Found below is our collection of the ten best instant read thermometers and timers this 2021. We decided to build this list because many of us prefer to use instant read thermometers and timers when it comes to cooking meat and poultry to ensure safe and delicious meals. We also built a group of testers made up of our peers to help us evaluate each product in our roundup.
When you see barbecue experts do what they do the best on television, they often leave out one important aspect from the spotlight of the camera – using an instant thermometer and timer. This can be misleading for viewers, as these professionals know that cooking to the correct temperature is critical.
A couple of steaks of the same cut, same shape, and from the same rack of beef placed right next to each other on a grill will cook at different rates. It makes little difference how long you’ve been in the barbecue business – whether it has been decades and you can work a grill with your eyes closed. A completely fail-proof way of ensuring that your food is cooked before serving is through the aid of an instant read thermometer.
If you’ve been considering whether you need to get an instant thermometer, or perhaps you rely on testing the temperature of the meat by poking it with a finger, then this list is absolutely for you.
As mentioned below, you will find a list of the ten best instant thermometers and timers for your kitchen. The timers are just as essential as the thermometers, so it is recommended that you get one for home use. Originally, this list contained more than 15 entries, so we had to narrow the list down to our favorite 10. Of course, it was only natural that our testers found both advantages and with these instant thermometers. Hence, we recorded all of this information below to help you make the most informed decision for your kitchen.
To create this list, we ranked all of the instant read thermometers and timers according to the following factors: the price, durability, size, and speed.
Instant Read Thermometer Comparison & Rating
| Image | Instant Read Thermometer | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | #1 - Taylor Precision Products Dual Temp Thermometer | 99% |
 | #2 - Digital Talking Instant Thermometer | 97% |
 | #3 - ThermoPro Remote Wireless Digital Thermometer | 95% |
 | #4 - OXO Good Grips Instant Read Thermometer | 94% |
 | #5 - Taylor Precision Products Thermometer/Timer | 93% |
 | #6 - Cuisinart CSG-625 Infrared Surface Thermometer | 91% |
 | #7 - ThermoPro 5-Sec Instant Read Thermometer | 88% |
 | #8 - Habor 022 Instant Read Thermometer | 85% |
 | #9 - Alpha Grillers Instant Read Thermometer | 84% |
 | #10 - SMARTRO ST59 Instant Read Thermometer | 80% |
We carefully hand-picked each of these ten best instant read thermometers and timers. We confirmed our list through comprehensive research, detailed testing procedures, and fair evaluation methods.
We packaged the most relevant information that we collected from our extensive research, thorough testing, and unbiased evaluation procedures in a format that is quick and easy to absorb. As a result, you will easily be able to identify the most suitable instant read thermometer and timer for your needs. Take a look:
#1 – Taylor Precision Products Dual Temp Thermometer
This is a thermometer with two purposes: measuring internal temperatures with the aid of its probe and checking the surface temperature of the food using infrared. The probe can withstand the heat of up to 626°F, which lets you use the product for cases such as creating hot caramelized sugar for candy, roasting some turkey, or seasoned chicken legs in the oven, or checking your frying oil.
The probe measures a total of 5 inches in length, and it folds to allow safe storage inside your kitchen drawer. The infrared feature lets you check any surface temperature, ranging from the surface of a hot pan to the outside of a frozen turkey. This feature is even effective when used on dark surfaces.
Keep in mind that this product should never be submerged in water, despite it having a splash-proof designation. An additional feature of this thermometer is an automatic shut-off function to help conserve battery.
What We Like About It:
This is one of our tester’s favorite kitchen tools. She found the infrared scan feature very handy in particular, especially when she was about to fry something in deep, hot oil. The probe also came in handy whenever it came time to bake food in the oven, as it allowed her to cook the food to the correct temperature without overcooking or undercooking it.
#2 – Digital Talking Instant Thermometer
The Digital Talking Instant Thermometer is not your regular novelty instant read thermometer. This thermometer, which is small enough to fit in your pocket, is a measuring tool that takes itself seriously. It can read your food’s temperature at lightning speed, and it even speaks the temperature readings out loud by simply touching a large button on the product. Forget needing to find your glasses to read this thermometer!
Impressively, this cooking thermometer will deliver a quick response in as few as 5 seconds. You no longer have to wait around for the results! The manufacturer has designed this thermometer with their clients in mind, as each unit receives the best quality control where it undergoes rigorous testing before being sold to the public. This ensures that your wines and beers all taste amazing due to reaching their precise temperature, makes your candy or pastries delicious, and guarantees that your roasts are all served freshly cooked.
The product has a long stainless-steel probe that can easily squeeze itself into the meat and out again while giving you the best and most accurate results. The LED backlight function makes it suitable for use in dark kitchens or for when you grill dinner in your backyard at night.
What We Like About It:
This thermometer works great, even though our tester only tried it out a handful of times. She loved the wide temperature range because it can handle all sorts of cooking. The light features were amazing and came in handy since her husband loved firing up the grill just before the sun starts to set. Our tester also liked the large readout and the size, which was perfect for not getting lost inside a cluttered kitchen drawer.
#3 – ThermoPro Remote Wireless Digital Thermometer
This is a fantastic instant read thermometer. It helps take all the guesswork out of cooking by making sure your meals are prepared expertly every time. This is the best choice for you to monitor the status of your meat correctly, while you can sit back and relax. With this nifty gadget, you no longer have to go back and forth from the kitchen to the patio just to check on your grilling food. Instead, all you need to do is to stay within a handy distance of up to 300 feet away.
All ThermoPro products come with dual-probe technology. This allows you to check on two different barbecues or utilize one sensor to work as an oven probe. The probe can also read the temperature of the air surrounding the food.
If your meat needs to be cooked to a particular temperature, then this product can handle that. All you need to do is to set it to your preferred temperature. Once it reaches its goal, it will send you an alert with beeps and flashes. No risk of overcooking!
What We Like About It:
Initially, our tester thought this was a disappointment as her first ThermoPro instant read thermometer didn’t work properly as she would have liked. The company sent her an apology and a replacement thermometer for free. The results were just astounding! According to her, it was an easy setup and gave very accurate results.
The product also came with its own set of batteries, which was wonderful. What makes it even better was that the batteries required by this thermometer are not those hard-to-find round batteries that you need to purchase at a special store.
#4 – OXO Good Grips Instant Read Thermometer
The OXO Good Grips Instant Read Meat Thermometer gives the best, most accurate measurements in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. All you have to do is to stick the probe inside the meat until it reaches the shaded area. Then, the probe’s quick-responding metal coil will give off a fast temperature readout on the screen of the product. The screen is a pivoting head that allows you to read the temperature quickly from whatever angle you choose.
Reading the results is also easy because the screen is so large. You can browse through temperatures at any angle. In case you want any more convenience, there’s also a manual included that lists all of the temperature guidelines from professional chefs, as well as the USDA.
What We Like About It:
The thermometer was able to provide solutions to two of our tester’s cooking problems this Thanksgiving. The first was the speed of the results, and the second was calculating the correct cooking temperatures for the turkey.
This product did well to measure the temperature of her roasted meats, such as turkey and steak. After receiving the new OXO Good Grips Instant Read Meat Thermometer as a replacement for an older version of the same product, our tester started using it on her other dishes, as well. The numbers on the screen of the product were large and easy to read.
#5 – Taylor Precision Products Thermometer/Timer
This is an excellent combination of a timer and a thermometer. Utilizing a thermometer for food ensures that your dishes are cooked at and to the perfect temperatures and that your oven has been set to bake it at a particular temperature. Taylor thermometers are perhaps the secret to perfect cooking. They have always been considered one of the best companies when it comes to food thermometers, having been around for over 150 years.
The thermometer can withstand temperatures of around 32°F to 212°F. The stainless-steel probe has a length of four inches and is tethered with a silicone-based cord. This allows you to check your food without having to take it out of the oven.
What We Like About It:
This thermometer was so easy to use that the tester decided to purchase two more – one for his grandmother and another for his mother-in-law. He particularly enjoyed the alert timer, which informed him that the food he cooked had reached the desired temperature. This is a great tool for baking meat in the oven or grilling outside, and the attractive appearance of the product was a bonus.
#6 – Cuisinart CSG-625 Infrared Surface Thermometer
The Cuisinart CSG-625 Infrared Surface Thermometer has an excellent infrared feature. It’s perfect for instances in which the surface temperature of your food matters more than the internal temperature. In those cases, an infrared-based instant read thermometer will do the trick. Plus, this thermometer can take the temperature of your grill, which includes the grill grates, a built-in pizza stone, oven walls, and a cast-iron frying pan. It also lets you measure the outside temperature of your grill, in case you need to touch it without using a pair of heat-resistant gloves.
The product is also excellent for refrigerators or freezers, such as in situations where you want to check the temperature but find it too cold to do so. It will tell you if your chilled foods are still cold enough and whether they will still last for a while. One of the best features of this product was the built-in laser light that allows you to target the point in your fridge or oven that you want to check the temperature of. The product has an LCD screen readout with a backlight, allowing you to see the results quickly. Additionally, the thermometer has an incredibly wide range of temperature sensitivities, ranging from -58°F to 716°F.
What We Like About It:
The tester was lucky enough to receive this device before the Christmas rush began. After he had received it and removed it from the box to use, he later discovered that three of the LEDs on transmitters of the product didn’t work. As a result, the device couldn’t read the temperature found on the transmitter, but he could still read the temperature found on the product’s receiver.
Therefore, he ended up calling the company behind the product, and in response, they asked him for his shipping address and sent him a replacement unit. This is proof that Cuisinart has nothing but excellent customer service when it comes to their products.
As for the product itself, he was able to measure the temperature inside his grill along with the internal temperature of the food that he was cooking. The product was very easy to use, and it only took him a minute to set it up and synchronize with his oven. He was able to cook an amazing pot roast as the temperature read by the thermometer was very accurate.
#7 – ThermoPro 5-Sec Instant Read Thermometer
This is the slimmest thermometer on our list, but it still offers plenty of features as a larger instant thermometer would – pretty handy for something as slim as a pen. It can measure temperatures from -58°F to 572°F with a pure accuracy of 0.9°F in between 32°F and 212°F. In addition, it can display temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. To prolong the battery of the product life, it turns off automatically after 10 minutes.
To control the thermometer, you need to find two buttons on the back. One of them is the main on/off switch for the product, while the other one is for converting the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius and vice-versa. There is a split ring found on the handle of the thermometer, allowing it to be hung on a hook. There’s also an accompanying sheath that keeps the probe well-protected while it’s stored. The product contains a plastic-based handle, while the remainder of its body is stainless steel.
What We Like About It:
This just so happened to be our tester’s very first digital thermometer. He found it very nifty and easy to use, especially for a newbie like him. He loved the fact that the temperature could be changed between Fahrenheit and Celsius with the simple push of a button.
The product is so easy to use and quick to set up, especially when you’re roasting some brisket in the oven or grilling chicken on the back patio. He had also used it on roast turkey and beef, and it never disappointed him. At first, he was quite hesitant about taking the turkey out after the thermometer beeped, for fear that it might end up being undercooked, but the turkey was perfectly fine. The only con to this thermometer was that the screen was a tad bit too small.
#8 – Habor 022 Instant Read Thermometer
An instant read thermometer might be great for meat, but the Habor 022 Instant Read Thermometer, in particular, can handle your baking needs, as well. Instead of relying on your ears and fingers to check if your loaf of bread is done, checking its internal temperature can serve as a more dependable way for you to figure out exactly when it’s ready to come out of the oven.
But there’s more – starting with measuring the temperature of water used to proof your yeast, to checking every 5 minutes to see if your blueberry muffins are done, to tasting a freshly-made batch of Greek yogurt, this product would be of great use to you. The probe of the thermometer is lengthier than usual, which will allow you to get right to the middle of a large loaf of bread. It will also show off the right temperature for the bread within 6 seconds and can read temperatures from -58°F to 572°F, making it an excellent cooking thermometer, as well.
The on/off switch makes the product very easy to use, as it offers a function that automatically switches the thermometer off when it has been idle for 10 minutes. Like the previous entry, this pencil-thin thermometer has its sheath to protect the probe (and your fingers) while it’s in storage.
What We Like About It:
Our tester had to spend a couple of bucks ($80, to be precise!) just so he could use this thermometer for cooking a steak dinner. However, there were some benefits: it was able to help him out in determining whether the steak was perfectly done. According to him, it hit the mark, and he was wholly impressed by what it can do. He even likes to show it off to his guests while he prepares the meals.
He was very thankful that he followed the glowing reviews that came with this thermometer. Compared to his old meat thermometer and even a glass thermometer, Habor’s thermometer was the most accurate. He also found it simple and easy to use.
#9 – Alpha Grillers Instant Read Thermometer
If you have been grilling for a long time, then you’re pretty aware of the fact that the best time to fire up that grill is at nighttime or late afternoon. Alpha Grillers’ Instant Read Meat Thermometer makes roasting your favorite food so much easier, thanks to the tiny backlight. The backlight makes the temperature easy to read, even in the dark of the night. This thermometer is also super easy to use. It switches on automatically as soon as you unfold the probe, so you no longer need to poke around the product to look for a switch. To turn it off, you simply have to fold the probe back down again.
This product is good for holding up the displayed temperature, which means that you no longer have to lean too close towards a hot grill to check what the temperature is. At the same time, you can also adjust the thermometer, so it will show either the maximum or minimum temperature that your food carries.
The probe itself is completely waterproof. As a result, you don’t have to worry about splashes or steam damaging it or having to cook during a light rain shower. The product also comes with a cooking guide that tells you more about the right cooking temperatures that fit the meat you’re grilling. This way, you won’t need to remember the correct temperature to cook your steak at, in case you want a well-done steak or a medium-rare one. The thermometer can read from -58°F up to 572°F, making it applicable for all of your cooking needs.
What We Like About It:
We purchased this product as a Christmas present for several of our family members. After our tester acquired one of these, she was a tad bit disappointed because it was larger than she expected. She sent the company an email, telling them that she was thinking about sending it back. In response, Alpha Grillers told her to try it for at least a month, and if she still wasn’t content, she could send it back to them for a full refund.
One feature that she liked in it was that it switched off automatically when you slide the probe back into the body. It works much quicker in comparison to other instant read thermometers, and it has a decent size that allows it to check the meat’s temperature while it’s on the grill without burning your hands or fingers. The probe only leaves a tiny hole in the meat that is barely noticeable.
#10 – SMARTRO ST59 Instant Read Thermometer
Smoking beef or brisket is a long and slow process, so you probably shouldn’t open up your barbecue or smoker while the meat cooks. This is because you’re releasing that flavorful smoke along with the heat, which will take a while to get back.
The SMARTPRO ST59 Instant Read Food Thermometer allows you to check the temperature of your meat even while it’s kept inside the grill, so you can monitor the whole cooking process without opening the smoker. The wire and probe can withstand temperatures from 32°F to 482°F, so it won’t sustain damage from the smoker’s heat. However, this product should never be used over an open flame.
What We Like About It:
This thermometer was incredible when paired together with a grill or smoker. It’s got eight types of preset meats, including veal, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and burger. It’s also excellent for cooking steaks. In addition, there are five types of preset temperatures, which correspond to the five types of steak doneness: well-done, medium-well, medium, medium-rare, and rare.
Our tester managed to cook his food to the correct temperature and doneness every time. He also liked that the thermometer was very easy to clean up after each use. All you have to do is to rinse the probe with soap and water and then wipe it off gently with a damp cloth.
So now that you’re familiar with the ten best instant read thermometers and timers this 2021, you can now make a more informed decision on which one to pick. Also, we recommend that you take good care of your thermometer, so you can continue to prepare the most delicious meals at the correct temperatures. Hopefully, our collection of the top 10 instant read thermometers and timers this year can help you make the most suitable decision for your exact needs.
Do You Need An Instant Read Thermometer?
Technically they might serve the same purpose, but meat thermometers and instant read thermometers are two very different products. Accuracy is key to cooking food properly, and there’s always an ideal choice of thermometer for use in various situations.
Apart from checking the temperature of your food as it cooks, thermometers can provide an accurate indication of what’s happening inside your fridge, freezer, oven, or grill. Sometimes, your oven will tell you that your food is ready to be served, when in fact, it’s not. Using a thermometer will give you peace of mind, so your meats and other foods will all be safely cooked to perfection every time.
Having determined that using an instant read thermometer and timer is critical for a successfully-cooked meal, we now want to touch on how we finalized our top 10 list.
How We Chose the Best Instant Read Thermometer?
Our first step was to check out Amazon’s best-seller list for this specific product. Also, we looked into other commonly used shopping sites recommended by grill masters and home cooks alike. We took note of the top contenders on each of these lists to find the most popular brands and models of instant read thermometers and timers right now.
Next, we showed this shortlist to our family, friends, and colleagues and even sought opinions from grilling and home cooking forums online. We asked them for their perceptions, thoughts, and comments – taking special note of those who have used or are currently using the instant read thermometers and timers in our collection at this point.
As we collected and evaluated their contributions, we produced a checklist of the most pertinent aspects to remember as you shop around for the best instant read thermometers and timers this year. You can find this checklist in the final section of this collection, so be sure to keep those items in mind while you take a closer look at the products we have featured here.
After that, we used the checklist and the feedback that we gathered from our networks as we thoughtfully studied the reviews and ratings left by other buyers on Amazon and the other online shopping platforms. Our objective at this point was to compare and contrast the positive and negative aspects of each of the products on the list. In short, we did our due diligence to bring you the most factual and honest reviews to assist you in making the most informed decision.
Next, we used all data that we collected at this point to trim our shortlist down to the top 10 instant read thermometers and timers of 2021. We also determined testing guidelines, procedures, and evaluation methods using the same information.
To receive the most accurate information from our testers, we chose to form a team with a combination of grill masters, home cooks, foodies, and foodies. We mixed and matched a variety of skill sets and experience levels to represent as many groups as possible during our testing. Ultimately, this means we don’t just only ask the best of the best in professionals for their input. Instead, our team is composed of our fellow kitchen lovers as well, to involve a wide range of abilities and expertise ranging from beginner to expert.
Finally, we asked our team to test each of the products in our collection of the ten best instant read thermometers and timers this 2021. We took careful records of their results, and after compiling a substantial amount of data, we began employing our evaluation methods.
Perhaps it is still challenging for you to choose the most suitable product, even after being presented with a carefully curated list of the ten best instant read thermometers and timers this year. To further help you out, we believe you should be able to identify relevant factors that can make or break your experience in using these thermometers for your regular home cooking and grilling needs. Therefore, we’re here to help you out in this regard. Found below is a checklist of these important factors. We recommend that you keep these things in mind while you’re browsing through our roundup of the top 10 instant read thermometers and timers this 2021.
Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Instant Read Thermometer
Price
When selecting an instant read thermometer and timer for your cooking and grilling needs, a critical factor is a price. For connoisseurs of the grill, perhaps spending close to $100 on a thermometer is an absolute necessity for making that flawless medium-rare steak on the grill. However, for the practical and typical home cook, there are other living costs that are considered more important than investing a large sum of money in a thermometer for food. However, skimping out on cost can also reduce the quality of the product received. It’s a thin line to walk, so be sure to review our top 10 list;
Durability
The durability of an instant read thermometer and timer is perhaps even more important than the cost. The probe on these units is being inserted into tremendously hot ovens and grills and into meats with a similar temperature. If the components of the product are not strong enough to withstand repeated use in high-temperature environments, then the product will surely fail within a short time. Luckily, all the products in our top 10 best instant thermometers and timers list are of excellent quality stainless steel. While some parts of the products may be plastic, such as the body or handle, the stainless steel probes are built to take the heat;
Size
Maybe surprisingly so, size plays a significant role for many thermometer users. One aspect of the size that matters is the user’s ability to read the display. If you have to fumble with your reading glasses in front of a blazing oven just to read the temperature, then that thermometer is not for you. Some thermometers solve this problem by speaking to you or adding a backlight, but this is an important consideration to make. Another aspect of the size that is important to users is how bulky and unwieldy the product is to hold. When you feel like you’re melting in front of your open grill as you try to manage an overly large thermometer, you will wish you took size into consideration. Finally, sometimes a larger size is exactly what you need. For instance, if you have to open a 400°F oven to measure the inside of a 20lb turkey, you will not want to have to get too close. A long probe and an overall larger thermometer will help keep you a safe distance away; and
Speed
Everything in our world is at our fingertips and needs to be instantaneous. We simply do not have enough time to stand around waiting anymore! When it comes to measuring the temperature of your food, this is no exception. Again, when opening a hot oven or grill, you don’t want to wait around for too long to get a reading. Preferably, a reading within just a few seconds would be ideal. Also, if you are cooking a delicate recipe, perhaps you don’t have a couple of minutes to wait for the thermometer to acclimate to a new temperature because, at that point, the dish could already be ruined. Keep in mind the speed of the instant read thermometer and timer that you select as your read through our top 10 list.
These are the most relevant aspects that you should always keep in mind while you’re taking a close look at any product in our selection of the ten best instant read thermometers and timers this 2021. You’re also advised to learn about our step by step process for finalizing our collection. This will provide you with useful ideas on how to carefully compare and contrast the most salient features of each product in our roundup. When you consider these factors while perusing our list, you are so much more likely to find the best thermometer to suit your needs. In addition, it will take you no time at all to identify the perfect fit when you remember to consider these factors. We wish you the best of luck in choosing the right product for your kitchen as you look through our selection of the top 10 best instant read thermometers and timers this year!