Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 So so thermometer August 27, 2008
Andrew M. Somers (California)
It's an okay thermometer, but it takes quite a long time to stabilize at a temperature (10 to 20 seconds and that is just too long to wait every time taking a temperature measurement.)
In fact, I am now using an old analog thermometer, as it is faster than this one.
 Frustrating, Slow, Inaccurate, and Leaves a Big Hole July 28, 2008
H. Hanasik (Suburbia, IL.)
We purchased this after a number of disasters resulted from our serving under or overdone burgers, steaks, sausages, and pork. We needed a reliable method for determining the internal temperature of grilled meat. Leave in type thermometers only really work well on roasts and other large pieces of meat. We thought this "instant read" thermometer would do the trick.
We were extremely disappointed with the thermometer. During the first use, after we lifted the lid of the grill to check our burger's temp, (we like to shoot for 145 and let carryover do the rest) it read 141 F. after 15 seconds. That is an eternity to keep the lid off the grill just to take a burger's temp. Flare ups happen fast on a hot grill. When we extracted the probe, we sadly watched our burger's juices flow out of the hole like water from a faucet. A minute of additional cooking later, a check of the same hole read 152 F after 10 seconds. We chewed on our overdone burgers and contemplated the causes for such a large variance in temp after only a few seconds.
Not to be discouraged, we read the calibration instructions and checked freezing and boiling points. Both were within a few degrees accuracy. We elicited suggestions from fellow grill-o-philes. None could compensate for the thermometer's deficiencies. It takes too long to get a reading, it leaves too big of a hole, and it doesn't give consistent readings.
Finally, a foodie friend suggested a thermo-resistor type thermometer. We looked and were put off by the price initially, but then wondered if the costs in losses from all of the "grilled food gone bad" could have been saved with an accurate, really fast, and consistent thermometer.
We bought it and have been happy ever since. It gives an accurate and consistent measurement within 3 seconds. It leaves a much smaller hole. It has enabled us to cook to order much more precisely than we would have hoped possible. In fact, we've divided the doneness spectrum to include gradations from "Rare" to "Medium" with points of "Cool Medium Rare," "Medium Rare," and "Hot Medium Rare" along the way. Guests are amused at the greater degree of precision we can offer. And yes we can stop at finer points between "Medium Well" and "Well" as well--but why?
At $80 (when we purchased it), it is something of a bragging gadget, but we would not attempt to grill without it. We enjoy hearing family and friends chatter, "They have this Thermapen..." The Original Super-Fast Thermapen Instant Read Thermometer (Red) by Thermoworks
Oh, and the Taylor thermometer? Its case cracked one day and so it went out with the trash. We cannot think of a reason to replace it. Anything it could do the Thermapen can do better.
 Solid thermometer for all uses July 28, 2008
D. Rotenberg (Rhode Island)
I received this thermometer a few weeks ago, and so far have been very happy. It is exceptionally accurate and is useful in every situation - from chocolate tempering, grilling, and even coffee brewing. Solid construction, but long-term quality can't be judged with a few weeks of use.
 Best thermometer I've used June 11, 2008
Jennifer Davis-Wilson (Menlo Park, CA United States)
I use this thermometer for cheesemaking. It's accurate, and has a wide range. I can leave it hovering over a steamy pot and not worry about it getting moist. It's really light, so I use a piece of thin wire bent over the edge of the pot and wrapped around the thermometer, and it holds it in place.
You can't beat the price for a thermometer this good. Just buy it already.
Excellent Buy April 11, 2008
Kent T. Higgins (Colorado)
Purchased two. Used to probe the temperature (375-degreesF) in a home built oven I used to temper bamboo for fly rods. They exceed my expectations and are a very good value!
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