The 8 Best Meat Thermometers for Safer Cooking

Test chicken, beef, and other proteins for doneness with these accurate meat thermometers.

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Composite of meat thermometers
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Courtesy of Amazon

If you often find yourself cutting into pork or poking chicken breast to check it's doneness, it may be time to add a meat thermometer to your supply of kitchen essentials. A meat thermometer is the only way to ensure certain proteins are safe for consumption—something that's impossible to know based on color and texture alone.

What's more, the device can also be used to check the temperature of some liquids, so you can use it to see if water has reached its boiling point or if oil is hot enough for frying. But choosing the wrong meat thermometer can be as dangerous as not testing your food at all, which is why we're sharing the best meat thermometers on the market—so you can make perfectly cooked chicken, beef, and more every time.

01 of 08

OXO Good Grips Thermocouple Thermometer

 OXO Good Grips Thermocouple Thermometer

Courtesy of Amazon

Designed with precision and accuracy at top of mind, this meat thermometer offers professional-grade results right at home. The thermocouple thermometer provides temperature readings in two to three seconds with an accuracy of 0.9 degrees. Its stainless-steel probe rotates out without you having to touch it, which keeps your hands clean and the probe protected.

Price at time of publish: $65

02 of 08

Meater Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer

MEATER Plus: Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer

Courtesy of Amazon

This smart meat thermometer, which can be used for both indoor and outdoor cooking, is able to monitor the internal and ambient temperatures of your meat. It can even estimate the remaining cooking time and suggest when to remove the meat from heat to rest. The thermometer wirelessly connects to your phone and guides you through the entire cook process, so you can monitor your protein's temperature from up to 165 feet away.

Price at time of publish: $100

03 of 08

Classic Super-Fast Thermapen

Classic Super-Fast® Thermapen

Courtesy of Thermoworks

Popularity among chefs, competition BBQ teams, and other avid cooks has made the Thermapen a top consumer cooking thermometer. The fuss-free device is known for its speed and accuracy—providing full readings in just two to three seconds. It has an automatic on and off feature designed to eliminate buttons that trap food and bacteria in crevices.

Price at time of publish: $85

04 of 08

OXO Good Grips Chef's Precision Analog Leave-In Meat Thermometer

OXO Good Grips Chef's Precision Analog Leave-In Meat Thermometer

Courtesy of Amazon

If you prefer a dial face rather than a digital one, consider this meat thermometer from OXO. Simply slide the entire shaded area of the probe into cooked meat (avoid the bone for the most accurate reading!) and check the analog face for results. The probe has chef-recommended and USDA-recommended temperatures for beef, lamb, ground meat, pork, ham, and poultry, making it easy to check that your protein is cooked through.

Price at time of publish: $17

05 of 08

ThermoPop Digital Pocket Thermometer

ThermoPop

Courtesy of Thermoworks

The ThermoPop meat thermometer has a big display and a backlight for dark conditions, making it easier to read than some other iterations. Designed with molded-in seals and buttons, this thermometer is splash-proof for mess-free cooking. In addition to using it to test the doneness of meat, this thermometer can also be used for frozen foods and deep fryer testing.

Price at time of publish: $27

06 of 08

Lavatools Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer

Lavatools Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer

Courtesy of Amazon

Made with an integrated magnetic backing, you can attach this thermometer to an oven or refrigerator for convenient storage. It doesn't have any confusing exterior buttons, so you can just slide it right into the meat and wait for a temperature to display (which takes three to four seconds). The product is approved for both commercial and professional use and has an 18/8 stainless steel construction resistant to warping and cracking.

Price at time of publish: $27

07 of 08

Thermapen ONE

Thermapen® ONE

Ultra fast and precise, this thermometer provides readings in just one second with an improved accuracy of 0.5 degrees. It has a bright backlight display that automatically illuminates in low-light and when the sensor window is covered, making the temperature easy to read in any setting. The shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof device has a foldaway design that protects the probe when it's not in use.

Price at time of publish: $70

08 of 08

Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer

Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer

Courtesy of Thermoworks

Barbecue enthusiasts will love this thermometer, which has two probe channels—one for meat and one for your pit temps. The device is designed to track temperatures over an extended period of time with moderate heat cooking methods, including smoking, oven-roasting, deep-frying, grilling, and sous vide.

Price at time of publish: $69

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