Review: Thermapen ONE instant-read thermometer
If you smoke BBQ, you need to buy this — immediately.
Editor’s Note: This review, like all reviews on Texas BBQ, is based on my personal experience with the product and is in no way influenced by the company. I personally purchase each product I review, unless otherwise noted, and provide my honest opinion on topics such as usage, functionality, and overall quality.
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The product: The Thermapen ONE instant-read thermometer
Overall rating: 9.8/10
Simply put: This is the best instant-read thermometer I’ve ever owned. It’s fast, it’s accurate, and it gets the damn job done without the worry of an inaccurate reading that could mess with my barbecue [an issue I’ve had with other instant reads. Looking at you, ThermoPro].
What it is: The Thermapen ONE is ThermoWorks’ current prized instant-read thermometer. ThermoWorks claims the Thermapen ONE is accurate within ± 0.5°F and provides a temperature reading within one second. I’ve found nothing to dispute those claims.
Usage: I’ve used the Thermapen ONE on briskets, chickens, spare ribs, turkey breast and found it worked great with every cut of meat. I especially enjoy the smaller tip, which allows for getting more accurate readings on thinner meats such as ribs.
Functionality: The Thermapen ONE activates when you pull out the probe. Almost immediately it reads the temperature of the room you’re in. The device fits nicely in my hand and is lightweight. When I put it in my pocket, I nearly forget it’s there.
One of the features I greatly enjoy is its auto-back-lit screen, which senses brightness and automatically activates or deactivates the screen accordingly.
The numbers are large and legible. The readings also rotate depending on if you’re holding the thermometer vertically or horizontally, which is great for when you’re probing meats in the depths of your pit.
Additional features: Each Thermapen ONE comes with a certificate of calibration that includes the date it was calibrated, the details of the calibration, and the signature of the technician who performed the calibration. Each device comes with a five-year warranty. ThermoWorks claims the battery life [a single AAA battery] spans 2,000 hours. Admittedly, I haven’t used it that much to verify that claim, but based on their others I have no reason to doubt the battery life.
What’s not to like: Honestly, not much. If I’m being super nitpicky, which I feel like I have to be to find something wrong, I’d like for there to be a magnet so I can hang the thermometer on or around my smoker. I’m notorious for placing my thermometers in the kitchen and forgetting them when I go check the pit.
At $105 [as of Aug. 11], the thermometer is much more expensive than other probe thermometers on the market. But for the functionality and features you get with the Thermapen ONE, it’s well worth its price tag. Also, the thermometers are known to go on the occasional sale, dropping the price as much as $30, making it a steal.
Final thoughts: I can’t brag on this thermometer enough. Whether you’re a backyard smoker or a pitmaster at a barbecue business, the Thermapen ONE is all you need in a probe thermometer, providing the accuracy needed to cook great barbecue. Frankly, don’t waste your money and save yourself some heartache buying cheaper instant-read thermometers.
Go ahead and pay the extra. You won’t regret it.