The Best Candy Thermometer 2023 – Our Latest Reviews & Guide
You can’t go wrong with a candy thermometer at home. As simple as these devices might seem, they come in handy in the cooking process. Indeed, a well-made thermometer would come in handy in helping you achieve just the right temperature levels so you avoid wasting sugar due to overcooking.
One thing worth keeping in mind is that these thermometers closely resemble meat thermometers. But upon taking a closer look at them, you’re bound to notice that they are actually meant for tolerating higher temperature ranges.
Other unique features that you can particularly expect from the best candy thermometer include:
- Long, efficient, and food safe probe
- The thermometer should generally be easy to use
- Should read temperature changes easily and accurately
- It’s always a good thing to go for a thermometer with a built-in sound alert
A quick search for the best-priced candy thermometers on sites like Amazon is, no doubt, bound to leave you confused. So, to end the confusion, we would like to present you with the following list along with a detailed buyers guide.
10 Top-Rated Candy Thermometer 2023 – Comparison List
Don’t have much time to read the reviews? Here’s a short list that you can use to get a rough idea of some of the leading candy thermometers on the markets.
1. ThermoProDigital TP03A Instant Thermometer
If you are looking for a meat thermometer that will give you the most accurate results in an instant, the ThermoPro Digital TP03A is what you need. Whether it is for cooking, grilling or roasting, this thermometer will give a superb performance.
It has a simple design whereby you need to press a button to pop open the foldable probe, and after that, you can insert it into the meat to give you an accurate reading instantly. Once you are done using it, fold it, and safely store it away.
The probe is made of food grade stainless steel material that makes it safe to be in contact with food. The clear LCD will make it easy for you to read the temperatures.
The display also allows you to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius at your preference. It is powered by AAA batteries and has an auto-shutoff feature if the readout remains for ten minutes.
Pros
- You will get instant results, within 4-7 seconds
- Foldable design for easy storage and carrying
- Food-safe construction
Cons
- Build quality is iffy
2. Wilton Candy Thermometer
If you need a very durable candy thermometer, the Wilton thermometer is a reasonable place to start. It is very solid due to its steel construction and will serve you for a long time to come. This material is also food safe and will not add toxins to your meal.
The readings are on the face of the thermometer, and the manufacturer assures us that they will never fade, as long as you use mild detergents for cleaning it. The body is also leak-free.
It has an adjustable clip at the base for keeping it steady while its handle is insulated to keep your hands safe. This handle also enhances its easy-to-store feature.
It can read a range of temperatures from 60F to 400F, and this makes it very appropriate meat, and deep frying.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Easy to read
- Durable and food safe construction
Cons
- Needs constant calibration
Also read: 15 Best Airtight Containers: Important Buying Insights
3. Lavatools PT12 Javelin Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
If you desire a fully splash-proof constructed food thermometer, this model by Lavatools is here for you. It features top-notch polymers that will ensure warping and cracking never occur. It is the perfect thermometer for candy coffee, bread, and brews.
The tapered probe is crafted from food grade stainless steel and will reduce constant puncturing of your food. It comes with a large 1.4” display that is very easy to read.
This thermometer is very accurate, and while the 4-seconds response time is impressive as well. The battery life is decent, and it will serve you for up to 4000 hours on a single change.
Pros
- Easy to read display
- Splash-proof construction
- Impressive battery life
Cons
- Not durable
4. GDEALER Waterproof DT09 Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer
This thermometer by GDEALER is wholly waterproof, and this makes it versatile to be used for measuring the temperatures of meat, chocolate, meat, coffee, etc.
It is very fast and will give you results within 4-6 minutes for meats and 4-20 seconds for the liquids. It features a foldable probe that is crafted from stainless steel, and this makes it very easy to store.
You will have the option of switching between Fahrenheit and Celsius as per your preference. Then, it has a battery-saving feature whereby it automatically shuts off after ten minutes of inactivity.
The thermometer will cover a broad range of temperatures starting from -58F to 572F and the backlit LCD will give you an easy time in making accurate readings.
Pros
- Has a battery-saving feature
- Easy to use and store
- Waterproof
Cons
- Poor customer service (from the company)
5. Polder THM-515 Stainless Steel Candy Thermometer
If you are on a budget and you still want a high quality candy thermometer, the Polder THM-515 is an excellent place to start. It has a solid stainless steel construction that makes it dishwasher safe. It comes with a clip that you can use to attach to another cookware.
The steel handle is insulated, and it will be safe for you to hold it even in the highest temperatures. The readings are large, and this will make it easy for you to figure them out. Provided you maintain it properly, these numbers will never fade.
The clip is vital in keeping the thermometer steady when you attach it to the cooking pot, although you will have some difficulty with pots that are curved at the top.
Pros
- Insulated handle for safety
- Easy to read temperature zones
- Sturdy stainless steel construction
Cons
- The clip is fragile
6. Harbor Instant Read Candy Thermometer
Although decently priced, this thermometer has no auto-shutoff feature for saving your battery, and you need switch it off after use. It is reasonably fast and will give you readings within 4-6 seconds.
It has a stainless steel foldable probe that will make it easy for storage and carrying around as well. This probe also makes the gadget to be straightforward to use since you will only need to insert it in the food or liquid, and the temperature will display.
The thermometer has a sensitive sensor as well as a thin probe tip that ensures it gives you the most accurate results.
Lastly, it comes with the small watch type battery for powering it.
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Pros
- Easy to use
- Very accurate
- Well priced
Cons
- No battery-saving feature
7. SMARTPRO ST43 Instant Read Digital Meat Thermometer
With this thermometer, you no longer have to worry about over or undercooked meat because, within 3-7 seconds, you will get the accurate temperature of the food. It has a large display which makes it easy for you to read the temperatures.
The on/off button is highly sensitive, and you will need only a short press to hold or unlock the current temperature reading. It has an auto-shut off feature that will help save the battery life. If thermometer stays inactive for thirteen minutes, it shuts off automatically.
It features a food-grade stainless steel grade that is foldable to make storage and carrying to be easy. It is also rust-proof and can withstand very high temperatures to make it suitable for professional use.
It can read a wide range of temperatures from -4F-482F (-20C-250C), and you can use it for a wide range of foods from beef, turkey, coffee, and milk. It is very easy to clean and is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Foldable probe for easy storage
- Large display for easy reading
Cons
- Too fancy and delicate
Another post of us: Best Meat Injectors Compared – Find out Which One Wins
8. GET Instant Read Food Thermometer
If you are used to slicing your food to check the temperature, this thermometer will save you from that hassle. It is effortless to use, and all you need to do is pull out the probe and insert it into the food or drink to read the temperature.
It is accurate and displays the temperatures in Fahrenheit or Celsius, and it can read a wide range from -58F-572F (-50C-300C).
The probe is made of food grade stainless steel and is foldable for easy storage. The tool has an auto-shutoff feature which powers off the thermometer if it stays inactive for ten minutes. This helps in saving battery life.
Pros
- Accurate
- Food safe probe construction
- Clear display
Cons
- Not durable
9. Epica Instant Read Candy Thermometer
This thermometer has one of the best sensors, and it will give you the temperature readings within 3-5 seconds. So if you are tired of waiting longer before getting the results, the problem is solved.
The digital display will make it easy for you to do the readings and further enhances its accuracy. It has a stunning design that is pleasing to the eye and has temporary memory settings.
The probe is crafted of food grade stainless steel that does not allow the growth of bacteria. The tool is also portable, and you can move it and store anywhere you wish.
Lastly, it has an auto-shut off feature that will be of great help in saving your batteries.
Pros
- Instant reading
- Food safe construction
- Easy to read digital display
Cons
- Cannot withstand extremely high temperatures
10. CDN DTC450 Digital Candy Thermometer
The CDN brand has a reputation for producing some of the best food thermometers globally, and this programmable one is not an exception. It has a digital display, and this will make it very easy for you to read.
The thermometer is a stem that you will insert in the pot containing the food whose temperature you are interested in. It comes with an adjustable clip that will help in keeping it steady in the pot.
It is very accurate and needs constant calibration to keep it going. The stem is crafted out of steel while the storage sheath is from ABS plastic.
It has seven pre-programmable candy stages, and it releases a loud beep once it reaches each stage. It has an auto-shut off feature that will help in saving your batteries.
Lastly, it is backed by a 5-year limited warranty to give you peace of mind.
Pros
- Easy to read digital display
- Can withstand very high temperatures
- Very accurate
Cons
- Too pricey
The Buying Guide
While candy making is a great activity, it usually does not leave room for mistakes. If you make the mistake of overcooking the sugar, you have no option than to restart the process – afresh.
Unfortunately, sugar gets cooked quite fast. So, if you don’t pay attention at every step of the way, you are likely to get everything else wrong. It is for this particular reason that it makes sense to invest in a reliable thermometer.
So, what are the key features to look out for when it comes to this? Well, the following, in our view, are the important factors that you need to pay close attention to.
Different Types of Candy Thermometers
In order to understand what different candy thermometers do and how they work, we’ll now discuss them in detail.
Analog: Prior to the digital era, analog thermometers were to order of the day. They typically have some mercury or spirit in them. This spirit/mercury rises within the thermometer’s tube giving you the temperature reading.
Digital: These are highly advanced candy thermometers in the sense that they provide you with a digital display of the readings. They are generally easy to use and are usually associated with high levels of accuracy.
Glass: Glass thermometers are the most common ones out there. Their tubes are typically made of glass and are, therefore, quite easy to read. Some even come with attached clips for ease of storage.
Metal: These ones typically come with 7 to 8 inch probes. They are quite easy to use because of their long height plus the fact that they are metallic makes them quite durable.
Accuracy
It is important to ensure that your thermometer of choice is of high accuracy. You don’t want to end up with a thermometer whose readings can hardly be trusted. Please note that manual thermometers have the tendency to go off track and need to be re-calibrated from time to time.
Budget
Before you settle for any product, be sure to read some of the reviews posted about it. This will give you a rough idea on whether the product is worth the money or not. And this way, you will be able to avoid getting ripped off while you could have used your money to buy something better.
Tips for Using a Candy Thermometer
If you have never used a candy thermometer before, it’s important to get a deeper understanding of how this process goes.
The first step is to ensure that the sugar syrup is put to boil over on medium to high heat. Once the solution fully boils, turn the temperature to medium and leave it to continue boiling for some time.
It’s at this point that a candy thermometer needs to be used. While at it, it’s important that the thermometer is prevented from coming into contact with either the sides or bottom of the pot. This kind of contact can easily ruin the thermometer and also affect the accuracy of the results.
Keep track of the temperature readings until you are sure that the temperature has reached the desired level. If this temperature is exceeded, it can easily ruin the candy.
What’s The Best Candy Thermometer for the Money?
Following an in-depth look at each one of the 10 thermometers provided above, we finally settled on one that we thought gave the best value proposition. That’s none other than the ThermoPro Digital TP03A Instant Thermometer. Not only is it super-fast but also its smart design makes it quite reliable in the long-haul.
What’s more? It’s backed by a 1-year warranty which can be extended to 3 years warranty when one registers their product. Indeed, only companies that are confident about their products can stand behind their quality. And so, we are indeed glad to see that ThermoPro has taken this initiative.
Were it not for the extended warranty period, we would have been reluctant to endorse. That’s because when you first touch it, its build quality seems iffy. However, the product has so far earned a great reputation for itself and that’s why we’d like to give it our two thumbs up.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to making quality candy, there is absolutely no need to take chances. Whether you want to go fully commercial or are just preparing them for home use, you can’t substitute the role of a candy thermometer.
With that said, we hope that the reviews and buying guide shared above will help you zero-in to the one thermometer that gives the best value for money. But if you’re yet to make up your mind, we’d suggest giving the ThermoPro Digital TP03A Instant Thermometer.
It handles heat quite well and is also incredibly easy to maintain.
