This unusual folding thermometer has good accuracy and a respectable response time. It features a built-in light that illuminated the probe tip. It cannot be left in the oven while cooking.
Pressing a latch release button allows the long probe and extension to swivel out from under the belly of the thermometer. Be sure to press the release or you’ll possibly break the locking mechanism. The extension gives some additional clearance between the operator and the heat. The unit has the preprogrammed meats and doneness settings recommended by the USDA. Select a meat type and the degree of doneness, insert the thermometer, and an alarm will sound and the display will flash when the food has met or exceeded the desired doneness. These settings cannot be changed by the user, although they can be ignored. There is a light button that illuminates the readout and activates an LED on the front of the unit that is aimed at the probe tip. The light stays illuminated for about 5 seconds. It does not appear to have an auto-off feature making it susceptible to being stored in the On state, depleting the batteries.
The manufacturer’s contact info, including address, telephone number, e-mail and website, is found on the packaging material. The unit is covered by a one year warranty.
The lack of user-settable alarm temperatures is a minor disappointment. Accuracy is good and speed is respectable. The light is a nice feature for nighttime use. We’ll give it a Bronze medal for performance and innovative design.
