These Meat Thermometers Take the Guesswork Out of Grilling, Roasting, and More

One of the most important tools in the kitchen is often overlooked: the meat thermometer. While some may feel they "know" when everything is finished by feel or color, a meat thermometer provides a foolproof way of checking that your meat is properly cooked and not overdone or raw. Whether you're cooking a massive holiday roast or grilling a simple batch of burgers, using a meat thermometer will make all the difference.

With plenty of options out there, it may feel overwhelming to decide on just one. To help you find the best meat thermometers for your kitchen, we researched and tested the top options on the market, considering their probe length, features, ease of use, accuracy, and battery life.

Our Favorites

• Our Top Pick: OXO Good Grips Chef's Precision Digital Thermometer
• Best Value: CDN DT450X Digital Pocket Thermometer
• Best Leave-In: Polder Classic Combination Meat Thermometer and Timer
• Best Instant-Read: Lavatools Javelin PRO Professional Meat Thermometer
• Best Long Probe: ThermoPro TP01A Instant Read Meat Thermometer
• Best Smart: MEATER Plus
• Best Analog: OXO Good Grips Chef's Precision Analog Meat Thermometer
• Best for Smoking: ThermoPro TP829 Wireless LCD Meat Thermometer
• Best Compact: Taylor Instant Read Thermometer

Our Top Pick: OXO Good Grips Chef's Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer

If you only grill seasonally and mostly cook meat on the stovetop, this is the best universal meat thermometer to have on hand. It's got a little bit of everything, from a slightly longer probe to instant-read functionality to a very large digital display that's handy if you don't want to get your face too close to the hot oven or grill. It's battery-operated, but OXO does provide a battery along with the thermometer. You get all that for just over $20, so it's budget-conscious, too.

We love that the case for this thermometer comes with a handy cheat sheet on correct temperatures for different kinds of meat, from ground beef to ham. It even breaks down the temperature difference between chicken thighs and breasts. The case alone would make a great gift for a college kid, post-grad, or newlywed moving into their first apartment.

This thermometer can display temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, and it's designed for precision and accuracy. The head also pivots around so you can read the temperature from any angle, adding to its overall functionality. The only downside to this thermometer is that it's not a leave-in model, so you can't keep it in the oven. But if you're not roasting big, whole birds on a regular basis, you probably won't miss this feature.

The Details: 2.4 ounces; registers temperatures between -40°F and 302°F

Best Value: CDN DT450X Digital Pocket Thermometer

At just under $20, this pocket-sized meat thermometer from CDN gets the job done but still comes with the same bells and whistles (digital display, instant read, and the ability to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures) as more expensive thermometers on the market. If you take a closer look at the handle, you'll see a little temperature guide cleverly printed along the edge. It even breaks out medium and rare temperatures for beef, veal, and lamb.

The main drawback—and likely why this thermometer is so cheap—is that both the handle and sheath are made of plastic, so it's not oven-safe. Depending on how many different cuts of beef you cook at home, this probe might not be long enough for larger, thicker pieces. However, the smaller size works just fine for single steaks and thin cuts.

The Details: 0.8 ounces; registers temperatures between -40°F and 450°F

Best Leave-In: Polder Classic Combination Digital In-Oven Programmable Meat Thermometer and Timer

Chicken is one of the most important meats to get the temperature right. Unlike beef, there is no medium-rare option. That's just called salmonella roulette. But if you love to roast whole chicken or bake chicken breasts, that often means opening and closing the oven door several times, which can cause the oven to drop temperature and not cook as efficiently. This leave-in meat thermometer from Polder is made from food-safe materials and enforces enough heat resistance to withstand oven temps and stay in the meat the entire time. All you have to do is glance at the display instead of opening the oven door.

Poultry aside, a leave-in thermometer is also a godsend during the summer when you don't want excess heat competing with your air conditioner. We tested this thermometer ourselves and found it to be simple and straightforward to use. It's great for beginners and experts alike since it's so intuitive and reliable. We also liked that it has a loud alarm, which could be clearly heard over the noise of voices and other outside sounds during testing. After six months of use, both the battery and the magnetic strip were still going strong.

The Details: 5.6 ounces; registers temperatures between 32°F and 392°F

Best Instant-Read: Lavatools Javelin PRO Duo Ambidextrous Backlit Professional Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer

When Lavatools says "instant read," they mean it. At between 2 and 3 seconds, this is one of the fastest readings you'll find in a meat thermometer—which is crucial when cooking on the stovetop, especially with thin cuts of meat. While it's not cheap, it comes with so many nifty features—beyond its praise-worthy speed—that it's certainly worth the investment for home cooks.

The handle is coated with an antimicrobial material, has a large anti-fog digital display, and even features a magnet so you can stick it on the fridge door. Plus, the sensor inside is as smart as you can get without splurging on a Bluetooth-enabled thermometer. It can monitor temperature changes and will alert you when a specific temperature has stabilized.

Even better? They thought about lefties. Too many kitchen tools and gadgets are designed with only right-handed users in mind, but this handle is actually ambidextrous. It can rotate a full 360 degrees for perfect viewing from any angle.

The Details: 4.6 ounces; registers temperatures between -40°F and 482°F

Best Long Probe: ThermoPro TP01A Instant Read Meat Thermometer With Long Probe

If you're not a big steak person but love to do a big Sunday roast or cook whole chicken and turkey more often than just around the holidays, you need to invest in a meat thermometer with a longer probe. Luckily, our favorite long-probe meat thermometer is one of the cheapest on the list and ensures you'll get an accurate reading through the entire dish.

The 5.3-inch probe also means your hand won't have to get as close to hot food, which helps prevent accidental burns. We love that it registers temperatures between -58°F and 572°F—the widest range on our list. It has an auto-shutoff feature, reads temperatures in as little as 4 seconds, and features a bright LCD digital display that's easy to read at night.

The Details: 0.8 ounces; registers temperatures between -58°F and 572°F

Best Smart: MEATER Plus

The MEATER Plus is packed with some impressive new tech. Most noticeably, it's wireless. The leave-in probe features two sensors to monitor both the internal food temp and the overall environment temperature at the same time. This is especially handy for cooks who grill or smoke meat a great deal.

But even if you don't spend a lot of time at a smoker or grill, you might want to invest the $99 for the sheer fact that this wireless probe is dishwasher safe. Yes, really. You can toss it in the wash, and you don't have to worry about any recalibration.

This is one of the best meat thermometers we've tested and even one of our favorite grilling tools overall. We love the interactive setup process and the detailed manual, but what really sets this smart thermometer apart is the accompanying app that sends notifications on time and temperature directly to your smartphone. When it came down to testing, the temperatures were incredibly accurate, and it still worked great after using it regularly for six months. What's more, it makes a great gift for the grill master in your life—or really any cook who appreciates advanced technology and digitized gadgets.

The Details: 7.4 ounces; registers temperatures up to 527°F

Best Analog: OXO Chef's Precision Analog Meat Thermometer

If you prefer to keep it classic and leave new tech at the kitchen door, there are still tons of great analog meat thermometers in production with tried-and-true dial displays. But for our list, the OXO Chef's Precision Leave-In edged ahead of others and ranked best for its large, easy-to-read numbers, stainless steel material, slightly longer probe, and a conical face that's still readable at an angle.

Plus, the dial features some smart design choices, such as a no-slip silicone ring and flat edges that prevent the thermometer from rolling off of the counter. Like the OXO Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer that also made our list, this model also comes with a handy temperature guide and even features a Celsius conversion.

The Details: 3.2 ounces; registers temperatures up to up to 200°F

Best for Smoking: ThermoPro TP829 Wireless LCD Meat Thermometer for Grilling and Smoking

For the at-home grill master or budding barbeque competitor, the ThermoPro TP829 Long Range Wireless Meat Thermometer is worth the splurge. This unit is for serious meat lovers who keep their favorite smokers fired up all weekend (and sometimes during the week).

Four leave-in probes measure the meat's temperature and the cooker's ambient temperature. Color-coded probes align with coordinating spots on the thermometer's digital display. Next-generation RF tech helps extend the thermometer's range up to 1000 feet, so you don't have to babysit the smoker to keep an eye on the meat's temps. When the meat reaches its settings, an alarm sounds so you don't accidentally cook too long.

The Details: 1.32 pounds; registers temperatures up to 572°F

Best Compact: Taylor Instant Read Thermometer

If you're short of drawer space, check out this teeny, tiny thermometer from Taylor, which can easily be stored in your silverware drawer.

The pen-sized analog model clips onto a kitchen apron or shirt pocket and comes with some surprisingly modern features, such as a stainless steel stem, a shatter-proof silicone lens, and an antimicrobial sleeve, which is super handy when you have to check multiple temperatures. This also helps to prevent contaminating a kitchen counter. It's the perfect stocking stuffer for a foodie, and it's also great for campers and RV trippers who love to cook small meals over portable stoves or fire pits.

The Details: ‎0.8 ounces; registers temperatures from 0°F to 220°F

Our Takeaway

We love the OXO Good Grips Chef's Precision Digital Thermometer for its excellent value, slightly longer probe, instant-read functionality, and extra-large digital display. For the true meat-lover who wants to splurge on a Bluetooth-enabled smart device, the MEATER Plus Long Range Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer is a fantastic investment (and it makes a great gift).

How To Pick the Right Meat Thermometer

Probe Length

"Probe" is an important term to know and a feature to consider when buying a meat thermometer. The probe is the part of the thermometer that is inserted into the meat. When placing the probe, you want to make sure you don't hit bone, as this won't give you an accurate reading on the meat temperature. Longer probes are handy for cooking larger pieces of meat, such as a pork loin or prime rib.

Style

Another important term that goes hand-in-hand with the probe is "leave-in thermometers." These models are oven-safe and stay in the meat the entire time it cooks. Leave-in meat thermometers are handy for cooking whole birds, such as a Thanksgiving turkey, when you don't want to keep opening the oven door to check it.

You'll see the phrase "instant read" on most digital and smart thermometers that can read a temperature instantly and don't require the waiting that happens with analog dials. Instant-read thermometers are especially handy when cooking smaller pieces of meat, such as breasts or filets, on the stovetop, where cooking is faster and just a couple of seconds difference means a perfectly seared piece becomes overdone.

Accuracy

Whether you choose a simple probe thermometer or an ungraded smart thermometer that connects to wifi, it needs to read the internal temperature of your meat with accuracy and speed. Cooking your foods to a safe minimal temperature ensures that you've destroyed any harmful microorganisms, so it's important that your thermometer gives you a correct reading.

Common Questions

How do you use a meat thermometer?

To get a proper reading on your meat thermometer, insert the probe through the center of the largest muscle or thickest part of the meat—being sure to avoid any bones or substantial portions of fat. A good meat thermometer will take less than 10 seconds to register the temperature, and some "leave-in" models are durable enough to leave inside the oven or smoker for extended periods of time.

Where is the best place to insert a meat thermometer in a turkey?

Insert your instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of the turkey thigh, near the bone (but not touching). Your turkey should be done once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

What's the difference between a candy thermometer and a meat thermometer?

When shopping for a good meat thermometer, make sure you're not looking at a candy thermometer. The design and packaging are often similar—and many top kitchen brands do make both—but these thermometers are not interchangeable. A candy thermometer and a meat thermometer do not have the same temperature range, and they don't have the same shape. A candy thermometer also doesn't have the pointed end necessary for probing meat.

Why Take Our Word for It? 

Deanne Revel is an award-winning travel journalist and host who focuses on family travel and themed entertainment. She's also a frequent contributor to publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Travel Channel, HGTV, and more. This article was updated by Katherine Gallagher, an associate commerce editor for Allrecipes, with testing insights from our dedicated testing kitchen.