Having an accurate digital thermometer at home helps you know instantly how ill your child or pet is and if a visit to the pediatrician or veterinarian is necessary. Investing in an accurate digital thermometer helps you identify fevers and keeps your family’s health in check. Today’s digital thermometers are very easy to use and clean, deliver fast and accurate measurements, and have long-lasting batteries. Now that the family is safe and covered, let’s move on to the kitchen. Specialized digital thermometers help you cook meat, chicken, turkeys, and cakes to perfection. Long gone are the days of a dry brisket or undercooked chicken. Our experts compiled a diverse list of digital thermometers to cover all your needs. These thermometers are extremely accurate, sturdy and durable, and have a wide range of applications. Scroll through our favorites below and pick the one you like the most.

How do infrared thermometers work?

Infrared thermometers, also known as forehead or contactless thermometers, measure the infrared rays emitted by an object or a human being. The infrared rays are collected and focused on a lens inside the infrared thermometer. The infrared radiation is then absorbed and turned into heat and then into electricity. The electrical current is then sent to a detector and measured to determine how the object is. The higher the fever is, the more heat and electricity in the thermometer, and the higher the reading will be.

Can I leave a food thermometer in the food while it’s cooking?

It depends on the food thermometer you choose. Not all digital food thermometers are oven-safe. If you want to leave a thermometer in the oven while the turkey roasts or the chicken cooks, you should only use an oven-safe digital food thermometer. These types of food thermometers usually have no plastic parts and can withstand extreme temperatures in the oven and grill.

Buying a digital thermometer may be easy, but choosing the ideal type to match your specific needs may not be as straightforward, especially if you don’t know what to look for. Below, we highlight our top recommendations and what to look out for when shopping for digital thermometers.

Non-Contact Design

Our top choice is extremely easy to use. Just point it at any object and press a button to get an accurate reading in one second. Use it if your child has a fever or to check if the milk bottle is warm enough for your infant.

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Waterproof Design

Ready to take the guesswork out of cooking? This option prevents home chefs from overdoing or undercooking foods like beef, chicken, turkey, cakes, candies, and more. It takes accurate readings in two to three seconds.

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Auto-Rotating Display

This option is packed with useful features: it automatically turns on when it is picked up or if the probe is open, and turns off automatically when set down or after closing the problem to save power. The screen also auto rotates for left-handed users.

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Mute Mode for Babies

This one has a temperature range from 23° F to 145.4° F and can accurately measure the temperature from up to 5 or 6 inches away. The mute mode allows you to check up on your feverish baby without making them up.

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Fast and Accurate

This option’s screen changes color according to the temperature readings. A red screen indicates a very high fever, a yellow screen, a low fever, and a green screen gives you peace of mind that family members and loved ones are doing great!

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