Decide whether the thermometer is leave-in or instant-read
Leave-in probes are made to monitor during cooking. Instant-read thermometers are inserted for a reading and then removed.
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Guide
Do You Put the Meat Thermometer in While Cooking?
Use a leave-in thermometer throughout cooking only when it is designed for that job. Use an instant-read thermometer for brief checks near the expected finish.
Insert the sensing area into the right spot
Aim for the thickest relevant portion and avoid bone, gristle, the cooking surface, and large pockets of fat.
Use side insertion for thin foods
For burgers, chops, and thin cuts, inserting from the side can place more of the sensing area in the center.
Check more than one location
Large or irregular foods can heat unevenly. Verify additional areas rather than trusting a single point.
Clean between raw and cooked checks
Clean the probe as directed to avoid transferring contamination, and keep non-waterproof electronics dry.
Common questions
Questions before you buy
Do you put the meat thermometer in before cooking?
Do so for an oven-safe leave-in probe. For an instant-read model, check near the expected finish and remove it after reading.
How far should a thermometer go into meat?
Deep enough to place the model's full sensing area in the center of the thickest relevant portion.
Why should the probe avoid bone?
Bone can conduct heat differently and produce a reading that does not represent the surrounding meat.
Should I check several places?
Yes, especially in large, whole, stuffed, or irregular foods where temperature may vary.
Sources and how we chose
- USDA FSIS, Kitchen Thermometers · 2026-10-15
- USDA FSIS, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart · 2026-10-15
Keep exploring
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