Substances with very low emissivity ratings, like highly-polished metals, tend to be very reflective of ambient infrared energy and less effective at emitting their own electromagnetic waves. For example, if you were to point an infrared thermometer with fixed emissivity at a stainless steel pot, the reading will be incorrect because shiny metal is better at reflecting the ambient radiation of the room than it is at emitting its own infrared radiation.

Some infrared thermometers have fixed emissivity settings (usually of 0.95 or 0.97) to simplify their operation while leaving them suitable for most organic materials, including almost all foods. Other infrared thermometers come with adjustable emissivity settings, so you can more accurately prepare your thermometer for the type of surface being measured, particularly when measuring non-organic materials.

Infrared thermometers can be calibrated for accuracy, just like other thermometers. In calibration labs technicians use industrial black bodies (like the IR-500 Portable IR Calibrator) to calibrate infrared thermometers.

The primary use of infrared thermometers is in measuring the temperature of a subject from a distance. The device is beneficial in situations where it is difficult to reach the object to record the temperature.

Infrared temperature measurement is affected by three main things; emissivity, distance and surroundings. Depending on what you’re pointing your infrared thermometer at you’re going to get a variation in emitted infrared energy. Emissivity is a measure of a material’s ability to emit infrared energy.

No. An infrared thermometer will only measure the surface temperature of the water, not the object’s temperature.

Infrared thermometers are ideal for recording fryer oil temperature (350℉), giving you the ability to perfectly gauge when your batter-dipped chicken is ready to fry.

They are gun-shaped and take measurements by using lasers to point at the surface. The pros of this type are the same as the cons of probe thermometers: they can measure those objects that cannot be measured using direct contact. Pros of general-purpose infrared thermometer: No-contact option is safer.

Infrared (IR) thermometers enable you to measure temperature quickly, at a distance, and without touching the object you’re measuring. They are so useful, easy, and even fun to use that they have become as common in kitchens as they have on factory floors.

When using an infrared thermometer with liquids like soups and sauces, be sure to stir vigorously before taking a measurement to more closely approximate the internal temperature of the liquid. Be aware that steam, even when a liquid is not boiling, can condense on your thermometer and affect the accuracy of your measurements.

Emissivity is a measure of a material’s ability to emit infrared energy. It is measured on a scale from just above 0.00 to just below 1.00.

Generally, the closer a material’s emissivity rating is to 1.00, the more that material tends to absorb reflected or ambient infrared energy and emit only its own infrared radiation. Most organic materials, including the byproducts of plants and animals, have an emissivity rating of 0.95.