Jan 18, 2016

Finding a Good Meat Thermometer

For about the last 5 years, my sweetie has cooked Prime Rib for Christmas dinner, but to get it just right (not overdone or so rare the kids won't eat it), he has relied on a meat thermometer. Unfortunately, he has not been able to find one he really likes.

So when Cave Tools approached me about trying their Quick Read Digital Cooking Thermometer, I was all over it. Besides, it meant that my sweetie would be doing the cooking and you know how I feel about that. So in his words, I will share his review and I will also add my 2-cents worth. The London broil was amazing! The best we have ever had...

"I was excited to try out the thermometer. I have a love/hate relationship with meat thermometers and I normally use them more for roasts and full-bird poultry than I do for steaks and chops. I know a nice instant read thermometer is best for steaks and thin meats, so I decided to give it the ultimate test, London broil.

London broil is a perfect cut of meat for an instant read since it is really a cut of thick steak, thick enough that it is hard to tell where it's at by just looking and it's also very easy to ruin. A well done London broil resembles an old shoe more than a meal and when two are required due to family size, keeping them the perfect temperature is not easy.

The thermometer worked great, and believe me, I put it to the test. Before I did the first flip, I barely inserted the thermometer and got basically an external temp and then I got a temp at 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 so I was able to see a temp gradient across the meat (he is such a nerd!). This gave me a feel for when to flip.

I flipped before the lower 3/4 was too warm, then repeating, I got the other side and ended up with two very nicely cooked London broils (I completely agree).

Just to give it one more chance (and to make Sandy happy), I tried it on two pork loins I was roasting. For roasts, I prefer a thermometer I can leave in and set an alarm for a specific temperature. But that is problematic because the probe draws in heat and causes uneven cooking and a flawed reading (who even thinks of this stuff? No wonder I don't like to cook, it's way too complicated).

The small diameter was a nice feature, less intrusion and fewer leaking juices. The temp is very quickly displayed, making the time the oven door is open shorter than with most thermometers, and I like the big, easy-to-read display.

The pork turned out great. The only negative thing I could think of was that the buttons are a bit small, but overall, this is a very nice thermometer."

So I have to tell you, when my sweetie and I bought the Prime Rib for Christmas this year, the sale was so good that he bought an extra one for my birthday next week... maybe turning 51 won't be so bad after all.

Our friends at Cave Tools wanted to make it easy for you to buy one of their awesome thermometers, so they even gave me the links to include with my post and a coupon code to save you 15% at Amazon. Just enter LH58KB66.

Amazon - meat thermometer

Or you can find them on their own website at Cave Tools

***We were given a free meat thermometer for our open and honest review of the product.***





5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My hubs bought 2 prime ribs because they were so dadblasted cheap, he is thawing one out in the fridge for tonights feast, he had the butcher cut them up since it is just us two..We have free butterball thermometers they gave out 10 years ago, my daughter left hers for me, so we have two, it helps to have one, it makes safety with food a priority, we have never had food that was over cooked since then..Since you don't like to cook much and bake your husband is absolutely wonderful in that dept. my hubs retired now and I am busy helping at a food pantry has food ready when I come home off a public bus no less paid for by the church I volunteer and no I am not a member the paster got a good deal on bus passes and I buy pork, hams, meat and chickens and carry it to the pantry, no one complains about anything I roast, bake, sizzle and coax into good food, may are starving here and they are so happy to have high protein meals to eat there and take home sammeis (sandwiches), it makes me so very grateful to the Lord to even be able to get the protein sources and my friend ususally takes me to this certain supermarket to pick up the protein sources and she generously helps me to get veggies and milk and diapers for the wee ones coming to the center..It is a blessing to help and honor our Lord and Savior most don't think that many in our community are hungry and they work so hard. Congratulations upon another member of your children getting married and your daughter that made 30 pounds of chicken salad and baked the snake cakes is absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God's continued many many blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I meant to say many are starving they work in excess of 60 hours a week but rents being so high and food enormous they feed their wives, husbands, children and are left hungry themselves..When I can I get lots of produce in the summer and use it frugally for soups and many meals, not so much in the winter months but I do try as vegetables are essential to ones good health, the little ones are adorable and I try to spoil them at the holidays with warm clothing & books for their mommas and daddys to read to them so they can learn English, many are immigrants taking their naturalization tests and working like no tomorrow..You live a blessed life in Utah, it is cold here most days, now raining for many months, gasoline is high here and rent is ridiculous yet many come here seeking a better life in the USA and as naturalized citizens, your LDS church converts many to their faith as they are wonderful to their people and your faith helps it congregrants, the church I help out is not LDS but they believe human beings deserve food and dignity and help, it is wonderful to help out..

Marci said...

How did you know I am in the market for a meat thermometer? Cannot wait to try this one!

LeAnn said...

Loved your review on the meat thermometer! I think I may get one for my hubby for his birthday. I do love it when he cooks. I do love prime rib and other meats. It's always awesome to get them cooked just right. Blessings for all~

Rose Maria said...

How much does a cooking thermometer cost?
BBQ Thermometer