Customer Reviews

ProAccurate Thermometer

5 star:		(94)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

* Truly instant read (< 3 seconds)
* Easy to read - large digits are easy to see even in low light and from an angle, unlike an analog dial model.
* Single button toggles between display of temp in English and metric units
* Wipes clean
* Flat edge on display keeps it from rolling off the counter
* Very accurate (Is 32.1 F for ice water accurate enough for you? Works for me.)
* Easy to calibrate (if ever necessary)
* Reasonable price

Technical notes -- the package for mine says it goes from -40 to 450F, and does not mention if the product is dishwasher-safe. I have always hand-washed mine. The thermometer has a 5 year warranty.

I've had this thermometer for several months and am quite pleased. I calibrated it when I opened the package [per the instructions], and have had very good results with my meats. I love that the sensor is in the tip; most instant-read thermometers want you to insert the probe an inch or more!

There is a "hold" button on the head, so the thermometer will retain the temperature for you to view in better light.

I've used it for chicken, pork, and steak. I haven't tried it yet with fish, but with the sensitive tip, I'm betting it will work great. I'm really hoping this thermometer is a helper in my kitchen for years to come!

Length:: 1:03 Mins

This is my first video review. I'm sorry.

The calibriation on mine went haywire. I tried recalibrating in an ice bath per the instructions with no luck. I then replaced the battery and tried again and it is still messed up. Its sitting in an ice bath right now but says the temp is 52 deg F.

BTW, the calibration function doesn't seem to do anything unless you do it with ambient temps between 23-41 deg F, meaning you need to stick the whole thing in the freezer to try to recalibrate it.

When it worked it worked fine. Now that its screwed up it is useless. Good news is that it has a 5 year warranty, so I guess I'll be trying to contact CDN about fixing it.

UPDATE: I mailed in the bad one to CDN and they sent me a new one. So far it works as advertised.

Update:

My Proaccurate (DTQ450) thermometer started to give me problems. I would stick it in the meat and it would intermittently just show ---- dashes. This was very frustrating. I called CDN and spoke to Judy and they said that this sometimes happens if you chip the red paint on the end. I was not aware that this was that easily damaged. After speaking with Judy, I asked if they would exchange it for a more durable model. No problem, they recommended the q2-450x as more durable but it has a different shape and would not read quite as fast, maybe a few seconds slower. Note the "x" at the end of the pn, that is the one without the delicate paint. Got the new one, and I like the different shape OK but indeed it is a few seconds slower. Not a problem for me, it works just fine. While I am not happy that I had problems with the original thermometer, I was very impressed with how quickly CDN fixed it. It was a little rough without the thermometer for a week, but now we are back to perfectly cooked meat!

Original comment:

I wasn't the type to use a thermometer when grilling.....always just guessed by time and by how it looked on the outside. I was pretty good at it but is was still hit and miss. With this little device, you get the meat just how you like it. Great to ensure chops are not overcooked and tough. Gives the temp within seconds, I love it, wouldn't grill without it.

This is a great product which has served me well for more than a year with no flaws. I don't treat it with an excess of care, either, but it doesn't seem to mind. It seems to be sturdily built. I've not had to replace the battery yet. I have given several as gifts.

I've found a variety of uses beyond the normal "is this chicken done?" test. For example-- my reheated lasagna is hot on the surface-- is it hot in the middle? Is the water I'm heating for my Aeropress (coffee maker) too hot? How close is the pasta water to boiling? Has my bread dough reached the recommended proofing temperature of 77-81 degrees?

This tool is so fun to use that you'll find new things to do with thermometers in your kitchen.

Update, Dec 2009: Three+ years on and this thermometer continues to work flawlessly. I have not yet needed to replace the battery! This is a great deal and one of the best gifts you can get an aspiring cook. I've also had good luck with this probe thermometer: Polder Classic Cooking Thermometer/Timer, Graphite which is excellent for telling when a roast has hit medium rare, and then when it has rested long enough to slice.

Update, Dec 2011: Over the years I accumulated a couple of these thermometers. On one, the battery cover broke. On the second, the battery finally died but was easily replaced. Still an amazing product.

It worked well for a few months. Then the readings started getting very erratic, jumping all over the place. I replaced the battery and tried recalibrating, but it did not help. Now it just shows 3 dashes on the display. I bought it based on a recommendation from Cooks Illustrated, but unfortunately had the same problems as a number of the other reviews here. Would have been a good product if it did not malfunction so quickly.

Every kitchen should have a digital thermometer and every cook should use one. Not only is it a must for determining if poultry and meat is done, it is handy for telling if those leftovers in the microwave are hot. It is also a must-have if you make your own yogurt. Too many other uses to list here.

Cooks Illustrated got it right! If you don't have the money for a Thermapen then this is the one to get. I've had this model for at least 5 years after trying several other digital models. My biggest gripes about those were slow response time and narrow temp range.

The CDN DTQ450 has a wide temperature range, responds quickly, has a "temp hold" feature (lacking on the Thermapen), and has large easy to read numbers. The sleeve can be used as a handle...handy when taking the temperature of boiling liquid. It also shuts itself off after a couple of minutes to save the battery. I saw a complaints about the small buttons, but I have big "ham hands" and don't have a problem with the size if the buttons.

No, you can't put it in a turkey or roast and put it in the oven, but they make Probe Thermometers for that. And no, you can't put it in the dishwasher, but why would you want to? It just wipes clean.

This will be the best 18 bucks you can spend on the kitchen. I highly recommend this thermometer.

I use this for low and slow bbqing and I like it straightforward design. It doesn't light up or, beep, or email you, but it has more functions than I would use. The factory calibration was within .3 degrees farenheit, so I left it alone. It gave fast readings, and was easy to use. It also has a protective plastic holder which has the doneness for various meats printed on it, in case you forget. I am very happy with this purchase, and feel it was a good value. Not a bargain, but certainly not a disappointment.

I was in the market for a digital thermometer to replace my old cheap analog, and did some comparison browsing. It seems like there won't be a huge difference between models, so it mainly boils down to price and recommendations.

This "CDN Proaccurate Stainless Digital Thermometer" and the Thermapen were the names that came up the most often. Lots of people championed the cause of both models, but the CDN Proaccurate came with recommendations from both Cook's Illustrated and The America's Test Kitchen. It was also about a third of the price. So that is what I went with.

I have been pleased with my choice, and the CDN Proaccurate has performed exactly as promised. It is accurate, fast, easy to use and reliable. I have used it for temperatures ranging from frozen cocktails to getting yeast started for bread making to hot oil for deep-frying. Every time it has done the job without fail.

So you can spend a lot more and get a digital thermometer that doesn't perform any better, but does anyone really want to do that? Go with the CDN Proaccurate! You won't be disappointed.