How to Use a Digital Thermometer

Use the digital thermometer in your kitchen drawer the right way, and no matter how you like your meat, dinner will always be perfectly done.

Author:: Janet Taylor McCracken
Publish date:: Mar 29, 2017
Updated on: Mar 23, 2018

chicken and digital thermometer — Escali Gourmet Digital Thermometer, $20, escali.com
Photography by: Getty Images (chicken); Peter Ardito (thermometer)

Where do I stick it?

For burgers, steaks, chops and boneless chicken, slide the thermometer’s probe in horizontally through the side at the thickest part. Same for bone-in chicken and pork, beef and lamb roasts. With those, be careful not to hit the bone, and avoid fat (both will throw off the reading). Roasting a whole bird? Go by the temperature of the thighs.

How far in should it go?

Does the probe have a little dimple on its stem? If so, make sure it’s inserted beyond that point, because that’s where the reading happens. No dimple? No problem! Aim for halfway in for thick cuts of meat; half an inch should do the trick on a thinner cut.