Food and appliance thermometers make great gifts
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EmailConsider giving a gift that will be useful all year long. An appliance or food thermometer is a practical, useful and inexpensive gift.
No matter what time of year it is, food and appliance thermometers are great, useful gifts. Most are inexpensive and no one can have too many. Thermometers help to keep your food safe and are highly recommended by Michigan State University Extension.
Here are some appliance or food thermometers to consider giving as gifts:
- Appliance thermometers - Appliance thermometers are specially designed to measure the temperature of the air in either the refrigerator/freezer or the oven.
- Refrigerator/freezer thermometers are specially designed to provide accuracy at cold temperatures. It is important to verify the temperature of refrigerators and freezers. Refrigerators should maintain a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Your frozen food will be at top quality for the longest possible time when your freezer is at zero degree or a little below.
- Oven thermometers can be left in the oven to verify that the oven is heating to the desired temperatures. These thermometers can measure temperatures from 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. When cooking meat and poultry, it is important that the oven be set at 325 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
- Food thermometers come in several types and styles and vary in level of technology and price.
- Oven cord thermometers allow you to check the temperature of food in the oven without opening the oven door. A base unit with a digital screen is attached to a food thermometer probe by a long metal cord. The probe is inserted into the food and the cord extends from the oven to the base unit. The base can be placed on the counter or attached to the stove-top or oven door by a magnet.
- Thermometer fork combination thermometers combine a cooking fork with a food thermometer. A temperature-sensing device is in one of the tines of the fork. Particularly useful for grilling, the thermometer fork will accurately measure the internal temperature of even the thinnest foods. Thermometer forks are not designed to remain in a food while in the oven or on the grill.
- Instant read bimetallic stemmed thermometers measure the temperature of a food in about 15 to 20 seconds. They are not designed to remain in the food while it is cooking in the oven.
- Oven-safe bimetallic-coil thermometers are designed to remain in the food while it is cooking in the oven and is generally used for large items such as a roast or turkey. This food thermometer is convenient because it constantly shows the temperature of the food while it is cooking.
- Candy/jelly/deep fry thermometers will measure temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 degree Fahrenheit. They are used to measure the extra-high temperatures required of candy and jelly making, as well as frying with hot oil.
