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.

We tested this thermometer and found it to be a satisfactory alternative to pricier models. Though it doesn't have fancier options like presets or a Bluetooth connectivity, it still gets the job done. The alarm is persistent and audible enough to get your attention, even when using outdoors. For the price, it's absolutely worth it, especially if you don't need a model that is particularly heavy-duty. 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.This meat thermometer comes with clear instructions, and it’s so straightforward you will be monitoring your meat with minimum effort, with the battery already in place. Pre-set with safe temperatures for food set by the US Department of Agriculture, you can choose between one setting for both beef and veal, then lamb, pork and poultry. The open setting means you can also store your own setting for use with a favourite recipe – for me, I tried 145 degrees for salmon steaks which came out just as the family like them. The combination of the four-way functionality and the reasonable price of the ThermoPro TP25 4 Probe Bluetooth Remote Meat Thermometer may make it a passable investment if you’re a big-time grill master or party thrower. Just remember that the extra time you’ll need to spend untangling cables and getting everything perfect in the app is time you could instead be spending with your guests — and don’t ever let the battery run out while you’re cooking. What to look for in a meat thermometer The hub has a large display but you’ll need to connect it to a smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to use all its functionality. We found the set-up straightforward, and there are recipes to follow, as well as programmes for different meats and levels of doneness, temperature alerts and a timer. We used it to cook a steak and liked the countdown on the hub – which saves you watching your phone – and how easy it was to get cooking. The only issue was the size of the probe, which is better suited to larger pieces of meat than your average burger. Beyond that, it’s a great investment for barbecuers.

Heat-resistant cables (up to 700 °F) that are long enough so they won’t snag on an oven door or grill lid when closed. The accuracy of each meat thermometer was compared against a platinum-resistant industrial standard thermometer. These are used both for precision measurements of the highest accuracy and for routine industrial work. You can spend anywhere from a few pounds to three figures for a meat thermometer but paying more doesn't always get you better. Two meat thermometers got our Best Buy recommendation and will help you cook a perfect roast. The best meat thermometers Thermometers with app New and hi-tech, this type of thermometer is often a probe that remains in the oven while your smartphone or tablet displays the reading. 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.Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear. The large digital readout will never be upside down, no matter what angle the probe is at since it jumps to the correct angle. How to choose the best meat thermometer for you What do I need to consider when buying a meat thermometer? Find out how to perfectly cook a turkey crown, leg of lamb and roast beef and swot up on the best electric carving knives

We prefer external probe-style leave-in thermometers to their in-oven (and in-meat) cousins because they’re safer and significantly easier to read and program. This style of thermometer doesn’t get much easier than the Polder Classic Digital In-Oven Thermometer and Timer, a budget-friendly option that does all the basic stuff you need. With a casing made from an anti-microbial material for extra hygiene, this model is especially easy to keep clean, as it’s dust and watertight. You could drop this in a basin of water and it would beEase of setup: We looked for thermometers that weren't too complicated to use out of the box. We appreciated models that were easier to figure out without having to read through too many detailed instructions. For tech-lovers who are into grilling, this sleek thermometer gives you plenty of control through an app on your smartphone. It is equipped with four probes that can be individually monitored through your phone, making it easy to cook multiple cuts of meats at once. It has an array of presets that you can use depending on what type of meat you're cooking, as well as the ability to customize settings as you wish. We've tested the most popular meat thermometers from Heston Blumenthal, John Lewis, Lakeland, Oxo and more to see how accurate they are and how easy they are to read.

The thermometer sensor is in the very tip of the main spike, which is topped with a large digital read-out which can easily be changed from Fahrenheit to Centigrade. It’s very accurate, with super-fast readings. 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. 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. To assess the 12 kitchen thermometers, we put them through a series of objective and usability tests that would allow us to determine their overall technical capabilities and how well they worked in everyday kitchen tasks.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. Home thermometers measure in either whole degrees or tenths of a degree; make sure you know how much detail you want, as not every thermometer does both — and those that do should make it easy to switch between the resolutions. Similarly, the thermometer should display the temperature in both degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius, so you can use it no matter where you live, and allow you to easily flip between the two. Though it’s not a necessity, calibration is an excellent additional feature; by measuring a known temperature (such as ice water) and adjusting the readout accordingly, you can continue using your thermometer even if its initial accuracy diminishes over time. NutriChef Smart Bluetooth BBQ Thermometer: We liked that this model was easy to set up and use, and that the app offers a selection of presets as well as a temperature graph. We also liked the functionality of the app as a whole, but didn't like how low the alarm sound was (and we couldn't get the alarm notification on our phone). It could be a great option for someone who wants a Bluetooth-ready device but doesn't want to spend a ton.