Top 5 Best Digital Meat Thermometers of 2026 – Review & Buying Guide

A thermometer for meat can make your life so much easier. When cooking or grilling meat, achieving the right temperature is the key. The best digital meat thermometer will tell you the exact temperature and ensure you get the perfect meat. 

Undercooked meat can cause serious illnesses, not to mention it ruins the meal and the mood. With a thermometer at your disposal, this would never be a problem. Some of these thermometers tell the temperature accurate to the first decimal. 

Best Digital Meat Thermometers

You’ll find many thermometers for food on the market. Since this particular kitchen equipment is cheap, it’s difficult to distinguish something cheaply made from something high-quality. At BBQ Queens, we love the following top 5 digital meat thermometers:

The ThermoPro TP03 Digital Meat Thermometer reads the temperature of the food in under five seconds. The stainless steel probe, measuring 3.9 inches, is highly sensitive and fast. Whatever it is that you’re cooking or smoking, this will tell you the accurate temperature. 

The temperature range for this thermometer is -58 to 572 Fahrenheit, while the accuracy is 0.9 degrees. This range virtually covers every type of meat. The display has a backlight for better visibility and readability. 

For your convenience, the thermometer’s probe folds into the body of the thermometer. You can easily carry it anywhere without the sharp probe poking or damaging anything. Also, it features a magnetic back and a hook that makes it easy to store it. 

Those who prefer to cook using Celcius reading can easily switch from Fahrenheit. You will need a AAA battery which comes with the thermometer. To save energy, it automatically shuts off when not in use for over 10 minutes. 

While the company offers a standard one-year warranty, you can extend it to three years by simply registering your thermometer with them. 

If you’re looking for a thermometer that will last you a lifetime, you should consider the Kizen Instant Read Thermometer for your kitchen. This one works in just two to three seconds and has an accuracy of one degree. With a lifetime guarantee from Kizen, this will surely be your partner in cooking the most delicious meats for a very long time. 

The temperature range is -58 to 527 Fahrenheit so that you can use it with almost anything in the kitchen. This is also a foldable thermometer as the probe slides into the thermometer. The LCD screen is sizable, so the reading is quite legible. Also, you can switch to Celcius with just a press of a button.

You can even wash it with water as it’s waterproof (IP67). The body is made of ABS plastic, which is impact-resistant. Even if you drop it accidentally, it will not stop working. If it does, you can always claim the warranty and get a replacement. 

As for storage, this thermometer features four velcro dots, magnetic back, and a hang hole to hang it on the wall. You can also store it in the box it comes in. When traveling, you can easily carry it in a bag with the probe tucked in. 

Pros

• Easy to use
• Multiple storage options
• Well-built and waterproof
• Temperature guide printed on the thermometer
• Lifetime guarantee

Con

• The battery needs replacement rather sooner

The Habor 022 Meat Thermometer’s best feature is its long probe. The probe measures 4.7 inches so it can go deep into the meat. You would not burn your hand, bringing it too close to the hot meat on the stove or smoker. 

The temperature is the same as most meat thermometers, -58 to 572 degrees. This one has an accuracy of one Celcius. With a 10-minute auto shut-off system, the thermometer’s battery will last quite long. 

The probe tip is highly sensitive, so it tells you the temperature in under three seconds. You can seamlessly switch from Fahrenheit to Celcius. While it looks very neat and simple, it also has a good quality built. 

It comes with an easy-storage sheath cover with a pen-clip. You can also hang it using the hook on the edge of it. 

Pros

• Well-built and lightweight
• Long probe
• Easy storage
• Long-lasting battery

Con

• No backlight in LCD

If you want to go one step ahead, you can, for the TP-16 thermometer that also features a timer. This ThermoPro thermometer comes with a USDA preset temperature settings. These preset are programmable and will give you the right temperature for different foods, eliminating all the guesswork. 

The temperature range for the TP-16 thermometer is 32 to 572 degrees. However, the probe can withstand a temperature of up to 716 degrees. The accuracy is 1.8 Fahrenheit or 1 Celcius. 

The design of this thermometer is different from most other thermometers. The probe is attached to a stainless steel mesh cable that’s attached to the thermometer. This makes it a bit more convenient as you can easily place the thermometer away from the food and just insert the probe. This cable is 40 inches long, which is quite a lot. 

The timer feature is also helpful when cooking with time and temperature-sensitive meat cuts. You can set it up to 9 hours and 59 minutes. The warranty is generally one-year but can be extended up to three years.

Pros

• Easy to use for continuous temperature monitoring
• Timer
• High-quality probe
• Can be used in the oven
• Extendable warranty

Con

• Not waterproof

The ThermoPro TP01A is a sleek meat thermometer with a long probe, measuring 5.3 inches. You can insert it easily into larger cuts or birds like turkey to get an accurate reading of the temperature of the meat from its center. 

With an accuracy of 0.9 degrees, the ThermoPro thermometer will tell you exactly how the meat is cooking. The reading is very easy to read, thanks to the bright backlight of the LCD screen. With a press of a button, you can switch from Fahrenheit to Celcius and hold the reading on the screen. 

Again, the temperature range is -58 to 572 degrees. The hook on top of the thermometer can be used to hang it in the kitchen. The only back draw is that the probe does not slip into the thermometer or has some kind of cover. You can still carry it by wrapping around a paper towel or plastic on the probe.

Batteries come with the thermometer and last quite long. It will shut-off automatically after 10 minutes of use. The one to three-year standard warranty from ThermoPro applies to this thermometer model as well. 

Pros

• Long probe
• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Long warranty

Con

• No cover for the probe

Buyer’s Guide

Buying a thermometer shouldn’t be too much of a hassle since it’s such a simple device. However, you’ll know why you need to pay attention when you have to toss a new thermometer into the trash, simply because it just stopped working. 

Let’s look into features you should look out for:

• Temperature Range

The thermometer would have a set temperature range. What this range indicates is that the thermometer can accurately read the temperatures within this range. Anything below or above this range might not be detected accurately. In fact, it may even damage the thermometer. 

The range is usually big enough to cover most types of meats, whether you’re cooking it on a pan or smoking in an electric smoker. Nevertheless, you should be wary of this and avoid picking a thermometer with a small range. 

• Probe

The probe is the most important part of the meat thermometer. This probe should be of high-quality material, which is usually steel. Another important aspect of the probe is its length. If it’s short, it will not go deep enough into the meat to detect the exact temperature. 

The probe is sharp, so you should keep the thermometer in a safe place away from kids. This sharpness also makes it difficult to travel with. If you put it in a bag, it might rip the lining inside and damage it. 

If you do a lot of outdoor barbeques, you should look into a thermometer that has a foldable probe. This kind of thermometer will be a lot safer and more portable. 

• Battery

Digital thermometers require batteries, which should last long. Make sure you know which batteries to put inside the thermometer and whether they come with it. Your thermometer is as good as the batteries. 

You can always replace them, but you should not have to do so frequently. If the thermometer is draining batteries quickly, it’s time to get a new one. 

• Temperature Conversion

Temperature is measured mostly in Celcius and Fahrenheit. While Fahrenheit is the de facto unit of temperature in the US, in other places, it’s usually in Celsius. Most thermometer makers know about this difference and provide both the readings. 

Some may display both, and in others, you can simply convert from Fahrenheit to Celcius and vice versa. The latter is better as there’s little confusion. You can just set it to the unit you usually use when cooking. 

FAQs

How do you clean a digital meat thermometer?

 

A lot of people are not aware of the correct way to clean the digital meat thermometer and end up ruining it. Most thermometers are not waterproof, so you cannot wash them in a dishwasher or even under a tap. 

The best way to clean the thermometer is to clean the probe or stem with soapy water. This is the only part that gets grease and juices from the meat. You can wipe it with a paper towel or cloth, but it would not clean it thoroughly. 

You should clean it after every use as leaving it unwashed may damage the probe. Also, clean it in between using it with different meats. If you used it on uncooked meat, quickly clean it before inserting it into the cooked meat. 

Can you leave the meat the thermometer in while the meat cooks?

This depends on the type of meat thermometer you are using. In some instances, it might make sense just to leave the thermometer inserted into the meat, but you have to be sure if you can do so. 

Instant digital thermometers should not be left in the meat for long. These can tell you the temperature quickly and should be removed once they do. You can use them periodically to see how the temperature is changing. 

If you’re cooking in an oven and want to avoid opening the door, again and again, you can get an oven-going meat thermometer. This type has a probe that is attached to a cable. You can leave it in the meat while the display/control unit stays outside. 

How to test the digital meat thermometer?

Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour cold water in it. Now insert the probe of the thermometer, making sure it does not touch the sides. Let it stay in the water for about a minute and see if the temperature is 32 Fahrenheit or 0 Celcius. If it shows this temperature, the thermometer is working and showing temperature accurately. 

Keep in mind; it’s normal for a digital meat thermometer to be off by one of two degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s showing a larger inaccuracy, consult the user manual to see how you can reset it. 

Conclusion

A meat thermometer is a must-have for anyone who likes to cook with meat. No matter how seasoned you are at grilling or smoking meat, you cannot be as accurate as the thermometer. A high-quality digital meat thermometer will last you many years and always help you deliver the juiciest meat, cooked to perfection. 

If you cook a lot outdoors, make sure to get a thermometer that’s travel-friendly. Similarly, if you cook in the oven often, go for an oven-safe thermometer.

 

Last Updated on August 11, 2020 by Judith Fertig