money The 6 Best Meat Thermometers We Tested for Grilling, Roasting, and Stovetop Cooking
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We found the most accurate thermometers for every kitchen
People / Nick Simpson
Whether you’re a beginner cook or have an award-winning filet up your sleeve, having a quality meat thermometer in your apron pocket can be the difference between a show-stopping meal and a disappointing one.
We put 10 top-rated meat thermometers to the test to find the most accurate devices for every kitchen. Our team of expert testers considered how the thermometers performed, felt, and looked while they measured everything from ice water to grilled chicken.
What We Learned
Meat, poultry, and fish will continue cooking after you pull them from the heat, so set your thermometer a few degrees below your target to avoid overcooking.
Keep reading for the best meat thermometers we tried, including instant-read and leave-in models from ThermoWorks, ThermoPro, Meater, and more.
Best Meat Thermometer Overall: Thermoworks ThermoPop 2
Star Qualities
Easy to use
Includes probe cover
Accurate ±1 degree except for boiling water (off 5 degrees)
Display rotates four ways
Red Flags
No special features
This is a simple, modern-looking instant-read thermometer. It’s shaped like a lollipop and comes in fun, bright colors. The temperature reading appears on a rotating digital display, so it’s easy to see, even at awkward angles. The thermometer comes with a cover to protect the probe during storage, and the only button is a simple on/off toggle.
The stainless steel probe comes to a blunt point that easily pierces meat and takes a reading in under three seconds. During testing, it was accurate within 1 degree, except in boiling water, where it was 5 degrees too low. We were impressed by how straightforward and easy to use this thermometer is, plus it comes at a reasonable price.
Power Source: LR44 battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Auto-Off: Yes | Display Type: Rotating backlit
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Best Meat Thermometer Overall (Almost): ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
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Star Qualities
Easy to use
Ambidextrous display
Auto shutoff
Accurate ±1 degree except for boiling water (off 6 degrees)
Red Flags
Pricey for simple features
Less sleek-looking than other options
This is a more traditional-looking instant-read thermometer with a fold-away stainless steel probe. The body is coated in a grippy material that prevents slips, and the thermometer is light and maneuverable to take a quick temperature from any angle. The backlit display rotates automatically as you move the device and is bright and legible.
This simple thermometer doesn’t have a single button or toggle to press — you simply fold open the probe, stick it into your product, and wait a few seconds for the reading. It’s accurate within 1 degree, though it was 6 degrees off in our boiling water test. Still, this is a high-quality, straightforward thermometer that’s slightly heftier than the ThermoPop — but it still comes in several nice color options.
Power Source: AAA battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Auto-Off: Yes | Display Type: Backlit rotating LCD
Best Budget Meat Thermometer: Kizen Digital Meat Thermometer
Star Qualities
Toggles between F and C
Night mode light
Grippy ergonomic handle
Magnetized with loop for storage
Most readings were accurate ±1 degree
Red Flags
Design feels cluttered
Button was difficult to figure out
This is another fold-out thermometer with a backlit digital display. The thermometer turns on as the probe is folded out and shuts off when closed. Users can quickly toggle between Farenheight and Celcius, and it has a doneness temperature guide for meat printed on the front.
We like that this thermometer has a light to illuminate the temperature display, which is handy if you’re grilling outside in the dark. It’s also accurate within 1 degree in most tests, though it was off by about 6 degrees in boiling water. The internal magnet means you can attach this thermometer to a metal appliance. It’s also waterproof, which is great for cleaning or cooking outside in the rain.
Power Source: CR2032 battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: 0 to 190 degrees F | Auto-Off: No | Display Type: LED
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Best Leave-In Meat Thermometer: ThermoWorks Chef Alarm Cooking Alarm Thermometer and Timer
Star Qualities
Versatile
Highly accurate
Fun flip-phone-like design
Includes carrying case
Toggles between C and F
Red Flags
Some features feel unnecessary to the average cook
Has a bit of a learning curve
This is a more advanced thermometer with a 47-inch heat-safe (up to 700 degrees) wire attached to the probe. You can stick the probe into a roast in the oven and have an accurate reading as it cooks for several hours. That said, there’s a lot going on with this thermometer — more than some cooks may need. Users can lock in a minimum and maximum target temp with an alarm so the thermometer will ping when the meat dips below or rises above a certain temperature. There’s also a cooking timer, which is handy.
More data-driven, advanced cooks may appreciate the feature-rich design of this device, but we found it a little overwhelming at first. This was one of the few products we had to consult the instruction manual to use. However, once we got the hang of it, it was accurate within a degree or two, and the constant reading was helpful during grilling to avoid overcooking our chicken.
Power Source: 2 AAA batteries | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Display Type: Backlit
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Best Bluetooth Meat Thermometer: MEATER Pro 2 Plus Wireless Bluetooth Smart Meat Thermometer
Star Qualities
Stylish walnut storage/charging base
Offers hands-free readings to the minute
Long battery life
Price reflects value
Red Flags
Need to be a little tech-savvy
As the name suggests, this thermometer is for meat lovers. The stainless steel probe connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth to give you a real-time live stream of what’s happening inside your oven or grill. The probe can withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees, so it’s perfectly safe to use over the open flames of a gas grill.
The connected smartphone app is user-friendly and provides just the right amount of detail in a bright, colorful display. You can opt for alerts when the probe hits a certain temperature to prevent overcooking, plus it’s loaded with helpful tips for cooks in need of guidance.
This is a great thermometer for tech-savvy chefs who value precision and want to nail the perfect roast. Though the thermometer was slightly inaccurate (about 6 degrees) in our tests, we’d caveat that with the note that we used the probe in water, not meat, which is what it’s designed for.
Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: Up to 1,000 degrees F | Display Type: App
Best Value Meat Thermometer: ThermoPro TP605 Instant Read Digital Meat Thermometer
Star Qualities
Light and lock buttons
Loop for storage and internal magnet
Accurate ±1 degree except for boiling water (off 4 degrees)
Red Flags
No bells and whistles
It’s hard to beat the price of this fold-up probe from ThermoPro. The device has three clearly labeled buttons to toggle between Fahrenheit and Celcius, lock in a temperature, and light up the display. It was consistently accurate within 1 degree during testing, other than the boiling water when it was short by 4 degrees.
The thermometer is magnetized and has a loop for hanging, and it automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of inactivity to save battery. The device is water-resistant and the food-grade stainless steel probe is easy to keep clean. This is a basic, budget-friendly option if you’re looking for something simple, reliable, and easy to use.
Power Source: AAA battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Auto-Off: Yes | Display Type: Backlit digital
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Other Meat Thermometers We Tried
Dash Precision Quick-Read Meat Thermometer: This is a small, user-friendly thermometer with a storage loop that’s water-resistant and has a handy ambidextrous LCD. The readings were 2 degrees off consistently, and the body can be slippery.
Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo Meat Thermometer: This is a sleek thermometer with an ambidextrous LCD and a magnet for storage on a metal appliance. It also has an antimicrobial food-safe coating and will automatically shut off after 10 minutes of non-use. However, we thought it was overpriced for what it does.
Oxo Good Grips Thermocouple Meat Thermometer: All readings except boiling water on this thermometer were within 1 degree (it was off by 5 degrees in boiling water), and it has a simple, clean design. It’s also fast and water-resistant, but we thought it was a little pricy for its simplicity.
ThermoWorks Dot Simple Alarm Meat Thermometer: This meat thermometer is accurate within one degree and has a stopwatch-like design that fits comfortably in your hand. You can set a target temperature, and it has a 47-inch wire for oven use. However, the wire is easily affected by heat, which could affect the thermometer’s temperature reading.
People / Nick Simpson
What to Know About Meat Thermometers
Types of Meat Thermometers
A probe-style thermometer is a single piece that includes a metal temperature probe that you stick into the product you’re measuring and a digital display arm where you’ll get your temperature reading. These are generally compact, lightweight, and easy to transport. They’re battery-powered and straightforward to use but can’t be left inside an oven or pot on the stove.
Leave-in thermometers have a wire connecting the probe to the display, so you can leave the probe inside a piece of meat in the oven, on the grill, or on the stove. These provide a constant, of-the-moment glimpse into the current temperature of your food to prevent overcooking.
Bluetooth thermometers can also be left in the product for a constant reading, but they communicate with a smartphone app via Bluetooth, so you can check the temperature from anywhere.
Temperature Range
Each thermometer has a specific temperature range that it operates within. All of our picks exceed the maximum temperature of most common items. For example, poultry needs to be cooked to 165 degrees F, while bread is done baking when it registers 190 degrees F. If you want your thermometer to also cover cool dishes like ice cream, for example, opt for one with a temperature range that dips below 0 degrees F, like the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2.
Display Type
It’s best to look for a meat thermometer with a clear, legible display. Even better if it automatically rotates depending on where you stick the thermometer. Sometimes you have to work at awkward angles with large cuts of meat or inside a grill, so a rotating display makes it easy to always get a clear temperature reading. It’s also handy if a mix of righties and lefties are using the device. Having a backlit display is also key. It makes things easy to read indoors but is essential if you plan to bring your thermometer to a grill when it gets dark outside.
Price Range
The cheapest meat thermometer on our list, the Kizen Digital Meat Thermometer, costs $14 and offers excellent value for a pared-down device. For a little more, the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 is our favorite for its accuracy and quick readings and costs $35. On the upper end of the spectrum, the more feature-rich Meater 2 Plus costs $130 and would make a great gift for an avid griller.
People / Nick Simpson
Related: The 7 Best Stainless Steel Frying Pans of 2024, Tested with Salmon, Veggies, Rice, and More
Behind the Scenes
To find the best meat thermometers, we researched the most trusted brands and top-rated products. We tested 10 devices over 13 hours in our PEOPLE Tested lab, including seven digital probe thermometers, one Bluetooth thermometer, and two wired probe thermometers. Each device was scored on its design, accuracy, ease of use, and features.
Design: We observed the design and ease of setting up the thermometer. For models with smart features, we followed the manufacturer’s instructions to pair the app with its thermometer and noted how easy the app was to set up and navigate.
Accuracy: During our accuracy tests, we observed the precision of the thermometer and consistency over time. We tested the devices in a temperature-stabilized water bath heated by an immersion circulator, a pot of boiling water, a bowl of ice water, and grilled chicken legs. For our first three accuracy tests, we took the temperature a total of five times and averaged our results to get the final temperature reading.
Ease of Use: Throughout our various accuracy tests, we considered how it pierced meat, its design and display screen, and how easy it was to clean. Only one device, the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm, had a bit of a learning curve for beginners.
Features: We noted if the thermometers had notable features, such as a rotating or backlit display screen, Bluetooth capabilities, storage loop, probe cover, auto shutoff, magnetic backing, and more.
Ultimately, our top-ranking device, the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2, scored 4.51 out of 5. We most liked this thermometer’s accuracy, speed, looks, and ease of use.
What We Learned
Eight of these devices were consistently accurate within 1 degree, but most were off on the boiling water test. We suspect this could have been due to the testing process rather than the thermometers themselves.
People / Nick Simpson
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Why Trust PEOPLE?
Lizzy Briskin is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE. She is also a trained chef, recipe developer, and food writer. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and was formally the food editor at Real Simple and Food Network Magazines. She now contributes recipes and food content to outlets including Wirecutter, Delish, The Kitchen, and SELF. She regularly relies on meat thermometers when cooking everything from fresh bread to burgers, and she’s used — and loved — her ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 for years.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
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