The best leave in probe thermometer for for meat, fish & oil.
What is the Thermoworks DOT?
Simply put, the Thermoworks DOT is a device that a probe is connected to. The probe goes inside and stays inside a cut of meat the entire time that it is cooking so that you can monitor the exact temperature of the meat at any time. Imagine never having to worry about over or under cooking a cut of meat? That’s what this article is all about.
When I started cooking as a hobby, I didn’t fully appreciate the value of a good meat thermometer, especially a “leave in” probe version that monitors the temperature of the meat while it cooks. Like many beginner cooks, I cooked mostly by time tables, recipe instructions, look and feel, but that never worked out perfectly. As I grew as a cook, I recognized the stress involved with achieving perfectly cooked meats. Hobbies aren’t supposed to be stressful! The Thermoworks meat thermometer changed everything for me. It gave me the ability to produce perfectly cooked roasts, steaks and even master the temp of oil while frying! My skills and passion for cooking shot up to the next level.
Understanding the DOT’s value
Let’s stop for a minute and do some basic calculations. I want you to think about your favorite roast recipe to use that as your benchmark, and then consider the average amount of time you spend sourcing, purchasing and prepping that cut of meat. Do you have that time frame in your mind? Now calculate the average amount of money spent on this meat, along with all the necessary seasonings. Now ask yourself, is their value in protecting the money and the time you have just invested in this meal? What is it worth to you to perfect this dish? I am going to assume that if you are reading this, we both already know the answer. You would have to be crazy to choose the “fingers crossed” method to ensure a perfectly cooked medium rare filet of beef or a throughly cooked turkey.
Theroworks DOT vs the others
My now addiction to Thermoworks thermometers started with the DOT. (And a cut of beef tenderloin!)
I had tried over versions of in-oven thermometers over the years and frankly, they don’t even compare. I had purchased a less expensive version from Amazon, that despite its great reviews, was made of cheap plastic, smelled toxic and was complicated to use. I used it maybe twice and it found its way to the back of a drawer somewhere.
I have used my own range’s built in thermometer many times (which comes fairly standard these days, yet no one seems to know about it). The problem with the built-in range thermometer was that is was highly inaccurate, hard to test accuracy, and the probe was very thick in comparison to Thermoworks meat thermometer’s slender probes. (They even make a needle probe for small, delicate cuts of meat!)
Determined to find a way to cook meats to perfection, I did extensive research on kitchen thermometers. I learned that Thermoworks was, by far, the leader in the industry, was recommended by chefs I follow like Alton Brown and Ina Garten, and America’s test kitchen, which I subscribe to and trust. So I decided to invest in my first Thermoworks purchase. My biggest regret was waiting so long to purchase a Thermoworks meat thermometer because it wasn’t long before I realized it was of the best kitchen investments I had ever made.
Thermoworks themselves apart from their competitors not just because of their superior products, but also because of their exceptional resources available to users. They provide easy to follow instructions, online support, instructional videos, temperature suggestions, recipes, and so much more. It’s rare to find a company with so much dedication to ensuring a good product experience to their users.
“I don’t just have one, I have three.”
I started off with one Dot and after using to make a beef tenderloin without the stress of overcooking it, I was hooked! I ordered two more. Having multiples is now important to me because cuts of steak are often different thicknesses, pork tenderloins are different sizes, and sometimes I roast two chicken. Additionally, I often cook for folks who prefer a medium-well beef to my preferred medium-rare, so having multiples allows me more control.
Gifts for foodies
Within one month of my first DOT, I ordered three more as gifts, because I couldn’t imagine each of my family members not having one.
While my sister and cousin trusted me and jumped right on the bandwagon, my mom was the most reluctant to embrace her gifted DOT. She is a bit more “old school” and frankly, less in need of a thermometer because, well, she cooks everything until it dry as a bone before declaring it done. (Sorry, Mom!) But, eventually, she took the plunge. And I am thrilled to report that mom is now one of the DOT’s biggest fans and uses it all the time!
The DOT has quite literally, improved my cooking life. Because of the DOT, I know that when I invest in a cut of rib eye, a roast chicken, a pork rib roast, or a cut of beef tenderloin, it’s going to be cooked to perfection. The DOT tells me the exact internal temperature throughout the cooking process, and alerts me when my target temp is reached.
Become a better cook.
How it works
The DOT is a simple to use in-oven thermometer. This means that you insert the probe into the center of the meat prior to putting it in the oven. You then set a target temperature using easy to use up and down buttons. Once set, the roast or steak goes in the oven. The Thermoworks meat thermometer digital display indicates the current internal temperature throughout the cooking process, which allows you to estimate time left until the meat is done, which means you can time your side dishes and the rest of your meal perfectly! Once the target temperature is reached, the meat thermometer will sound an alarm alerting you that your meat is done.
Cooking Tips
- Always, always, always give your meat plenty of time to rest. Everyone underestimates the impact rest time has on the juiciness and tenderness of any meat. It will keep cooking for much longer than you think! Turkeys need at least 30 minutes of rest time.
- Get to know your preferred temperatures. I like medium-rare beef so I set my DOT meat thermometer to 126°F degrees F. After rest time, it reaches about 130-132°F. I like bone in pork roast cooked medium to medium-well, so I set my DOT to 140°F and let it rest, which then reaches about 150+° F, depending on the cut.
- Take time to check your thermometer’s accuracy using a properly made Ice Bath. (Instructions and resources come with all Thermoworks products. Their customer service and resources set Thermoworks apart from the rest.)
- Change your batteries.
Thermoworks Products that I own, love and highly recommend:
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