If your cooking thermometer is reading inaccurately, please refer to the troubleshooting steps and accuracy testing procedures listed below.
Digital Cooking Thermometers
You will want to ensure the following first:
- Verify you are using fresh batteries in the sensor. Lithium batteries are recommended for installation locations where temperatures can go below -4°F/-20°C.
- Verify you are using batteries with a nominal voltage of 1.5 volts.
NOTE: Some rechargeable batteries carry low or inconsistent voltages that may not properly power the device. - Mixing different battery types (brands, old/new, etc.) is not recommended.
Hard Reset:
Once you have verified that you are using recommended batteries, please remove the batteries for a full five minutes to allow the unit to power down completely before replacing batteries.
Accuracy Testing Procedures
If the thermometer is reading incorrectly, there are two ways that you can test for accuracy, then calibrate based on your results.*
The first method is to fill a container with mostly crushed ice and some water. Wait approximately 1 minute. Insert 2" of the probe into the mixture of water and ice for 10 seconds, or until the temperature reading does not change. The unit should read 32˚F/0˚C.
The second method is to bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Insert 2" of the probe into the boiling water for 10 seconds, or until the temperature does not change. Being careful not to touch the probe to the side or bottom of the pot. The unit should read 212˚F/100˚C.
*NOTE: Some models of cooking thermometers may be calibrated but not all. Please reference your instruction manual to see if your unit can be calibrated.