Meat Thermometer Digital Grill Cooking Food

TLDR Version: I am sure there are better thermometers out there on Amazon (and elsewhere, however I am equally certain that there aren't many better thermometers out there for $10! This thermometer does everything it is supposed to do competently and has a lot of "bang for the buck."More Detailed version: The "instant read" function is obviously subjective and relative. By that I mean one person's version of "instant" may be radically different than the "fine print" "6-8 seconds" mentioned in the description. Furthermore, I believe the "6-8 seconds" read time is likely correct in a controlled test setting (where movement is minimized and controlled). However, in the real world where you are poking a thermometer into a piece of meat (for instance) that is in a dynamic environment (let's say fresh out of an oven) the "instant read" is not so instant I would say it is closer to 10-15 seconds from my real world experiences.This discrepancy in time from the description to my real world experiences is not what I would consider a "bad" thing though, and definitely not worth taking off a star, if I could give 4.5 stars I would, but I can't so 5 seems more appropriate than 4. Relative to the old junky thermometers I had received as gifts over the years, or purchased from the grocery aisle (because my one at home didn't work and I needed one right then) this thermometer is freaking AWESOME - ESPECIALLY for the price!!!If you need a thermometer that works competently and don't want to spend a lot of money I would definitely give this one a chance!

I bought this thermometer because it was a #1 best seller. I was looking forward to a super fast reliable read out. I used it three times. This first time it took a good 12 seconds to register 160 degrees. Not the speed I was looking for. The second time, about a week later, it worked a bit faster to register temps but my food was WAY overdone. I had been checking a roast chicken since my timer went off and checked the temp 3 times but it always read low, 125, I added 10 min, checked it, 143, added 5 min and checked it, 157 added 5 more min. Checked it one last time and it read 162. I pulled out the chicken which had been in the oven an additional 20 min, but I trusted the thermometer since it was a larger chicken than I'd made previous times. My chicken was easily 180 degrees. Total disappointment. A week later I made steaks which I was finishing in the oven. I pulled out the steaks after being in the oven 5 min total, expecting it to be medium rare. I inserted the thermometer and the read out read 115?!?! So I closed it up, let the steaks rest for 2 min and tried again. I inserted the thermometer and the read out just showed dashed lines. I closed it and tried again and again and all I got was dashed lines, no temp readout whatsoever. I put it away I said, maybe the battery. I changed the battery out and stuck it in a cold banana. Dashed lines. I am extremely disappointed with this product and what is worse is that I'm beyond the return window. So now I'm forced to throw it out and get a new one. I would not waste my time with this product if you are a serious cook. Also, it's low quality plastic and extremely light weight which does not feel like a good quality product.

There are some nice features here but the quality and build are only okay. It turns on when you open it up, however, I ALWAYS opens up on Celsius temp. It is not always a quick temp read and the plastic housing has gaps in it that lead me to believe I was going to fry it when wiping meat juice off the probe. Price was right under $10, but the Habor was easier to operate and used to cost $10, now its $18.Also, there were tape tabs in the box and one magnet, I'm guessing the other magnet got lost or never placed in the box. I guess you get what you pay for but I noticed that Home Depot, Kohls, Target and some of the local stores have a Taylor Brand temp probe for $12-$15 that seems to be a better quality product and made for the US.

This thermometer is not as good as the one I bought in November unfortunately I broke that one handling it too roughly. This TD Offer Meat Thermometer does not have instant read like this one - Optimum Digital Electronic InstaRead Thermometer with Collapsible Probe in Red - which spoiled me after using my analog display thermometer from Pampered Chef for 15 years. The InstaRead displayed readable digital temp within 10 seconds. The TD Offer Meat one takes much longer. In fairness I'll report it came in a lovely box case and it was inside a lovely keeper bag both of which has become new clutter my home. It's hard to know if I should trash or donate. An artist or mechanic do not keeper their brushes or tools in bag but at the ready.

Instant is a bit of an exaggeration, but it does get to the final speed pretty quick. When I stick it in some meat on the grill, it starts climbing by 10+ degrees at a time (about one-two jumps per second) at first, then slows to jumping a few degrees at a time. It keeps slowing like that as it gets closer to the actual temp. Usually about 15 seconds before it settles down and brackets the actual temp. The only issue I have with this is if you're cooking over a really hot grill. Your hand can't sit above high heat for that long waiting to get the result. Lucky for me I ordered heat resistant grill gloves at the same time, otherwise I might be more upset about the not-so-instant read time.Very easy to use, only three buttons and I only use two of them. When you unfold the probe, it automatically comes on and defaults to Celsius. A simple button press changes it to Fahrenheit and nothing else is needed in order to read a temp except to stick it in. When done, just push the power button and it turns off.For the price, this is instant enough for me.