The Habor Instant Read Thermometer is Inexpensive and Easy to use

We purchased the Habor Instant Read Thermometer so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

Searching for the perfect thermometer for cooking and grilling? Look no further than the Habor Meat Thermometer. The simple tool is ultra-affordable and can read temperatures -58° to 572° F in a matter of seconds. The thermometer also has a long, 4.7-inch probe which protects your hands from heat while you check in on your food. Keep reading for our full assessment of the thermometer’s performance, design, competition, and more. 

Setup Process: It’ll take two seconds

The Habor Meat Thermometer comes ready to go. All you have to do is pull out the battery insulation film, wipe the probe down with a damp cloth, and you’re all set. When it’s time to change the AG13 (or LR44) battery (don’t worry, you’ll get two years out of the one that comes included) the cover easily detaches for a seamless replacement.

Performance: Perfectly accurate

Before we used the Habor thermometer on our food, we wanted to test that it gave an accurate reading. To do this, we placed the probe in a pot of boiling water and were pleased when it read 212° F, exactly as it should. 

Once we knew the Habor was to be trusted, we used it to gauge the process of pan-seared steak and some chicken we were preparing for a salad. The thermometer doesn’t have an included guide with proper temperatures like other models we’ve used, but this info was simple enough to look up and knew to remove the steak at 130° F for medium-rare doneness and the chicken at 165° F. The probe’s tip is thin, so it barely left a mark in our meat while giving us an accurate temperature reading within a few seconds.

Design: Simple and easy to use

The Habor Meat Thermometer is designed with simplicity and quick results in mind. Its probe is 4.7 inches long, making it easy to reach the center of a turkey or ham. We found that the length was also useful in keeping our hands a safe distance from the heat source. 

The thermometer has just two buttons: one to turn it on/off and one which allows you to switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit readings. If you forget to turn the thermometer off after use, it will automatically shut itself off after 10 minutes so you don’t have to worry about killing the battery. 

While the design is super simple, the Habor does come with one extra: a sheath that slides over the probe. The sheath is handy when storing the device and it also has a hook so you can attach it to your apron or pocket for easy access while cooking. The thermometer’s probe doesn’t fold, so it will take up a little more room in your drawer, but it’s rather thin, so you won’t be sacrificing much space. 

We found just one small issue with the thermometer’s design—the display isn’t backlit. If you’re grilling at night or taking a temperature in a dark oven, you may find it difficult to read the numbers. 

Cleaning: Couldn’t be easier

Cleaning the Habor thermometer is an easy task. After reading the temperature of our steak and chicken breast, we simply used a bit of dish soap and hot water to make sure the probe was cleaned properly. The thermometer isn’t waterproof, so you just have to be careful to only wet the probe—not the digital screen. If you get food on the buttons, we’d recommend using a damp cloth to wipe them clean.

Price: A great deal

With an MSRP of $10.99, this thermometer delivers great performance at a low price. Habor’s wide temperature range and level of accuracy puts it on par with competitors in the $10 to $20 range. 

Competition: More sophisticated options available

Alpha Grillers Instant Read Meat Thermometer: If you’re looking for a thermometer that’s a little more heavy duty and you’re willing to spend a smidge more, check out Alpha Grillers’ $18 offering. The instant read thermometer comes with a backlit display, a 4.5-inch probe, and it measures temperatures a bit faster than the Habor. To top it all off? This model is waterproof so you can leave it attached to your grill if you’ll primarily be using it outside. 

Taylor Splash-Proof Infrared Thermometer: If you’re a wannabe chef or you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this is the thermometer for you. The Taylor Precision Products thermometer can measure temperatures in two different ways. First, it measures internal temperatures with a retractable probe; then, it measures surface temperatures (like oil in a pan) with an infrared light. This thermometer also features icons that will light up when an item is at a cold/hot enough holding temperature and when an item isn’t at a correct serving temperature. Of course, more features equate to a higher price and this thermometer doesn’t come cheap with an MSRP of $99.99.