Best Meat Thermometers (top digital probes)

To accurately know when meat is cooked to perfection, you need a meat thermometer. Nobody can tell when their joint of beef is medium-rare just by looking at it. 

Plus using a meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of whether the Christmas turkey is cooked to a point where it’s safe to eat but still tender and moist.

We’ve looked at all of the best digital meat thermometers currently on the market and this is our findings.

Table of Contents

Top Recommended Meat Thermometers

Here are our picks for the top meat thermometers you can buy:

1. DOQAUS Digital Meat Thermometer, Instant Read Food Thermometer with Backlight LCD Screen, Foldable Long Probe & Auto On/Off, Perfect for Kitchen, BBQ, Water,Meat, Milk, Cooking Food (Black)

DOQAUS Digital Meat Thermometer, Instant Read Food Thermometer with Backlight LCD Screen, Foldable Long Probe & Auto On/Off, Perfect for Kitchen, BBQ, Water,Meat, Milk, Cooking Food (Black)

In first place we have the DOQAUS Digital Meat Thermometer, Instant Read Food Thermometer with Backlight LCD Screen, Foldable Long Probe & Auto On/Off, Perfect for Kitchen, BBQ, Water,Meat, Milk, Cooking Food (Black).

3s Ultra Fast &Accurate: DOQAUS instant read thermometer provides precise temperature readings within 3seconds! Food probe accurate to -1 degree with a WIDE RANGE of -58°F - 572ºF/-50° C - 300° C. our digital meat thermometer serves you for almost all culinary occasions: Steak, BBQ, Jam or Icy beer, from blazing hot to freezing cold. The temperature guidelines on the package help you get the desired doneness of your food

Reversible Display: The large, easy-to-read backlight screen offers you a spectacular clarity when reading the temperature in the dark or in the middle of smoke! And the reversible display rotates automatically depending on how the digital thermometer is held and enables you to read the numbers from any direction which is very easy for right or left hand persons to use

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2. DOQAUS Meat Thermometers, 3S Instant Read Food Thermometer, Accurate Meat Thermometer Probe With Backlight, Foldable Long Probe, Auto On/Off, Cooking Thermometers for Kitchen, BBQ, Water, Milk(Black)

DOQAUS Meat Thermometers, 3S Instant Read Food Thermometer, Accurate Meat Thermometer Probe With Backlight, Foldable Long Probe, Auto On/Off, Cooking Thermometers for Kitchen, BBQ, Water, Milk(Black)

DOQAUS Meat Thermometers, 3S Instant Read Food Thermometer, Accurate Meat Thermometer Probe With Backlight, Foldable Long Probe, Auto On/Off, Cooking Thermometers for Kitchen, BBQ, Water, Milk(Black) takes our 2nd spot on this list.

Ultra Fast & Precise Temperature Reading: DOQAUS digital meat thermometer provides fast and highly accurate internal temperature measurements, allowing you to get temperature in a little as 3 seconds, and is accurate to ±1 degree. With a Hold button, no more lingering near the heat to read the current temperature. This food thermometer is an ideal tool for cooking enthusiasts and home chefs alik

Sensitive Foldable Long Probe & Backlight: Made of high quality 304 stainless stell, the ultra-thin and sensitive food probe delivers readings to 0.1℃. The 12cm long probe enable a deep reach into the center of food without burning your skin. And open the probe to turn on, fold the probe to turn off. In addition, no matter how your lighting conditions are, the backlight screen allowing you easy to read the temperature

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3. Meat Thermometer Digital - Fast Instant Read Food Thermometer for Cooking, Candy Making, Outside Grill, Waterproof Kitchen Thermometer with Backlight, Stocking Stuffers for Adult Men

Meat Thermometer Digital - Fast Instant Read Food Thermometer for Cooking, Candy Making, Outside Grill, Waterproof Kitchen Thermometer with Backlight, Stocking Stuffers for Adult Men

In third place, we have the Meat Thermometer Digital - Fast Instant Read Food Thermometer for Cooking, Candy Making, Outside Grill, Waterproof Kitchen Thermometer with Backlight, Stocking Stuffers for Adult Men.

Swift Accurate: Our digital meat thermometer features a 1.7mm diameter sensitive probe that delivers quick and precise temperature readings in just 1-3 seconds, making it the ultimate kitchen tool for chefs and home cooks alike

Versatile and Handy: Our thermometer is suitable for various rapid temperature measurement scenarios, from cooking and grilling to making candy and checking water temperature. Get accurate readings with ease

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4. ThermoPro TP02S Digital Meat Thermometer, Instant Read Thermometer for Air Fryers Cooking, 13.5cm Temperature Probe with Tip Cover, Auto-Off and Non-Slip Ring, Ideal for Cooking BBQ Sugar Jam Kitchen

ThermoPro TP02S Digital Meat Thermometer, Instant Read Thermometer for Air Fryers Cooking, 13.5cm Temperature Probe with Tip Cover, Auto-Off and Non-Slip Ring, Ideal for Cooking BBQ Sugar Jam Kitchen

The ThermoPro TP02S Digital Meat Thermometer, Instant Read Thermometer for Air Fryers Cooking, 13.5cm Temperature Probe with Tip Cover, Auto-Off and Non-Slip Ring, Ideal for Cooking BBQ Sugar Jam Kitchen comes in at fourth position.

[Quality Material Food Thermometer] ThermoPro food thermometer is made of 304 stainless steel that ensures your safety during use. The probe is tough enough to withstand ultra-high temperature and corrosion.

[Instant Reading with High Accuracy] Equipped with ultra-sensitive thin tip for providing quick and accurate reading within 5 seconds and with temperature accuracy of about 0.5 degree Celsius in range between 0-100 degree Celsius. It provides temperature display units in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

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5. ThermoPro TP16 Digital Kitchen Meat Thermometer with Stainless Steel Long Food Temperature Probe for Liquids, Oven, Smoker, BBQ, Candy, Oil, Deep Frying Cooking Thermometer with Timer Alarm

ThermoPro TP16 Digital Kitchen Meat Thermometer with Stainless Steel Long Food Temperature Probe for Liquids, Oven, Smoker, BBQ, Candy, Oil, Deep Frying Cooking Thermometer with Timer Alarm

Our number 5 pick is the ThermoPro TP16 Digital Kitchen Meat Thermometer with Stainless Steel Long Food Temperature Probe for Liquids, Oven, Smoker, BBQ, Candy, Oil, Deep Frying Cooking Thermometer with Timer Alarm.

Programmable Alert with Preset Temperatures for Specific Foods: Your digital meat thermometer is programmed with preset temperatures for various cooking levels; poultry (74℃/165˚F), beef well (77℃/170˚F), veal/pork (77℃/170˚F), beef medium (71℃/160˚F), ham (71℃/160˚F) and beef med rare/fish (63℃/145˚F). All of the preset temps can be reset to your desired tastes.

High Accuracy and Heat Resistance: The cooking thermometer features long food stainless steel food probe with step down tip designed to get food temperature precisely and quickly; Its temp range of probe: 0 to 300 degree Celsius or 32 to 572 degree Fahrenheit. Resolution: 1 Celsius, accuracy: 1 Celsius degree; Can be switched between Fahrenheit and Celsius.

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6. ThermoMaven Meat Thermometer Digital - 1s Instant Read, Food Cooking Thermometer Precise ±0.3℃ NIST Certified, IP65 Waterproof Magnetic Store, Large Bright LED Display, Home Kitchen BBQ Grill Oven

ThermoMaven Meat Thermometer Digital - 1s Instant Read, Food Cooking Thermometer Precise ±0.3℃ NIST Certified, IP65 Waterproof Magnetic Store, Large Bright LED Display, Home Kitchen BBQ Grill Oven

The ThermoMaven Meat Thermometer Digital - 1s Instant Read, Food Cooking Thermometer Precise ±0.3℃ NIST Certified, IP65 Waterproof Magnetic Store, Large Bright LED Display, Home Kitchen BBQ Grill Oven takes our 6th spot.

3X Faster 1s Readings: With cutting-edge Thermocouple applied, ThermoMaven F1 Stealth instant read meat thermometer delivers speedy readings in just 1 second, 3X faster than other typical thermometers, ensuring you always keep up with best cooking results.

Certified Accuracy: Officially certified by NIST, ThermoMaven digital meat thermometer always provides ±0.3℃ accuracy, ensuring you get precise temperature readings and cook meats to the desired level of doneness without overcooking or undercooking. It can precisely measure the temperature from -49.9℃ to 299.9℃ range. Also you can easily switch between ℃ and ℉. NIST & NSF certification guarantees its standards for food safety, quality assurance, and eco-friendliness. Ideal for both daily cooking users and precision cooking chefs!

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What Are The Advantages Of A Digital Meat Thermometer

If you want to be a successful chef or just cook good food for your family, you need a decent meat thermometer. Many recipes actually advise on the exact temperature that the meat should reach. The advantages of using a meat thermometer are;

  • Prevents Illness
    Many meats carry germs that can cause illness. Getting the meat above a certain temperature kills these germs and using a meat thermometer ensures the meat has achieved those temperatures.
  • Simple To Use
    Digital meat probes are extremely easy to use. They can be used to check the temperature of the meat as it cooks. With many having two probes, one which takes the temperature of the meat, while the other is used to take an accurate temperature of the oven/grill.
  • Fast Readings
    Digital meat thermometers give fast, accurate readings which allow you to keep on top of the correct cooking time for your piece of meat without allowing the food to cool in the process.
  • Prevents Foods From Being Under Or Overcooked
    No two joints of meat are identical, which means every joint of meat will cook differently. You cannot rely on timings to accurately tell when a piece of meat is cooked perfectly and safely. You need to check the internal temperature of the meat.
  • Saves Money
    Unless you’re prepared to waste food, by overcooking it to the point of ruin, you need a meat thermometer. It will save you money in no time at all.
  • Helps Maintain Food At A Safe Temperature
    It’s a well known fact that some foods breed harmful bacteria and germs. This not only happens with food that’s undercooked, it can happen with cooked food that’s been cooled and allowed to get too warm again. For example, taking cooked ham from the fridge and placing it on a table in the garden on a hot day. How long before harmful bacteria begin to breed? Using a meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of food preparation and keeps you and your family safe.

What Are The Disadvantages Of A Digital Meat Thermometer

The main disadvantage of some digital meat thermometers is you cannot leave them in the meat as it is cooking. There is also the fact that a digital meat thermometer probe needs to be inserted at least ½ inch (1.2 cm) into the meat. This means it cannot really be used on sliced meats like salami etc.

How To Use A Digital Meat Thermometer

To get a correct and accurate reading using a digital meat thermometer, you need to insert the probe into the middle of the thickest part of the meat.

If you don’t insert the probe far enough, or you insert it too far, the probe will detect the temperature of the outer edge of the meat and not the core.

For whole birds or joints of beef with a bone in, take care to not touch the bone with the probe as this will give an incorrect reading of the actual meat.

The best place to place the probe when checking the temperature of whole birds is the thickest part of the thigh.

If you’re using the probe on barbecued meat, you should always remove the meat from the barbecue to get an accurate reading.

Once you are sure that you have the probe in the correct part of the joint (or bird) allow the display to stop fluctuating before you take the reading.

Meat Thermometer Buyers Guide

Before you go out and buy the first digital meat thermometer you see, you should consider the following points;

Temperature Range

You need to consider what you intend to cook on a regular basis. You will then need to find a thermometer that can work at those temperatures and beyond.

Thermometers with a wider range are better for larger joints with longer cooking times. However thermometers with a narrower range, can give a more accurate reading in a shorter space of time.

Temperature Accuracy

Look for a thermometer with an accuracy reading of +/- 2 degrees. This is the industry standard that all good thermometers should be able to achieve.

This will help to ensure that your food is safe to eat and cooked to your desired state (medium, rare, well done, etc).

Many measure in degrees or tenths of a degree, you need to check exactly how accurate you need your thermometer to be, as not every model is accurate down to a tenth of a degree.

Calibration

Some models allow you to calibrate the thermometer with something in the home. For example a glass of ice water should read 0 C (32 F) . 

By placing the probe in that glass you can adjust the reading until it is completely accurate. This allows you to use the thermometer confident that its readings will be accurate.

Size Of The Probe

Think of the types of meat you cook regularly, you will need a probe that is long enough to access the thickest part of that meat. The probe should also be thin enough that it doesn’t damage the meat.

A short probe is OK for probing a chicken breast or piece of fish, but you’ll need a longer probe for thick steaks or beef or pork joints.

Battery Life

Depending on the make or model of meat thermometer you buy, some are rechargeable while others will need to have the battery replaced periodically.

Check the specs to get some idea on how long the probe can be used per session and how often the battery will potentially need replacing.

Display Screen

There are several designs of digital meat thermometers available, some have a digital display actually on the thermometer while others are accessed via an app.

Either way, you want a clear, easy to read display to determine whether your meat is cooked or not. If you can, find an online video to get an idea of the display.

Instant Read Display screens are a feature of many meat thermometers however, they vary in what they actually display. Some will just display the temperature, while others will show the required temperature for different meats which give an instant display on whether your joints of pork or turkey are cooked safely.

Most show the temperature in both Centigrade and Fahrenheit and allow you to switch between the two.

Smartphone

Smart Connectivity

There are many digital meat thermometers that rely on smart technology and work via an app on your mobile phone. 

Most smart meat thermometers have two probes which can be used to check the temperature of two pieces of meat at the same time. Or maybe, you want to check the temperature of the meat you’re cooking as well as the temperature of the oven at the same time.

Each of the probes connect to the thermometer using a dedicated port. Some of the more expensive models carry as many as six ports but extra probes usually need to be purchased separately.

Using a smart meat thermometer is a great way of determining an accurate temperature for the type of meat you’re cooking. You can select the type of meat, the way you prefer it to be cooked (rare, medium or well done) and include an alarm to notify you when the meat is done.

Many smart digital meat thermometers have separate displays actually on the thermometer which is handy if your phone battery dies.

Holders

Many digital meat thermometers come with clips to keep the probe in the right position whilst you’re cooking.

Some have magnets that allow you to attach them to the front or side of your oven or barbecue.

Style

Like everything nowadays, when it comes to digital meat thermometers, you are spoilt for choice. The best way to decide which type suits you best is to think about what meats you cook regularly.

If you regularly cook joints of beef or whole chickens and you want a digital probe, a digital remote probe style thermometer might suit you best.

These have a cable with a probe attached at one end, and the other end is attached to the digital display unit which is usually attached to the front or side of the oven via a clip or magnet.

Or there’s the smart thermometers we mentioned above.

Other than these there are the analog thermometers which are typically cheaper to buy but are harder to read, and take longer to detect the temperature.

Price

The cost of a digital meat thermometer ranges from around £10 to £250 pounds depending on the make and model you choose. As well as whether it has smart capability or not. 

Extra probes can also hike up the price. However, not all cheap digital meat thermometers are bad and not all of the expensive models do a better job. 

Which is why we recommend doing your homework and getting the best model in your budget that has all of the features you need.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are digital meat thermometers worth it?

Digital thermometers are definitely worth it if you want to cook your meat to perfection without the risk of over/undercooking.

Do chefs use instant-read thermometers?

Many chefs use instant-read digital meat thermometers every day. 

Can you leave a meat thermometer in the meat while it’s in the oven?

There are many meat thermometers that can be left in the meat while it’s still cooking in the oven. They are designed to withstand high temperatures and are safe to use in the oven as the food cooks. Check the specs on your meat thermometer to see if it is OK to leave in the meat whilst it’s cooking.

Do high end chefs use thermometers?

Almost every top chef uses a meat thermometer to ensure that their meats are cooked to perfection.

How far do you push a meat thermometer in?

Meat thermometers should be pushed into the fleshiest part of the meat halfway through the thickness.

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