Customer Reviews

Taylor 503 Connisseur Series Oven Thermometer

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

 

 

Pros:

1. Improved mounting clip: Most cheap thermometers fall off the rack with the slightes nudge and whenever I slide the rack in or out. This one clips on more securely.

2. Better positioning: It can sit securely atop a rack, tilted back for easier viewing.

Cons:

1. Hard to read: Big dial but small numbers.

2. Expensive: Double to triple the price of the economy models.

3. Not fully oven-proof: The advertising boasts a temperature range up to 600 degrees, but a prominent "WARNING" on the package recommends "removing the thermometer" if the oven is used above 440 degrees to avoid cosmetic damage.

4. No metric scale: Fahrenheit only.


Other comments:

1. Speed: In an oven pre-heated until another thermometer read 425 degrees, this one took about 12 minutes to go from room temperature to a stable reading of 425.

2. Accuracy: I don't know how accurate it is, but at least it's consistent with my old thermometer. After it reached 425 degrees, this model's reading matched the 425-degree reading on the old thermometer almost exactly.

This thermometer has a big easy to read face. It's much more accurate thqn the one that came mounted in the door of my oven.

Always I have purchased TAYLOR products by their price-quality, this time I bought this connoisseusr line,(higher priced) and it was a very surprised by the superb quality of the product.

The thermometer works fine. I like that I can hang it from the back of the oven rack so that it's out of the way. It's also easy to read. What more could you ask for?

Taylor is well known for quality oven thermometers. I purchased this one based on their name and it was their higher priced unit. The "Connoisseur" in the brand name also swayed me to make the purchase.

Although the bracket/stand the thermometer is supposed to be attached with provides for various ways of putting it in the oven... none of them work well at all. If it is clipped to a rack it can't be read. Hang it sideways... can't read it. Hang it facing the door... you can't read it. Lay it on the bottom rack (which I ended up doing) and it's readable but very difficult to read. And, it just gets worse over time as the lens tends to get coated and turns brown.

I just ordered the Cuisinart brand of oven thermometer to try instead. It looks like it has an easier to read dial with better color coding.

While 'Product features' leads you to believe that this thermometer is good to go up to 600 degrees, the item package carries a lengthy warning. To summarize: prolonged use over 440...could lead to cracking...remove thermometer if used at these temps. However it has a lifetime warranty! It must lead to an interesting round robin of the promised 'repair of replace at our option' between consumer and manufacturer. Why would you not want to confirm oven temps above 440? Since I bake bread and pizza etc the face plate of my thermometer seems to be crisping. Why just claim 150/600 degrees but not mean it? Why not make an adequate product?

My wife found that this a much more accurate temperature reading than setting on the range. It really helped with baking projects and meat preparation.

Nice size, options of placement in oven: hanging on rack or sitting on rack. I wanted this for hanging on rack unfortunatley the clip for hanging is NOT universal as it is too wide for my oven rack. So I was unable to use as I intended (hanging on rack) so I have to set it on rack which is a pain because everytime I put something in or out of oven I tip it over :( They should have made the clip to attach to rack not so wide! Otherwise it is a good quality thermometer not like the cheap ones out there. Make sure if you purchase you are aware it may not fit onto your oven rack to hang.

Despite the mixed reviews I went with this because most agreed that the accuracy was good. Accuracy is my main requirement so it was top of my priority list. I do not leave it in the oven constantly so I can't speak for how quickly the face gets grimy. I also just stand it on the oven grate and have no need to hang it. It is a bit hard to read because my oven door is made of blacked-out glass. Otherwise the thermometer would be easy to read even for my "old" eyes. I use a small flashlight to shine through the oven door glass which works well to illuminate the dial face.

I have to say that it appears to be very accurate. When I set the oven for 250, 350, and 400 degrees, the thermometer reads within 5 degrees of the setting each time. The odds of having an inaccurate oven and an inaccurate thermometer that both are off by exactly the same amount seems remote to me. Since the thermometer agrees almost exactly with the oven setting, and my baking times are spot on most times with the recipe, I have to conclude that other reviews are correct regarding accuracy.

Bottom line, if you need an accurate inexpensive oven thermometer, this appears to be it....

Protective glass cracked after first use. I emailed to the manufacturer. They haven't responded to me for two weeks now.
It is waste of money!