Never guess whether your chicken is cooked through.
Published September 03, 2024
Simply Recipes / Getty Images
When it comes to testing recipes, precision is very important; however, when I’m cooking for myself day to day, I’m far from precise. I rarely measure, opting to add a pinch here and a dollop there, and I go by taste. My laid-back approach works wonders for a rustic fruit pie or a hearty stew, but there’s one thing I don’t dare guess: temperature.
Whether roasting the perfect whole chicken or a medium-rare steak, a reliable kitchen thermometer is a must-have. I never gamble with raw meat, especially chicken.
My journey to finding the perfect thermometer began as I developed my skills on the grill. Feeding my friends is a lot less stressful when I’m not riddled with the fear of serving them undercooked chicken. Not all kitchen thermometers are created equally—and I want to trust that my thermometer is the most accurate. So, I reached out to three seasoned food editors to spill the beans on their trusted tools. Without missing a beat, each proclaimed their loyalty to one brand.
The Panel of Food Editors
- Breana Killeen M.P.H, RD: Food editor for Food & Wine, recipe developer, farmer, and dietitian
- Megan Scott: Senior Editor of News and Features at Simply Recipes and co-author of the 2019 edition of Joy of Cooking
- Laurel Randolph: Senior Recipe Editor for Simply Recipes and award-winning baker
Simply Recipes / Thermoworks
The Best Kitchen Thermometer, According to Food Editors
The food editors I spoke with are as passionate about finding the right kitchen thermometers as I am. All three editors I spoke to said the best brand for kitchen thermometers is Thermoworks. They love various kitchen thermometers from Thermoworks for their size, accuracy, speed, and durability.
Megan says, “I’ve been using the Thermapen by Thermoworks for almost 15 years, and I will never buy another kitchen thermometer. They’re a little spendy, but they last for years and years. They’re super accurate and super fast. I use mine for everything from cooking meat to baked goods to homemade caramel sauce. I even bought the little magnetic sleeve that Thermoworks sells because I stick it on the side of the fridge so it’s handy whenever I need it.”
Breana adds, “I’m a big fan of the Thermapop because of its size.”
Laurel says, “I’m a big Thermoworks fan. I still have my original Thermapen which works like a dream for super fast and accurate readings on meat, liquid, and even cakes. I especially love my Thermoworks Square Dot, which has custom alarms and can handle two probes at once—great for measuring the temperature of your chicken and your grill, for example.”
