ChefsTemp Pocket Pro Digital Thermometer Review

review – Even though it’s February, we’re already starting to get warmer days in South Texas. Just next week, we have a few days to expect to be in the sub-80s! This has grilling and smoking bugs when I start at full power. I have a Traeger BBQ smoker for smoking, but for faster meals like steaks, fajitas, burgers or sausages we use a round weber grill filled with wood blocks. We have an old meat thermometer that we’ve been using for a while but it’s slowly starting to fall apart. When I got a chance to check out the ChefsTemp Pocket Pro Digital Thermometer, I jumped in and looked for a replacement. Let’s see how it turns out.

What is it?

ChefsTemp Pocket Pro is a digital thermometer with several very nice features. It senses the direction you’re holding the thermometer and rotates the temperature display to make it easier to read. It has a rechargeable battery and a built-in magnet that lets you hang it on metal objects like refrigerators.

What’s in this box?

• ChefsTemp Pocket Pro Digital Thermometer
• A magnet on the refrigerator showing the minimum temperature for cooked chicken, beef and fish.
• Lamination Instructions
• A Pocket Pro Thermometer with an additional probe cover
• USB-C charging cable

Hardware Specifications

• Range: -58 to 572°F (-50 to 300°C)
• Accuracy: ±0.7°F (±0.4°C), otherwise ±1.8°F (±1°C)
• ±3°F (±1.5°C) from 392 to 572°F (200 to 300°C);
• Resolution: Factory setting is 0.1°
• Response time: about 1 second reading (slightly slower in oil than in water)
• Probe: 4.5 L x 0.1 inch diameter. Diameter reduced to 0.06 inches.
• (114 length x 2.5mm diameter. Reduced to 1.5mm diameter.)
• Water resistance: IP 66
• Operating Range: 14 to 140°F (-10 to 60°C)
• Auto off: Auto backlight after 10 minutes: 15 seconds
• Battery: 3.7V lithium battery, Type-C plug
• Display: 1.13 H x 0.56 W inches (28.9 H x 14.4 W mm)
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 H x 2.08 W x 0.74 D inches (180.5 H x 53 W x 19 D mm)

Design and Features

The front of the thermometer has two buttons and a display area. The top button changes the temperature in the display from Celsius to Fahrenheit. The bottom button is the power button. Pressing the power button also turns on the backlight. The backlight will stay on for 15 seconds and then turn off to save battery power. You can press the power button again to turn the lights back on.

The thermometer will automatically turn off within 10 minutes if the temperature falls below 102 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature does not change by more than 3 degrees. So on a very hot day, putting this thermometer in the sun and turning it on could drain the battery very quickly!

The next three pictures show how the temperature reading rotates around the thermometer display when you rotate the thermometer.

The thermometer comes with a very nice probe cover. It stays open with a single touch and has a built-in clip to secure it to the pocket. Thermometers come in several colors: dark blue, orange, lime and Tiffany blue. I received Tiffany blue.

The ChefsTemp Pocket Pro digital thermometer has a fairly thick display head. I’m not sure if I want to keep it in my shirt front pocket. However, the display is nice, large, and very readable.

set up

Setup is very simple. I plugged the USB-C cable into the port on the right side of the ChefsTemp Pocket Pro digital thermometer as shown below. The display blinks once and the battery icon starts blinking. When fully charged, the battery icon is always on and no longer flashes.

Performance

We tested the thermometer while cooking some chicken wraps. These special fajitas are pre-salted from our local grocery store. They are very thick chicken breasts. I love medium rare steak, but I really want my chicken cooked to at least the lowest safe temperature. The image below shows the readings we got when we first inspected the chicken.

We cooked it a little longer and checked it a few more times. This is the final reading we received when examining the largest chicken breast at its thickest point. Two degrees above the required 165. We received temperature readings almost immediately. It’s fast enough that it feels like it’s instantaneous.

Here’s a photo of us cutting the meat. It was cooked to perfection. You’ll see a dash of red near the top of the chest, but it’s smoke from the flames. I usually prefer dark meat because I find white meat too dry. The marinating of the chicken and the fact that we didn’t overcook it thanks to the chef’s thermometer made it very enjoyable.

Finally, the last photo shows the ChefsTemp Pocket Pro digital thermometer hanging on the side of the refrigerator. This brings up my only complaint. The thermometer is slightly bulky, with a smooth and rounded back. This makes it want to slide off the side of my fridge instead of hanging in place. Maybe if they put a small flat dot on the back of the thermometer, or a textured pattern, or a bigger magnet, it would stay in place.

what do I like

• The price is economical.
• large display
• Rotate the display according to how you hold it.
• Magnetic back
• rechargeable battery
• interesting color choices

Areas for improvement

• Maybe add some texture to the back of the thermometer, or put a bigger magnet inside so it doesn’t slide off the surface you’ve attached it to.

final thoughts

I highly recommend the ChefsTemp Pocket Pro Digital Thermometer. It’s easy to read and rotates the display for you. It’s also reasonably priced and comes in some interesting colors. The key factor is that it looks very accurate and very fast. If you need a new digital food thermometer and don’t need wireless functionality, don’t hesitate to buy this one.

Price: $34.99
where to buy: ChefsTemp
resource: This product sample is provided by ChefsTemp.