How To Use A Meat Thermometer And Best Meat Thermometer Brands To Buy

  references
  
      United States Department of Agriculture: "Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart"
    
      University of Minnesota Extension: "Safe meat handling and cooking temperatures"
    
      United States Department of Agriculture: "Kitchen Thermometers"
    
      United States Department of Agriculture: " 5 Proper Thermometer Placement"
    
      U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: "Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures Charts"
    
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "A Short Guide to Food Thermometers"
    
      USDA: "Kitchen Thermometers"
    




It's important to make sure your meaty dinner isn't riddled with harmful microorganisms.

Image Credit: alexeys/iStock/GettyImages

The Essential Kitchen features our favorite products, tips and recipes to help optimize your cooking space and prep healthy meals quickly and easily.

Image Credit: alexeys/iStock/GettyImages

The Essential Kitchen features our favorite products, tips and recipes to help optimize your cooking space and prep healthy meals quickly and easily.

Instructions
Thermometer Types
Thermometers to Buy

Food Type Internal Temperature Ground meat and meat mixtures Beef, pork, veal and lamb 160°F Ground meat and meat mixtures Turkey, chicken 165°F Fresh beef, veal, lamb Steaks, roasts and chops Rest time: 3 mins. 145°F Poultry All poultry (breasts, whole bird, legs, thighs, wings, ground poultry, giblets and stuffing) 165°F Pork and ham Fresh pork, including fresh ham Rest time: 3 mins. 145°F Pork and ham Precooked ham (to reheat); reheat cooked hams packaged in USDA-inspected plants to 140°F 165°F Leftovers and casseroles All types of leftovers and casseroles 165°F Seafood Fish with fins 145°F or cook until flesh is opaque and separates easily with a fork Seafood Shrimp, lobster, crab and scallops Cook until flesh is pearly or white, and opaque Seafood Clams, oysters and mussels Cook until shells open during cooking

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Rest time: 3 mins.

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

It may be tempting to skip the manufacturer’s instructions when you buy a new thermometer, but it’s worth giving them a read. The instructions include important info, such as how far to insert a thermometer into a piece of meat for an accurate reading and how to calibrate your thermometer to ensure its reading stays accurate.

The instructions include important info, such as how far to insert a thermometer into a piece of meat for an accurate reading and how to calibrate your thermometer to ensure its reading stays accurate.

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This $12 tool gets the job done.

Image Credit: OXO

This thermometer is easy to use, comes in a convenient carrying case and features a particularly useful alarm function for high and low temperatures.

Image Credit: ENZOO

If you're willing to splurge, this meat thermometer comes with all the bells and whistles.

Image Credit: Meater+

      United States Department of Agriculture: "Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart"
    
      University of Minnesota Extension: "Safe meat handling and cooking temperatures"
    
      United States Department of Agriculture: "Kitchen Thermometers"
    
      United States Department of Agriculture: " 5 Proper Thermometer Placement"
    
      U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: "Safe Minimum Cooking Temperatures Charts"
    
      Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "A Short Guide to Food Thermometers"
    
      USDA: "Kitchen Thermometers"