Anyone who ever cooked a steak knows how easy it is to go from medium rare to medium well. For a serious cooking enthusiast, an instant-read thermometer is a vital piece of kitchen equipment. Fortunately, today’s market offers a lot of options, suitable for everyone’s budget.
Although not the cheapest option out there, ThermoWorks Thermapen undoubtedly stands out from the competition. It has a clear digital display and delivers accurate temperature readings in an instant.
The precision and speed of this model can make the difference between ideally cooked and overdone. This is precisely what makes it worth the price.
However, if you’re unfamiliar with these kinds of devices, you simply won’t know whether to go for it or not. That’s where we come in – we’ll take a closer look at its features and help you determine if it’s the right grill accessory for your needs. In the following paragraphs, we’ll analyze the characteristics of Thermoworks Thermapen and try to figure out its advantages and flaws. Keep reading!
Info
This is a digital cooking thermometer manufactured by ThermoWorks (Utah).
Features:
- Very fast and accurate
- 2” LED screen
- Thermocouple sensor
- Wide range of temperature readings
- Long battery life
- Splash-proof body
- Thin probe
The purpose of this device is to provide a simple yet precise measurement of the food’s internal temperature.
Why Get It?
When it comes to the size, the Thermapen is as large as your average phone. Its measurements stand at 6.1″ x 1.85″ x 0.75“, and its weight at 3.4 ounces (0.2 pounds). As it comes in 15 different colors, everyone will be able to find one that complements his kitchen’s style. No matter which color you decide to go for, your model will have a gray band in the middle. It separates its back part from the frontal one.
The temperature probe, on the other hand, measures 4.5 inches. It’s connected to a durable sliding mechanism which keeps it closed or open. Although it offers 180 degrees of motion, you’ll probably be using at a 90° angle most of the time.
Just like most devices of this type, the Thermapen also has an LCD screen on its front side. Looking like your standard calculator screen, the numbers that it displays are large, clear, and very easy to read. The screen measures only 2 inches in size, but that’s more than enough for a gadget of this type.
One the back of the pen, you’ll find a secure battery compartment. It holds 2 coin cell batteries, which are, of course, replaceable. You won’t have to worry about replacing them anytime soon, however. The manufacturer states that they can power the device for at least 1,500 hours. Another thing worth mentioning here is that Thermapen is splash-proof. This means that it can be safely used with wet hands. It’s not dishwasher-safe, though.
An interesting thing about this model is that it has no physical buttons. To turn it on, all that the user needs to do is to swing the probe out. ThermoWorks Thermapen provides a temperature reading in only three seconds. You get an accurate result only moments after immersing the probe into the food – the model’s speed is indeed very impressive.
Thermocouple Sensor
Unlike the cheap models that use thermistor sensors, this model operates on a thermocouple sensor. The main advantage of this type of sensor is that it allows the probe to be much thinner. This also means that you won’t have to immerse the probe deep into the food to attain an accurate reading.
As it reads temperatures from -58.0 to 572.0°F, it has a significantly fuller range than the less expensive models. According to the manufacturer, it produces accuracies that are better than ±0.7°F. Moreover, each device is accompanied by a special certificate of calibration.
Ease of Use
An essential advantage of this digital cooking thermometer is how easy it is to use it. There’s no complex setup or any Bluetooth devices that you’re required to connect. As we said, all that it’s needed is a simple flick of a wrist to swing out the thin metal probe.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Fast and precise temperature readings
- Reads temperatures from -58.0 to 572.0°F
- No buttons
- Digital LED screen
- Available in 15 colors
- Thermocouple sensor
- 180 degrees of motion
- 1,500 hours battery life
- Splash-proof
- Overall 88%
CONS
- Expensive
Testimonials
“After a couple of months of using Thermapen, I can safely conclude that this is the best cooking thermometer I’ve ever used. Not only is it extremely easy to use, but it also provides highly accurate readings that allow me to cook my meals to perfection. I also like that it is splash-proof, as my hands are often wet in the kitchen”
As it has no physical buttons, the model is indeed very easy to use. Beginners will undoubtedly appreciate this kind of straightforward design.
What to Watch Out For
The price
As we already mentioned, Thermoworks Thermapen is an expensive piece of kitchen equipment. It is, therefore, unsuitable for those with a tight budget. However, the model’s high accuracy and excellent features undoubtedly make up for the price.
A Piece of Advice
This cooking thermometer gauges the temperature at the very tip of its thin probe. This makes it great for getting a read on something that’s relatively thin, such as the burger patty or ribs. In other words, you don’t have to poke big holes in meat whose temperature you’re testing, which is another plus.
Verdict
Finding a good thermometer for less money than Thermapen is extremely easy. For some cooks, such models will be completely fine. However, there’s almost no chance that you’ll find something that’s more accurate or faster in that price range.
Moreover, you’ll probably have to supplement your cheaper model with a candy thermometer, in order to be able to read very high temperatures.
For those with complex culinary repertoires, Thermoworks Thermapen is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment. Its large display, accuracy, and speed turn it into a vital kitchen tool for every serious cooking enthusiast.
