Best Thermometer

[May]

Hi all,
I would like to start tempering my butters to prevent grittiness in my lip balms. I am wondering if anyone could recommend a thermometer that they really like. They vary in price so much!
Also, how do you temper your cocoa or shea butter? I usually just use a glass, measuring cup, but I'd like to do more at a time if I can.
Thanks!!

 

[lsg]

I use a dairy thermometer.

 

[KatieShephard]

I have this one and I LOVE it...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00837ZGRY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

This, my stickblender, and my $1 hdpe paint cans are the best investments I've made so far.

 

[snappyllama]

I use one very similar to KatieShepard that I picked up at Harbor Freight. I spent a little more on it, but I wanted the option to easily return it to a brick and mortar store since reviews of most thermometers around this price point are "if it works, it's awesome - or maybe it's broken from the start - are you feeling lucky, punk?).

 

[cmzaha]

I use a digital with a probe or a candy thermometer. I simply do not trust the laser to penetrate my oils far enough down. Unless they have changed they are really for taking surface temp. Shoot your temp then put a candy thermomenter in the oil, and notice the temp difference. Mine never read the same

 

[snappyllama]

I use a digital with a probe or a candy thermometer. I simply do not trust the laser to penetrate my oils far enough down. Unless they have changed they are really for taking surface temp. Shoot your temp then put a candy thermomenter in the oil, and notice the temp difference. Mine never read the same

Good point on that, I stir mine as I'm shooting the temperature.

 

[IrishLass]

Like Carolyn, I use a digital thermometer with probe. I have my eye on a Thermapen, though (it's supposed to give highly accurate, quick 3-second readings).

IrishLass

 

[Meganmischke]

I use both types. For tempering butters i do perfer my old fashioned candy thermometer. I like this because it clips right to the pot and i can keep an eye on it. For most other things I use the point and shoot type.

 

[DeeAnna]

Candy thermometers just don't last long in my kitchen -- I shatter them on a regular basis. My hubby gave me a Thermapen a few years ago and I am incredibly fond of it and use it all the time. Thermapens are wonderful but they do have a limitation in that they are meant more for spot checks, not for giving a continuous temperature reading.

The makers of Thermapen have just come out with the Thermopop, a cheaper "instant" read thermometer that works similar to a Thermapen: http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/thermopop.html

If you want the digital version of a candy thermometer -- something that reads the temperature continuously until you turn it off -- the Thermoworks "Dot" is a good choice. It comes with an alarm to alert that you've reached a given temp: http://www.thermoworks.com/products/alarm/dot.html Get a "probe clip" for the Dot (click on the Accessories tab) and you can clip the thermocouple to the side of a pot or pan so you can get a continuous temp readout of your soap, candy, or whatever you're making.

Did I say I'm a geek?

 

[Meganmischke]

That is awesome. I know what I want for Christmas. Actually I want it early for my Christmas candy making.