In sous vide cooking, temperate is everything. You may have read about or seen digital instant read thermometers, and we’re here to explain how they can help your cooking results. If you’re new to sous vide, you may like to check out our FAQ by clicking here.

What does a Digital Instant Read Thermometer do?

Digital Instant Read Thermometers takes an instant (or near instant!) read of the temperature of water and food. Cooks use them to take the guesswork out of their cooking. They provide a instant read on the temperature of the food they are preparing.

With a reputable brand the reading on a digital instant read thermometer will be within one degree of the actual temperature. Many use an instant read thermometer in their sous vide cooking for 2 main reasons:

1. To double check the temperature of the water that they are using as their water bath for their sous vide cook. This is because correct water temperature is paramount to a reliable sous vide cook. Sous vide water ovens and immersion circulators vary in quality. This means that the temperature gauge may not reflect the actual temperature of the water. The digital instant read thermometer provides peace of mind as to the precise water temperature at any time in the cooking process.
2. To test the temperature of the food that is coming out of the sous vide water bath (whether that is a water oven or an immersion circulator) just to make sure it is at the desired temperature.

There are a couple of other products on the market for those who are super serious about their sous vide cooking. The first is called a thermocouple reader that comes with thermocouple probes. This allows you to use wired probes to remotely measure two temperatures at the same time. For example, you might want to measure both the core temperature and the surface temperature of your food. The second type is a non contact infrared thermometer. It is useful for measuring the temperature of a sauce or the surface temperature of grilling meat for example. Point this non contact device at your food and pull the trigger to get a temperature reading.  Nifty right? We will stick to focusing on the instant read digital thermometer in this article.

5 things you should look for when buying Digital Instant Read Thermometers?

1. Accuracy and quick readings – to minimise heat loss/water evaporation you want the temperature reading to be up on the screen within around 3-4 seconds. Obviously you do not want to trade reading speed for accuracy though. The best thermometers are precise AND quick
2. Battery length – the best thermometer batteries will last for years. Check out what reviewers say about battery life before purchasing a specific thermometer
3. Position of sensor – the best products have the sensor right at the tip. This means you don’t have to poke around unnecessarily or risk getting burnt by steam
4. Quality of materials used – look for thermometers that are water resistant (obviously!) and made with stainless steel. If you are spending a bit on this gadget, durability is very important
5. Customer service – if the product that you buy fails, it’s great to have the back up of a customer service team that is very responsive, helpful and where relevant, sends out a replacement product quickly

It’s also handy to look for a brightly colored thermometer. This can help you to see it easily in your drawer amongst other kitchen gadgets and gizmos

Here are our 5 top Digital Instant Read Thermometer picks:

Thermapen Mk4 – Yep. This one is a bit of an indulgence but it is very fast (reading in 2-3 seconds), accurate and lights up when needed. It has an easy to read display and the back lighting is great. It auto rotates so you can read the screen easily and it has a flip closure mechanism to kill the battery which is a nice touch. This pen is made for professional/commercial use but people it home kitchens rave about them as well. They even come in a range of colors.

Classic Super-Fast Thermapen – 2 year warranty, range of colors (grey, yellow, green, red, blue and black)

Thermoworks RT600C Super-Fast Pocket Thermometer – 2 year warranty, range of colors (white, yellow and charcoal)

ThermoPop by Thermoworks  – 2 year warranty, range of colors (9 to choose from!), you might lose 1-2 seconds in your reading but if that doesn’t bother you, this one should do the trick

Lavatools Javelin PRO Instant Read Digital Meat Thermometer

All Digital Instant Read Thermometers are not the same

Here is a quick word of warning. There are many companies selling look-a-like products for reputable brands such as ThermoWorks. ThermoWorks does not have any affiliation with brands selling on Amazom or EBay. Within this article we have included links to the ThermoWorks website directly.

It is important to note that Sous Vide Hub is part of an affiliate program with ThermoWorks. This means that if you do purchase one of their products via our links, we will receive a small commission for you doing so. This does not mean that you will pay more via Sous Vide Hub. In fact it means that we can keep writing articles and sous vide product comparisons. Thank you in advance if you do choose to purchase a ThermoWorks through one of our links.

External links and further reading

The web is full of plenty of Digital Instant Read Thermometer reviews. We have included some links below that we hope are helpful to you:

Wired. We Put 5 Instant-Read Meat Thermometers to the Test

Reddit Anova vs Thermapen – which is more accurate?

4 important tips for using cooking thermometers

Choosing a thermometer