Having the best oven thermometer is the only reliable way to know what’s going on inside your oven. To get consistent, reliable results with any recipe you try, having the best oven thermometer is essential.
Your oven’s internal thermometer will only gauge the temperature of the location where it has been installed, which is typically an out-of-the-way spot in the side, front, or back of the oven box.
These spots can be subject to drafts or hot spots that make their temperature different from the oven’s center. Only the best oven thermometer can accurately tell you what the temperature is in the middle of the oven.
Buying the best oven thermometer to be used in your oven will allow you to overcome poorly cooked meals. Oven thermometers separate from your oven’s internal thermometer will allow you to more accurately track the temperature in the center of your oven and take out the guesswork that you might’ve had before in your cooking processes.
But not all oven thermometers are created equal. Below you’ll find a list of the best oven thermometers on the market today and a shopping guide to help you find the best oven thermometer.
Best Overall – Rubbermaid FGTHO550 Stainless-Steel Oven Thermometer
This Rubbermaid thermometer is the best oven thermometer overall because it’s been constructed with stainless steel. This provides you with years of use to provide you with the best experiences you’ll have cooking.
The temperature measuring system is marked clearly with easy to read temperatures. It’s 2 inches long by 4.55 inches wide, making it the perfect size for most ovens.
You’ll love about this oven thermometer its capability to display and keep track of temperatures with great precision.
This thermometer can be placed on the cooking rack or hung up in your oven. The lens on this oven thermometer is designed with high-quality materials and is unbreakable. This oven thermometer allows you to keep track of the temperatures inside your oven in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
This oven thermometer is highly recommended for any professional chefs or home cooks looking to improve their cooking results.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- NSF approved
- Displays temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius
- Handy
- Durable
- Accurate
Cons:
- Can be off by 25 degrees
Best Budget – Taylor Classic Large Dial Thermometer
Are you on the hunt for the best oven thermometer that’s also wireless? If so, then the Taylor Classic thermometer is the best solution for you. This thermometer has a 3.25-inch analog dial that gets you fast temperature results.
To ensure that you get to enjoy several years of excellent cooking, the Taylor thermometer has been made using corrosion-resistant and durable stainless steel. It’s designed to hang off the rack or stand on its own.
The glass lens lets you read the temperature without straining your eyes because the units are marked clearly for temperature tracking in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. You’ll love about this oven thermometer because it’s designed to work for all oven types.
Pros:
- NSF approved
- Accurate
- Tracks temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius
- Durable
- Clearly marked units of temperature
Cons:
- Can be off by 25 degrees
- Can stop working after the first use
Best Premium – AcuRite 00620A2 Stainless Steel Oven Thermometer
If you’re on the hunt for the best oven thermometer, AcuRite might be the best choice for you. Whether you’re broiling, warming, baking, or roasting, this oven thermometer will help you achieve your desired cooking results.
It’s made with a durable stainless-steel housing and a high-quality glass lens to provide you with the most accurate temperature readings for years to come.
The temperature indicators can clearly show you the optimal heat ranges for warming, baking, roasting, and broiling, which gives you desirable results. This thermometer can also be used on the grill and is safe to leave inside the oven when cooking.
The only downside to this oven thermometer is that it only reads in Fahrenheit. However, it has such a high accuracy level that it’s a great choice for both home and commercial use.
Pros:
- NSF approved
- Measures temperatures between 150- and 500-degrees Fahrenheit
- Durable
- Oven and grill safe
- Easy to use
- Accurate
Cons:
- On the pricier side
- Can be very inaccurate
- Can break easily
CDN DOT2 ProAccurate Thermometer
This oven thermometer has been made with high-quality stainless-steel 304 and a durable glass lens that can live through high temperatures. The red indicator and 2-inch dial let you accurately track the cooking temperature inside your oven, so you always bring the best-cooked food to the table.
The CDN oven thermometer is made to stand without support or to be hanged. The wide base on this thermometer is a great feature because it helps keep the thermometer stable.
For several years, CDN has provided its customers with high-quality tools for the kitchen, and this oven thermometer isn’t an exception.
To achieve the best cooking experience, it’s recommended that this thermometer is put in the oven during pre-heating to let it heat up and contract together with the coils for the most accurate readings.
Pros:
- Energy efficient
- User friendly
- Two-way mounting
- The glass lens is made from high-quality materials
- Handy
- NSF accurate
- Superior quality
- Large dial
Cons:
- Not very accurate
Cooper-Atkins 24HP-01-1 Oven Thermometer
This oven thermometer is 3 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide. It’s made from glass and stainless steel, making reading the temperature of your oven easy.
The black indicator and HACCP reference dial allow you to adjust the oven temperatures to the right one that best suits your cooking method. It also lets you track the temperature in Fahrenheit and Celsius.
This thermometer is approved by the NSF and has two ways to install it. You can choose to let it hang or stand-alone, depending on your personal preference.
Pros:
- Accuracy +/- 25 degrees
- NSF approved
- Two installation methods
- Durable
Cons:
- Hard to read
Farberware 5141019 Protek
This is the best oven thermometer because it’s easy to use and made from durable materials. Using this thermometer, you can read different temperature readings that come from different areas inside your oven.
It features a dial that’s easy to read, which will show you the temperature readings with a red indicator needle. This 1.6-ounce thermometer can be hung or placed on the cooking rack.
You’re able to read the temperature of your oven in either Celsius or Fahrenheit. Finally, maintaining this thermometer is extremely easy: simply hand wash it in warm water and a small amount of detergent and then let it dry.
Pros:
- Can be placed on the rack or hung
- Easy to clean
- Accurate
- Easy to read
- Durable
Cons:
- It’s easy to get water inside the dial, which makes it hard to read because it steams up when it’s in the oven
Winco 3-Inch Dial Oven Thermometer
This oven thermometer has a HAQCCP reference on the dial face that lets you monitor your cooking method’s recommended temperatures. With a temperature range between 50- and 500-degrees Fahrenheit, you’re able to keep track of your temperatures without much of a challenge.
Because of this range, this is the best thermometer for you to choose from. It features a two-way mounting system, so you can position it wherever you need it to be.
It’s very affordable, but you shouldn’t be skeptical about its performance. This thermometer is approved by the NSF and is recommended for beginners and less experienced, whether professional or for home use.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Wide temperature range
- NSF approved
- HACCP reference
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Falls off easily
Why Should I Use an Oven Thermometer?
Accurate Monitoring of Oven Temperature
Most methods of cooking, such as baking or roasting, require precise temperatures. Most oven thermometers built into the oven aren’t accurate and can leave you disappointed if you’re not careful. An oven thermometer takes care of this problem by helping you keep an eye on the oven temperature.
Professionals even use oven thermometers, and the reported satisfaction with them in terms of efficiency makes an oven thermometer a must-have in your kitchen.
Installation is Easy
Oven thermometers come with a couple of different ways to install them. You can choose to hang it or put them on the cooking rack.
Both installation methods are quick and easy to do, but there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Place the oven thermometer in the center of the rack that the food is being placed on to get the best results.
Efficient
Besides being extremely accurate, oven thermometers can deal with extreme cooking temperatures without melting and will continue to keep track of the temperature inside the running oven.
The main thing you want to look for here is that the oven thermometer will work in high temperatures and still provide you with the most accurate temperature readings throughout the cooking process.
Handy
You don’t have to have any special skills to use an independent oven thermometer. Additionally, most of them come with HACCP references to guide you on what temperature your oven and food need to be for your cooking method.
What to Think About When Purchasing an Oven Thermometer
Quality
The temperature of your oven can become extremely high if you’re not careful. If your oven thermometer isn’t made from high-quality materials, it can crack because of those high temperatures.
Before you invest in an independent oven thermometer, you should always check the thermometer’s quality and the range of temperatures it’s recommended to be used in.
Avoid using an oven thermometer on cooking methods that need higher temperatures above the recommended temperature range.
Materials
The best oven thermometer is made to be used inside your oven when you’re cooking. To prevent contamination of your food, the thermometer’s material must be safe to put near food. One of the most highly recommended materials for oven thermometers is stainless steel 304.
You should also check to see if the oven thermometer is NSF approved. The NSF is the National Sanitation Foundation, which makes sure that the food industry standards are met.
A thermometer that’s NSF approved shows you that it has been created following the industry standards.
Units of Temperature
Most oven thermometers will measure the temperature in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. But some units don’t measure in both, which can make it difficult to measure the temperature if you need Celsius instead of Fahrenheit.
Choosing an oven thermometer that measures in both can reduce the need to convert the temperature.
Performance
The best oven thermometer is used to track the cooking temperatures inside your oven. A good oven thermometer should always provide you with an accurate report.
Additionally, an oven thermometer can have other features such as energy efficiency that might benefit your cooking. Before making a final decision about which oven thermometer is the best for you, read some of the customer reviews to determine if it has all of the features you need.
Temperature Limits
Food requires different temperatures. Taking this into consideration means looking at the temperature limits of the oven thermometer.
For the best cooking experience, you should think about purchasing a thermometer that can withstand high cooking temperatures, especially those higher than the recommended heat.
An advantage of doing this is that the glass lens will withstand the high temperatures without cracking.
Usability
The best oven thermometer can be hard to use, especially for anyone who has never used an oven thermometer before. As mentioned above, some oven thermometers come with HACCP reference dials to help you figure out which temperature is best for the food you’re cooking.
HACCP is a guide that helps reduce the chances of falling ill due to foodborne illnesses. By taking advantage of this feature allows you to promote a healthy cooking session.
Maintenance
Over time, even the best oven thermometer needs to be calibrated and cleaned to keep up its performance. The best oven thermometer must provide you with the best performance without needing regular maintenance.
What’s the Best Oven Thermometer?
Each oven thermometer that you encounter is made differently. They might have the same features, but they’re not equal. Every oven thermometer is made to help you track temperatures under different cooking circumstances.
If you’re trying to figure out which oven thermometer is the best for you, all of the oven thermometers listed above are the best for your cooking needs if they’re bought for the right cooking purposes.
Once you’ve outlined what you need in an oven thermometer, contrast, and compare how each one’s features will help you get to the results you desire, this will allow you to dwindle your list of oven thermometers and help you choose the one that works best for your cooking habits.
Improving the Oven Thermometers Accuracy
Buying the best oven thermometer on the market plays a role in your overall cooking experience but having an incorrect calibration will also affect your overall cooking.
After you’ve chosen your oven thermometer, here are the steps that you’re supposed to take to make your oven thermometer more accurate.
Mounting Your Thermometer
Most people will go wrong on this step and then miss their mistakes during each cooking session. Most independent oven thermometers let you hang it on the rack or place it on the shelf inside your oven.
To ensure that you get the best temperature readings, the oven thermometer should be placed in the center of the same rack as the food you’re cooking will go.
A benefit of putting your thermometer in the center of the rack is that it reduces the chances of cold air from opening the oven door affecting the temperature readings.
Adjust Oven Temperatures
After you know that the oven thermometer is placed in the right spot in your oven, you can pre-set your oven to your go-to cooking temperature to check the accuracy of your oven thermometer. To do this, turn your oven onto pre-heating and checking the thermometer before closing the oven door.
While your oven is in the pre-heating cycle, ensure that the door stays closed until it reaches the desired temperature. Once the desired temperature has been reached, you’ll hear a beeping sound.
Keep your oven door closed and turn on the light inside your oven and wait about five minutes before reading the temperature.
You wait five minutes because some oven thermometers will indicate a lower temperature than the pre-set one and require time to readjust.
Cleaning Your Oven Thermometer
An oven thermometer will become dirty after being used and will require regular cleaning to make sure that it’s giving you the most accurate readings. Cooking baking powder, fat, and other ingredients can stain the glass of your oven thermometer. If it’s not cleaned correctly, you’ll face challenges when trying to read the temperature reading.
However, before you follow the method described below, you need to make sure that the thermometer’s glass face is waterproof.
Here is a general idea of what you should be doing to clean your thermometer if the glass face is waterproof:
- After using the oven thermometer, let it cool down
- Put some warm water and a mild detergent in your sink and gently scrub the thermometer with a soft towel
- Don’t use any abrasive scrubbers or detergents because they can scratch up the glass of the thermometer
- Rinse your thermometer and let it dry
There will be some stains on your oven thermometer that will be nearly impossible to get rid of using warm water and detergent.
If your oven thermometer isn’t waterproof or washing it didn’t get you the results you wanted, you can make a thick paste with baking powder and water.
Once you’ve made this paste, apply it to the face of the thermometer and let it sit for 15 minutes. After the time is up, wipe the paste off with a soft towel. This is an effective and fast way to clean your oven thermometer.
What to Look for In an Oven Thermometer
The best oven thermometer should:
- Be simple to use
- Accurately monitor temperatures
- Function as it’s supposed to
- Easy to maintain and clean
Final Verdict
There’s nothing that will kill your passion for cooking faster than poor results. That’s why having the best oven thermometer is a great idea to take any guesswork out of your cooking and provide you with the confidence you need to make the best meal. Oven thermometers are an irresistible kitchen gadget to have, whether you’re a professional or home chef, because of their efficiency.
There are so many great oven thermometers on the market that it can be hard to find the best oven thermometer for your cooking needs.
Hopefully, this guide has shown you what to look for in the best oven thermometer and has shown you some of the best oven thermometers on the market today.
Remember that there are several things that you should keep in mind when searching for the best oven thermometer, including quality, materials, and maintenance. For instance, if you’re cooking meat, then you may want to specifically consider using a meat thermometer.
Ensure that your oven thermometer is easy to use, easy to clean, accurate, and durable. The last thing you want to have happen is buying an oven thermometer just to have it break after the first use. So, it’s important that you’re getting the best oven thermometer.
If you’re looking forward to making cooking fun and delicious, all you need is the best oven thermometer. An oven thermometer should ultimately accurately track your cooking temperatures, be easy to maintain and use, and be made from food-grade materials.
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