How to Use a Food Thermometer
The complete steps to master your skills with a food thermometer
Registered Dietician And Nutritionist Heather Mangieri, the spokesperson of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that one cannot look at, taste or smell food to ensure that it is properly cooked. The only way to ensure that meat and poultry are cooked to a safe internal temperature is to use a food thermometer,
Invest your money in a good quality food thermometer and make sure your product turns out great each time, she suggests.
An important point to remember is not all food thermometers are made for the same purpose.
For example, A candy thermometer cannot be used to check temperatures of soups or gravies, Similarly, a special thermometer is available to check the temperatures while deep fat frying. From the simple liquid-filled thermometers to the fancy instant-read ones, there is a variety available in the market of thermometers, While buying, make sure you read the description and use of every thermometer before buying it.
Every food thermometer comes with a descript instruction manual, which must be read thoroughly before operating the thermometer, Here are a few easy steps to ensure that you are using your food thermometer correctly. Before going on to the further steps, always wash your thermometer well with soapy warm water. Or Sanitize the same Before use using Antobacterial wipes
Step 1: Always begin with testing the accuracy of your food thermometer. This can be carried out by inserting your thermometer in a Bowk of Crused ice or Compare the Readings of your thermometer using a RFERENCE / Master Thermometers,
For more information on this, read our blog on – How To Test The Accuracy Of Your Food Thermometer.
Step 2: Calibration is the process of Checking the Accuracy or Correctness of your thermometer. The process ensures an accurate reading. Every user’s manual will have a note on the process of calibration, However if you do not find it contact your dealer or supplier.
Step 3: Correct placement of the food thermometer inside the food is extremely crucial. Insert the thermometer in the thickest part of the food being cooked,
The Dial Thermometers needs to be insterted uptill the mark on the steam of the thermometer, while the Digital Ones can go to any lenght and can measure different temperatures depending on the lenght of the core it has gone.
In the case of non-vegetarian food, make sure the thermometer does not touch the bone or fat. For thin foods, insert the thermometer sideways. For foods such as pork, lamb, poultry, eggs, kebabs, hamburger, steak and chops insert the food thermometer at the centre and the thickest part. Take care to keep the probe from touching the bone or fat.
Step 4: Every thermometer takes a different amount of time to show the Correct reading This is called the responce time, Operation or user’s manual will tell you the exact time,
Make sure you wait for the suggested amount of time before taking the readings. a use of Thermapen Superfast Thermometer ensures you do not wait more than 4 Sec for correct temperatures , For non-vegetarian foods such as meat, pork, steak and lamb, you will need to check the temperature while it is still on the heat source.
Step 5: After every use, clean your thermometer well with a Sanitizer to prevent cross-contamination and multiplication of harmful bacteria.
