Why I Love My Instant-Read Thermometer + GIVEAWAY!
UPDATE: The winners of the Thermapens are:
WINNER #1 – Kate Liddy: “I would love to use it for beef tenderloin. We cook it every Christmas Eve using the rotisserie attachment for our Webber grill. It is so hard to make sure we pull it off at the right time. This year, all I kept saying was that I wished we had a Thermapen! We want to make it again this year for my mom’s birthday (in March!) and I would love to use this to make sure we get it right this time- it was a tish over cooked on Christmas Eve!”
WINNER #2: Molly – “I have never tackled homemade marshmallows so I would love a thermometer to help me be precise in making them!”
Congratulations, Kate and Molly! Be sure to reply to the email you’ve been sent, and your new Thermapens will be shipped out to you!
When I talk about my essential kitchen tools or put together a gift guide for foodies, there are a few items that will always, always show up, and one of those is my instant-read thermometer.
I started to enjoy baking when I was a young teenager, but kept to mostly simple recipes (chocolate chip scones, pecan pie bars, and peanut butter-chocolate chip cookie bars were my go-to’s) until I was in my mid-20s. At that point in time, I really wanted to start flexing my baking muscle and I joined a couple of monthly baking challenges via online forums (blogs weren’t quite what they are today!).
As I tackled one challenge after another, there were certain times that the use of an instant-read thermometer would be very helpful. For example:
- Knowing the temperature of the water was exactly what it needed to be before adding yeast;
- Checking the temperature of the inside of a loaf of bread to know if it was done *perfectly*;
- Double-checking that the pulled pork has reached that all-important falling-apart-tender temperature;
- Making sure your Thanksgiving turkey is not over- or underdone;
- Ensuring that those homemade marshmallows turn out puffy and light;
- Confirming that your eye test on the salted caramel sauce is right on;
- Getting the perfect creamy consistency for your creme brûlée;
- … and SO MUCH MORE.
Back when I was first starting to tackle more advanced recipes, I pined for a Thermapen. They were the highest-rated thermometer on Cook’s Illustrated and I could not WAIT to get one. I used birthday money one year and splurged on it, and I have never looked back. It ranks up there as one of the best workhorses of my kitchen.
(P.S. ThermoWorks, the company that makes the Thermapen, has this amazingly helpful temperature chart for everything from meats and poultries, dough, butter, and candy – absolutely perfect for printing and laminating to keep in your kitchen!)
I literally use my Thermapen on an almost-daily basis, and cannot wait to get one in your hands!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Two (2) winners will receive a Thermapen MK4 ($99 value)
HOW TO ENTER
Leave a comment on this blog post telling me the recipe you would be most excited to use an instant-read thermometer for!
A winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.
THE FINE PRINT
Deadline: Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 11:59pm EST.
Restrictions: Winner must have a shipping address in the U.S. or Canada.
Disclaimer: Giveaway is sponsored by ThermoWorks, but all opinions are my own.
Basically any steak recipe
I would use it when I make my Mom’s pork roast. It is always to good!
I would love a Thermapen to start testing freshly baked bread to ensure they are done. I’ve had many gummy loaves from removing them from the oven too early!
I would use it on my sourdough rolls. Don’t know how long to cook them so I am always guessing.
I would love to win a Thermopen. I would give it to my daughter in law who loves to cook and bake. This is an essential tool for every cook.
I never knew that you could check temp of baked bread to see if done, I just give it a tap. Would love to check temp. Also would be handy to check temp of water/milk before adding yeast.