Many meat thermometers are actually designed to be left in the oven or grill and are resistant to fairly high temperatures. The best way to know is to read the specs and instructions of your chosen thermometer, ensuring that its materials are heat-resistant and can withstand long stints in the oven, smoker, or barbecue grill. We tested 22 meat thermometers in our Birmingham, Alabama, testing lab to find out which were easiest to use and produced accurate readings. Additionally, our expert testers use certain models in their home kitchens, who regularly supply us with home-cooking insights and updates on long-term wear and tear. With only one volume setting, it's harder to hear if you're more than 10 feet away (or if you happen to be in another room), but for the most part, that wasn't an issue. Most importantly, it had a very accurate temperature reading for every test we put it through. For the build quality and performance, we found this to be an affordable and reliable option that's worth every penny. Temperature range: Factor in what you cook most often and then find the range of temperatures the thermometer can report — and withstand — that works best for you. Thermometers with a wide temperature range are useful for larger foods with longer cook times. But a narrower range might deliver better accuracy or a faster response time. Read the use and care instructions to determine the uppermost temps the thermometer can withstand to ensure the device can handle direct cooking as well as flare-ups. Like its more ostentatious instant-read sibling, the Thermapen, the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm Cooking Thermometer does more, and does it better, than its leave-in thermometer competitors. If you don’t think you need anything to supplement your instant-read, the ChefAlarm may change your mind — especially if you roast a lot of big hunks of meat, deep fry, or make candy.

The thermometer itself is simple to use, with buttons for scrolling through the type of food you’re cooking, an OK button to select and, if you’re cooking lamb or beef, the option to choose a level of doneness. A large display makes it easy to see the temperature climbing at a glance. One feature we might change is the alarm for when it reaches the pre-selected temperature as, while it’s guaranteed to get your attention, it’s loud and shrill.Donna Currie, a seasoned food writer, cookbook author, and recipe developer, has tested hundreds of products for us over the past seven years. She's home-tested multiple wireless thermometers over the years, and did a side-by-side test in 2021. Of those, she continues to frequently use the same MEATER Plus at the grill and in the oven, a testament to its long-term durability. Then choose your perfect temperature by scrolling through choices via the ‘taste’ button – well done, medium, medium rare or rare. You know you’ve hit the right spot when you use the prongs and hear a beep that shows your dish is perfect.

As you shop for the best digital meat thermometer, you’ll want to start by examining the thermometer’s accuracy and speed. Some have an accuracy of plus or minus 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degree Fahrenheit) and a speed of 4 to 6 seconds, which isn’t bad at all. However, there are models that provide temperature readings in 2 to 3 seconds with an accuracy of plus or minus 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting your desired cooking time and temperature, or configuring the alarm to sound once your target temperature is reached, could not be easier. The alarm is piercing but clear and not unpleasant. And we noticed no problems with accuracy during our testing (though the thermometer measures only whole degrees, not tenths, so minute fluctuations were harder to detect). When you want the functionality of a meat thermometer without a high price tag, this simple model delivers a straightforward result. Simply set your desired temperature and timer, then hit start to begin using it. It has just a few buttons that are quite easy to figure out. The probe's wire is coated in silicone to protect it from heat, allowing you to run it out the oven door to monitor whatever you have cooking. It has a temperature range of 32 to 392 degrees with an accuracy of ±2 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the transmitter away from any heat sources. Only the thermometer’s probe and attached wire should be near the meat in your oven or grill. Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Both thermometers were used to measure the temperature in Celsius of cold tap water, warm tap water, boiled water and boiling water and the results were compared. The best meat thermometers you can buy in 2023 1. Oxo Chef’s Precision Leave-In Meat Thermometer: Best analogue meat thermometer

The newest model, the Thermapen One, is the best yet. All the classic, top-notch features are here: a display that automatically rotates in four directions so the temperature is always face-up, a perfect size and ergonomic shape for large or small hands, a rubberized ring to aid in gripping, easy access to changing settings (whether you want Fahrenheit or Celsius, whether it should measure whole degrees or tenths) and the calibration tool. But now it’s even faster, giving you a solid reading in just over 1 second (upwards of three times faster than the previous, lightning-fast MK4). It also has a much brighter auto-on light and it’s been redesigned to work better with induction cooktops. Accuracy: Above all, a thermometer should deliver an accurate temperature reading. We tested these thermometers in several applications, from an ice bath, to monitoring an immersion circulator bath, boiling water, and grilling pork to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The more precise the reading, the higher the rating. The best meat thermometers had easy to press buttons, clearly labelled or identifiable parts and no sharp edges or gaps. One thing we would like is having an option to customize our timer, and we also found that the alarm settings were only audible through the app—there's no sound functionality on the device itself. This is a great option for anyone who is really into smart gadgets, offering a high-tech experience with a pretty accurate reading right in the palm of your hand. If one meat thermometer isn't enough, this two-probe version by ThermoPro may just be what you're looking for. Equipped with a handy remote receiver, you can monitor your grill, sous-vide, beer-brewing project, and more from up to 500 feet away.The large temperature range goes from 14 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit, perfect to use with a wide variety of cooking methods. The Bluetooth connection functioned well for about 30 yards outdoors, and bit less indoors if there are walls separating you from the thermometer. Overall, we were pretty impressed with the functionality and accuracy of this model and couldn't find much to complain about, especially at this price. ThermoWorks has been acclaimed for its kitchen thermometers for years, and when we put 12 popular models to the test, we instantly understood why: its thermometers were some of the best performers. The best overall meat thermometer for most people would be the new ThermoWorks Thermapen One, an instant-read model that truly lives up to the word “instant,” while also being nearly lab-accurate and loaded with more functionality than you might expect from such a small, simple device.