Think of yourself as a mad gastronomic genius a la Heston? You’ll need this precision thermometer to make sure your imaginative dishes are cooked to perfection. As you shop for the best digital meat thermometer, you’ll want to start by examining the thermometer’s accuracy and speed. Some have an accuracy of plus or minus 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degree Fahrenheit) and a speed of 4 to 6 seconds, which isn’t bad at all. However, there are models that provide temperature readings in 2 to 3 seconds with an accuracy of plus or minus 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit. The display doesn’t rotate or light up, two features that are much missed, but is to be expected at this budget price point. The thermometer is also powered by a 3-volt CR2032 battery, rather than one or two ultracommon AAA batteries, like every other model we looked at. With a casing made from an anti-microbial material for extra hygiene, this model is especially easy to keep clean, as it’s dust and watertight. You could drop this in a basin of water and it would be Rotating screens (either manual or automatic) that let you easily see the temperature reading from different angles.

Maximum internal temperature for probe: 212°F (100˚C); maximum ambient temperature for external sensor: 527°F (275˚C)

The OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Leave-In Meat Thermometer reminds me a lot of the kind of the meat thermometer my parents had while I was growing up — but it’s even easier to use and read. The textured bottom of the probe tells you exactly how far into the meat it needs to be inserted, and the 2.6-inch-diameter meter is easy to read, with temperature waypoints every 10 degrees between 120 and 200, markings in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, large type, and even a basic guide to safe cooking temperatures right on the dial. The slide-off probe cover contains the same numbers, plus explanations of the temperatures at which you can expect to hit medium rare, medium, and well done for a variety of different meats. As the product’s name suggests, OXO gives you a good grip on meat cooking. Basic probe thermometers with a single probe that stays in food as it cooks while displaying readings on a digital unit Both thermometers were used to measure the temperature in Celsius of cold tap water, warm tap water, boiled water and boiling water and the results were compared.

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.The newest model, the Thermapen One, is the best yet. All the classic, top-notch features are here: a display that automatically rotates in four directions so the temperature is always face-up, a perfect size and ergonomic shape for large or small hands, a rubberized ring to aid in gripping, easy access to changing settings (whether you want Fahrenheit or Celsius, whether it should measure whole degrees or tenths) and the calibration tool. But now it’s even faster, giving you a solid reading in just over 1 second (upwards of three times faster than the previous, lightning-fast MK4). It also has a much brighter auto-on light and it’s been redesigned to work better with induction cooktops. The sturdy cover on this model had incredibly useful temperature reminders for beef, lamb, pork – medium rare to well done and readings for fresh or pre-cooked, ham, and both poultry thigh and comes out of the oven or off the grill, I don’t have that last-minute panic as the meat is cooked just the way a chef would and is waiting to be served, rather than yanked from the oven last minute. Home thermometers measure in either whole degrees or tenths of a degree; make sure you know how much detail you want, as not every thermometer does both — and those that do should make it easy to switch between the resolutions. Similarly, the thermometer should display the temperature in both degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius, so you can use it no matter where you live, and allow you to easily flip between the two. Though it’s not a necessity, calibration is an excellent additional feature; by measuring a known temperature (such as ice water) and adjusting the readout accordingly, you can continue using your thermometer even if its initial accuracy diminishes over time. This digital meat thermometer is designed with a 225-degree rotating probe, as well as a rotating screen. Not only does that mean you'll be able to use the device with either hand, but it also means you won't have to touch the probe after removing it from the meat. The thermometer is also able to produce results in as little as 2 to 3 seconds.

The most important features for instant-read thermometers are the size and design: you want one that isn’t too small or too big, that has an easy-to-access probe, and that you can firmly grip even if steam or grease interfere. Many newer instant-read models also have displays that light up or rotate in two or four directions (so you can see the temperature no matter where you or the food are located); these are helpful, but may add a lot to the final price. Linked via the Meater phone app, the probe stays in the meat or fish as it cooks and sends a signal to your handset with a cooking time countdown, an alert to remove from the heat and optimum

Choose from a range of great colours. I tested a Midnight Blue ONE which was stylish and looked great in my navy kitchen.

ThermoWorks has been acclaimed for its kitchen thermometers for years, and when we put 12 popular models to the test, we instantly understood why: its thermometers were some of the best performers. The best overall meat thermometer for most people would be the new ThermoWorks Thermapen One, an instant-read model that truly lives up to the word “instant,” while also being nearly lab-accurate and loaded with more functionality than you might expect from such a small, simple device. Although billed as a meat thermometer, this gadget is also good for testing jams and sugars for sweet-making. There’s a little loop at the end of the cover, to let you slide the probe at right angles over a pan, which makes it much safer when testing boiling sugar, for example.

Find out how to perfectly cook a turkey crown, leg of lamb and roast beef and swot up on the best electric carving knives We all know that timing is everything in the kitchen, and getting everything ready to go all at once can get any chef in a flap. Since I’ve used these gadgets and learned to rest meat properly when it