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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.

Syep 6: Use of a Multicoulour Thermometer helps to identify the use or the user which helps iradicatng Cros Cantamination

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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

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Why is Food Thermometer A Necessity Of Every Kitchen

Imagine this: You have a bowl full of last night’s biryani leftovers. You packed it well and dumped it in the fridge. It’s been over 24 hours and you remove the bowl and let it thaw. You check the appearance, sniff a bit and even take a bite. It tastes ok! And you have deemed it safe to eat. But is it always safe to rely on your sensorial hunches? The answer is a big fat NO! In spite of the food looking and tasting fine, there are very high chances that it is a storehouse of bacteria and yeast that may cause severe infections and food poisoning under optimal circumstances. The same is true if the food remains undercooked. But don’t worry. There is a simple tool that can not only ensure that your food gets cooked perfectly but also destroys all harmful bacteria. And it’s called – a Food Thermometer.

Sight, smell and taste aren’t the best indicators for deeming your food safe!

What is a Food Thermometer?

A food thermometer is an essential tool and a MUST HAVE for every kitchen. It is a sleek and sturdy device which checks the temperature of the food and helps in determining its doneness. It gives you an assurance that the temperature does not fall in the danger zone category.

How does it operate

Kitchen thermometers come in a wide range. Different thermometers function in a different way. You need to choose the right thermometer for the right job. For example, an instant-read thermometer will check the internal temperature of meat and poultry to tell you the doneness while a sugar and jam thermometer will help you in making candies or jam. Most thermometers are very easy to read. Most instructions and readings are clearly inscribed on the instruments.

There are also colour coded areas that help you determine the safe zones and danger zones. The readings can be digital style or analogue style- depending upon the purpose for which it is built. You need to place the thermometer correctly to get an accurate reading. Storing and cleaning the thermometers is also very easy and hassle-free. Simply clean it with a Antibacterial Probe wipes and sanitize it after every use. And so, all these aspects make using a food thermometer very easy and user-friendly.

Reasons why you should have food thermometers in your kitchen:

Food thermometers have a wide range of applications:
1) Use it to check the internal temperature of meat and other poultry to ensure it’s doneness.
2) If perishable foods like vegetables, fruits and dairy products are stored under the optimum temperature, their shelf life can be extended to a large extent.

3) 4 degrees celsius to 60 degrees celsius is the temperature range during which most bacteria and harmful pathogens can flourish and multiply in perishable foods. To avoid it, you can use a food thermometer to ensure that your food does fall into this danger zone.

4) It prevents undercooking, especially of meat, poultry and other non-vegetarian dishes.
5) It prevents overcooking too, which may otherwise lead to loss of flavours and nutrients.

6) Food thermometers are a must when you want your recipes to have the perfect texture, taste and appearance. You can record the suitable temperatures and ensure that your recipe turns out the same each time you cook it.
7) It is the only sure shot method of ensuring that harmful bacteria like E.Coli and Salmonella are completely destroyed.

8) Using a food thermometer doesn’t require you to be an expert chef or personnel from the food industry. Its application is very simple and can be used efficiently by home chefs too.

And so, the next time you are hosting a barbecue or a potluck party- make sure your food is cooked to perfection by making good use of a Food Thermometer!

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