Even the best recipes may fail sometimes. The pace at which an oven warms up and its ability to heat uniformly are also variables. Have you ever forgotten about a pan of chocolate chip cookies in the oven and found that they had burned? How about arriving home to raw or undercooked meat despite following the cook times? If this sounds like your oven, it’s probably not heating up properly.
A simple solution to a temperamental oven is an oven thermometer, a stainless-steel dial that displays the oven’s precise internal temperature. This will prevent you from ever again over- or under-cooking a meal.
Canadian oven thermometers are available from a variety of manufacturers, and our American colleagues tested them all to find the best ones.
8. One That Does It All: The KT Thermo Three-Inch Dial Oven Thermometer
In comparison to other oven thermometers we tried, this one was the Goldilocks of the group since it was neither too large nor too little.
Its big face isn’t crowded, and it’s made of stainless steel and has a dial that can withstand high temperatures and a lens that’s been treated to prevent shattering, making it simple to see even when the oven door is closed. In spite of this, the body is little enough that it won’t be too noticeable in your kitchen.
A single hook design ties it securely to an oven rack. It may also be shown upright; its base is a comfortable width for perching on the grates without tottering.
This oven thermometer was found to be accurate up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (315 degrees Celsius), meaning that it begins recording the temperature at room temperature and goes all the way up to 600 degrees. The oven is at the perfect temperature of 600 degrees Fahrenheit for baking a pizza at home. Still, some Canucks could be put off by the lack of the Celsius symbol. It’s not a big deal, however, since Fahrenheit is still the default for most Canadian recipes and equipment. However, the markers would be missed by those who favor the Celsius system.
This oven thermometer is backed by a two-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
7. The Cooper-Atkins 24HP HACCP Dial Oven Thermometer Is a Fantastic Buy
This oven thermometer is reasonably priced, making it a good buy even if it will only be used occasionally.
It’s cheaper than some of the others on our list, but the design is just as solid. It’s built to be compact and inconspicuous with a stainless steel frame and glass lens, yet it’s packed with functions.
It measures temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, with markings for both systems, and it displays changes in the temperature in increments of 50 degrees, from 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (315 degrees Celsius). However, the face may appear a little busy and may be difficult to read for some due of the exact measuring calculations that went into creating it. You may use it as a tabletop thermometer or attach it to a rack in the oven, much like the others on our list.
This is an excellent choice for those on a limited budget. Also useful if you do a lot of baking or cooking when the temperature is crucial.
6. An AcuRite 00620A2 Stainless Steel Oven Thermometer with Convenient Markings
This oven thermometer has a bold, black writing on a bright white backdrop, making it simple to see even when the oven door is closed. It’s constructed out of steel and glass, and it may be hung from an oven rack or placed vertically on its base.
Although the AcuRite 00620A2 can display temperatures up to 315 degrees Celsius (600 degrees Fahrenheit), it doesn’t begin recording temperatures until they reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius). This may not be an issue in most cases, however, since most cooking is done at temperatures below 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150 degrees Celsius), and even reheating calls for temperatures above 65 degrees Celsius.
When it came to keeping track of stable temperatures, the AcuRite performed well in our testing. Some Canadians would prefer Celsius indications, therefore a converter comes in useful.
This oven thermometer is fantastic since it has three different temperature range indicators: warm, bake/roast, and broil. This makes it ideal for those times when you don’t have a specific recipe in mind but still need to preheat the oven to the correct temperature.
5. The CDN DOT2 ProAccurate Oven Thermometer is very precise
The CDN DOT2 fares the worst in terms of design because of its tiny, dark, and unreadable face, as well as its curiously thick base, which causes it to dangle uncomfortably between racks and obscures everything placed below.
The thermometer’s readings are the most precise of any we examined, though, so it earns excellent points in that category. Its temperature range is the narrowest, starting at 150°F (65°C) and ending at 550°F (288°C), making it unreliable for use with foods that need cooking at higher temperatures. Unlike the other thermometers, this one is not composed of stainless steel, therefore it melts at lower temperatures.
Those of us who live in Canada enjoy that the CDN DOT2 is marked in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. And if you’re following an old family recipe that doesn’t specify an oven temperature, you can utilize the helpful marks that say “Warm,” “Very Low,” “Moderate,” “Very Hot,” and “Broil” to get a feel for the atmosphere in your kitchen.
4. Straightforward to Read: The Taylor 5932 Oven Thermometer
The Taylor 5932 is the most legible oven thermometer through the glass since it has the biggest face and is equipped with prominent tick markings and a graded color wheel. The inclusion of a red pointer is thoughtful for clarity.
It may be suspended on a rack in the oven or propped up on its base, like the rest of the thermometers we examined. The body, however, is rather large, thus it requires a wide gap between oven shelves.
There are indicators for both Fahrenheit and Celsius, and the temperature range is from 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (38 to 315 degrees Celsius). For those who prefer a “for dummies” approach, the color wheel also displays Warming, Baking, and Roasting for quick reference.
Compared to the other oven thermometers we tried, this one wasn’t the fastest or most accurate. However, the color wheel and red arrow design makes it easy to read, making it a possible favorite.
3. Multiple Details: Winco TMT-OV3 Oven Thermometer
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This oven thermometer eliminates guesswork since it displays a wealth of information about safe cooking temperatures. The large face has Fahrenheit and Celsius markings, indications for Hold, Bake, and Roast, and the HACCP food safety rules from the FDA about the ideal holding and cooling temperatures for hot meals. While the added information is certainly welcome, the resulting visual clutter on the large display may be off-putting to some. The thermometer is rather large and cumbersome due to the amount of information that may be shown on its face.
It’s not apparent what material this oven thermometer is constructed from, but given that it reads temperatures from 50 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 260 degrees Celsius), it’s probably plastic.
Although the extensive information shown on the front of this oven thermometer may be too much for some, it is ideal for people who like having all the data they need close at hand.
2. OXO Chef’s Precision Oven Thermometer – Relatively misleading
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Given OXO’s stellar reputation for producing quality kitchenware, we anticipated great things from this oven thermometer. Unfortunately, we were let down. The metal gadget was too big to fit in the aisles between the shelves. The face is also somewhat opaque, making it difficult to see, particularly through a glass oven door. Even though it has a broad, inclined base for standing, it was difficult to hang with the two-point hook.
Temperatures from 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (315 degrees Celsius) are shown, along with both Celsius and Fahrenheit markings. Unfortunately, the readings were off and the thermometer was unresponsive on occasion. Consequently, we can’t endorse this product despite the fame of the brand.
1. The Rubbermaid FGTHO550 Oven Thermometer Is Never Accurate
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We knew this Rubbermaid thermometer would perform admirably because of the company’s stellar reputation. But alas, things did not work out that way. While it shares the 10-degree temperature ticks seen on other watches, their disproportionate size and spacing make this one more difficult to read than others. Made of non-breakable stainless steel, the lens is aesthetically distracting.
The Rubbermaid thermometer, like the others on our list, comes with both a hanging hook and a flat base for tabletop use, although we found the latter to be somewhat wobbly.
The face displays both Celsius and Fahrenheit temperatures. The range isn’t ideal and won’t be enough for really high-temperature cooking, starting at 150°F (65°C) and going up to 550°F (288°C). When compared to the other oven thermometers we tested, this one consistently gave the most inaccurate readings, rendering it useless.
