98 Using Your Thermapen Your Thermapen - A Guide to Better Food
record what is happening with your Thermapen. Keep in mind
that each type of meat or combination of ingredients will respond
to heat in different ways and be 'done' at different temperatures.
The table on the back cover of this guidebook gives basic
recommendations for different types of meat using common
terms like 'medium rare' or 'well done', but these are just
guidelines. The important thing is to start learning what the
temperatures are for your favourite foods when they are just
the way you like them.
Measuring Temperatures with
your Thermapen
There are no buttons on your Thermapen. It simply turns itself on
when you extend the probe* and shuts off when you close the
probe back against the Thermapen housing. There is also an
auto-off feature that turns the Thermapen off after 10 minutes of
continuous use to preserve battery power**.
Your Thermapen has a micro-thermocouple located at the very
tip of its probe shaft. A thermocouple is a pair of two heat-
sensitive wires that produce a voltage related to temperature
difference. This technology is typically found only in professional-
grade thermometers and is what sets your Thermapen apart
from other digital 'instant read' thermometers.
Because the micro-thermocouple is so small, your Thermapen
need only be inserted at least 3 mm to
get an accurate reading. Other cooking
thermometers may need 13 mm or more
of immersion.
To take a temperature reading with your
Thermapen, penetrate the food you are
checking with the probe and place the
very tip of the probe where you want
to measure. When testing doneness in most foods, the coldest
part will be the very centre of the thickest portion. With larger
foods, you can take quick readings with your Thermapen
in several locations to verify that the entire portion is done.
If you are chilling a food, the centre of the thickest part will be the
last to cool.
* The probe’s rotating hub can be a little tight at first but will loosen with use.
The probe extends to 180°, but be careful not to force it further.
** This feature can be disabled (see 'Customising your Thermapen' on
page 21).
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