Customer Reviews

Splash-Proof Super-Fast Thermapen (Red) Instant Read Thermometer, Perfect for Barbecue, Home and Professional Cooking

5 star:		(171)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've tried other thermometers, but got frustrated waiting endlessly while they slowly ticked upward. I don't have that problem with the Thermapen. With the others, I spent too much time with my head in the oven (and the heat getting out) and it finally occurred to me that I'd be better off paying for a really good FAST thermometer that would work in a variety of settings. I bake bread and like to check the internal temperature of large loaves to ensure proper doneness, but don't much want a big hole in the bottom. The probe on the Thermapen is very slender so the hole is significantly smaller than when I've used the others.

Another thing I like is that when you open the Thermapen, it's instant on, close it and it's off. The changeable battery is easily accessible when, and if, you need to change it, ensuring a very long life.

One bonus for me is that I may be cooking a single serving of something so there isn't much space to insert a thermometer. The sensor in this probe is quite near the end so you don't have to insert it very far to get a good reading. The only thing I don't like is that being left-handed, the display is on the wrong side for me, so I have to consciously think to hold it in my right hand in order to read it.

I ended up with my multitude of probe thermometers because none of them really did the job satisfactorily. Happily, this thermometer is really effective. While I don't plan to get it wet, who knows, the kitchen is a volatile place, so I decided to spend a little more for the water resistant version to ensure that wouldn't be a problem. It doesn't clip on to a pan so doesn't work for candy, but I've used it for just about everything else and am very satisfied.

I have the prior model but the comments still apply.

Very simply, there are two things to say about the Thermapen.

1. A hundred bucks for a thermometer?!

2. It's the best kitchen thermometer, with no competition.

So, yes, $100 means that you need to be a serious cook to need this. If you're not, there are perfectly able "instant-read" thermometers for $10-20 and you should get one of those, try it in boiling water to confirm that it's accurate (it probably will be) and use it. It will be perfectly fine.

But if you are a serious cook, you will appreciate that instant read for this product means under ten seconds (I think the new model is faster) but for the $15 ones, it means more like 30.

This product is fast, dead-accurate, and has a tiny probe that lets you take pinpoint readings.

You don't HAVE to have this. Unless you're like me, and you HAVE to have it.

I love this thing. Say bye to dry chicken. No more need to overcook just to be sure. This thermapen is really fast. It's easy to use and I don't have to worry about it getting wet. LOVE IT!

This is without a doubt the best instant read thermometer I have ever used. It is FAST, only 3 - 4 seconds, and extremely accurate. This is a large device and the display is big, easy to read numbers. The sensor probe is the longest I've seen and the temperature sensor is in the very tip of the probe. Plus the new splash proof design takes the worry out of getting it wet. I highly recommend the Thermapen to any serious cook who wants the best.

I bought one of these just over a year ago now. My wife thought I was nuts when she found out how much it was. I have to say I am SERIOUSLY impressed - no waiting on temperature reads. Stick it in and "BAM!" it tells you in under a second what the temp. is. I've used it for making mochas/lattes, meats on the grill, breads, just about anything I can poke with it.

Well worth the money.

I have deep fried turkeys and turkey breasts for years and used the suggested cooking times with good results. This Thanksgiving I used the Thermapen to check for proper cooking temperature. It is incredibly fast reacting and accurate. I even checked my oil temperature. This is one of my best investments for outdoor cooking.
Update: I purchased a second one to use in competitions and leave on the trailer. These seem to be the most popular at the KCBS contests.

I had an older model thermapen and you couldnt pry it out of my hands. That was an awsome unit. This one is EVEN better. I went to buy batteries for my older unit and saw that Thermoworks had updated their thermapen! I HAD TO HAVE IT. I actually sold my old unit on an online auction site (u know which) and only lost $5.00 when I sold it !!!!!!! I used it for three years and it only cost me FIVE BUCKS ! ! ! ! I paid $82.00...... Sold it for $77.00 ! ! ! ! !! The person that bought it was STILL THRILLED ! ! ! !You can NOT beat these.

Anyway, the new unit is splashproof, slicker looking, battery life that is UNBELIEVABLE, and now measures to two digits. I compared both the old unit and the new unit next to each other, and as sad as it sounds, the old one was as accurate as the new. No points off for the new unit though.

Also.. Do yourself a favor and get the leather case for this. It is a fine instrument, and should be respected as such. (ok....in reality, I just love mine and the case is a nice touch to keep the thermapen from getting scratched up in a drawer.- Besides you spend that much $$ for a thermometer, JUST GET THE CASE TOO !!)

The ONLY thing this is missing (hello thermoworks!) is a lock for the temperature.. P L E A S E thermoworks! Do that and Ill buy that one too! These things are like the iPhone to me, I always HAVE to have the latest!!! You'll see when you buy yours!

One of my favorite kitchen gadgets, period. Worth every penny. I had a previous model, but eventually water seepage did it in. I just bought the new water-resistant model. So my comments are about the pen in general.

Get it. It's worth it! I'm not wasting as much meat and foods, from over or undercooking. It's paid for itself. And we're getting more enjoyment from our meals--tender, perfectly done roast or chicken, custard, fish, whatever. Yes, it will work with small thicknesses of fish. I know when my oil is ready, and when what temp my water bath is. Grilling is so much easier. And I don't have to hold my oven door open long at all when taking a reading, so there's less up and down heat cycling.

The digital display has large numbers which are easy to read. It's highly accurate, time after time, and dead simple to use. Flip it out, take a reading, clean, and close.

Tip: instead of buying an expensive case, I got a 50 cent vinyl and lined eyeglasses sleeve-style case at the thrift store. That's enough protection for it in my kitchen drawer.

Also, I wash my tip after use, and set the pen's base across the little cutlery holder in my dish drain, being sure to angle the metal probe downwards, so that water doesn't migrate back towards the electronics, if I was busy and didn't have the time to dry it right that second. I believe that my husband using damp hands once too often might've been my first one's demise. I'm excited to be getting a new water-resistant one. But I'll still take that precaution when washing and drying it.

I can't recommend this tool highly enough. Wish I'd had it decades ago.

I bought the Thermapen with trepidation because of its price but I did it because it got such a great review from the people at Cooks Illustrated. I should have known that the CI people wouldn't steer me wrong. It works exactly as promised and is incredibly accurate. All my other thermometers have gone into the garage sale box.

After trying many lower-priced thermometers with not much success, I finally bit the bullet and purchased a thermapen. The 89 dollar price tag was tough to swallow but after many frustrating experiences with several ridiculously bad thermometers (most of which ended up in the trash) I was desperate for a thermometer I could rely on. Because Cooks Illustrated recommends this product highly and they have rarely steered me wrong, I was able to purchase my Thermapen with some confidence.

I have now owned my Thermapen for about 4 years and I absolutely love it. This thing is always spot on accurate and it spits out results in lightning speed. I use mine for just about any cooking application that requires temperature reading...taking internal temperatures of meats, reading temps of sauces, I even use mine for candy making! No more burnt caramel with my Thermapen! And all of my custards, curds and the like turn out perfectly. It can be a little tricky using it for high heat applications like caramel. While the tip is longer than most instant reads, it does require you to hold it close to the heat, which gets uncomfortable, but b/c the results are so fast you can pull it out rather quickly. Also the sensor is low enough on the shaft that you only need a shallow amount of liquid to pull a reading, however you do have to be careful not to let the tip touch the bottom of the pan which can give you an inaccurate temp. The one thing I DON'T like about it, and why it has earned one less star, is that the auto shut off is much too quick. While I do like that feature (it saves me from inadvertently running out the battery) it is frustrating when I am making things that rely on precision temperature reading (like candy making). It is constantly shutting off on me while I am at those crucial final minutes of boiling and I have to manually shut the device and reopen it get it on again, which is awkward and messy when you have oozy substances on the tip. It also is stressful when you are at those final critical seconds shooting for that precise temperature and you go to pull a reading and the device has shut off! GRRRRR!! I feel a longer automatic shut off (like 10 minutes) would have been a much better choice when designing this thermometer. If it weren't for that, I would have absolutely no issues with my Thermapen. However, it should be noted that if you are someone who will not be using the Thermapen for those kinds of applications, then this will not be an issue for you. Because other than that, the Thermapen is simply W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L. Super fast, spot on accurate, easy to clean, easy to use. It is worth every penny of its hefty price tag and more. One of my favorite things in my whole kitchen!!