Oven thermometers: types, characteristics, selection and operation

Modern household appliances pleases most housewives and makes it possible to prepare complex dishes without any problems. The presence of a timer in a slow cooker, microwave, induction cooker, allows you to accurately calculate the cooking time, but the temperature setting accurately is quite problematic. Gas stoves do not provide an opportunity to clearly set the heating level of the oven. In the electric cookers, you can set only a few temperature regimes, which the manufacturer asked.

The oven thermometer is an important detail if the hostess wishes to please her household with tasty food that is well baked and does not burn. This kitchen accessory can not be used, but for a beginner his help will be very useful. In the process of cooking, it is very important to know about the temperature inside the oven in order to understand how much time a given food will be ready. For meat, the temperature range will be one, for baking - the other, so you can not do without this device for measuring temperature, otherwise the food can be spoiled.

Despite the variety of goods presented on the store shelves, different appearance and cost, the device of all thermometers is the same. Inside such equipment there are two plates made of different metal. As soon as the ambient temperature rises significantly, they are deformed, thereby showing a certain digital value.

On the oven there are often certain modes that housewives most often use for cooking, these are:

• lower temperature range - from 120 to 180 degrees;
• average value - from 180 to 220 degrees;
• high temperatures - from 230 to 280 degrees.

If the prescription is necessary to set a certain mode, you should not experiment and try a higher or lower temperature. In the event that the hostess did everything correctly, and the dish is not fully prepared or, on the contrary, burned, you should get a thermometer and check the correctness of heating the oven in each of the modes. The presence of the thermometer does not interfere with the cooking process, and if you wish, you can simply remove it, but with it you can track the exact temperature inside the oven and adjust it in time.

Choosing for yourself a thermometer in the oven, it is worth considering all the advantages and disadvantages, so that the purchased accessory is not only beautiful, but also functional. The advantages of thermometers include:

• the ability to set a clearly defined temperature;
• control oven heating and the ability to influence the temperature inside;
• assessment of product availability due to the presence of a probe;
• the ability to monitor the heating of the oven outside, thanks to a portable wireless probe.

There are few disadvantages of such helpers in cooking in the oven, these are:

• substandard product, which shows the temperature with an error;
• high cost of branded products ranging from $ 20 and up;
• not every thermometer is suitable for preparing a particular dish (a simple thermometer will not show the temperature inside a piece of meat, and a probe will not be needed if the dish is baked quickly and evenly);
• Poor fixing can interfere with the convenient use of the appliance and increase the risk of it falling inside the oven.

Assessing all the positive and negative sides, you can note the need to purchase this product for yourself, or you can completely abandon this venture. Due to the wide variety of thermometer options, each hostess will be able to choose the most suitable option for themselves.

All thermometers for the gas stove are designed to measure the temperature of the oven and help more efficiently and correctly set the baking mode. For an electric cooker, such an assistant can also be useful, since without it, it will not be possible to quickly identify problems with the correct heating in one mode or another. The cost of this equipment is small, because almost everyone can afford to buy it. In order not to get lost in the proposed choice, it is necessary to know as much as possible about the types of thermometers and their functional purpose.

All products can be divided into two main groups:

• analog;
• digital.

The first option is the most common and is available in almost every slab. This switch mechanism, which, when heated environment, shows its temperature.

The second option is an electronic device with a digital panel that displays the temperature in the oven. This device can be used only in the range from 120 to 280 degrees and not higher. This variety is considered more progressive and may have a number of improvements:

• the device can be with a timer;
• the thermometer may be with a sensor that signals the end of cooking;
• variability in the choice of the mode suitable for different types of dishes: meat, fish, pie, etc .;
• color alarm, changing color at different stages of cooking.

Another modern product is a thermal probe, which makes it possible to measure not the temperature inside the oven, but the heating of the dish itself and to determine the degree of its readiness. This device is external, since the sensor itself cannot be heated, and the metal rod can be attached to it with a wire or be autonomous.

The second option is a wireless thermal probe, which is much more convenient to use, because there is no need to monitor the wire and adjust its length. The most progressive is the contactless probe, which determines the temperature in the oven at a distance, but the greater the distance from household appliances, the greater will be the percentage of error.

Another option that can be found on sale is mechanical thermometer, which can be suspended, embedded and installed. On the dial can be immediately two scales of measurement, degree and Fahrenheit.

In order to buy high-quality equipment that will last as long as possible and will show the correct thermal values ​​inside the oven, you need to focus on the market for such products and choose well-known and reputable brands. Rating of the most popular models looks like.

• Polder TNM 515 - It is an analog device that best manifests itself in baking pastry. The temperature scale has a gradation from 40 to 200 degrees.
• Generic - a thermometer that can be used for gas and electric ovens. A thermometer made of stainless steel and can withstand heating up to 300 degrees. In the oven, it is placed thanks to a special hook that clings to the grill.
• Weber 6492 - thermometer with a display that can be installed in a convenient position. Used for any dishes, the temperature is monitored quickly, you can work with food, due to the presence of the probe. You can not leave a thermometer inside the lid.
• Thermo Pro TP 06 very similar to the previous version, but thanks to the remote design it can be used in closed containers. You can use with any products and dishes.
• Ivation IWAVT 738 - A very modern thermometer, suitable for those who love stylish and modern gadgets. The product has two radio units. The first is equipped with two remote probes, whose length is about a meter, the second helps to control the temperature. The second block can be taken out to another room and at a distance watch what happens in the oven. Due to the presence of various programs, it is possible to choose the most suitable conditions for the preparation of a particular dish.
• Cason is an infrared thermometer that allows you to find out the temperature inside the oven, being at a distance from it. Copes with a range from - 32 to +380 degrees. Works from charging, which lasts for 16 hours of continuous use.

The simpler the product, the cheaper its cost, the more in the equipment of various functions, the more expensive its price will be. The choice of a thermometer should be made on the principle of convenience and variability, so that one device allows you to prepare a variety of dishes.

To buy a good thermometer in the oven, you need to properly evaluate the options available on the market and determine the most suitable of them. It is worth paying attention to certain factors.

• Cost A cheap option will not last long, it is better to spend a little more money and buy a product that will show accurate data and will not break in the first month of use.
• The size of the product. It is worth buying medium or large thermometers so that the display is clearly visible and you can set the temperature as accurately as possible.
• Temperature range. The best indicators will be values ​​from 120 to 300 degrees, which will allow you to cook any dishes without restriction.
• Buying a product of a famous brand would be more preferable than a similar version of Chinese production.
• Make a purchase worth in specialized stores of household appliances and check the goods on the spot, rather than look for an inexpensive option on the Internet and place an order there.
• Internal thermometer is more convenient to use in the kitchenbut it is important that it is removable for ease of care.

So that the thermometer correctly shows the temperature in the oven, it needs to be installed where the cooking process will take place. You can fix the device with heat-resistant glue, screws, or hang it on a special hook that comes with almost all models. It is best to use the latter option, as the thermometer can be removed, washed, or removed at any time because it is not needed. In this case, the usual suspension thermometer is suitable, without any modern possibilities.

If we are talking about more advanced technology, it is worth mentioning thermal probe, which besides the thermometer with a liquid crystal display has a steel cord. Using this device is easy, you need to adjust the temperature to the desired parameters and stick the probe into the food. Food with a probe is placed in the oven, and the thermometer remains outside, showing the process of heating the internal environment. As soon as the food is ready, the product will beep.

The cooking temperature of different dishes is significantly different, because it is important to set the desired values.. Indicators of finished chicken differ significantly from the same sponge cake, and vegetable stew differs in warming temperature from baked fish. The installation of the thermometer can be internal and external, it primarily depends on the model and manufacturer's recommendations. External varieties can be threaded or hung on the handle of the oven, and there are those that work at a distance, which is very convenient, although the accuracy of the data can be broken.

Care is necessary for any household appliances and utensils, because the oven thermometer is no exception. Due to the effects of high temperatures and direct contact with food on the product may be leftover food and dirt deposits, which stick to it, if it is not washed in time. Each manufacturer specifies methods to take care of the thermometer in order to maximize its efficiency and not to spoil it.

Stainless steel products can be cleaned in the dishwasher using mild detergents. If the device is of high quality, then it will not harm the contact with water both in manual mode and in machine cleaning. Cheap samples should be wiped with a damp cloth and dried well to prevent rust.

How to install a thermometer for the oven, see the next video.