Best buys · The grill and the backyard

The best meat thermometer worth buying

Our pick is the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The thermometer

ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE

Reads in about a second, which is the difference between checking the meat and guessing at it. Expensive for a thermometer, cheap next to a ruined brisket.

Buy it for
Anyone who cooks meat for other people.
Skip it if
You want to leave a probe in for hours. Get a leave-in probe thermometer instead.

What actually matters when buying a meat thermometer

  1. Reading speed. Every second the lid is open, heat escapes and the meat keeps cooking.
  2. Accuracy you can trust, and a way to check it: ice water should read 0°C / 32°F.
  3. A probe long enough to reach the middle of a thick joint.
  4. A backlight, because meat is usually done after dark.

Either side of the pick

The step up

ThermoWorks Signals

Leave-in probes that report to your phone. For long smokes rather than quick checks.

Check the price at Amazon ↗

Discounted today, if you would rather

Not our pick. These are the meat thermometer offers live right now at stores we track, ranked on the evidence behind the price.

Govee’s sleek wireless meat thermometer cuts the cord and is down to $34 right now (Reg. $50)
Tech & Gear · checked 9m ago

Govee’s sleek wireless meat thermometer cuts the cord and is down to $34 right now (Reg. $50)

from $34
1 current offer 1 merchant up to −32% claimed
Compare offers →