The 10 Best Dial Thermometers
This wiki has been updated 18 times since it was first published in January of 2020. Temperature control is a key element of food preparation and storage, which makes a quality thermometer an essential tool for both professional restaurateurs and amateur chefs. Our list of classic dial-display models includes options suited for deep freezers, deep fryers, and everything in between, to help you ensure that your meals are safe for consumption and cooked to perfection. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Taylor 8215N Bi-Therm Pocket Probe
2. Jansamn 1/2 NPT Thread
3. Cooper-Atkins 3270-05-5
Editor's Notes
October 06, 2020:
Dial thermometers come in a wide variety of styles, so you'll want to make sure the one you choose is suited for the task at hand. We've included a few selections built for specialized uses, like the Jansamn 1/2 NPT Thread, which is designed to be fitted on the port of a kettle for brewing beer or wine. The Taylor 5924 Classic Series works great in freezers or refrigerators, since it has a low temperature floor and a display indicating safe ranges for perishables, while the Escali AHB1 is ideal for foaming fancy drinks.
A key consideration for cooking thermometers is whether they can be left in the oven or on the grill throughout the process. Options like the Rubbermaid FGTHP220DS Instant Read and the KT Thermo B-221 are used for quickly checking whether a dish is done before putting it back on the heat, while tougher models like the CDN POT750X ProcAccurate or the CDN GTS800X allow for continuous monitoring. Another important factor is size - the long stem of the Cooper-Atkins 3270-05-5 makes it great for use with deep stockpots or fryers.
With such a broad range of applications, it can be tough to truly quantify the best option, so for the top of our list we went with a dependable all-around pick: the Taylor 8215N Bi-Therm Pocket Probe. The Taylor brand has a reputation for reliability, and this model can be fine-tuned for accurate readings of temperatures from boiling to well below freezing.
If you're in the market for more high-tech equipment, check out our review of the best wireless grill thermometers. We've looked at several types of specialty cookware with built-in temperature controls, such as crockpots and electric roaster ovens.
Special Honors
Williams Sonoma Dial Display Instant-Read Williams Sonoma's exclusive instant-read model has a distinctive white-on-black display set in a square frame of brushed stainless steel, and it's sold with a recalibration wrench to allow for easy adjustments for accuracy. williams-sonoma.com
4. CDN POT750X ProcAccurate
5. Escali AHB1
6. Polder 12454 Deluxe
7. Taylor 5924 Classic Series
8. Rubbermaid FGTHP220DS Instant Read
9. CDN GTS800X
10. KT Thermo B-221
Fred is a freelance writer and editor based in Chicago, and a lifelong bookworm with a love of genre fiction. Since receiving his degree in Biology from the University of Vermont, he’s worked as a student loan counselor, a remittance processor for an industrial supply firm, and a traveling farmhand. A passion for the laughter of strangers has given him several years of experience performing and teaching improv comedy, and much of his free time is spent inventing absurd scenarios on stage. Fred also hikes, skis, and records a weekly Dungeons and Dragons podcast with a group of longtime friends. His areas of expertise include gaming, gardening, outdoor gear, literature, and pop culture