This LARGE hand-held rapid-read thermometer has a long probe, fairly quick response time, and a limited temperature range. It has no backlight nor hold feature.
When turned on, this unit displays the current temperature in F or C depending on user’s setting. Below the temp readout is a column of six boxes that are labeled raw, rare, m-rare, medium, well-beef and well-poultry. One box at a time has a label displayed, corresponding to the temperature range that has been preprogrammed into the unit. (These values correspond to the same ones found on the AmazingRibs Meat Temperature Guide.) The temperature ranges are spelled out on the instruction sheet. There is no selection for meat type.
The display is properly oriented when the handle is up and the probe is pointed down. This seems backward to this reviewer unless you prefer to poke your food from the top. Perhaps this is to prevent burning yourself.
The manufacturer’s contact info, including address and website, but no telephone number, is found in the owner’s instruction sheet. The unit is covered by a 90-day limited warranty. The instruction sheet seems to have been written by someone whose grasp of English is marginal.
For an instant-read thermometer, this is reasonably quick to respond. However, the diameter of the probe will leave a larger-than-necessary entry wound. The lack of features like a min/max readout, a hold button and a backlight make this unit unattractive, given the competition. We’re not wild about the inflexible temperatures associated with the doneness display. For these reasons, we aren’t recommending this thermometer.
