Kitchen Tool of the Month: Cooking Thermometer

This is a new monthly column to Entertaining Made Easy, which I decided to add after receiving numerous questions from my cooking class students and blog readers about how best to equip their kitchen, what kitchenware to buy, where is the best place to buy it, how much should you pay and which gadgets to avoid. 

Each month I will feature a kitchen tool that I consider is a useful addition to the kitchen. This month’s featured kitchen tool is the digital thermometer.

Cooking thermometers take the guesswork out of cooking, as they measure the internal temperature of your cooked meat and poultry to assure that a safe temperature has been reached, harmful bacteria have been destroyed, and your food is cooked perfectly.

Variables such as shape, thickness, size, temperature of the meat prior to cooking and oven temperatures all influence cooking times, so using a thermometer is by far the most effective way to determine when your meat is cooked to the way you like it.

To use a meat thermometer, insert it in the thickest part of the meat, being careful to avoid touching any bone (which will give you a false reading).  If the piece of meat is large or irregular in shape, get a number of readings by inserting the thermometer in several places.

Remember that the temperature of the cooked meat will continue to rise for a little while after resting, so remove the meat from the oven just short of the desired internal temperature, about 3°C.

Use the following internal temperature guide to ensure your meat is cooked to perfection:

Beef and Lamb
Rare  60°C (140°F)
Medium 65°C (149°F)
Well Done 70-75°C (158-167°F)

Pork
Medium 65°C (149°F)
Well Done 75°C (167°F)

Chicken 
Minimum    75°C (167°F)

Using a cooking thermometer on the barbeque

Many cooking thermometers can also be used for other purposes, such as making jam and toffee.

My personal recommendation is the Digital Thermometer / Timer from The Chef’s Toolbox.  It measures temperatures from 0-300°C (32-572°F) and it also doubles up as a useful timer and clock as well as having a strong magnet so it can be attached to the fridge. One of the great things about this easy-to-use digital thermometer is that once you have programmed it for the desired temperature, a loud alarm will sound when your meat or other food is ready. There really are no excuses for over or undercooking the roast! It can also be used for a myriad of other purposes, including jam and yoghurt making and even sterilising babies’ bottles, and can be used in the kitchen or outside on the barbeque. And at only AUS $39, it is one of the best kitchenware bargains around.  To purchase this product, click here (you’ll find it under “Chefs Tools”).