Why I got it
I needed a thermometer for Thanksgiving several years ago. I made up my mind that this was going to be an electronic thermometer instead of the boring ones I have owned in the past. My problem was that it was the Wednesday before thanksgiving and I had to buy something that day. So I quickly went into Target and saw the Taylor Digital Thermometer. The unit was repackaged but discounted because of it. Well I needed to buy something so I purchased it, opened it and checked it over in the car. The Taylor Digital Thermometer worked fine so I went home to prepare for my guests. But my initial test of the Taylor Digital Thermometer was not complete, as you will read.

How the Taylor Digital Thermometer works.
You have a metal cord that is attached to a metal hook. The opposite end is a plug that resembles a 1/8 inch audio adapter. The cord is flexible but the hook is not. You stick the hook into the meat/food product and the other end you plug into the receiving unit. This will read the temperature of the food and report it on the simple LCD screen.
In order for you to get an accurate reading from the Taylor Digital Thermometer you need to place the tip of the probe in the center of the meat. This will give you an internal temperature reading not a surface temperature reading.

Features of the Taylor Digital Thermometer
Timer- There is a typical countdown timer. It can be set as low as 1 minute or as high as 23 hours and 59 minutes. There are two buttons that control it and they only count up. One button adds one minute every time it is pressed and the other adds one hour every time it is pressed. If you hit both buttons then it clears the timer.
Alarm- There is a temperature alarm that can be turned on and off. Its range is 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 392 degrees Fahrenheit.
Range- 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 392 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hinged display- The display can be moved 90 degrees.
Magnetic backing- There are two magnets located on the back and they hold on very well.
Fahrenheit or Celsius settings- This is a slider button on the back of the unit that adjusts between both formats.

The LCD display of the Taylor Digital Thermometer
The display is very basic but does the job. The entire top is dedicated to the timer. The bottom is dedicated to the temperature. The left bottom is the current temperature reading. The right bottom displays the set temperature that sets off the alarm.
The LCD is difficult to read in a dark location or in direct sunlight. But in other conditions it works just fine.

The alarm of the the Taylor Digital Thermometer
The alarm is annoying, which I guess is a good thing. It has a very similar sound to a cheap travel alarm clock. The alarm goes off if the timer goes off or if the probe reaches the set temperature. The alarm can also be shut off if you wish.

Is the Taylor Digital Thermometer accurate?
When I compared it to my analog thermometer, I found the temperature to be pretty much the same on both devices. I have done tests in meats, oil, and water. The doneness of the food is my other indicator that this tool works properly.

What have I used the Taylor Digital Thermometer in
Turkey- I will be doing this once again this Christmas in conjunction with my smoker. I place it in the breast meat and try to get the tip of the probe in the center of the meat.
Chicken- Same as the turkey but you do need to be careful about where you put the probe. If it is not in the center of the breast or the thigh then it will not give you the reading you want.
Pot Roast- Very simple since it is a round hunk of meat. Came out perfectly.
Vat of oil- It actually worked as long as I did not exceed the maximum temperature. I do not recommend you use this for deep fat frying but it can work.
Boiling water- For certain styles of cooking like poaching you want to control the temperature. I have used this unit in water with no ill effects. The probe does not take in water nor does the water damage the probe. When I tested the unit against other types of probes I got the same temperature readings within 1 degree.

Where can you use the Taylor Digital Thermometer?
The probe is connected to a cord that is wrapped in a metal substance. I have put the probe in the oven, in my grill, and in my smoker. All 3 places worked fine. I was able to close the lid/door without it being cracked open nor did the lid/door damage the cable.

What is the Taylor Digital Thermometer not good for?
It will not work well for very cold environments or very hot environments. It is designed primarily for probing meats but obviously it can be used for other applications.

Battery life of the Taylor Digital Thermometer
It takes 1 aaa battery and the power consumption is very low. I have had this for 3 years and have probably used it 2 dozen times, yet I have the battery that came with the unit still installed. The battery not something you will have to worry about.

Problems with the Taylor Digital Thermometer
When I started using the Taylor Digital Thermometer the next day after I got it I noticed the unit started to reset itself every time I picked it up. This was really annoying since the temperature alarm was also reset. I finally put it on a chair and made sure the unit would not be moved for the remainder of the cooking process. Now I know why the unit was returned.
I should have returned the Taylor Digital Thermometer the next day but I got too distracted with life. This is really the only problem with the unit and I am disappointed in Target for not returning it to the manufacturer. To this day I will not buy anything that has been repackaged from any store.

Dimensions and weight of the Taylor Digital Thermometer.
Dimensions: 5x3x0.75 inches.
Cable length: 52 inches.
Total Weight: 4 5/8 ounces

Summary
Except for the electrical flaw, I really like the Taylor Digital Thermometer. The Taylor Digital Thermometer is fairly cheap and easy to use. The readings are accurate. I recommend the Taylor Digital Thermometer, just save the receipt.

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Recommended: Yes