I’m a lover of scary movies, but there is no horror more terrifying to me than serving undercooked chicken to my friends and family. And I roast a chicken every week, so it’s an ongoing fear. Fortunately knowing the difference between a perfectly roasted chicken and one that’s pink in the center is as easy as using an instant-read thermometer to temp the bird before pulling it from the oven.
For the past 20 years, first as a professional chef and now as a recipe developer, I have relied on a digital thermometer to keep me on the right side of doneness when cooking everything from chicken to bread to Thanksgiving turkey. But choosing a good digital thermometer can be a bit confusing. The variables — probe sizes, display brightness, speed, and, of course, accuracy — are often very similar among comparable models. So, I put some of the best thermometers on the market, recommended by Kitchn editors, through their paces over three tests to measure speed, accuracy, and usability to find the best instant read thermometer for every kind of cook.
The Best Overall: Thermapen One
The Thermapen One is the gold standard in digital thermometers. The design is sleek, with no unnecessary buttons or controls, and it’s available in 10 vibrant colors, so you can find one to match your kitchen or your vibe. The thermometer probe tucks into the body of the thermometer and rotates 180°, which makes temping food in the oven easier and safer, and the display is easy to read at any angle because the numbers rotate as the thermometer moves.
In both the ice water and boiling water tests, the Thermapen One delivered consistent, precise readings in just one second. When you’re working with ingredients that cook quickly and require constant temping, that kind of speedy accuracy is a big game-changer. As I used the Thermapen One thermometer to take the temperature of chicken thighs in the oven, I could easily hold it in either hand and see the results no matter where I stood in relation to the pan.
Pitmasters, grillers, home bakers, and candymakers: Folks who rely on their digital thermometers for the fastest possible results that are consistent, accurate, and precise will find the Thermepen One unbeatable.
The Best on a Budget: Thermomonster Instant-Read Thermometer
I struggled to find differences between this budget-friendly digital thermometer and the higher-priced options on the list. The Thermomonster Instant-Read Thermometer provided fast and reliably consistent results in both the ice water and boiling water tests. The 180° pivoting probe and 360° rotating display make the thermometer easy to use in a variety of conditions and with either hand — temping chicken thighs in a hot oven was fast and easy. I also really appreciated the magnetic back, which makes the thermometer easy to store on the fridge, where it’s close at hand for quick temp-taking needs. The biggest difference between the Thermomonster and our top pick is the warranty, which is just one year, compared with 5.
Budget-conscious home cooks and grillers who value speed, accuracy, and an intuitive design.
The Best for Left-Handed People: Tempro Lightning TP622
This thermometer easily holds its own compared with any thermometer on this list, regardless of their right- or left-handedness, but it’s specifically excellent for left-handed cooks because of the large, bright, rotating digital display. The textured surface makes the thermometer easy to grasp even with wet hands (and don’t worry — it’s waterproof). In the ice water and boiling water tests, this thermometer was consistently accurate, and in the usability test, the thermometer was extremely easy to operate. While it wasn’t quite as fast as the Thermapen One in every test, the differences were fractions of seconds — negligible for most applications.
Left-handed (or any-handed!) cooks who value accuracy, durability, and smart design.
How We Tested Instant Read Thermometers
Why You Should Trust Me as a Tester
I first started using digital thermometers as a culinary school student at Johnson and Wales in 2005, and it became a daily part of my job as a line cook for many years following that. Now, as an avid home cook and recipe developer, I use an instant-read thermometer often for temping meats, like roast chicken and steaks on the grill, and making confections around the holidays. As an active, formerly professional cook, I have used many instant-read thermometers over the years, so I know what to look for in terms of performance and practical needs.
What Makes the Best Instant Read Thermometer
Fast, Accurate Results. An instant-read thermometer should provide results quickly and accurately so there’s no second-guessing. When it comes to cook times, minutes and seconds matter, so speed is definitely a virtue.
Easy to use and read. Visibility of the display is another important feature because it minimizes the margin of error, even in hot or otherwise challenging situations. We looked for displays with bright backlighting, large, easy-to read numbers, and a rotating display so temperature could easily be read from any angle.
Durability. For active cooks, finding a digital thermometer that can stand up to daily use is important. The best of this bunch all felt sturdy and durable.
