9 Best Instant-Read Thermometers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

For some people, only the best will do. These people typically have a fair bit of expendable money. More people still will tell you there are cheaper options that will do the job just as well. But sometimes it’s worth the expense to be able to say: “Yes, but this product just does it better!”

The Thermapen One is the finest digital instant-read thermometer currently available. It doesn’t do anything that the rest of the thermometers on this list do, it’s just that it does them incredibly well.

First of all, we have the speed of reading. I have owned and used about 15 instant-read thermometers in my life, and the Thermapen One is the fastest I have ever used. It measures temperatures in under 1 second! And not just the initial reading. It will be this fast over and over as you move from one meat to another.

Why is this important? Because it means less time holding your hand over a screaming hot grill taking temperatures and less time for foods to still cook as you wait for the reading to finalize.

Next, we have the incredible accuracy. The K thermocouple sensor is accurate to within ±0.5 °F (±0.3 °C), so you can be sure your medium rare steak target is absolutely nailed or that your chicken pieces are ready to come off the grill at a safe temperature.

In my own tests, the Thermapen One read boiling water at 212.1 °F:

It read iced water at 31.9 °F:

But if this doesn’t convince you, Thermapen provides a certificate of calibration that shows just how dialed in and accurate the temperature readings are:

Further features that make — In my opinion — the Thermapen One simply the best are:

An auto-rotating display, 360 degrees, so you can always take a readout from any angle. Many thermometers have a 180-degree rotating display, but the Thermapen One has 4 positions, covering the full 360 degrees, so the numbers are always orientated right for you to read.

There is an auto-shutoff mode with a motion-sensing power-up, so if left unused for a short while, it will turn off to save battery life and turn itself back on the minute you pick it up.

It also has a light sensor that triggers a backlit screen in the dark, ensuring you can always take readings in any lighting conditions.

Finally, it comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. Thermoworks are confident in this product and are happy to back it up!

At the price point, the Thermapen One is not for everyone. It has a higher spec and performance than any other instant read thermometers we’ve owned or tested, but many competing models do the same job sufficiently for a much lower price.

But if you don’t mind spending a little more, and appreciate owning the very best, then we cannot recommend the Thermapen One enough.

Please check out our hands on testing and review of the Thermapen One for further details.

If you’re of a certain age and a car buff, you might remember the Porsche slogan: “There is no substitute.” We can probably say the same about this amazing thermometer from ChefsTemp.

Now, I got lucky, and they sent me one free to review. But, having done so, I’d gladly have paid full pop for mine, and I’m happy to recommend you do the same — if you’re serious about your sizzle.

While all folding digital instant-read probe thermometers do the same basic job, this one does them all better. I do feel the Thermapen One just pips it to the post performance-wise, but for an average cost of $30 less, the ChefsTemp Finaltouch X10 is a worthy runner up!

Let’s start with the probe itself. Unfolding it from the body automatically powers up the X10; no fumbling for an ON/OFF button.

As you rotate the probe, you’ll eventually pass through 180 degrees before arriving at the final, fully open position 270 degrees away from fully closed. That means you can use it in practically any orientation anywhere on your grill, including the all-important left-handed 90-degree position.

But what good would that be if the display stayed oriented to the right? ChefsTemp thought of that. Flip over the thermometer, and the display auto-rotates to the correct orientation, making it a truly ambidextrous unit.

It’s easy to read the large LCD, too, thanks to the high contrast screen. It has a basic white-on-black readout, not unlike a phone in night mode. The intelligent backlight comes on automatically when you move the thermometer and shuts off after a few seconds of disuse.

Features like this help prolong the battery life, too; the pair of AAAs should last up to 3000 hours.

The ChefsTemp Finaltouch X10 is also blazing fast, delivering accurate readings (±0.7 °F from -22 – 392 °F) in about one second flat. This greatly reduces the chance of missing your target temperature and burning your hand over a hot grill waiting for a reading.

In my tests, boiling water was measured at bang-on 212 °F:

And iced water was measured at 31.9 °F:

This is incredibly accurate and right up there with the very best.

Other notable features include a robust, ergonomic design, IP67 waterproofing, anti-microbial housing, a 3-year replacement warranty, and it’s magnetic and has a hole to hang it on a hook when not in use. Oh, and it looks good, too!

The ChefsTemp Finaltouch X10 is hands down one of the very best instant-read thermometers available today. It’s an investment compared to some models, but it just does everything so well that it’s easy to swallow the price tag.

If you grill a lot and insist on nailing your doneness every time (as you should!), this is the thermometer for you.

Please see my hands on review and testing of the ChefsTemp FinalTouch X10 for further details.

The little brother to the Lavatools Javelin Pro thermometer discussed above, this unit is basically the bare-bones equivalent with fewer features.

Just like the Pro model above, the PT12 is accurate to within ±0.9 °F, and can read the internal temperature of meat in 3 – 4 seconds, just a tiny bit longer than the Pro. This makes it a very capable thermometer.

Just like the Pro, this model can read temperatures between -40 °F to 482 °F. So if you’re looking to use this unit to grill, barbecue, make candy or brew beer, it will get the job done.

Built with the same quality as its big brother, this unit also offers a splash-proof design.

But this is where the PT12 falls down when compared to the Pro:

The PT12 doesn’t offer nearly as many features, it’s a bare-bones unit offering just a built-in magnet and an auto-off function when you open and close the probe.

But as a basic unit, it’s easy to operate with nothing that can possibly confuse. Simply open the probe and the unit turns on. However, it doesn’t have a rotating or backlit display.

If you’re shopping on a budget, looking for a bare-bones unit that is still ‘fast enough’ and more than capable, or you’re simply looking for a second meat thermometer to have as a back-up, this is the unit for you.

This unit is an interesting piece of kit that differs to most on this list. It is a dual function thermometer, able to both read the internal temp of meat by a probe, and also read surface temperatures thanks to the included infrared thermometer.

In other words, you will be able to read the temperature of surfaces without touching them using infrared light, making sure it’s hot enough before you start searing meat, or put your pizza onto a stone.

The accuracy of this unit varies depending on the temperature: below 14 °F – ±2 °F; 14 °F to 149 °F ±1 °F; Above 149 °F ±1% of the temperature being read.

With what has to be one of the fastest reading times I’ve ever seen, both the infrared and thermocouple thermometers can read within 1 second.

Again, the temperature range varies. The infrared temperature ranges from -67° to 482 °F. While thermocouple temperature ranges from -67 °F to 626 °F.

This model has three LED lights on the face of thermometer to let you know if the temperature you’re reading is either food safe for hot or cold holding, or if it’s somewhere in the middle.

There’s also a hold setting, to freeze the last read temp, and an auto shut-off to save battery.

This unit requires a bit more work to operate, but once you understand how it works, you shouldn’t have any issues.

To measure the internal temp of the meat, open the probe, press the green “Probe” button, and it will automatically measure your temp.

To measure the surface temp, hold the infrared lens a couple of inches away from the surface you want to measure. Press the red “Scan” button, and a white light becomes visible to show it’s reading the temperature.

Taylor is a trusted brand name that has been manufacturing thermometers for over 150 years. Like most of their products, this meat thermometer is a high-quality construction, built to last.

If you’re looking for a thermometer you can use to measure both the internal and surface temp, this unit offers excellent value.

If you already own an infrared thermometer, it wouldn’t be necessary to purchase a thermometer like this that offers both.

This is a great thermometer for the money. It is essentially like you’re getting two for the price of one, and should be a consideration for anybody that cooks in wood fired ovens / pizza ovens.

The Surround Point Talking Thermometer is a nice thermometer at a lower price point. It does have a neat feature where it will actually speak out the temperature reading, so is good for those who are visually impaired.

The probe has a wide temperature range of -58℉ to 572℉, with an accuracy of ±1 °F, so you can take your temperature reading with confidence.

And like most all thermometers we’re looking at, it has a fast reading time of approx. 4 seconds.

As previously mentioned, this unit has the unique feature of being able to tell you out loud the temperature reading automatically. This is great if you’re trying to read temp in an awkward spot and can’t actually see the temperature reading.

There is a simple on/off button, and another button to choose between displaying temps in Fahrenheit or Celsius.

In addition, the unit has a backlit display (also push button) and automatically shuts itself off if left alone.

By no means is this thermometer difficult to use, but there are some buttons on it that you’ll need to operate to use it effectively.

Essentially if you want to use the backlight or have thermometer tell you aloud what the temperature is, you will need to press the clearly labeled buttons.

This unit is one of the cheaper ones on our list, so I feel obliged to warn that you frequently get what you pay for in these scenarios. It should also be noted that the unit is not waterproof.

On top of being a great choice for someone on a budget, this thermometer would be great for someone visually impaired who will benefit from being told the temperature reading audibly.

If you wouldn’t either benefit or enjoy hearing the temperature read out, then this probably isn’t the model for you.

Also, if you’re looking for a quality thermometer with more bells and whistles like a rotating display or being splash proof, this may not be the unit for you.

In short, this is a great budget option and would probably make a nice back-up thermometer for some.

Generally, anything branded as a “maverick” is an outlaw that plays by its own rules. Like Ford’s 1970s compact car or Tom Cruise piloting an F-15. In this case, it’s a digital thermometer with some unconventional features.

Perhaps most noteworthy among those features is a solution to the problem of having to insert a probe thermometer “upside down” because of hand dominance or some other reason. Just press and hold the button on the back for a few seconds, and the LCD readout flips to the left-handed orientation. That’ll save a few craned necks.

Another plus is the LCD itself. Unlike virtually all other models, this one displays backlit white characters on a black background. As a result, it’s perfectly visible in all light conditions, including in total darkness. No button pressing is required, either — it stays on unless there’s a certain amount of inactivity. Even then, the display is on, just not backlit, and you can still read it under decent lighting.

The “Temp” in the name is self-explanatory. But what about “Time”? That’s a reference to the count-up timer, a feature unique to the Maverick PT-75. You can activate the timer by pressing the button once after unfolding the probe. When you close the thermometer again after taking a reading, the timer starts counting up from 00:00.

Now you know how long it’s been since you last checked on your meat if you’re running a longer cook session. Need to check back in 10 minutes? No problem! Just check the display. The timer runs to 99 minutes before shutting off.

Those are the things the PT-75 does differently from the competition. What it does the same or better is give you fast and accurate readings. In fact, it performs on par with some of the very best on the market.

The manufacturer promises readings in about 2 seconds, and we found it delivered on that and sometimes did better. Accuracy is +/-2°F from 0 to 212°F, and our tests showed it to be at least that precise, if not more so.

Boiling water should be 212 °F; it measured 211.8 °F:

Iced water should be close to 32 °F; it measured 33.1 °F:

Additional features are the tapered probe for easier insertion, a large hole for hanging on a tool hook, a rubber tip at the probe end to guard against drop damage, and a rubber gasket to seal the battery compartment. Waterproofing is IP44, so it’s resistant to splashes.

Overall, the PT-75 is solidly built, beefy but not oversized, and easy to handle. And we definitely appreciate the large 6.2” handle and 4.7” probe for keeping sensitive hands well away from the heat.

Given the array of unique and thoughtful features coupled with fast and nearly spot-on readings, we can’t help but recommend the Maverick PT-75 as a solid buy. Pricier than some, but over-delivers on performance.

For more details, please see our in-depth Maverick PT-75 instant-read thermometer review.

The Thermopop is another thermometer made by Thermoworks, the people that make the Thermapen, and while it’s still a great little thermometer, there are some stark differences between the two.

Right out of the gate, the Thermopop is nowhere near as accurate as the Thermapen. The Thermopop is accurate to within ±2.0 °F from -4 °F to 248 °F and ±4.0 °F thereafter.

Also, the Thermopop is just a little slower than the Thermapen and can read temps in 3 – 4 seconds.

Like most all thermometers in this list, and exactly like the Thermapen, the Thermopop has a wide temperature range of -58 °F to 572 °F.

Even with its small size, the unit is packed with features. It has a large rotating backlit display, is splash proof, and because of the round design and the rotating display, this unit can be turned on and used by either the right or left hand with ease.
Like all Thermoworks products, the Thermopop is a high-quality device designed for constant use in commercial kitchens.

There are nine colors to choose from, and it’s such a simple unit, it couldn’t be much easier to use. Put your probe into the food, and read the temp.

This unit is designed for constant use in a commercial kitchen, but is also great for someone who wants a quality thermometer for home use, while not wanting to spend a lot of money.

If you need to have a super accurate thermometer, or you want a large thermometer you can hold onto for an extended period of time, you may want to consider the Thermapen.

Regardless of what unit you go with, you’re going to have a quality tool to add to your grilling arsenal.

This is an excellent thermometer at an affordable price.

If you’ve never used a thermometer before, and you’re unsure if you want to shell out big bucks for one, this is a great choice.

The manufacturers’ website boasts great accuracy at ± 0.9 °F. You’re not going to have to worry about overcooking your steaks or serving undercooked poultry with this unit.

In addition to being super accurate, the Javelin Pro is able to read the temperature of food in as little as 2 – 3 seconds. Great if you’re looking to check your steaks quickly, and you don’t want to let too much heat escape your grill.

With a wide temperature range of -40 °F to ~482 °F (-40 °C to ~250 °C) there is very little this unit can’t be used for in the kitchen, let alone grilling. If you use a deep fryer, and you need to know the temp of your oil, this thermometer can handle this task as well.

While the manufacturer doesn’t claim that the unit is waterproof, they do state it is “splash resistant.”

All signs point to a quality thermometer that will last you a few years of regular use. And with a 3-year limited manufacturer’s’ warranty, you have the comfort of knowing the company is standing behind their product.

One of our favorite features is the “Intelligent Stabilization Alert + Temperature Hold” — in other words, the unit will beep to let you know it has completed accurate readings of the temp of the meat.

There is also a backlit display that will automatically notice when it’s too dark to read the unit and turn itself on. There’s a magnet built-into the unit, so it’s easier to store. Auto shut off if left open to conserve battery life, as well as a large auto rotating display, meaning you can use this unit with either your left or right hand with ease.

Finally, it can display temperatures in either Fahrenheit or Celsius.

Out of all the meat thermometers we looked at, we feel this one comes with the best mix of features at a great price.

If you’re looking for an accurate, superfast thermometer, with lots of added features at a reasonable price, this is the unit for you.

If you’re looking for a rugged unit that’s going to be built to last the rest of your days, or if you’re looking for a unit that is a little more basic, you may want to keep looking. But all in all, this is a great thermometer at a low budget.

For more in depth look at this thermometer, please check out our hands-on Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo review.

This is a high-end thermometer with many convenient features, and after my testing proved to be fast with high accuracy.

ThermoPro has made a reputation for itself, creating quality thermometers to fit every niche. The TP620, formerly marketed as the TP19X, takes aim at the premium instant-read market, boasting impressive statistics and well-thought-out design.

Looking at the manufacturer’s specs, the TP620 has a range of -58 °F to ~572 °F (-50 °C to ~300 °C), which is pretty typical for this type of thermometer. More importantly, ThermoPro reports an accuracy of ±0.9 °F/0.5 °C, which is at least as good as, if not better, than the majority of instant-read thermometers.

In my tests, for boiling water it measured 212 °F:

And for iced water it measured 32 °F:

This absolutely bang on to the 1/10th of a degree, so you know you can trust this device!

The other key data point to consider is the response time. How “instant” is it? Readings happen in about 1 to 3 seconds. That’s comparable to the best on the market and faster than most lower-cost models.

Appearance-wise, the TP620 is boxier than some models, including its close cousin,  the TP19. But, with the slip-resistant handle, you’re unlikely to lose your grip.

There’s just one button on the front face of thermometer: a LOCK button that holds the displayed temperature for 5 seconds. That means you can stick the probe into your food, take a reading, press LOCK, and pull it away from the heat to view the results away from the heat safely.

So, how does it turn on? Unfolding the 4.5” stainless steel probe from the antimicrobial-coated, waterproof base automatically turns on the display. Fold it back to the closed position to turn it off again. Don’t worry, though — if you forget, it goes into sleep mode after 90 seconds of inactivity. Any movement wakes the screen up again.

Inside the battery compartment (it runs on a single AAA for up to 3000 hours), you’ll find a recalibration button should you ever find your TP620 has lost its accuracy. Additionally, there’s a small button on the back to switch from Fahrenheit to Celsius.

The ThermoPro TP620 is up with the category leaders for speed and accuracy. Combine these factors with the list of convenience features, and you’ll see it’s worth the extra money for anyone serious about barbecue.

For more details, read our hands-on review of the ThermoPro TP620.