Food thermometers are essential restaurant supplies for your commercial kitchen.

They ensure that foods prepared in your commercial kitchen are cooked to the right temperature and held at that temperature for as long as necessary to kill any harmful bacteria. This makes these restaurant supplies a valuable safety tool in your kitchen.

But these restaurant supplies are not all the same. There are a number of different types, each designed to serve different purposes. Let’s take a look at the types of food thermometers available, and what makes them different from each other.

1. Thermocouples
Thermocouples read temperatures very fast – in as little as 2-5 seconds. These restaurant supplies are very versatile and can measure both thick and thin foods. They can be calibrated for easy reading. Unfortunately, they are highly inaccurate during cooking and are best used when the food is nearly cooked, for accurate results. Being rather sensitive restaurant supplies, thermocouples are not safe for oven usage.

2. Thermistors (Digital Instant Read)
Thermistors are great restaurant supplies that provide fast and accurate readings. A thermistor can be used to measure temperature in both thick and thin foods. However, not all models can be calibrated, and they cannot be used in food while cooking.

3. Oven Probe Cord Thermometers
Oven probe cord thermometers are versatile restaurant supplies that can be used in the temperature measurement of most foods. They are specifically designed for use inside an oven or covered pot while cooking, but can also be used outside the oven. The main downside is that they are not calibrated.

4. Thermometer-Fork Combination
A typical thermometer-fork combination reads temperatures in 2 – 10 seconds. These are versatile restaurant supplies that can be used in most foods. Thanks to their fork-like nature, they are highly convenient for use when grilling. Thermometer-forks cannot be used until your food is almost done cooking.

5. Dial Oven-Safe Bimetallic Thermometers
Dial bimetallic thermometers read temperatures in 1 – 2 minutes. This is much slower than most thermometers on this list. However, unlike many on the list, these restaurant supplies can be used in foods while cooking – although they have to be placed at least 2 inches deep for accuracy. These restaurant supplies are a good fit for roasts, soups and casseroles, but are not advisable for use when preparing thin foods. Due to the metallic nature of these thermometers, they are able to easily conduct heat and do not always provide accurate readings.

6. Digital Instant-Read Bimetallic Thermometers
Digital bimetallic thermometers are handy restaurant supplies provide fast and accurate readings. However, like many others on this list, they cannot be used while food is still cooking, but they can be used in both thick and thin foods. For those conscious of calibration, be sure to check if the model you’re considering is calibrated.

7. Disposable Temperature Indicators
Disposable temperature indicators are, as their name implies, single-use restaurant supplies. They provide accurate temperature readings in 5 – 10 seconds. Great for liquid foods, these thermometers are designed to measure food temperature while cooking. They are programmed to detect a specific temperature, changing colors when that temperature is attained.

8. Pop-up timers
Another type of single-use thermometer, these restaurant supplies “pop up” when food reaches a certain temperature. They are most often used when roasting turkeys and chickens. Combining pop-up timers with other conventional food thermometers will provide you with the best results.

Your choice of an appropriate food thermometer for your commercial or residential kitchen will depend on what you hope to achieve with one. Consider the pros and cons of each type of thermometer before selecting the right one (or ones) for your needs.