The Thermapen One thermometer is definitely one of the top instant read thermometers on the market. It is incredibly accurate, has a wide range, and is quite durable too. There are a few downsides such as price and certain design features but these don’t affect the overall quality of the thermometer.
As a professional chef, I can’t take temperature accuracy for granted when cooking. Since I had a lot of good things about the Thermoworks Thermapen One, I decided to put it to the test, alongside a commercial thermometer. Discover how well it held up!
In this post, you will get an in-depth Thermoworks Thermapen One review complete with an examination of each of the features!
| Preview | Type | Range | Accuracy | Response Time | Dimensions | Weight | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thermoworks Thermapen One |
Instant Read Thermometer | -58 – 572°F | ±0.5°F – ±1.8°F | 1 Second | 6.1 x 1.7 x 0.74 inches | 0.25 lbs | Buy on ThermoWorks |
Let’s take an in-depth look at the features of the Thermoworks Thermapen One:
When buying an instant read thermometer, you want to make sure that your internal temperature readings appear as quickly as possible.
Now, according to the manufacturer, this instant read thermometer is meant to give you a temperature reading of a one second read time. So, does it live up to its claims?
In reality, this meat thermometer takes a bit longer than that to give you a reading. However, it doesn’t exceed it by much, only a couple of seconds. You are unlikely to notice this slower reading, though.
In any case, the Thermapen One is still faster than many other digital instant read thermometers on the market.
The temperature range on the Thermapen One is incredibly impressive. It can give you readings between -58 and 572°F. Now, I wasn’t able to test the outer limits of the cold temperatures, but it was still more than capable of reading temperatures well below freezing.
As for the upper limits, I found that this digital instant read thermometer was capable of tracking temperatures close to 600F. So, it doesn’t matter what you are cooking or how you are cooking it, you should be able to take the temperature of practically anything.
Speaking of the range, you should know that with this thermometer you can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius depending on what you prefer.
Of course, one of the things that I was really curious about with the Thermapen One was the accuracy. After all, it is one of the most – if not the most – important elements of any instant read thermometer.
I already had high hopes for this meat thermometer as it has a NIST traceable calibration certificate. But, I still decided to put it to the test.
I did the boiling water test as well as the ice water test to determine whether or not I could get accurate temperature readings with the Thermapen One.
With the boiling water test, I let a pot of water come to a boil. Then, I checked this against the boiling point for my particular elevation. The results were spot on.
Next up, I created an ice bath with ice cubes and water. I then proceeded to place the thermometer in the water to determine the temperature. Once again, the reading was right on the money.
I also used a commercial thermometer to double check my findings when it came to actual cooked foods. One of the things that really impressed me was that the thermometer was able to readily pick up hot and cold spots in the same dish without any issue.
This works great if you are microwaving food or are cooking up a larger batch of food and need to make sure that it is evenly cooked throughout.
Well, it turns out that Thermapen One does live up to its claims. I got an accurate reading each and every time and this proves that you can put your faith in this thermometer after all.
Also, I do feel fairly confident in saying that the Thermapen One performed better than most other instant read thermometers that I have tried out in the past.
It isn’t just about the accurate measurement, though. One of the things that I really like about this thermometer is that it is able to keep track of rising temperatures.
This allows you to keep track of the changing temperature such as when you are gently heating foods.
For the most part, there is quite a lot to like about the Thermapen One design. To begin with, it is a pretty durable thermometer. It is shockproof, dustproof, and even has a waterproof feature. So, it is built to last you quite a while.
I also like the length of the probe. On the one hand, it is long enough to be used to check the temperature reading of a wide variety of foods. At the same time, the probe is compact enough so that it can be folded and take up less space.
From an aesthetic point of view, it is nice that you can choose from a wide range of colors to find the right shade for you.
The only real complaint I have here is that the Thermapen One isn’t really built for left handed people. So, if you are left handed and use it, you will find the screen facing away from you.
Now, this isn’t a major issue, but something that may be mildly inconvenient if you are left handed.
As you can imagine, the display of any thermometer is pretty important. It is what determines how easy it is to read the temperature.
I do like this display quite a bit. I find that the screen is large enough to be viewed easily. Also, the display resolution is top-notch and the numbers appear on the screen in an easy to read format.
One of the cooler features here is the auto rotating display orientation. It doesn’t matter how you insert the thermometer, the numbers will orient themselves so that they will be easier for you to read.
As I tested it out, I discovered that the screen re-oriented itself almost immediately so there was almost no downtime in reading the temperature.
I also like that this is a backlit display screen – this allows you to read the display in low light. The only downside here is that the light does go off rather quickly.
So, if you have poor eyesight, then this can get a little tricky for you.
Now, the Thermapen One runs on a single AAA battery. One of the things that I like about this thermometer is that it has a really long battery life. You can use it for up to 2000 hours without needing to get a new battery.
One of the features that I really like about this thermometer is that it has an auto sensing sleep and wake function. This means that it can detect when it is not being used and puts the thermometer to sleep. In doing so, you are able to conserve the battery.
At the same time, the thermometer can sense when you pick it up and automatically turns the LCD screen on. This way, you don’t have to fuss with it to get it working again.
As for changing the battery, it is actually pretty simple. You just have one screw holding the battery compartment in place. Unscrew that and you can swap out the old battery for a new one without any issue.
So, just how user friendly is the Thermapen One model?
For the most part, this is a pretty easy thermometer to use. Even if you don’t have much experience with such thermometers, using this model is pretty intuitive. Due to this, there isn’t much of a learning curve at all.
A definite plus point is that there is no technique for using the Thermapen One. You can insert it into any kind of food at any angle and you are still going to get an accurate reading.
The only thing to keep in mind here is that you need to make sure that the probe is about 1/8th of an inch in whatever food you are checking.
Also, if there are any bones, make sure that the tip of the probe is about an inch away to get a more accurate reading.
Furthermore, with most foods, the center of the meat or the dish will give you the most accurate reading. So, make sure that you place the probe in the right place. Your other option is to check the cut or dish at several points to make sure that it is cooked all the way through.
The only complaint that I would make for this category is that changing the settings can be a bit tricky. This is because these buttons are located in the battery compartment.
This is a good thing because it does mean that you won’t accidentally change the settings while using the Thermoworks Thermapen One.
These buttons are for changing the temperature units and the number of decimal places for the temperature.
Here’s the problem, though, due to their location it isn’t easy to adjust the settings, especially if you have larger fingers.
Of course, if you don’t need to change these settings then this doesn’t really become an issue.
Another thing that I really like about the Thermapen One is that it is quite versatile. It functions as everything from a kitchen thermometer to being used in food processing plants.
What I liked was the fact that it didn’t matter what kind of cooking I did, this thermometer showed up. I tried it out on foods heated up in the microwave as well as foods cooked on the stovetop, in the oven, on a grill, and in a smoker.
Each time, the readings lined up perfectly with the commercial grade thermometer that I was using.
A lot of people forget that it is important to consider how easy it is to maintain your thermometer. After all, this will determine how clean your thermometer will be and will reduce the risk of food poisoning.
A really cool feature here is that the Thermoworks Thermapen One is equipped with Biomaster antibacterial silver ion technology. This helps to reduce the microbial growth on the thermometer in the first place.
At the same time, this thermometer is hand washable. This makes it quite easy to clean after every use as you don’t have to follow any special procedures.
And, as I mentioned, this thermometer is waterproof up to a certain point so you don’t have to worry about damaging it as you clean it.
One of the things that you are obviously aware of the Thermoworks Thermapen One is that it is a bit pricey. Due to this, you are going to want to know what kind of warranty comes with the thermometer.
Well, the good news is that there is a five year warranty on this thermometer. This is actually pretty generous when you compare it to other thermometers on the market.
As an added bonus, this is a pretty hardy thermometer. So, as long as you use it properly and take care of it, it should last you many years to come.
As I mentioned, the probe can be folded, making this thermometer a bit more compact. And, so you have a few more options as to where you can store the thermometer.
That being said, I do wish that the thermometer had its own magnetic backing. This way, you can attach the thermometer to the oven, grill, refrigerator, etc. In turn, it makes it a lot easier to locate your thermometer.
If you want this feature you need to buy an external cover at additional cost.
Now, you may be wondering what sets the Thermapen One apart from the previous models, particularly the Thermapen thermometer.
It turns out that the Thermapen One is quite the upgrade. It is more accurate, has a faster response time, has an auto rotating display, and has a sleep and wake function.
The easier access to the settings is the biggest difference between the Thermapen One and Thermapen MK4. However, I should mention that the MK4 has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
Well, there are two main reasons for why the Thermapen One is so expensive. First off has to do with the construction. This model is built with a much greater durability than most other instant read thermometers.
The other reason is that the Thermapen One is one of the most accurate thermometers on the market. This takes a lot of effort and hi tech features to make happen.
So, at the end of this Thermapen One thermometer review, what is the verdict. Is this is the best instant read thermometer on the market?
Well, I do have to say that this thermometer is at the very top of the list. It is so incredibly accurate that you will be hard-pressed to find another non-commercial model that will give you this kind of result.
The other thing that is pretty hard to beat when it comes to the Thermapen One is that it is able to give you readings from incredibly cold and incredibly hot foods and beverages. Due to this, you have the option of cooking a wider variety of food.
There are also some really cool additional features like an auto rotating screen, sleep and wake modes that put it in a category of its own.
Sure, this thermometer can be a bit pricey. However, it is worth it when you consider the level of accuracy that you get. It is unlikely that you will get this level of accuracy with cheaper options. Also, when it comes to more delicate foods do you really want to run the risk of being off with the readings?
All in all, I say that you get good bang for your buck when it comes to this thermometer. This is especially true considering that it is pretty durable too.
