Comparing Oven Thermometers
Cooks who use oven thermometers are surprised at the results. Most cooks find that the temperature on their oven was inaccurate and that the temperature was off by anywhere from 25 degrees to over 100 degrees.
Taylor Professional Oven Thermometer
Available from Crate & Barrel, the Taylor Professional Oven Thermometer is an analog thermometer with settings for warming, baking, and roasting. The thermometer measures oven temperatures from 150 degrees to 600 degrees. Find out how hot it really is inside your oven with this internal thermometer.
This oven thermometer features 18/8 stainless steel, silicone accents and convex glass lenses. Timeless styling and analog design fits into any kitchen décor. Large easy to read numbers make this the ideal thermometer for every age. It retails for $17.95.
Pyrex Accessories Professional Oven Thermometer
Pyrex, one of the most trusted names in cookware, brings us a commercial quality, wide bottom stainless steel oven that can fit anywhere in the oven, or use the handy loop to hang it from the oven rack. The thermometer has increments of 50 degrees and measures temperatures from 100 to 600 degrees.
Maverick OT-03 Oven-Chek Digital Oven Thermometer
Go digital, and get a readout that shows you the oven temperature as set, the actual oven temperature, and a timer that tells you how long your food has been cooking in the oven. The display on this oven thermometer is so large, you can read it through the oven window without ever having to open the door and lose heat. This timer also issues an audible sound when the temperature varies from that it is supposed to be.
Does It Matter?
The USDA recommends that temperatures be checked with oven thermometers to cook meat properly. Poultry should be set at 325 degrees or higher, for example. To check the accuracy of your oven, place the oven thermometer in the oven, set the oven for 325 degrees and let it preheat. Once the oven heats to 325 degrees open the oven door and read the thermometer. Check the temperature again in five minutes; within five minutes, the oven should have reheated itself to 325 degrees again.
If the oven is not keeping a consistent temperature, a service person or manufacturer's representative can reset the thermostat in your oven. However, if your oven is consistently higher or lower than it should be, you may just want to factor that information into the equation when you set your oven and decide how hot to cook foods.
