How Using Cooking Thermometers Affects the Flavor of Your Food

It’s no secret that food needs to reach a specific temperature for it to be cooked safely. But did you know that certain temperatures can also make your food taste better or worse? It is why you will always see thermometers in commercial kitchens. But why is temperature critical? How can cooking with thermometers affect the flavor of your food? 

Why is temperature control in the kitchen significant?

Food that is cooked accurately and safely must reach a specific temperature. For example, poultry must reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F, while a medium steak can be cooked at 145°F and still meet safe food temperature guidelines.

Food can also taste better when cooked at the perfect temperatures, just as when cooked at ‘safe’ temperatures. Consider how dry and flavorless you find poultry when it’s undercooked, or meat when it’s overcooked. A meal can taste old and be unsafe just by a few degrees below the safe food temperatures.

How temperature affects the taste?

Indeed, roast chicken tastes fantastic when you eat it straight from the oven, but it tastes bland when you eat it cold from the fridge. Likewise, ice cream tastes pleasantly sweet when it’s frozen, but it’s cloyingly sweet when melted. Why is this? What is going on? 

The temperature-sensitive proteins in our taste buds heighten our ability to taste food. Proteins (TRPM5 channels) perform better at warmer temperatures than cooler ones. When food is cooled to 59°F (around 15°C) or below, these protein channels barely open. This minimizes your perception of the food’s taste. On the other hand, when the food is heated to 98.5°F (around 37°C), the protein channels open, increasing your taste buds’ sensitivity by more than 100 times. It makes food taste much better. 

The second reason is that much of your perception of flavor and taste comes from the aroma. When you smell the food, microscopic molecules travel to your nose. If you remember, in elementary science, high temperature makes molecules more energetic. Thus, they travel from the table and plate to your nose faster.

Tip: Click here to see more thermometers that can be left in the oven if interested.

Get a kitchen thermometer

If you are a foodie and love to experiment in the kitchen, there are tools you can’t do without. One of which is a kitchen thermometer. Whether roasting, grilling, searing, or cooking stew, a cooking thermometer will help you cook your food right. 

Cooking or kitchen thermometers come in different styles and types. Generally, you can get by with a meat thermometer for almost any cooking method. 

Making your food more flavorful with the help of cooking thermometers 

Now that you know a bit of the science behind taste and temperature, it is time to take a deeper dive into how to use temperature to your advantage. And there is no better way to tell the temperature than with a kitchen thermometer. 

There are actually three factors in how cooking thermometers can help improve the flavor of your food: consistency, accuracy, and timing. 

Consistency 

As said earlier, cooking thermometers take the guesswork out of the kitchen. Even the world’s most renowned chefs use various kinds of kitchen thermometers to keep everything consistent. 

A cooking thermometer will help you cook food to the same temperature every time, ensuring it’s consistently cooked to perfection. It is crucial when cooking for many people and with larger cuts of meat, as it is vital to ensure everyone gets the same level of doneness. 

Accuracy

No matter how experienced you are in the kitchen, you will never be as accurate at gauging food temperature as a thermometer. 

Kitchen thermometers are accurate, so you can cook your meat (or whatever you prefer) to the exact temperature you need. It is essential for delicate items like eggs, fish, and baked goods, where a few degrees can make a massive difference. 

Timing 

While ovens and high-end grills come with timers, thermometers are still the best way to time your cooking. They’re helpful when cooking something for the first time, since you may not be familiar with the dish’s specifics.

Another way thermometers can help make your food more flavorful is through moisture retention. 

Moisture retention 

As you know, overcooking can cause the meat to dry out, making it tough and tasteless. But, of course, that’s the last thing you want when hosting a barbecue in your backyard, right?

Using a thermometer ensures your meat cooks to the right temperature, helping retain moisture and keeping it juicy and flavorful. 

Choosing a kitchen thermometer

As said earlier, there are different types of cooking thermometers. While you can always get as many types as possible, that is not the most practical approach, as they can be expensive. Also, the good thing is that many kitchen thermometers are highly versatile, so you can use one for cooking various dishes. 

If you like grilling or smoking meat, a probe thermometer or a digital instant-read thermometer is your best option. However, you cannot afford to mess around with the temperature if you want to roast. In this case, an oven-safe thermometer is your best choice. 

Another critical factor to consider is the thermometer’s range. Choose a thermometer with a range that covers the temperatures you expect to need for most types of food you will be cooking.