From Traditional to Digital Thermometers – What Is the Future of Meat Thermometers?

Is an electronic meat thermometer a reality? Yes, it is a reality. Meat thermometers ensure the safety of cooked food. Even if you are a novice or an experienced cook, you cannot judge food safety by smell or appearance alone.

The best meat thermometer indicates the danger and safe zones for cooked meat. If perishable food is in the danger zone for more than 2 hours, it becomes unsafe to eat.

Why use an instant-read meat thermometer?

Using an instant-read meat thermometer when barbecuing can be very handy. Indeed, this method of cooking gives delicious food. Also, it isn’t easy to estimate the exact temperature to cook the barbecue. With the best cooking thermometer, you will know if the heat is suitable, and how long the products must remain on the grill to be cooked as desired. When cooking multiple dishes simultaneously, a kitchen thermometer is all you need for a perfect meal.

Choose the right meat thermometer for you!

There are various types of meat thermometers available on the market, all designed to indicate the internal temperature of cooked chicken. Choosing a different thermometer for different uses enhances cooking perfection.

Most thermometers with electric probes are used to measure the core temperature of meat. Some are placed directly in the piece of meat or on the steak. Here, we will differentiate meat thermometers based on their usage.

The digital thermometer works just as well on thick cuts as with thinner pieces. However, it cannot remain in the meat during cooking because it cannot withstand the oven heat. Therefore, it’s used at the end of the cooking.

A variant of the digital BBQ thermometer is one in which the probe is attached to the screen via a cable (or cord), allowing the temperature to be checked on the screen. The screen will let you choose the meat to cook (beef, pork, veal, lamb, etc.), the cooking method, and the final temperature. The cord can be put in the oven, and when the temperature is reached, the thermometer starts ringing. Some models feature a dual stopwatch and timer.

The oven thermometer remains in the meat throughout cooking because it is heat-resistant. In this way, you can check that the cooking is going well by opening the oven and seeing the temperature on the dial. It is suitable for roasts but not for thin cuts of meat.

The dial thermometers are explicitly designed for steaks and thin cuts such as cutlets. They indicate doneness rarely, medium, and well done; it is very convenient and easy to use.

A fork thermometer is an option that displays temperature readings, including on minced steaks. This type of indicator fork can also display the degree of doneness and, in this case, is more suitable for thicker cuts of meat.

Let’s learn to use a meat thermometer

When a piece of meat is taken out of the oven or off the grill, the temperature rises during the resting time. It might increase up to 4-6°C (from 40 to 44°F). The higher the cooking temperature, the more standing temperature. Hence, remove the meat when the temperature is a few degrees lower than the expected temperature. Check out the following steak temperature chart.

Measuring temperature for different types of meats

• For rare meat, aim for a final temperature between 52 and 55°C (between 125 and 131°F).

• For medium meat, the final temperature should be between 60 and 62°C (between 140 and 144°F).

• For well-done meat: between 71 and 100°C (between 160 and 212°F).

Some important points to take care of

• For a piece of meat you want to serve at 46°C (114°F), you must take it out of the oven at 42°C (107°F). During the standing time, the temperature reaches 46°C (114°F).
• Use the grill thermometer—the first time when you take the meat out of the oven, and later after the standing time.
• To properly take the temperature, insert the remote thermometer into the thickest part of the meat.
• Introduce it from the side to the centre of the meat, without exceeding the centre of the meat.
• Have patience and wait 10 seconds before reading the result.

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“When you insert the smoker thermometer, do not touch the bone, because the temperature of the bone and the meat are not the same. This could skew the final result.”

Hopefully, these steps will help you choose the correct thermometer to check the chicken’s internal temperature. Use a kitchen thermometer and cook your dish perfectly.

Future of meat thermometers

Are digital food thermometers worth it? Yes! A digital food thermometer is worth it. They use apps to send temperature information. When the set temperature is reached, the app plays an alert ringtone to indicate that the meat is perfectly cooked.

A meat thermometer is not a gadget or a luxury to be used only once in a while. On the contrary, the best food thermometer is one of the most useful kitchen utensils, especially since it combines economy with meticulousness. Grilling or barbecuing is an art that requires patience, attention, and delicacy. And modernisation has significantly impacted this art.

As we know, modernisation and digitisation have left no stone unturned. A meat thermometer and an electronic meat thermometer are classic examples of futuristic approaches to cooking in the food industry. The food industry is diverse. People prefer eating more delicacies than raw, uncooked, or unhealthy food. Though kitchen thermometers are often helpful for barbecuing or cooking meat, their use has increased significantly.

Modern digital thermometers help cook meat with flavour, consistency, and safety. It also helps with time and task management. Thus, an instant-read meat thermometer is the future equipment and secret recipe for delicious food.