The 6 Best Meat Thermometers of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE

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We found the most accurate thermometers for every kitchen

In This Article

People / Nick Simpson

Whether you’re a beginner cook or have an award-winning filet up your sleeve, having a quality meat thermometer in your apron pocket can be the difference between a show-stopping meal and a disappointing one.

We put 10 top-rated meat thermometers to the test to find the most accurate devices for every kitchen. Our team of expert testers considered how the thermometers performed, felt, and looked while they measured everything from ice water to grilled chicken.

Meat, poultry, and fish will continue cooking after you pull them from the heat, so set your thermometer a few degrees below your target to avoid overcooking.

Keep reading for the best meat thermometers we tried, including instant-read and leave-in models from ThermoWorks, ThermoPro, Meater, and more.

Easy to use

Includes probe cover

Accurate ±1 degree except for boiling water (off 5 degrees)

Display rotates four ways

No special features

This is a simple, modern-looking instant-read thermometer. It’s shaped like a lollipop and comes in fun, bright colors. The temperature reading appears on a rotating digital display, so it’s easy to see, even at awkward angles. The thermometer comes with a cover to protect the probe during storage, and the only button is a simple on/off toggle.

The stainless steel probe comes to a blunt point that easily pierces meat and takes a reading in under three seconds. During testing, it was accurate within 1 degree, except in boiling water, where it was 5 degrees too low. We were impressed by how straightforward and easy to use this thermometer is, plus it comes at a reasonable price.

Power Source: LR44 battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Auto-Off: Yes | Display Type: Rotating backlit

Easy to use

Ambidextrous display

Auto shutoff

Accurate ±1 degree except for boiling water (off 6 degrees)

Pricey for simple features

Less sleek-looking than other options

This is a more traditional-looking instant-read thermometer with a fold-away stainless steel probe. The body is coated in a grippy material that prevents slips, and the thermometer is light and maneuverable to take a quick temperature from any angle. The backlit display rotates automatically as you move the device and is bright and legible.

This simple thermometer doesn’t have a single button or toggle to press — you simply fold open the probe, stick it into your product, and wait a few seconds for the reading. It’s accurate within 1 degree, though it was 6 degrees off in our boiling water test. Still, this is a high-quality, straightforward thermometer that’s slightly heftier than the ThermoPop — but it still comes in several nice color options.

Power Source: AAA battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Auto-Off: Yes | Display Type: Backlit rotating LCD

Toggles between F and C

Night mode light

Grippy ergonomic handle

Magnetized with loop for storage

Most readings were accurate ±1 degree

Design feels cluttered

Button was difficult to figure out

This is another fold-out thermometer with a backlit digital display. The thermometer turns on as the probe is folded out and shuts off when closed. Users can quickly toggle between Farenheight and Celcius, and it has a doneness temperature guide for meat printed on the front.

We like that this thermometer has a light to illuminate the temperature display, which is handy if you’re grilling outside in the dark. It’s also accurate within 1 degree in most tests, though it was off by about 6 degrees in boiling water. The internal magnet means you can attach this thermometer to a metal appliance. It’s also waterproof, which is great for cleaning or cooking outside in the rain.

Power Source: CR2032 battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: 0 to 190 degrees F | Auto-Off: No | Display Type: LED

Versatile

Highly accurate

Fun flip-phone-like design

Includes carrying case

Toggles between C and F

Some features feel unnecessary to the average cook

Has a bit of a learning curve

This is a more advanced thermometer with a 47-inch heat-safe (up to 700 degrees) wire attached to the probe. You can stick the probe into a roast in the oven and have an accurate reading as it cooks for several hours. That said, there’s a lot going on with this thermometer — more than some cooks may need. Users can lock in a minimum and maximum target temp with an alarm so the thermometer will ping when the meat dips below or rises above a certain temperature. There’s also a cooking timer, which is handy.

More data-driven, advanced cooks may appreciate the feature-rich design of this device, but we found it a little overwhelming at first. This was one of the few products we had to consult the instruction manual to use. However, once we got the hang of it, it was accurate within a degree or two, and the constant reading was helpful during grilling to avoid overcooking our chicken.

Power Source: 2 AAA batteries | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Display Type: Backlit

Stylish walnut storage/charging base

Offers hands-free readings to the minute

Long battery life

Price reflects value

Need to be a little tech-savvy

As the name suggests, this thermometer is for meat lovers. The stainless steel probe connects to a smartphone app via Bluetooth to give you a real-time live stream of what’s happening inside your oven or grill. The probe can withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees, so it’s perfectly safe to use over the open flames of a gas grill.

The connected smartphone app is user-friendly and provides just the right amount of detail in a bright, colorful display. You can opt for alerts when the probe hits a certain temperature to prevent overcooking, plus it’s loaded with helpful tips for cooks in need of guidance.

This is a great thermometer for tech-savvy chefs who value precision and want to nail the perfect roast. Though the thermometer was slightly inaccurate (about 6 degrees) in our tests, we’d caveat that with the note that we used the probe in water, not meat, which is what it’s designed for.

Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: Up to 1,000 degrees F | Display Type: App

Light and lock buttons

Loop for storage and internal magnet

Accurate ±1 degree except for boiling water (off 4 degrees)

No bells and whistles

It’s hard to beat the price of this fold-up probe from ThermoPro. The device has three clearly labeled buttons to toggle between Fahrenheit and Celcius, lock in a temperature, and light up the display. It was consistently accurate within 1 degree during testing, other than the boiling water when it was short by 4 degrees.

The thermometer is magnetized and has a loop for hanging, and it automatically shuts off after 10 minutes of inactivity to save battery. The device is water-resistant and the food-grade stainless steel probe is easy to keep clean. This is a basic, budget-friendly option if you’re looking for something simple, reliable, and easy to use.

Power Source: AAA battery | Waterproof: Yes | Temperature Range: -58 to 572 degrees F | Auto-Off: Yes | Display Type: Backlit digital

People / Nick Simpson

Each thermometer has a specific temperature range that it operates within. All of our picks exceed the maximum temperature of most common items. For example, poultry needs to be cooked to 165 degrees F, while bread is done baking when it registers 190 degrees F. If you want your thermometer to also cover cool dishes like ice cream, for example, opt for one with a temperature range that dips below 0 degrees F, like the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2.

It’s best to look for a meat thermometer with a clear, legible display. Even better if it automatically rotates depending on where you stick the thermometer. Sometimes you have to work at awkward angles with large cuts of meat or inside a grill, so a rotating display makes it easy to always get a clear temperature reading. It’s also handy if a mix of righties and lefties are using the device. Having a backlit display is also key. It makes things easy to read indoors but is essential if you plan to bring your thermometer to a grill when it gets dark outside.

The cheapest meat thermometer on our list, the Kizen Digital Meat Thermometer, costs $14 and offers excellent value for a pared-down device. For a little more, the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 is our favorite for its accuracy and quick readings and costs $35. On the upper end of the spectrum, the more feature-rich Meater 2 Plus costs $130 and would make a great gift for an avid griller.

People / Nick Simpson

To find the best meat thermometers, we researched the most trusted brands and top-rated products. We tested 10 devices over 13 hours in our PEOPLE Tested lab, including seven digital probe thermometers, one Bluetooth thermometer, and two wired probe thermometers. Each device was scored on its design, accuracy, ease of use, and features.

Ultimately, our top-ranking device, the ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2, scored 4.51 out of 5. We most liked this thermometer’s accuracy, speed, looks, and ease of use.

Eight of these devices were consistently accurate within 1 degree, but most were off on the boiling water test. We suspect this could have been due to the testing process rather than the thermometers themselves.

People / Nick Simpson

Lizzy Briskin is a contributing shopping writer for PEOPLE. She is also a trained chef, recipe developer, and food writer. She has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and was formally the food editor at Real Simple and Food Network Magazines. She now contributes recipes and food content to outlets including Wirecutter, Delish, The Kitchen, and SELF. She regularly relies on meat thermometers when cooking everything from fresh bread to burgers, and she’s used — and loved — her ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 for years.

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