Meat Thermometers

Restaurant Meat Thermometers: What You Need to Know

Neither a protein's texture nor color should be the only indicator of whether it's safe and ready to serve. Only by checking an item's internal temperature can you determine if it has reached its proper serving temperature. That's why a cooking thermometer is vital to serving guests consistently cooked and safe-to-eat steaks, burgers, chops, and filets. Simple, dial-type mechanical thermometers are affordable enough that you can provide every cook in your kitchen with his or her own. They're fairly easy to calibrate but don't have quite the life expectancy of electronic alternatives.

The most precise readings are provided by digital meat thermometers. Those range from simple pocket thermometers to highly dependable thermocouples with detachable probes that quickly report temperatures. For checking surface temperatures, an infrared meat thermometer is quick and easy to use, though it can't tell you the exact temperature at the center of a cut of meat.

Common Questions About Meat Thermometers

Is a meat thermometer worth it?

If your digital meat thermometer catches even one case of undercooked meat, it will have paid for itself many times over. This holds especially true for restaurants, as food poisoning can sicken your customers and cripple your business. Every foodservice operation should have a program in place to ensure each piece of meat is cooked thoroughly; a good meat thermometer makes this easy and fast.

What is a wireless meat thermometer?

Wireless meat thermometers take readings and broadcast them to a remote, so you can be alerted when your meat is ready without constantly monitoring it. The remote device measures both time and temperature, which can come in handy when you're trying to do more than one thing at a time – and in foodservice, that's always.