One of the most important things, when it comes in controlling pathogens in food, is controlling the temperature. A microbe that cause diseases like is bacteria, grow slowly at low temperatures, quickly in mild temperatures and are killed in high temperatures. So, for your own good, it is best to keep the decaying food at cold temperatures or cooked food to temperatures high enough to kill microbes.

Fortunately, nowadays we can take advantage of an amazing device – food thermometer. The purpose of the food thermometer is to measure the temperature of foods and to ensure that the food is safe and bacteria free.

Types Of Thermometer

Digital Thermometers – Digital food thermometer is a measuring device that has a digital display panel on top of a long metal steam showing the internal food temperature within 5 seconds. All digital food thermometer types need to be placed in food at the end of the cooking time for accurate temperature. Digital food thermometer works on battery and needs to be turned on and off constantly. Keep in mind that you should not put them in an oven or immerse in water.

Dial Thermometers - You can find these two types of dial food thermometers – small ones and large ones. Small dial thermometers are not oven safe, but are used to measure temperature during and at the end of the cooking time, while large dial thermometers can stay in the oven. Dial thermometers have a long metal stem with a round dial on the top showing the temperature.

Both dial and digital food thermometers can measure temperatures from 0ºF to 220ºF (±2ºF) and are available in most kitchen supplies and grocery stores

The Use Of A Food Thermometer

The most important thing when using a food thermometer is to be placed properly into the food.

Digital food thermometer must be inserted about 1cm into the center of the thickest part of the food or at a place where won't touch bone or fat. Digital food thermometers are perfect for measuring the temperature of chicken breasts, thin hamburgers and other smaller pieces of meat. The temperature will be measured after 5 seconds.

The stem of the dial food thermometers must be placed into the food or at least 5cm into the thickest part of the cooked food without touching fat or bone. They are ideal for measuring temperatures of hamburgers, chicken breasts, etc. The temperature will be measured in about 15 seconds.