The thermometer is a measuring instrument in the form of a column that indicates the temperature of a body. As such, it has always been sought after in several fields, notably in medicine to record the temperature of patients. However, the thermometer is also making its way into professional kitchens where it serves as a utensil for cooking food. How does a kitchen thermometer work then? In this article, we present the functioning of the four main types of professional kitchen thermometers.
Laser Thermometer
Also known as an infrared thermometer, the food thermometer with laser sighting is one of the recent innovations in temperature measurement. It allows you to take the surface heat of a food item from a distance and instantly. To do this, you need to turn on the thermometer and point the laser at the food in question to read its temperature on the screen.
The ultimate advantage of this type of thermometer is the guarantee of hygiene in temperature measurement. This is because it avoids the contact of the utensil with the food during handling. Therefore, it is a perfect reason to buy a laser food thermometer for your kitchen.
Probe Thermometer
Highly valued for the precision of the measurement it provides, the probe thermometer is primarily used to know the temperature at the core of a food item. You can also use it to measure the heat of your sauces, chocolate, syrups, caramel, foie gras, etc. Its operation varies depending on whether it is a model with a fixed cooking probe or a model with a wired cooking probe.
The fixed probe thermometer is used to take the temperature at a moment in time, while the wired one ensures continuous temperature reading. In either case, simply insert the probe into the food and wait about a minute for the measurement to be taken. Wired cooking probe thermometer models are equipped with electronic cases that have functions like an alarm, a timer, etc.
Dial Thermometer
This is one of the first types of food thermometers to have been placed on the market. Although it is considered outdated by some, it continues to hold an important place for others in cooking food. It is indeed used to take the temperature exclusively in a closed environment such as the oven, cellar, fridge, etc.
To use it, you must insert it into the environment from which you want to take the temperature, turn it on, and close it. Then, wait one to two minutes before taking the temperature reading. One of the undeniable advantages of this type of thermometer is its high resistance to temperature variations in different environments (hot and cold).
Graduated Thermometer
The graduated thermometer, also known as a column thermometer, is a classic food thermometer. In fact, the device is equipped with an internal line of mercury or another substance that allows it to read the temperature during the cooking of food.
It enables you to take the measure of the heat at the core and surface of any food item precisely. Moreover, it has the advantage of never breaking down despite being very often made of glass and therefore fragile.
