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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 Guide
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.
- Purpose: The first thing to consider when choosing a digital thermometer is why you need it. Thermometers designed for use on humans are different from those designed for measuring the temperature of foods and pets.
- Humans: Gone are the days where we have to use a mercury-based thermometer to measure our temperatures, whether rectally or orally. Today’s digital thermometers are infrared and measure our temperature without even contacting our bodies. Just point the infrared thermometer at the forehead and it will accurately measure and display the reading within a second or two. These thermometers are ideal for babies, adults, and seniors alike. Some have a special “wide” mode that allows you to measure the ambient temperature as well as the temperatures of liquids and foods. However, if you are looking for a cooking thermometer, there are specialized thermometers for food that we cover below.
- Pets: Infrared thermometers are not ideal for pets. The best way to measure a pet’s temperature is rectally. Specialized pet thermometers have soft and flexible probes that do not injure or cause discomfort to the pet. These thermometers are often waterproof and can be cleaned under running water. Some even have disposable probes to prevent the spread of diseases between pets.
- Food: Digital food thermometers have stainless steel probes that measure the temperature of foods and liquids. Because these probes measure the internal temperature of foods, they are more accurate than infrared thermometers. They have a much larger temperature scale. While digital thermometers designed for humans and pets usually measure temperatures between 20 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit, specialized food thermometers measure temperatures between -60 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also waterproof for easy cleaning under running water. They also come with magnetic bodies to secure them to any metal appliance in your kitchen.
- Accuracy: Infrared thermometers intended for human use are more accurate than food-grade digital thermometers. They are usually accurate within 0.2 degrees, while food thermometers are accurate within 1 degree Fahrenheit. Pet digital thermometers have an even lower temperature range.
- Speed: Infrared thermometers can measure temperatures within a second, while it takes food thermometers around three to four seconds to deliver a reading. Pet thermometers may sometimes take up to 20 seconds to deliver an accurate reading.
- Ease of Use: Digital thermometers are easy to use and read temperatures with the click of a button. A bright and crisp LCD screen provides excellent visibility for easy reading day and night. Changing the temperature scale from Celsius to Fahrenheit is straightforward when needed.
- Battery Life: Digital thermometers use regular batteries like AA and AAA batteries or coin batteries. A long-lasting battery allows for more measurement and requires fewer frequent replacements. Some digital thermometers deliver up to 3000 hours of operation on a single battery.
GoodBaby Digital Thermometer
Best Overall
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.
Why We Love It:
- Ideal for checking the temperature of liquids, food, and people as well as the ambient temperature
- A fever indicator alarms you if the temperature is too high
- Bright and large display makes it easy to read the results in the dark
- Ergonomic design that fits in the palm of the hand and does not cause discomfort or hand fatigue
- Built-in memory to save the last 35 readings to accurately track temperature changes
Something to Consider:
- May not be very accurate if the ambient temperature is too cold
KIZEN Digital Thermometer
Runner Up
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.
Why We Love It:
- With a measurement range of -58° F to 572° F, it is accurate to one degree
- Sturdy plastic body and a waterproof design that can be cleaned under running water
- Bright and clear LCD screen with the ideal cooking temperatures for certain foods
- The inner magnet and eyelet allow you to attach it to any metal object or hook
- Come with a replacement battery and an instruction manual for easy operation
Something to Consider:
- Needs to be calibrated the first time before use
ThermoPro Digital Thermometer
Contender
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.
Why We Love It:
- Food-grade stainless steel probe that will never rust or corrode with extended use
- Accurate and fast response within three to four seconds
- Waterproof design makes for easy cleaning under running water
- Long battery life with up to 3000 hours of operation
- Magnetic back that sticks to any metal surface and a hanging hole for hooks
Something to Consider:
- May arrive with a drained battery that needs direct replacement
DISEN Digital Thermometer
Honorable Mention
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.
Why We Love It:
- Bright and crisp screen with large numbers makes for easy reading, day or night
- Delivers readings within one second and can save 35 different temperature readings
- The LCD screen changes color from green to yellow and red according to the temperature
- A switch on the back allows you to display readings in Celsius or Fahrenheit
- Uses two AAA batteries that are commonly available in most households
Something to Consider:
- The included instructions are not clear and detailed
LPOW Digital Thermometer
Recommended
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!
Why We Love It:
- Precisely detects the temperature and delivers readings in one second
- Stores up to 50 past readings so you can track the temperature of sick family members
- High-definition LCD screen displays readings in Celsius or Fahrenheit according to your preference
- Can be muted to prevent beeps from waking up sick and sleeping children
- Ideal for measuring ambient temperature as well as food and liquid temperatures
Something to Consider:
- May not be as accurate as other digital thermometers on our list
