Customer Reviews

Pyrex Digital Probe Oven Thermometer/ Timer

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

I had no major problems with my Pyrex digital thermometer - it even survived rain (once it dried) after my husband used it outside to keep check on the smoking temperatures of his Weber Bullet. Then I broke the silly thing permanently when I dropped it to the floor while cooking. (I proceeded to destroy another analog dial probe forgetting that not all probes are made alike - the face melted in the oven. It was never meant to be kept inside the oven. Oops. I got spoiled with the Pyrex.) I never realized how much I relied on this thing until it was gone.

Our Pyrex probe was awesome. It did exactly what we wanted it to do. I like how the alarm goes off when it reaches the temperature you desire. I don't have to keep running back, opening the oven, and play the guessing game or use a smaller or bulkier probe in a hot oven. And because the main unit stays outside the oven, I don't have to worry about opening the door and letting the heat out. My foods never came out undercooked when I used the probe to the temperatures I needed. My cooking became almost carefree. I didn't have to worry anymore about incessantly watching the clock and wondering if the meat's done.

My minor complaints are similar to others: the magnet could be stronger (I still might have mine now) and storing the probe can be a pain since it's so wiry. But it's not enough to make me not want to buy another Pyrex probe. This is a great product - more like essential - to have in the kitchen for worry-free cooking.

I am buying another digital thermometer probe and I have no problems with buying this model again. In fact, I think I'm going to buy this also as part of a wedding gift. No kitchen should be without one.

I thank Alton Brown for making my husband and I aware that such a gadget existed...it's our favorite, most used gadget.

Update 05/2008: My second Pyrex thermometer is still going strong as old as it is now. It's been used for both indoors and outdoors cooking - and it's been left out in the rain several times (thanks, hubby). It still going strong. It gets flaky a bit after getting wet (no kidding) but comes out like a champ when it dries. Still haven't had the need to replace it.

I have owned this thermometer/timer for several years now and could not be happier with it.

I run a test kitchen and test hundreds of recipes a year and have used it literally over 1,000 times and it is still working perfectly. It still tests temperatures correctly for me and is perfect when cooking roasts, chicken, turkey, fish, and even baked potatoes.

It is very important to note and reinforce that this thermometer is made for the oven. If you use it to test things on the cooktop, the grill or other location and it does not work - or if it breaks the fault lies not with the product but with the user.

That being said, I have used it on tabletop grills and on the cooktop - but have used common sense and have kept the wire away from direct heat and liquids and have had no problems.

I store the unit in a drawer in a pouch, and the magnets still stick to the front of my stove when roasting so I have not had the problems that others have had.

I have been very pleased with the thermometer/timer and have even bought it as a gift for a number of friends and family as well.

I first got a timer/thermometer as a Christmas gift, and loved the idea of it. Unfortunately the one that I got never beeped....well, it never beeped loud enough for an ear more than 6 inches away to hear it anyway. So I quickly got another one, the Pyrex Professional digital thermometer/timer.

For over a year it worked great. I love the fact that I can set the temperature for the meat in the oven, and the timer for the side dish on the stove. It has made cooking so much easier!

Then a few weeks ago I noticed when I first plugged the probe into the unit, without the probe in anything, it was reading 95 degrees. We have air conditioning, the temperature in our home is NEVER 95 degrees. So I put the probe in a glass of ice water, where it should have read 32 degrees, and instead it read 55 degrees. I thought it was broken and I would have to buy a new one.

So I started researching new digital thermometers, and ran across a review that said that most of the bad reviews you read are on account of the probe being ruined. I ran into the kitchen and found the probe from the old silent thermometer and plugged it into our Pyrex thermometer, and it told me the room was 72 degrees, exactly what our thermostat says it is.

Apparently the probes on digital thermometers are quite sensitive, and if you aren't very careful about getting the end that the wire come out of wet, water can get down inside the probe and damage the temperature sensor in the tip of the probe. Apparently that's what happened to ours, as we would often soak it before washing it.

Now that I know this I'm happy with my Pyrex thermometer again. It would be nice if they could make the probes so that they weren't so easy to damage, which is why I gave this product 4 stars instead of 5. After all, the probe has to be washed, it would make sense to make it water tight.

Other than that this has been a great tool. I was never a fan of pork or white meat poultry. This thermometer, along with stoneware to cook the meat on, has made me a fan of both. No more overcook, dried out pork or chicken breast! I haven't eaten a chicken thigh in I don't know how long, now that I can make juicy chicken breasts that are cooked just right. And no more guessing when I cook a roast. I think this tool is one of the best inventions for the kitchen, and now that it's reading the correct temperature again I love my Pyrex thermometer!!!

This is a wonderful meat thermometer and I've used it roasting various meats in the oven and on the grill. The problem is the probe. If your unit temperature reads 'HI' all the time, the probe is damaged. I purchased a new unit and used the probe in my old unit and, of course, everything works fine again. So, I have two base units and one probe. :( Can't find any place to just purchase the probe.

Easy to use (read other reviews for feature details). A previous probe thermo of another brand flaked out on me at Thanksgiving, so I bought this one and noticed on the package: "Do not use in ovens over 400 degrees." Ah. Methinks I know what happened at Thanksgiving -- I use Alton Brown's technique of starting the roast off at a high temp to crust the meat and then lowering the temperature (see Alton Brown's I'm Just Here for the Food). Since high heats are not something I need to sustain for the entire cooking time, this thermometer will work fine after the crusting phase is over. Live and learn!

I do a lot of exact temperature cooking and purchased both a Pyrex and a Polder about a year and a half ago. The polder lasted about 4 months before its probe failed. The polder model with the same specs as this pyrex (polder makes more models) is about $5 more and a new probe is $8, given the inconvinience and money the polder was a bad bet. The pyrex on the other hand has a much more readable display and programming it is much more intuative. These were key decisions in my just ordering a pyrex for my mom as well.

In checking calibration with a highly accurate mercury thermometer I found the pyrex off by three to four degrees and the polder off by five to seven (depending on teperature).

The Pyrex also returns a accurate temperagture in three or four seconds and the polder takes about 12 seconds. This is important if you are roasting a large turkey or roast and you wish to quickly probe a second or third area just to double check.

In short this unit has both timer and temperature alarms, a hardier probe and better display then the slightly more expensive competetition. If the probe eventually fails in a year or two due to you pulling on a kink in the cable, replacing the whole unit is still better then going through the shorter lifetime muliple probes you need with the polder.

I've had this Pyrex for about a Year and it's still as accurate as the day I purchased it.
As with all the Digital Probe Oven Thermometer's, you have to be careful cleaning the probe.
Do not submerge the probe under water and don't pull on the cable and it should last for years.

I must have cooked over 50 Filet Mignons... Perfect every time.
Aslo works great for Bread Making!

When I'm not using the temperature probe, I use the Timer with it's large easy to read LCD display.

My wish List is hoping Pyrex comes out with a Wireless Digital Probe Oven Thermometer/Timer.

Yes the probe is susceptible to failure if exposed to high temperatures, especially in a charcoal grill, which is where I use mine the majority of the time in the summer, but I've had them fail in oven use. Otherwise I'd give it 5 stars.

Except for the color (mine is silver) this thermometer looks identical to the MIU France unit I own (ASIN B0006IVZAA available on Amazon). Check my review of that unit. I purchased mine at a Restaurant Supply Store in Seattle, which does sell replacement probes. They are about $5.00. I purchase 5 or so at a time for backups.

Check local restaurant supply stores for the MIU France or Pyrex unit and you may be able to buy replacement probes. I would recommend only using probes from the same manufacturer as the thermometer (in this case MIU France for both units) as they are usually matched. The probe usually lasts about 6 months but I've been lucky (or maybe good?) with the current one because I think it has lasted over a year.

Whether you use it in the oven or grill, you can reduce the chance of probe failure by minimizing the length of cord exposed to the heat. Also don't let the cord or probe body touch oven elements, racks or pans. If using in a grill, don't put the probe in the food until near the time when you think it will be done. Also, just before inserting the probe, move the food nearer to the edge of the grill to minimize the length of cord exposed to the direct heat of the charcoal.

This product worked great for about 3 months. Then the probe went bad. I have always been carful with the probe and have never exceeded the 400 degree max.

Great thermometer, I use it for everything from steaks to hot chocolate.

One drawback: A 400F maximum temperature limit. I used the thermometer while cooking hamburgers on the grill. Had a minor flare up, the grill temp reached 425F. Now the temperature probe will not function properly.

I have a replacement on order.