fast Accurate and easy to use these are prefered mostly by Professional Barbicuers and Chefs

Disposable Temperature Indicators
As the name suggests, these thermometers are single-use. They record specific temperature ranges in 5-10 seconds and should be used for intended foods only. Typical Application is Dishwasher Temperatures , Fridge temperatures etc Most of them have a special feature in which a colour change is seen when the desired temperature has been reached. It is important to carefully read the instructions of disposable thermometers before use.

Oven Probe with cord

These thermometers can be used in many foods and are also operational outside the oven. They can remain inside the food while it is getting cooked. You can place the monitor on the stovetop or kitchen counter.

Liquid filled thermometers

The oldest but most effective types of thermometers are the liquid-filled ones. They are traditional in their mode of reading. They have a coloured liquid inside a calibrated tube placed in a glass case with a marking scale on either side. As the food gets cooked, the liquid rises up and indicates the temperature. These are slow in operation and take up to a minute to show the readings. Usually, these cooking thermometers are used for checking temperatures while making candy or deep-fried foods.

Refrigerator thermometers

They are primarily used to check the internal temperature of the fridge, which must be between the range- 0 degrees Celcius to 4 degreesCelcius. Anything above this range can lead to the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Frothing thermometers

These are popularly used by Barista and Mc Cafes’ while preparing coffee and other beverages. The purpose of frothing thermometers is to check if the milk is heated to an optimum temperature, especially for cappuccinos and lattes. Apart from this, it also prevents scalding.

Now that you know the functions of the different types of thermometers, buy the one that best suits your needs!

BUY different Thermometers from www.pujaengineerng.com