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See why.The Best Leave-in Thermometers
We tested and reviewed digital leave-in meat thermometers to find the best option. These tools also double as candy thermometers, fry oil monitors, and even oven thermometers.
Published Mar. 14, 2024.
What You Need To Know
The best leave-in thermometers are accurate, easy to use, and capable of measuring high temperatures. Our co-winners are the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm and ThermoWorks Square DOT. The ChefAlarm has a single probe and is rich with special features, including a timer, both high- and low-temperature alarms, and maximum and minimum temperature recording. The Square DOT is a much simpler tool that comes with two probes, allowing you to take the temperatures of two things simultaneously—two foods, two locations on the same food, or food and air. It also has a feature that lets you take running average temperatures, which comes in handy for testing your oven’s accuracy; we’ve named it our favorite oven thermometer as a result. Neither is cheap, but both are durable, useful, well-designed tools; ultimately, the choice of which to get depends on how you intend to use your thermometers most frequently. We also recommend the ThermoPro TP16 as our Best Buy. This no-frills model is highly accurate; it’s just got a few quirks that make it a little less smooth to operate.
If you want a thermometer that takes temperatures much more quickly, check out our review of instant-read thermometers.
What You Need to Know
A good digital leave-in thermometer is a truly versatile instrument that measures temperature over time. We most commonly use these handy tools to monitor the temperature of long-cooking foods—a roast turkey or brisket, for example—without ever having to open the oven or grill. But leave-in thermometers can also be used to track the temperatures of oil when you’re deep-frying and sugar syrups when you’re making candy. They can even be used to take air temperatures—in fact, they’re our top choice for checking the accuracy of your oven.
All leave-in thermometers work the same way. They have two basic parts: a display and a temperature probe attached to a heat-resistant wire. You connect the wire to an input on the display. Then, you insert the probe into your food, oil, or syrup, or stick it in the air, and, as the thermometer’s name implies, leave it there. The wire transmits data from the probe to the display, so you get a constant readout of temperatures as they change.
You’ll need a pot clip to attach the probe to your cookware while deep-frying or making candy, and you might find it handy to have a separate grate clip to test your oven temperatures, though you don’t absolutely need one. Most leave-in thermometers don’t come with both accessories, so if you plan to use your thermometer often for these tasks, see our recommendations below in the FAQ, “What should I use to stabilize my digital thermometer?”
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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them.
Hannah Crowley
Hannah is an executive editor for ATK Reviews and cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube.
Miye Bromberg
Miye is a senior editor for ATK Reviews. She covers booze, blades, and gadgets of questionable value.