Do you like your steak rare? Medium-rare? Medium or well-done? Imagine working in a classy steakhouse and ending up serving well-done steak to a guest who specifically asked for medium-rare. Now, to avoid these embarrassing mishaps, you’re advised to get a meat thermometer.
Using a meat thermometer while grilling or roasting meat is a fantastic way to ensure that your food ends up with the right taste and texture, without exerting too much effort. It doesn’t matter if what you’re cooking is steak, turkey, pork, or another classic meat. If you end up utilizing a good meat thermometer to cook your food, then you’ll be able to quickly and easily check the internal temperature of the meat. This can significantly help you avoid serving dry and overcooked (or dangerously undercooked) food.
There were plenty of strong contenders for our roundup, but in the end, we had to narrow it down to the ten best meat thermometers this year.
To rank this list in order, we had to check for the following: ease of use, fast response, the accuracy of the temperature, pricing, and how precise the readings were. Sometimes people tire of trying to guess whether their roasts have fully cooked to their preference, and as a result, use things like fingers or toothpicks instead. Using a meat thermometer will help our readers gain plenty of confidence in the kitchen.
Best Meat Thermometer Review Center
| Image | Meat Thermometer | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | #1 - Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo Meat Thermometer | 99% |
 | #2 - Polder Instant Read Kitchen Thermometer | 98% |
 | #3 - Thermoworks Thermopop Super-Fast Thermometer | 95% |
 | #4 - CDN DT 450x Digital Pocket Thermometer | 93% |
 | #5 - OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Thermometer | 91% |
 | #6 - Char-Broil Instant-Read Digital Thermometer | 90% |
 | #7 - OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Meat Thermometer | 89% |
 | #8 - Maverick Bluetooth Wireless Remote Meat Thermometer | 87% |
 | #9 - Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4 Thermometer | 85% |
 | #10 - Polder Deluxe Preset Oven Cooking Thermometer | 83% |
We carefully hand-picked each of these ten best meat thermometers. We finalized our list through extensive research, thorough testing procedures, and unbiased evaluation systems.
We packaged the most relevant data that we were able to collect from both our extensive research, thorough testing, and unbiased evaluation procedures in a format that’s quick and easy to absorb. This way, you’ll be able to find it simple to identify the most suitable set of meat thermometers for your exact purposes. Dive right in:
#1 – Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo Meat Thermometer
The Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo occupies the top spot on our list as it is the most powerful meat thermometer we have tried. It is known to be reliable and accurate, and can give you results in a maximum of 3 seconds. Sometimes, other meat thermometers will only give you accuracy OR reliability – not with the Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo. It’s got a pretty innovative design to it – with a 2-inch display screen that showcases a 360° clarity to the screen. It automatically spins and rotates around, showing the results to you depending on how you hold the product.
The Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo has a very intelligent stabilization alert, which informs you through a series of beeps when your food has been cooked. You can also choose between Celsius and Fahrenheit, depending on what you prefer. Also included is a sleep function. There’s an instruction manual included with the product which tells you which button is which. While they are not labeled, they are pretty easy to determine. Also, the product has an excellent build to it – not to mention its dust-resistant, and splash-resistant features.
What We Like About It:
When we said that this meat thermometer was one of the best of the bunch, we weren’t kidding. A lot of us are into grilling and roasting and have tried many meat thermometers – some good and some bad. The batteries for the Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo are inexpensive and can be changed in a flash. We never experienced any issues while using this during a cookout with our families. The backlight is also very helpful, as it is small, light, and quite easy to use. There is also a tiny magnet embedded on its side, which makes it very easy to stick the product to the side of our ovens, in case we need to do a quick grab-and-test.
#2 – Polder Instant Read Kitchen Thermometer
Out of all of the entries on our list, this meat thermometer is the one with the longest probe. This makes it much easier for you to retrieve an accurate and safe reading on your roasting meat, all while it’s still cooking inside the oven. This thermometer is very nifty since programming the meat, and doneness is very easy and will even recommend the temperature you should cook the meat to. Its backlit display makes the numbers and measurements so much easier to read, and the handle of the thermometer also has a firm grip, making it very comfortable to hold. You can even move it around without getting too close to the oven or the food.
Besides, you can fold down the thermometer and accompanying probe when it’s not in use, allowing you to store it in much more convenient ways. The probe cover also includes an entire assortment of cooking temperatures for meat, as recommended by the USDA. The device also allows you to measure temperatures for your meats while you’re standing outside of your grill or your oven, and it can determine the temperature of your meat in around 8 seconds.
What We Like About It:
If we’re honest, this product was hard to find in stores. However, thankfully we found it, and it works great! We love the brilliant red color that came with the thermometer, as well as the long probe. We all have different preferences regarding how we want our meat prepared, so instead of just relying on chance, we decided to use this Polder meat thermometer the next time we cooked. It works amazingly. Not only did it respond very quickly to determining the temperature of the meat, but it runs on AAA batteries, instead of those tiny, round ones that are tricky to find.
#3 – Thermoworks Thermopop Super-Fast Thermometer
This is unique – it features a rotating display meat thermometer. Thermoworks has done it again and created a very nice product. The Thermopop was created with professional chefs and barbecue fans in mind. The thermometer comes with its pen-like carrying case, where you can easily keep the product and not injure yourself with the sharp probe while it’s not in use. There’s a simple button found on the thermometer that allows it to rotate and show off the measurements at any angle.
You can read the measurements in either one of your hands, or even while it’s upside down – any angle that makes it convenient. The screen is also huge, with a backlight screen in case you need to cook at night. There’s also an option for you to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius. The buttons and molded-in seals make it splash-proof, while the strong and durable construction of the product makes its lifespan twice as long when compared to other meat thermometers. It can read the temperature in less than 4 seconds, as well as handle temperatures of up to 572°F/300°C.
What We Like About It:
Our tester thinks that this is one of the best meat thermometers on the market today. It works very quickly, and it gives nothing but accurate results. The rotating display is also a nice touch – whenever he decides to fire up the grill to make brisket, sometimes it might be difficult to know the correct angle to get an accurate reading of the meat’s temperature. However, thanks to Thermopop’s rotating feature, the numbers always show right-side up. The backlight is also a great feature, especially when you start cooking during the early hours of the evening.
#4 – CDN DT 450x Digital Pocket Thermometer
CDN’s range of meat thermometers has been trusted for so many years. The DT 450x is no different. This product is fully responsive and accurately shows the temperature of your meat in easy-to-read numbers. This product, in particular, has been a staple of many kitchen cabinets and culinary kits for decades. It also switches between Fahrenheit and Celsius right away – no fancy buttons, so you won’t have to wait for a while for it to load. The tip of the probe is also very sharp and can pierce right through the meat quite easily.
This product also has a comfortable grip. It provides you with a balanced and very slim design. If you work in the culinary industry, you can safely tuck this into your chef jacket’s front pocket – just don’t forget to tuck away the probe. Also attached is a clip that can be placed on an apron, so it won’t slip out while you’re busy flitting around the bustling kitchen or are bent over a large, hot entrée.
What We Like About It:
Our tester purchased this little device for his wife, who works as a cook in a hotel. She loved it so much that she ended up storing away their bulky, old digital meat thermometer they had been using for quite some time. Not only is CDN’s thermometer excellent to use in a professional cooking environment, but it also works nicely at home, as well. It offers an excellent quality build to it and reads the temperature very quickly.
#5 – OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Thermometer
Grilling and cooking your meat should be easy. You should not have to wait in front of an oven or barbecue and try to guess if your dinner is ready or not. It doesn’t matter whether you want to prepare beef, burgers, ham, pork, chicken, or even lamb; this particular meat thermometer will do all of the work for you. You can acquire nothing but the most convenient regarding the types of readings for various kinds of meat. Just insert the probe inside the meat, and the product’s probe, which is composed of stainless-steel, can oversee its roasting temperatures.
Even though certain meat thermometers – especially older versions – can be dangerous when you leave them inside the grill or oven, OXO Good Grips’ digital meat thermometer contains a very long probe with a cord that stays inside your meat while it’s roasting. There’s also a highly secure and safe storage space found inside the thermometer that’s meant to be the probe’s storage place. There’s also additional heat-resistant space for the thermometer’s cord to wrap around, if necessary, for your meal.
What We Like About It:
Our tester used this while preparing a pot roast for Christmas dinner. She found the thermometer very easy to use, and it was also affordable. One of her favorite things about the product was the 10-degree warning that tells her the food was ready before it started burning or became overcooked. The length of the product’s cord was also long enough not to interfere with the oven door. Overall, she was very impressed with what this tiny meat thermometer could accomplish.
#6 – Char-Broil Instant-Read Digital Thermometer
Another small yet accurate meat thermometer on our list — The Char-Broil Instant-Read Digital Thermometer is an instant-read digital thermometer like its name describes. It has the ability to provide you with the most accurate temperature readings in over 10 seconds. It also features an auto-off option, in case you forget to switch it off after using, as well as an accurate measurement of doneness levels for up to 7 types of meat. Besides, it’s also multilingual. Plus, an alarm also goes off once the meat has reached your desired temperature.
The product has an easy-to-read LCD backlit screen, while the probe itself is constructed from stainless steel. You can fold the thermometer away for quick and easy storage, as well as to look at various kinds of measurement angles. If you purchase the product directly from the company’s official website, you can send it back to them in 30 days, or feel free to call them or send them an email in case you have queries regarding how the thermometer works.
What We Like About It:
This is a meat thermometer that performs and does its trick with minimal effort. Not only was it easy and quick to set up, but it was also very easy to clean up and store away. Our tester purchased this as a replacement for an old meat thermometer he had been using, which provided him with inaccurate and slow results. His old probe was too thick and left an awkward hole in the meat sometimes. Char-Broil’s probe was slim enough and easily pierced the meat. He also loved the handiness of the product’s preset feature and the quick results it produced.
#7 – OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Meat Thermometer
One of these thermometer’s standout features is its three-inch dial. This means you no longer have to squint and peer through the oven if you want to check the temperature of your meat to see if it’s done. The product is also quite easy to hold. One of its features is a probe cover that helps protect the tip and your fingers before storing it. Sometimes people aren’t careful enough and end up pricking themselves with the probe, but the cover protects those vulnerable parts. The temperatures that this product shows are all recommended temperatures for various meats, which were implemented by the USDA.
The arrow found on the thermometer provides you with a quick and easy way to accurately know the type of meat you’re currently cooking, as well as its current temperature. There’s also a shaded section found on the probe, which tells you if you have inserted it deep enough. This thermometer can accurately show off the internal temperature of your cooked meats with ease, and it offers both Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature readings. Meanwhile, its bi-metallic, quick-responding coil gives you an accurate temperature reading in less than 3 seconds.
What We Like About It:
We have to say that this thermometer is a must-have for aspiring and professional chefs. It’s excellent if you want to prepare roasted turkey, chicken, steaks, etc. At first, we were hesitant about using this because of the handful of reviews that told us that this thermometer’s readings were inaccurate. However, it turned out to be the other way around. We were pleasantly surprised at how quick it managed to calculate our food’s temperature. The measurements are super accurate, as well, and resulted in a perfectly roasted glazed ham for dinner. We chose to insert the probe inside the ham after the first sear, especially after placing it on top of direct heat.
#8 – Maverick Bluetooth Wireless Remote Meat Thermometer
Do you plan on tucking into a delicious barbecue meal without having to stand over the grill, waiting for it to cook? Then the Maverick Bluetooth Wireless Remote Meat Thermometer is the best product for you. This device is Bluetooth-compatible, and you can even download an app to connect it to your smartphone. The app lets you do other things, all while keeping a close watch on your roast or barbecue. You can also utilize this as a stand-alone readout or even pair it up with the smartphone in case you want to do a bit of a remote operation, instead.
The app ensures that you won’t have to babysit your barbecue ever again. Once your food is cooked, the thermometer will inform you through a series of beeps and alerts, so you won’t have to worry about flare-ups burning it. The product is equipped with two probes and can track up to four slabs of meat on the grill. Every channel found on the product is also completely settable.
What We Like About It:
This is an excellent product if you’re very much into a barbecue and prefer cooking your meat there instead of in the oven. You no longer have to open up your grill or smoker to routinely check on your meat. The thermometer also helps keep your food cooking at its preferred temperature. Also, this thermometer works nicely as a Bluetooth device, but the downside here is that it’s got a limited range. That aside, though, it’s definitely worth the money, and it’s quite technologically advanced for a meat thermometer.
#9 – Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4 Thermometer
Already a good entry in the 10th spot, the Thermoworks Thermapen Mk4 Thermocouple comes in strong. This is an amazing meat thermometer that is foldable and compact, despite its already small size. You can store it easily inside your kitchen drawer, and it also switches on the moment you unfold it for use. The thermometer contains a very thin probe, which you can easily pierce through even the toughest cut of beef. It will give you a quick and accurate measurement in less than 2 seconds. Not to mention, the huge screen guarantees that the temperature is easy to read and will provide you with a reading that measures to the tenth of a degree.
To prolong the thermometer’s battery life, all you need to do is to fold it back to switch it off. In case you’re in a hurry, and you forget to do that, then not to worry – it’ll switch off by itself after a couple of minutes. The advanced technology that this meat thermometer offers makes it much more intuitive, especially in comparison to its past versions. There’s also a backlight that allows you to read the temperature easily if the thermometer is utilized inside a dark place.
What We Like About It:
The person who tested out this product says that it managed to deliver all of the benefits said to have come with it. Not only was this thermometer fast when it came to showing the temperature, but it was also very handy to use. One of their favorite features was the thermometer’s rotating display – they didn’t have to crank their head to read what was written on the product. The thermometer was also mostly used during a barbecue party, and it never experienced a single malfunction.
#10 – Polder Deluxe Preset Oven Cooking Thermometer
So far, this thermometer is the one with the most features. There are literally so many buttons to push here, but not to worry, as all of them are super useful and important for determining the temperature of your food. All you need to do is to tell the thermometer what kind of meat you will be cooking, enter in the desired doneness, and this tiny gadget will do all of the work. You just need to sit back and relax, and it will let out a melodic alarm once the meat has reached the doneness and temperature of your choice. Meanwhile, a second alarm will ring out after you have let your meat rest for 3 minutes.
What’s great about this thermometer is that it also tells you whether your meat is undercooked or overcooked by at least 10 degrees. The product has a rather firm grip on the probe, which also has a very sharp tip. It also comes with a cord that measures a whopping 40 inches, which makes the thermometer lengthy enough to be able to rest on top of the counter safely while the probe is placed inside the oven. The gadget can also be folded up for easy storage. The screen is also big enough to provide easy reading.
What We Like About It:
Unfortunately, our tester’s Polder thermometer had a bit of a hiccup, so she wasn’t able to try out all of its functions. It wasn’t perfect, but it was still able to take accurate measurements of her prime rib dinner. She told us that it worked so much better in comparison to her previous meat thermometer, as well. The presets were also a huge help. They managed to help her relax a bit and not put in more effort into cooking than what she normally did. A helpful tip that she told us was to read the thermometer’s instruction manual carefully before you start using it.
To finish off our roundup, here are a few helpful tips for you when considering your choice of a meat thermometer, when you want to roast your meat perfectly:
Factors to Consider When Buying Best Meat Thermometer
Ease of Use
In our world filled with immediate gratification and convenience, naturally, we all desire tools that help make our lives easier and are easy to use. The meat thermometer of 2021 is no exception! As we hurry along with our dinner plans to get the process over with, we search for a tool that is as straight forward and painless as possible. Therefore, the easier to use, the better. Does it turn off as it is folded shut? Perfect. Does it measure in a matter of seconds, seeing as we’re in a big hurry? Awesome. Not to mention, does it fit neatly into our discretely organized kitchen drawer? Yes? Let me have another, please;
Fast Response
Again, in today’s day and age, we don’t have time to wait for 5 to 10 minutes for a thermometer to finally decide to calibrate to the temperature of its environment. If we can get ready in less than 10 seconds, we are happy. In less than 5 seconds, we are over the moon! Any way we can shave time off of our meal prep time is a saving grace;
Accuracy of the Temperature
We are not ones to mess around with the safety of our food. Particularly if we are serving guests, we do not have time to play with potential dangerously low temperatures in our entrées. When we are serving our meat-loving guests, we do not want salmonella or E. coli to enter the party at any point. For this reason, we are adamant about ensuring the proper temperature of our meats;
Pricing
As with any kitchen tool, most of us are conscientious about the price we pay. While we do not want to go cheap on a kitchen tool, like an ever-important meat thermometer, we also don’t want to go bankrupt over a basic item that everyone ought to keep in their kitchen drawer. While some professional chefs and grill connoisseurs may want the crème de la crème of a meat thermometer in their arsenal, the average home cook will be more than thrilled with one of the meat thermometers in our top 10 best meat thermometers of this 2021 list; and
Clarity of the Readings
Finally, no cook – whether an at-home expert or a real-life professional – wants to go without the ability to read the output of their meat thermometer. Few of us want to admit it, but the older we get, the less our eyesight favors our ability to read the display on a meat thermometer. If we get the chance to squint it out, when it’s far from the heat of the oven on a cord, per se, then we may have a fighting chance. The best scenario is a large display that even us middle-aged folks can read on a regular day!
Do You Need a Meat Thermometer?
When it comes to cooking, there’s nothing more frustrating than hoping your meat is fully cooked by holding the tip of your finger to the surface of the scorching piece of meat sitting on your grill or in your oven – only, to your dismay, to find that the meat is undercooked once it has been removed from heat and cut open. We’re certain that most of us have been in this situation, only to be left frustrated and hungry as our entrees go back onto the grill or into the oven to finish their cooking.
In addition to the practical aspect of needing a meat thermometer to ensure the proper cooking temperature of your foods, utilizing technology like a meat thermometer is also bound to impress your guests. The truth is that most people do not utilize meat thermometers when cooking – rather, they just “eyeball” it based on time, physical touch, or appearance. While you, on the other hand, are using a fancy meat thermometer – you will be all the rage amongst your friends, particularly after you serve them the most delicious and appropriately-cooked meal that they have ever experienced!
If cooking is your thing, then you’re most likely searching for a sharp top of the line meat thermometer. Don’t worry — The comprehensive details below quickly and simply breaks down the most relevant features, advantages, and benefits that we learned and experienced when using each of the top meat thermometers in our roundup.
The quick answer to this question is, yes — You need a suitable meat thermometer if you regularly prepare, cook, and serve a variety of recipes at home in your cozy kitchen. Although, you’re recommended to select the right set of meat thermometers for your particular needs. This way, you can be sure that each of the meat thermometers at your disposal will be suitable for preparing the entrées and serving the meals that you often cook for your loved ones and guests.
This is the reason we prepared this list of the top 10 best meat thermometers this year. We wanted a carefully curated list that we can use to make searching for the most suitable product much simpler and more effective. Keep these factors in mind while you browse through our selection of the ten best meat thermometers this 2021. You’ll find it faster and easier to spot the right product from our selection when you do remember to consider these factors.
Meat Thermometer Pros
Proper Cooking Temperature
When you choose one of the products found in our top 10 roundup of 2021 meat thermometers, you are bound to receive a top of the line thermometer that will accurately assess the internal temperature of the foods you have chosen to cook for the evening. Whether you are roasting a 25lb turkey, a couple of chicken legs, or a steaming heap of grilled veggies, you are going to need one of these meat thermometers to ensure the ideal cooking temperature as you finish off the delicious meals on your menu.
While vegetables can be eaten raw and do not necessarily need a specific temperature to be cooked, they will be much more delicious to your guests when you know the precise temperature they need to be to impress any foodies in your group. At the same time, you never want to undercook your chicken or other poultry, as everyone knows this can result in serious illnesses to go around. Even when you are cooking beef products, you’ll be thrilled to know when the medium-rare hunk of meat is ready for your picky guest to enjoy; and
Optimal “Cool” Factor
While cooking with a meat thermometer has a myriad of practical uses, arguably, the most important factor is how impressive you appear to your guests. Yes, indeed, most people do not utilize a meat thermometer when they cook their meat products, whether that be in the oven or on the grill. Instead, they choose to rely on a specific time spent cooking or the trusty, old finger-press, where the tip of the finger determines whether the temperature of the meat has reached an adequate temperature.
Now that it’s your turn, and you whip out a new-fangled meat thermometer, all your guests will be wowed. This amazement will become even more apparent when you serve up the exact dish requested by each of your guests, and their faces display pure joy as they consume the dish specially made for them.
Meat Thermometer Cons
Cost
The cost of new products in the home is always of serious consideration. Most of us cannot afford to spend tens of hundreds of dollars on anything, let alone once item that we’ve managed to go without for so many years. However, this piece of technology does not have to cost an arm and a leg. It may go without doing so, while also saving your life, by determining whether your meat is properly cooked every time.
The dangers of undercooked meat are many but not limited to Salmonella and Escherichia coli, which are some pretty dangerous bacterial infections. A simple measurement of the maximum temperature of your meat before you serve it could certainly save some stomach aches, not to mention some lives; and
Limited Versatility
A few of the meat thermometers in our selection are primarily optimized for preparing ingredients for very specific meats’ temperature ranges. Be certain to double-check the temperature at which the meat you intend to prepare or commonly prepare cooks at before purchasing a specific meat thermometer. Some thermometers have a limited temperature range, so take note and keep these in mind as you peruse our top 10 selection of meat thermometers for the year.
These are the most pertinent factors you should always remember as you’re taking a closer look at any product in our selection of the ten best meat thermometers this 2021. That’s because you’re bound to find the right meat thermometer much more quickly and for your exact needs when you gauge its overall value, the rankings found here. We wish you the best of luck in pinpointing the right product as you go through our roundup of the top 10 meat thermometers this year!