Never thought the day would come when I’d get a meat thermometer. I like being able to look at roast beef, pork, leg of lamb or turkey or duck and know if it’s done, undercooked or overcooked. But I’m preparing a stuffed turkey for a New Year’s Eve family reunion and I don’t want to take chances. Food is too expensive these days and a whole turkey going to waste is not how I want to start the New Year. So, yesterday, I bought a meat thermometer, the kind you insert into the thickest part of the meat where it stays for the duration of the cooking.
There are many kinds of meat thermometers from disposable to digital to analog. Some even classify them according to how fast the thermometer can accurately register the temperature. In my case, because I intend to use it for roasting a whole stuffed turkey, a model that can read the temperature in as fast as two seconds is not essential. Why?
Okay, here’s how it’s used. You prepare the turkey and, just before it goes into the oven, you insert the thermometer into the thigh (essentially, where the meat is thickest). That’s the purpose of the metal skewer-like attachment. As the turkey cooks, the thermometer will read the temperature of the meat. Naturally, the temperature will rise slowly (making instant read models irrelevant) because the thickest part of the meat will take the most time to cook. When the reading reaches a certain temperature, the turkey is done.
I have another thermometer in the kitchen, an oven thermometer that you just place inside the oven. See, as the oven gets old, the insulation deteriorates. It’s part of the wear and tear and there’s nothing that you can do about it. So, the oven settings may no longer be reflecting the correct temperature. That’s when a stand alone oven thermometer becomes useful. Of course, my oven is only a few months old so I haven’t used the oven thermometer. But I have a second oven, the one we brought over from the old house, that’s almost four years old. It hasn’t been set up yet but it is with that oven that the stand alone thermometer might really come in handy.
I have a similar thermometer which was my souvenir for my 2nd trip to the US. I didn’t realize that you have to insert it to the chicken while it is cooking until I saw it being used in a movie! Ganun pala yun
Hehehehe
Connie, sobrang sakto naman yung post mo! I was just looking for a meat thermometer this afternoon. I had limited time so i was only able to look at two places. I only found the plastic one which you can’t put in the oven. I like the one you have. Where did you get yours?
Lately kasi my roasts have been undercooked.
Shopwise, Peterb. Less than 200 pesos. Na-ESP mo yata ako ah.
Uy ok. Less than 200. Yung nakita ko kanina nasa 900+. I should always check here first! If i could ESP you…makukulitan lang…haha
Thanks!
I had mine from ebay… 80.00 lang ang meat thermometer..
agit88 was selling it… try nyo baka meron pa sya..;)
Wow, ok yun ah. I think I bought the stove top waffle maker from her also.
my husband just called suggesting we do turkey this christmas! waaah… when will you post your roast turkey recipe?
nag panic lang po. found already your rice stuffed turkey. thanks!
We use a remote probe thermometer where just the probe sits inside the oven and the reader sits outside. It’s actually a wireless one, where the transmitter sits outside and you can take the receiver / reader inside. Great when you are barbecuing during winter!
I recommend the Polder brand.
Merry Christmas to all!
I have a related thermometer that was my souvenir for my first tour to the US. I didn’t realize that we have to put it to the chicken while it is cooking until I saw it being used in a movie.
i need to know kung san ako makakabili ng oven thermometer in philippines and how much the price pati gas oven narin, kasi gas range lang gamit ko sa pag b bake ng brownies at custard cakes, hirap kasi ako pag marami orders, sana yung , kahit 35 inches ang lapad at 20 inches ang height.
Maraming orders? You’re in the baking business and you don’t know where to buy a thermometer and oven? Oh, come on.
this is really great. i will get my self one of these, mura lang yan dito sa dubai. i have a candy thermometer which i used when making italian buttercream merengue and boiled icing. the candy thermometer can also be used for deep frying.