Customer Reviews

Taylor 501 Connoisseur Line Instant Read Thermometer

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I bought this for the instant read label. I wasn't sure how accurate my old meat thermometer was, which was also quite slow. This thermometer has a lowest temperature reading of 20 degrees which means that you can even check the temperature of milk and other items in your fridge to make sure you're keeping it at a safe temperature. We got this right before Thanksgiving and its first use was to check and see how our turkey was defrosting. It registered 40 degrees in the leg and 35 degrees in the chest area; we didn't have to unwrap the turkey only to find it still frozen inside, which was sorta a tradition in our household.
I decided to get the connoisseur version for the glass face, I'm not a plastic fan, but the real plus was the shape. It doesn't roll off the counter! Someone should have thought of that a long time ago.
Even with the glass face it is not recommended that this be left in the oven; it's really only to do periodic or final checks. This isn't a problem for me since I'm usually just checking to see if things are done.
I would also say it appears to be accurate and it did give a very rapid reading, perhaps because of the slender shaft. I also liked the sheath for storage.
I hesitated to buy this because of the price but all in all I'm quite pleased with it and would recommend it.

I've used analog-faced Taylor meat thermometers for my BBQ'ing for many years - and they've been very good. But my old one died, and I liked the look of the Taylor 501. So I ordered two. I always check to see if they are calibrated, and both where inaccurate. The worst one read 10 degrees F too high. That can make the difference between "just right" cooked and overdone. The second thermometer reads 6 degrees F high.

I like this product, but cannot recommend it based on the calibration inaccuracy of both the thermometers I purchased.

I had a cheap "instant" read thermometer that frustrated me because I continually got wrong readings - this caused me to over cook my dishes. This thermometer is a bit pricier, but it works, as opposed to the cheaper grocery store model. For that reason, it's actually cheaper since the thermometer I had didn't work and so was valueless even though I had paid (probably) six dollars for it. This one works, though it does take a minute or so to come to a steady reading. Be patient.

If you like perfect meat then this is the thermometer for you. A must in every kitchen for beginners or pros. Meat keeps cooking when it is removed from the oven. For this reason it is essential to have the right tools to have your meat out and resting before serving. You can't go wrong with this tool.

Got mine in a matter of days. Works as advertised. Very quick temperature response and seems to be accurate. Wish that it had a second scale (rare, med rare, well done). I grill for a large household, but not often enough to have memorized the temp ranges for everone's preferences. A second scale would be helpful for the amatuer.

I wanted to use this for yogurt, for which you heat milk to 180 degrees, but you can never let it boil. Well, my Taylor 501 reported 180 degrees and my milk was bubbling away. So, I brought a pot of water to a boil and put the Taylor 501 in; reading = 184 degrees! If this is connoisseur, I'll stick with judging by eye. This thermometer is garbage, pure and simple (unless the laws of physics changed, recently?).

The glass fogs when you put the thermometer in the meat, making it unreadable. Therefore, I am going to try a digital thermometer instead.

This thermometer is so good I bought another one recently. OK, so I kind of melted my first one. I was using it to measure oven temperature while letting my bread dough rise and I forgot to take it out when I baked the bread. Warning: This thermometer does not like 350 degree temperatures. Of course, it isn't supposed to either.

After reading the customer reviews for this item, I ordered it. I am extremely disappointed with the performance. It is certainly not 'instant', or even close to it. It is difficult to read, and worst of all, it is inaccurate. Had I not waited so long to use it after ordering, I would without hesitation return it.

We've been using this thermometer for almost a year now and it's about 10 degrees off from our others. We're assuming our other/older thermometers are pretty accurate. It sure would be nice to have the option to buy a quality made ( and properly calibrated ) product made in the USA. Instead it's just another cheap piece of stuff made overseas. Yes, it'll do the job, but not accurately.