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Food Thermometer Temperature Ranges Explained

The displayed measurement range is only one limit. Check accuracy across the part you will use, plus the separate heat ratings for the probe, cable, handle and body.

A food thermometer temperature range tells you the lowest and highest readings the sensor can display, but it does not guarantee equal accuracy at every point. For ordinary cooking, useful accuracy around food-safety and doneness temperatures matters more than an extreme upper limit you will never use.

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Meat Thermometer Temperature for Cooked Chicken

Meat Thermometer Temperature for Cooked Chicken

For chicken, the UK Food Standards Agency advises a core temperature of 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent time-and-temperature combination. Check the thickest part without touching bone.

Common questions

Questions before you buy

What temperature range does a food thermometer need?

It needs to cover the coldest and hottest foods you actually measure, with suitable accuracy in that working band. Check the intended application rather than choosing the widest range alone.

Is measurement range the same as oven-safe temperature?

No. Measurement range describes what the sensor can read; oven-safe or operating limits describe the heat each physical component can tolerate.

Can one meat thermometer measure frying oil?

Only if its probe range, immersion guidance and construction are approved for that temperature and use. A specialist frying or sugar thermometer is often the clearer choice.

Why do wireless probes show two maximum temperatures?

Many contain an internal sensor inside the food and an ambient sensor exposed to the cooker. Those parts experience different conditions and therefore have separate limits.

Does a wider range make a thermometer more accurate?

No. Range and accuracy are different specifications; also compare tolerance, resolution, calibration options and performance across your target band.