Comark Thermometers Buyers' Guide

When it comes to food safety, it's important to keep a close eye on the temperatures of food you store and cook. Food that lingers too long in the danger zone – the range from 41 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit – allows bacteria to multiply quickly, reaching unsafe numbers. Here you'll learn about available Comark thermometers that can help you keep food safe in your kitchen.

Cooking Thermometers

Cooking thermometers equip you to monitor temperatures of foods as they cook, ensuring they reach temperatures high enough to kill any bacteria that may be present. They can verify thawed or cooled food reaches the necessary temperature within the time constraints imposed by your regulatory authorities. Below are some types of cooking thermometers available from Comark.

Pocket thermometers all feature long, thin probes that are inserted into product, but how temperature is displayed varies. Dial displays have a round dial mounted to the top of the metal probe, with an indicator that rotates to point at the current temperature. Digital models instead have a round or oval piece on top of the probe that displays the temperature on a screen. Many come with a plastic sheath for the probe for safe carrying in a pocket. Another option available on some dial models is an espresso clip, which enables clipping on containers to measure espresso, hot water, or steamed milk temperatures.

Probe thermometers usually come in two parts: the handheld display and control, and the probe. There are two available types – thermocouples and thermistors. Thermocouples give the fastest temperature readout, normally in 2 to 5 seconds. They also can be calibrated for accurate readings over time, but they can be more expensive. Thermistors take about 10 seconds to read a temperature. While they're sometimes more economical, not all models can be calibrated in the field, which means you'll have to purchase a new one or service your old one if it loses its accuracy.¹

Thermometer probes sometimes are sold separately, enabling you to find the probe shape that best suits your needs. Probes come in different thicknesses and lengths; some are made to pierce food, while others are intended for surface temperature readings. There are specialty probes, such as corkscrew probes for frozen foods and weighted grill probes to check grill or griddle surface temperatures.

Infrared thermometers, also called temperature guns, are another useful option for commercial kitchens. This type of thermometer uses infrared light to measure temperatures of items it's aimed at without physically touching them. This type of thermometer can only measure surface temperature, so it can't be used to discern if meat is safe to serve. However, it is useful for measuring the temperature of grill grates, griddle plates, hot oil, or liquid that isn't yet boiling; the vapor of boiling liquids may be measured instead of the liquid.

Refrigerator Thermometers

Storing refrigerated or frozen food at the proper temperature is just as important as thoroughly cooking it. Most commercial refrigeration units come with built-in thermometers, but it's always a good idea to have separate thermometers in each refrigerator and freezer to ensure accurate readings. There are several types of refrigerator thermometers to choose from, so you can find the perfect fit for your food safety needs.

Dial thermometers, as their name suggests, use a dial to display temperature. Some are available in easy-to-see formats with large or bold numbers, and some have color-coded zones so you can see at a glance whether your refrigerator or freezer holds a safe temperature. These thermometers are made to hang, stand, or adhere to the unit's wall with adhesive or a magnet. Some thermometer models can change between two or more of these placement options.

Tube-style thermometers are made to resemble traditional mercury thermometers; instead, their tube is filled with a nontoxic spirit such as ethanol or isoamyl acetate. These displays sometimes use bold numbers for legibility. Similar to dial thermometers, these can hang, stand, or adhere to the unit wall.

The most versatile type of refrigerator thermometer is a digital thermometer. Digital refrigerator thermometers feature a digital display that mounts outside the refrigerator or freezer with a probe attached to a lead that constantly reads the temperature within the unit. Some also can read humidity, collecting and saving temperature data to simplify meeting HACCP data collection guidelines.

Some thermometers can connect to a computer wirelessly or via USB to relay data it's collected at programmed intervals, sending an alert to an email if temperatures fall below the designated threshold. Depending on the transmission rate, the battery must be charged every 3 months to 1 year.

Specialty Temperature Safety Devices

Comark also makes several specialty thermometers to maintain food safety. One of these is a Comark EVT2 Multi-Use Transport Logger, which can track food temperatures as product is transported. This model saves recorded information to a computer. A data logger such as this can be handy for shipping or delivery companies, catering businesses, or any foodservice operation that tracks food temperature as it thaws or chills.

Another specialty option is a meat thermometer. These are pocket-size, dial-style thermometers that, instead of having numbers encircling the dial, only feature vital numbers with labels for what they mean. These thermometers often include safe cooking temperatures for items such as beef, poultry, pork, and lamb. This style of thermometer can come in handy for inexperienced cooks who may not have safe cooking temperatures memorized.

1. Kitchen Thermometers USDA. Accessed October 2015.