Tuesday Treat: The Probe You Need
How many times have you heard this at a backyard BBQ?
“I don’t need a thermometer. I just know when it’s perfect.”
Ok, Mr. Expert. Maybe you do, but you probably don’t. While I can tell doneness on a few specific cuts like some steaks, chicken pieces, and fish, for most things I rely heavily on my thermometer.
You know why? Because it works. If you want to improve your cooking, using a thermometer is one of the best tips you’ll ever read on this site.
So I’m giving away a few of them today just for you!
The Digital Thermometer
When it comes to meat temperature, I’m pretty much done with the little thermometers that have a dial. When I try to read them, I feel like there is always about a 5 degree error range which is a pretty huge range when it comes to cooking some meats.
So digital is where it’s at.
This is my favorite thermometer these days. It’s reasonably priced and has alarms for temperature and time. Most importantly, you can leave the probe in the meat the entire time it is cooking so there’s no need to worry about poking it multiple times.
Most recently, I used my thermometer to make this delicious leg of lamb, but I’ve used it for tons of stuff over the years.
If you don’t have one, you need one. If you do have one, two couldn’t hurt.
Tuesday Treat Rules
Yes… astute readers may know that I’ve done this giveaway before for a Tuesday Treat, but it’s such an important piece of equipment this time of year that I figured people wouldn’t mind a chance to win again.
Just a reminder about the Tuesday Treat rules.
The whole idea behind these giveaways is that they are quick. This contest will close at 8PM PACIFIC time tonight (Tuesday) and I’ll pick THREE winners at random. That means that you have about 15 hours to sign up.
Unfortunately, I can’t ship internationally so just U.S. entries please.
How to enter?
I use Punchtab to run these giveaways. The widget below will walk you through how you can enter to win and gain extra entries for doing stuff like following me on Twitter.
If you don’t have Javascript enabled in your browser, you won’t be able to see the widget. You can always just leave a comment below to be entered to win if the widget doesn’t load. The widget will give you more chances to win though.
Good luck everyone!
Winners!
Congrats to Charisse (Facebook), Maria (comment), and Jon (facebook) for winning the giveaway!
Chris - "Time to make some sausage!..."
Amy - "You are awesome. I've always been too afraid to fry anything because I..."
Rob - "Thank you so much for sharing you experience! I almost had this same p..."
Lindsey C. - "amazon. yes. I love to filter and sort them if I know nothing about th..."
Nick - "Ha! Yes... some sort of fryer situation will probably be purchased soo..."
There are so many things I’d love to cook with this- it’s too difficult to choose!
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I’d make crown roast! (I’ve always wanted to make one — they look so fancy). And of course my Thanksgiving turkey.
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a nice grass fed filet mignon!
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I’d try your leg of lamb!
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Maybe this leg of lamb! It looks delicious!
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A whole chicken.
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So many choices – I’ve never cooked a whole chicken before, so maybe that’s a good place to start. I used a dial thermometer for something a few weeks ago, and eventually just gave up in frustration. A digital one would be much easier!
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I would cook a pork roast with this thermometer
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Thanksgiving turkey.
Pork tenderloin.
Roast chicken.
Roast beef.
Lots o’ things!
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i would love to use it on a prime rib roast
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Turkey, chicken, roast beef, leg of lamb
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Leg of lamb
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Turkey!
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Anything would be great, usually I cut everything in half to check. :-)
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I’d roast a whole chicken!
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It would be nice to have a good probe!
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I’ve been winging my favorite steak recipe for years… it calls for a meat thermometer but I haven’t taken the plunge to buy one yet. Sometimes it’s just perfect… sometimes its slightly over or under cooked (although under cooked I can usually deal with). It’d be great to be able to make it perfectly every time!
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I would cook a Beef Roast on the Rotisserie
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please enter me in the contest! A good thermometer is key to a good roast.
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I would cook roast beef, leg of lamb, pork, steaks, chickens, anything!!
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I want this soooooo bad!!!!
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this is a must have!!
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There are lots of cuts of meat that I steer away from because of not being sure of the doneness so I would venture out a bit and try some of those.
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ooo, if I get one of these I will actually get my husband to grill! I’m thinking ribs, roasts, lamb…the possibilities are endless :)
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oh, and I like you on Facebook! ;D
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Ropa Vieja with mojo sauce. My mom made it for my brother’s wedding and I haven’t had it since moving out to colorado from florida.
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A big ole pork butt!! Thats what I would love!! And then make yummy sandwhiches with some great home made bbq sauce!!
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I would use this to cook steak. I have an uncanny ability to skip straight past my preferred Medium into the medium well and sometimes even well done territory. :-(
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The first thing I’d cook is pork tenderloin!
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Anything thicker than a hamburger
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Well, well.. I just to own a probe thermometer, didn’t last very long.. I’d be willing to give it a shot again, maybe I just had a bad one? Can’t roast a chicken without one!
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I’d use it to cook just about any Roast or Whole Bird, But Definitely a Pork Tenderloin, Beef Roast and a Marinated London Broil (Top Round)!
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Turkey :)
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I’d probably do the leg of lamb as well. There is so little leeway between a perfectly cooked lamb and dry lamb, so I’ve not cooked one myself before. This would make me an expert in no time!
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I would bake non dried out chicken!
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I’ve owned this same model of thermometer for years now…it’s amazing. People – if you don’t win this one being offered…go out and buy it – seriously it’s the best! I don’t work for them or anything; I just really think it’s a great product.
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I would make a scrumptious whole roasted chicken tikka
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Brisket!
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Nothing worse than overcooked meat. I would cook up a mean pork raost.
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I’m such a newb about these things. I’d love to learn to make a great steak on the grill!
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I would use this a whole lot!
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Prime Rib!,!
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I’d make spicy tri-tip
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I have never used a probe so I would love to see how it works on a variety of meats.
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Steak(:
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Since I have never used a thermometer like this I would love to try it out with all kinds of food. Who doesn’t love an experiment?
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Prime rib!
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Baking will be great with these!
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Salmon fillet, roast anything, chicken, fried or roast, meatloaf.
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Leg of lamb!
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A holiday roast!
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Grilled, Marinated Beef Tenderloin
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Pork tenderloin!
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Tri Tip.. My current favorite BBQ’d meat!!
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I hosted a Summer Thanksgiving on Friday and used a thermometer to make sure the turkey was done and wouldn’t harm us :)
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I cook, but do not eat meat and I’m super paranoid that I’m going to get it wrong. I would use this for ANY meat that I am in charge of cooking. Meg @ ourwaytoeat.com
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I would make that amazing leg of lamb you posted earlier this week!
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I am thinking this would be a perfect addition to a leg of lamb recipe, make sure I don’t over cook it!
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I am learning to cook meat and your blog is helping me out and my husband thanks you. I grew up vegetarian and just recently started eating meat due to my husbands want of a meaty meal every once in awhile. So this is so much needed for me cause I am always in doubt about the temp on my cheap little thermometer. But to answer the question it would be pot roast my hubby’s favorite.
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Would love to use this when grilling steaks! We had a cool digital thermometer, but it, uh, melted in a freak accident in our smoker. So, we’re in need of a new one.
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I have been wanting to cook some steak perfectly!
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Probably a rotisserie chicken or roasted turkey!
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Prime rib at Christmas and the leg of lamb from yesterday’s post!
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Great idea.for doing my baby back ribs.
Thanks
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First off would be a burger, but then I’ve got a really great recipe for a soy-ginger pork tenderloin roast that this’d be great for!
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I’d use it for grilling steak, and I’d also like to try the lamb you posted yesterday
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There was a lovely Peruvian-style whole grilled chicken recipe I saw that would be just perfect for this…
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Definitely would use it to make my Thanksgiving turkey! I used to steal my moms, and just moved, so now I don’t have one. Can’t make turkey without one!
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I would use this for grilling. I never seem to get meat cooked properly when grilling.
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A leg of lamb, no question…it’s been on my bucket list of things to make for years. Oh, and roast beef.
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Lenchon. Always tricky to know when it’s done without a good measurement.
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A beef tenderloin…or the rack of lamb
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I used to use this all the time till mine broke. I desperately need a new one.
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The Turkey…..
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Roast beef for my meat-eating boyfriend!
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I would cook a roast amd check the temp of my meat so that it turns out perfect, I would use it for oh so many things!
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Everything! We grill almost every day!
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Prime rib
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Oh I could think of many uses for this little nifty gadget. I would probably use it for roast chicken and may try my hand at a holiday roast of some sort. Thank you for a chance to win! I just tried your potatoe chips the other day. Awesome! Everyone loved them! Thanks again!
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Pork tenderloin! Pork is the trickiest for me because I’m afraid of undercooking it and the results from overcooking it are terrible. I agree, my current dial-based thermometer is pretty crummy.
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We’d totally be grilling a fabulous pork loin with this!
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Bread! I have one of these, but it’s getting old. I use it to time my pots of tea, and love using it when I bake bread. I could use another.
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marinated chicken on the grill!
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Cuban-style pork loin. And roast chicken.
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Bread. All kinds of bread.
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As horrible as it sounds…steaks on the grill. I overcook them every time.
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The lamb recipe you posted!
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I would use if for all things roasted; beef, pork, chicken and turkey. I would use it outside in my smoker as well as inside my oven.
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I would use a thermometer for almost anything! I overcook/ undercook more things than I care to mention!
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We have a small home dairy and make different varieties of goat cheese. It is important to stay right with it so I don’t miss the crucial temperature markers for adding culture and rennet and draining the curd. I really enjoy the process, but there are times when I wish I could multitask a bit. This would be so useful for cheese making!
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Definitely Prime Rib
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Tri-tip. Hubby always overcooks it.
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I would buy some really good dry aged beef and grill it outside on my wood burning smoker. I can taste it now. I never can get the temperature just right. Darn cheap thermometers.
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Any number of roasts and large cuts of meat. I’ve shied away from trying a lot of exciting dishes because I don’t have a thermometer and am afraid to improperly cook something.
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I would definitely use this on a roast chicken!!
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Pork, Lots and Lots of Pork
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Brisket!!
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I know you said that you can tell when somethings are done but I can’t. I would use this when I grill chicken. Sometimes I do steaks but I usually leave that to my husband.
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Pork chops! Since some can be thinner than others, a meat thermometer is necessary in order to keep them from overcooking (dry, and pretty much inedible).
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I don’t cook meat that often and am kind of paranoid about it so I would probably use it for everything!
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The widgit doesn’t work for me but it looks like we’re commenting on how we’d use this shiny awesomeness. For us, it’d be roasted chickens. I’m always so paranoid that I’m under-cooking chicken and those grosses me out!
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I’d have my husband smoke a pork butt.
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Easily slow cooked pork roasts…it’s a shame to cook something all day and then overdo it and make the meat dry.
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Sunday roast beef!
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I would use it to make all of my meats, but especially my Thanksgiving turkey!
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meat. plain and simple.
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Meatloaf! It should be so simple, but I’m constantly under- or over-cooking it!
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I’m going to jump head first into that lamb recipe if I win this thermometer!
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Roasted chicken!
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I’d love to cook a nice pot roast!
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A hunk of roasted pork
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Roasted chicken!
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I should grill more.
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I would feel much more confident cooking larger portions of meat on the grill with this tool!
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I think I’d use this to cook seafood to perfection! It’s too easy to overcook seafood into dry cardboard ….
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Definitely roasted chicken. I always worry they aren’t fully cooked
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Chicken. Thx for the chance to win!
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This thermometer would be great to monitor the doneness of the grilled teriyaki pork loin.
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I would cook a roast beef with this! I never cook it right!
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This would be a great little tool!
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A perfect steak or roast and to make sure chicken was done.
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I would use it for meat on the grill
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Would love one of these probes!!
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I’d love to enter the giveaway, Android evidently hates java and I’m on my mobile, so anyway….consider me entered?
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A big hunk of meat!
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I would use it on roasted chicken!
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Meatloaf and then move on to a full chicken
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I would cook pork loin with this–it would help me not overcook it, as I usually do! Thanks so much.
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I would make a huge Roast! Thanks for the chance to enter.
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