It’s no secret that having a meat thermometer on hand can take a lot of the guesswork out of cooking meat perfectly, whether you’re making Roast Beef, Turkey Meatloaf, or the Perfect Filet Mignon. One of the best meat thermometers ensures I’m cooking my meat perfectly (and especially to make sure I’m not undercooking it).
A good meat thermometer is fast and accurate, so you aren’t standing over a hot grill or oven for too long, and some even have smart capabilities that will alert you when your food is done cooking! I rely on this simple kitchen gadget to cook some of my favorite healthy, family-friendly recipes, so I’ve rounded up the best meat thermometers to help you do the same, including two that I own and use regularly.
My Top Picks
- What’s in My Kitchen: ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer – $16.99 at Amazon
- My Favorite Smart: MeaterPlus Smart Meat Thermometer – $79.95 at Amazon
- Best Splurge: ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE – $109 at ThermoWorks
- Best Leave-in Probe Thermometer: ThermoWorks Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer – $99 at ThermoWorks
- Best Digital: Lavatools Javelin Thermometer – $44.99 at Amazon
Reviews of The Best Meat Thermometers
1. What’s in My Kitchen: ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer
This ThermoPro meat thermometer is an inexpensive digital meat thermometer and I like it because it’s accurate and so easy to use. While it doesn’t have any fancy features like Bluetooth or wireless capabilities, I like that there’s absolutely zero learning curve when it comes to using this meat thermometer. That’s why I reach for it to quickly check the doneness of my Air Fryer Steak or Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs.
Its probe is sharp enough to pierce protein such as chicken breasts, chicken thighs, steak, pork tenderloin, flank steak, and even a whole chicken. Its speedy response time means I can spend less time checking on my food during cooking and more time tending to other parts of the meal — like my side dishes.
The Specs:
- Response time: 3-4 seconds
- Temperature range: -58 to 572 degrees F
- Probe length: 4.3 inches
- Colors: orange, black
- Warranty: 1 year standard, 3 years if you register your product
The Pros:
- Accurate to ±0.9
- Easy to use
- Large easy to read display
- Magnetic
The Cons:
- Not waterproof
What Others Are Saying:
This instant read meat thermometer has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon from more than 37,000 reviews. Similar ThermoPro digital meat thermometers were named the best value by Food Network.
Buy the ThermoPro TP19H Digital Meat Thermometer:
2. My Favorite Smart: Meater Plus Smart Meat Thermometer
I also got the Meater Plus after hearing about the hype, and I think it’s worth it for people who grill a lot and like technology. It has a smartphone app, so you can monitor the temperature of your meat from up to 165 feet away from wherever it’s cooking if you’re inside and up to 1,000 feet away if you’re outdoors. Better yet, it will alert you when your food is ready, which is great if you tend to juggle several things at once in the kitchen, so it won’t overcook.
In addition to monitoring temperature, the app also features other helpful cooking tips and can help you manage time when working on multiple things at once. The Meater is great for cooking larger pieces of meat because the probe is relatively wide, so it would be helpful when making my Buttermilk Marinated Air Fryer Whole Chicken.
The Specs:
- Response time: 3 seconds
- Temperature range: 212 to 527 degrees F
- Probe length: 5.1 inches
- Colors: Silver
- Warranty: 1 year
The Pros:
- Easy to use
- Wire-free
- Helpful app
- Has a range of 165 feet indoors
The Cons:
- Possible connectivity issues
- Wide probe isn’t good for all types of protein
What Others Are Saying:
This smart meat thermometer has a 4.4-star rating on Amazon from more than 41,000 reviews. The Meater Smart Meat Thermometer was also named the best for serious grilling by Food Network.
Buy the MeaterPlus Smart Meat Thermometer:
3. Best Splurge: ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
If you don’t mind spending over $100 on a meat thermometer and you want something beloved by professional chefs, then this ThermoWorks meat thermometer could be the perfect meat thermometer for you. In terms of temperature range and probe length, this splurge pick is similar to my favorite meat thermometer. However, the response time on this model is almost instant, and it’s extremely accurate. It’s one of those tools that will make you feel like a grill master!
The Specs:
- Response time: 1 second
- Temperature range: -58.0 to 572.0 degrees F
- Probe length: 4.3 inches
- Colors: gray, white, green, yellow, black, blue, orange, pink, purple, red
- Warranty: 5 years
The Pros:
- Accuracy
- Fast temperature reading
- Easy to use
The Cons:
- Expensive
What Others Are Saying:
This instant read meat thermometer has a 5-star rating on the brand’s website from more than 1,200 reviews. The ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE was named the best meat thermometer by Food Network, Bon Appetit, and Serious Eats.
Buy the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE:
4. Best Leave-in Probe Thermometer: ThermoWorks Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer
If you’re looking for the best meat thermometer for a smoker when grilling, then this one allows you to check on what you’re grilling without opening the grill and letting heat escape. This meat thermometer is accurate and easy to use, plus it allows you to monitor your meats from up to 300 feet as they cook as long as you remain in sight of the grill or smoker using the included receiver. It comes with two probes (one for the meat and one for the pit temperature), and you can buy additional probes for less than $20 if your original one breaks or if you plan to cook multiple slices of meat at the same time.
The Specs:
- Response time: 15 seconds
- Temperature range: -58 to 572 degrees F
- Probe length: 6 inches
- Colors: yellow, green, blue, orange, pink, white, charcoal, red
- Warranty: 2 years
The Pros:
- Accurate
- Allows you to monitor temperature remotely
- Easy to use
- Great for meat that cooks like and slow, like smoking and barbecue
The Cons:
- Replacement probe may be needed after a short period of time
What Others Are Saying:
This instant read meat thermometer has a 4.5-star rating on the brand’s website from more than 1,600 reviews. The ThermoWorks Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer was also named the best leave-in probe thermometer by Bon Appetit and a great meat thermometer for grilling by Serious Eats.
Buy the ThermoWorks Smoke Remote BBQ Alarm Thermometer:
5. Best Digital: Lavatools Javelin Thermometer
This colorful kitchen tool is good for those who just want to see a digital screen because it’s fast, accurate, has a wide temperature range, and it’s easy to use. In addition to meat, poultry, and fish, this digital meat thermometer is also great when it comes to baking desserts, thanks to its almost instant response time and the handy finger loop that keeps it from falling into your food or your oven! There’s even a magnet so you can stick it to your fridge for easy access.
The Specs:
- Response time: 2 seconds
- Temperature range: -40 to 482 degrees F
- Probe length: 2.75 inches
- Colors: Blue, green, red, yellow, purple, white, orange, pink, black
- Warranty: 3 years
The Pros:
- Accurate
- Great for baking
- Easy to use
- Has a magnet on the back for easy storage on the fridge or oven
The Cons:
- Relatively short probe
What Others Are Saying:
This instant read meat thermometer has a 4.8-star rating on Amazon from more than 16,500 reviews. The Lavatools Javelin Thermometer was also named the best budget by Bon Appetit.
Buy the Lavatools Javelin Thermometer:
Other Meat Thermometers to Consider
Taylor Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer
This digital meat thermometer is affordable, and unlike many of the other thermometers on this list, it’s oven-safe! That means it’s perfect for monitoring the temperature of dishes like slow-cooking Braised Brisket with Potatoes and Carrots. The Taylor Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer has a super helpful temperature alert feature that lets you know when the desired temperature has been reached. It’s worth noting that the temperature range on this thermometer is relatively short (32 to 392 degrees F), so this won’t be great for things that need to cook at a super high temperature. The Taylor Digital Cooking Thermometer with Probe and Timer is available at Amazon for $19.49.
ThermoPro TP01A Digital Meat Thermometer
The main difference between this digital meat thermometer and the other ThermoPro model above is its long 5.3-inch probe. This extra-long probe is ideal for measuring the temperature of thick cuts of meat as well as making candy or caramel safely at home. The ThermoPro TP01A Digital Meat Thermometer is available at Amazon for $9.99.
Cuisinart CSG-200 Infrared Grilling Thermometer
This infrared meat thermometer is fast, accurate, and relatively affordable. Infrared thermometers are especially handy when it comes to monitoring your grill temperature because of its speed and accuracy. This meat thermometer is also comfortable to grip and easy to read. The Cuisinart CSG-200 Infrared Grilling Thermometer is available at Amazon for $35.
Why You Can Trust Me
Hi! I’m Gina, the author and recipe developer behind Skinnytaste. My goal is to make healthy, family-friendly cooking easy for everyone. I also try to make cooking fun! Proteins like meat, poultry, and fish are staples in my house, whether I’m making Grilled Rosemary Lambchops or Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs, and I always rely on my meat thermometer to make sure everything is cooked perfectly.
I’ve personally used many of the products featured in this article. For those I haven’t used, I consulted other food blogs and food publications to put together this list of the very best meat thermometers available.
Everything to Know Before Buying a Meat Thermometer
What to Consider Before Buying a Meat Thermometer
Here are a few things to think about before getting a meat thermometer for your home cooking:
Cooking Type: Before you buy a meat thermometer, you should consider what type of cooking you’ll use it for, where you’ll be cooking, and what sorts of foods you’ll be making.
- Indoor baking and roasting: Any type of digital thermometer will work nicely for most indoor cooking.
- Indoor braising: If you’re braising meat low and slow in the oven, then an oven-safe digital thermometer is your best bet.
- Outdoor grilling: Accuracy is important when it comes to grilling and so is making sure you don’t lose a lot of heat when checking the temperature, which makes infrared thermometers best for this task.
- Outdoor smoking: Similar to braising, smoking requires low temperatures for a long period of time, so it’s best to get a wireless long-range meat thermometer or a probe thermometer. This way, you can monitor the temperature from a distance.
Temperature Range: In my experience, the wider the temperature range the better, but anything that goes above 300 degrees F should be suitable for the internal temperature of what you’re cooking. Some meat thermometers will also tell you the exact temperature of your pit, which can be helpful for determining your cooking time. Others can even work with below-freezing temperatures!
Smart Capabilities: If you need a little help when cooking, a smart thermometer is definitely helpful. These usually have an included app, so you can quickly look at the temperature without being remotely close to your grill or stove.
How to Use a Meat Thermometer?
To use a meat thermometer, simply insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat, poultry, or fish without touching bone (if what you’re cooking is boneless, you can ignore this). You can also use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of things like cakes and casseroles — all you have to do is insert the probe into the thickest part of the dish without touching the cake pan or casserole dish for an accurate reading.
Where Do You Stick a Meat Thermometer in Turkey?
In order to check the temperature of a turkey as it cooks, you need to insert the probe on your meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat without touching bone. The thickest part of the breast and innermost part of the thigh are usually the best places to check the temperature on a turkey.
Can You Use a Meat Thermometer for Candy?
Yes! It’s best to use a meat thermometer with at least a 5-inch probe if you plan to use it to make candy. This is because the candy will get very hot as it cooks, so you want your hands as far away from that as possible when checking the temperature.
How Do You Calibrate a Meat Thermometer?
It’s not possible to calibrate a digital meat thermometer because you won’t be able to make any adjustments, so no need to worry about that!
The Best Grilling Recipes
Now that you’ve found the right meat thermometer for you, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite grilling recipes so that you can head outside and whip up something delicious for your whole family:
- Steak Kebabs with Chimichurri
- BBQ Chicken
- Turkey Burgers
- Grilled Tuna
- Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs
- Grilled Rosemary Lambchops
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
