A fast-reading thermometer probe is essential for grilling and roasting, and this one works as well as any I have tried, equilibrating in a couple of seconds. Except for getting the temperature of boiling water right on, I have not checked their accuracy claims, but the probe is certainly accurate enough for kitchen use, and given that the readings come from a thermocouple, I would expect the probe measures to be good within a degree or so, maybe better. Taylor is a leading maker of both scientific and consumer temperature-measuring devices or all kinds, so also I would expect the circuitry and durability will be good.The thing that distinguishes the Taylor from the popular and similarly priced Thermapen, though, is the infrared thermometer. This function reads the surface temperature of objects using IR (heat radiation). For cooks, the main use is to check the temperature of preheated frypans, woks, etc., a function I find myself using at least as often as I use the probe. With a little experimentation, you can figure out the ideal temperature for browning meat, sweating vs. browning onions, or cooking pancakes, stirfries, etc. This makes it much easier to avoid either steaming food you meant to caramelize or burning your good olive oil and smoking up the kitchen. The IR function is not perfect, however. It defaults to a reading simply of "high" somewhere around 500 degrees F., which is not high enough for blackened fish or many wok applications. A more serious limitation is that it does not read effectively off of highly reflective surfaces, such as most stainless cookware, presumably because the probe also reads the temperature of whatever cool surface you see in the reflection. The IR function has worked well with all of the cast iron, anodized aluminum, and non-stick cookware I have tried, and I would expect it to be useful on most dark surfaces. I have no idea how accurate the readings are, but they give about the right melting and smoking temperatures for butter and oils, so they are probably good enough for cooking. Instrument-grade IR thermometers often read much higher temperatures and are probably more accurate. I don't know whether they would also work better with stainless skillets.
Although the Taylor is more expensive than less capable meat thermometers, the combination of fast and accurate probe readings and the ability to calibrate pan-cooking temperatures should make it appealing to serious home cooks.
It seems to be fairly accurate, the probe shows the temp of boiling water around 211 and took less then 2 seconds to go from 65 to 211 which is really fast. The infrared part of it is a little harder to gauge. I pointed it at a few things along with my MicroTemp Pro and the Pro normally showed a few deg hotter then the Taylor. Nether gauged boiling water very well since it is "clear". I can't really find anything else that I know should have a defined temp to test it on. But the infrared is really only useful for measuring things like frying pans and the inside of your oven, neither of which require single degree accuracy. The other really (ok relatively) cool thing is they included a built in led light along with the infrared thermometer, while meant for aiming, this is also nice for checking things in a dark oven.
I have never used the Thermapen, which seems to be its chief competition. I could see where the Thermapen could be simpler to use since it is just a probe, and a little easier to read since it has just the temp on its display. But neither of those things seem to much of a draw back vs a built in infrared thermometer for about the same price.
Buy Taylor Professional 9306 Dual Temp IR/Thermocouple Thermometer Now
I received this thermometer as a gift, 2 years ago, when I had asked for a digital instant-read thermometer. Unfortunately the well-meaning gift-giver was not a chef, and chose this one based on marketing hype. It works as advertised, but the display faces the WRONG WAY. It looks like it should work, at first, but as soon as the probe is unfolded, it faces you, forcing you to hold the unit as though you were going to stab yourself instead of the expected probe-out position.Uh, sorry, that's dead wrong. I do NOT want to hold my arm over the boiling liquid, steaming oven pan, or whatever. It is inconvenient and unpleasant at a minimum; downright dangerous at worst. The display needs to face sideways (as it does on the Thermapen competitor). I've tried to like this unit--after all, it was given with love--but every time I use it, this one problem drives me nuts. I can't believe that anyone with serious kitchen experience was consulted as to the design.
Net: save yourself the hassle and potential injury by getting the Thermapen for the same price.
Read Best Reviews of Taylor Professional 9306 Dual Temp IR/Thermocouple Thermometer Here
Works, and is consistent which is more than I can say for any cheaper IR thermometers I've tried. Used it for tempering chocolate, and the IR reading was the same temp as the probe every time. Very convenient for chocolate use. The probe will resolve to a temp within a couple seconds of inserting it, and the IR is pretty much an instant read. Love it.Want Taylor Professional 9306 Dual Temp IR/Thermocouple Thermometer Discount?
I bought this one because it has dual readings and was told it took readings as quick as 3 seconds.Don't get me wrong this is a good product but, I'm a chef and two of my coworkers have the Thermopen. The thermopen takes readings almost instantly kicking the crap out of my Taylor 9306. My Taylor 9306 has never taken a temp in 3 seconds. my advice is if you work as a chef/cook and need temps really fast spend the extra money on the thermopen. If not this a good product and has worked correctly every time it just takes at least 10 seconds to get your final temp from the probe. The surface temp reader is accurate and instant.Save 16% Off
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