Can You Use A Meat Thermometer For Oil? Answered

Last Updated on July 15, 2024 by Shari Mason

Got a meat thermometer and need to check oil temperature? Great news—**it works for oil too**!

Knowing the oil’s temperature is crucial, especially if you’re deep frying a thick size of meat and serving it with raw insides is the least that you want to happen, right?

So grab that meat thermometer as we answer your question – can you use a meat thermometer for oil?

Can Meat Thermometer Be Used for Oil?

Yes, a meat thermometer can be used for oil. Even though it’s called a “meat thermometer,” this kind of thermometer can be used to estimate almost anything accurately.

Most of the meat thermometers you can buy today can handle high temperatures. If you don’t have a frying thermometer, you can use a meat thermometer to track the oil temperature. 

But oil gets to a much higher temperature than meat, so if you want to use a meat thermometer to measure the temperature of oil, it needs to be very resistant to heat.

Read:

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• Can You Use A Meat Thermometer To Measure Oven Temperature?
• Thermopro Vs. Thermoworks

How To Use It 

To use a meat thermometer for oil, insert your meat thermometer into the center of your pan or pot of oil and wait about 30 seconds until its readout reaches 212°F (100 °C). 

Before using the meat thermometer to oil, ensure that it is working. To check it, dip the meat thermometer into ice-cold water; if it reads 32° F (0° C), it works.

Read: How To Heal Oil To 350 Without A Thermometer?

Is Meat Thermometer Accurate For Checking Oil Temperature? 

Yes, a meat thermometer is accurate for checking oil temperature. However, since it is designed for checking meat’s temperature, its structure might not take too much temperature from oil. [1] 

You should opt for other thermometers to check the highest oil temperature. A meat thermometer limit is up to 200° F, which is lower than other thermometers.

Read: Thermopro Vs. Thermoworks

Is There a Special Thermometer For Oil? 

Yes, Fry Oil Thermometer is the appropriate thermometer for measuring oil temperature. Its structure can tolerate high temperatures up to 500° F.

If you dont have a fry oil thermometer, you can use Candy Thermometer to measure oil heat. It has the same heat range as the fry oil thermometer.

Other Types of Thermometers That Can be Used For Oil 

If a meat thermometer doesn’t work for measuring oil temp, other types of temperature can be used for oil.

Some of them are candy thermometers, deep fry thermometers, all-purpose thermometers, and wax thermometers.

“Cooking requires confident guesswork and improvisation—experimentation and substitution, dealing with failure and uncertainty in a creative way.”

– Paul Theroux, American Travel Writer

Candy and deep oil thermometers usually come combined. They are made of high-quality glass and metal that can handle up to 500° F.

A wax thermometer is also good for measuring oil because it has a high heating range. But ensure to clean it first before dipping it in oil.

Can Meat Thermometer Be Used For Other Things? 

Yes, a meat thermometer can be used for other things like measuring the temperature of milk, water, or soup. 

Although a liquid-in-glass thermometer is best, a meat thermometer is a great option.

Liquid thermometers measure in celsius, and because some cooks prefer liquid temperatures in Fahrenheit, a meat thermometer is ideal for them. [2] 

Tips & Tricks When Using Meat Thermometer for Oil 

• Ensure that you have read the manual and precautions before using a meat thermometer to oil.
• Make sure the meat thermometer is clean.
• Use a meat thermometer with a long probe.
• Avoid touching the side of the pan with your hand (or any other part of your body), as this can cause an inaccurate reading from time to time.

FAQs

Final Verdict

A meat thermometer can be used for oil, but on a limited temperature only of up to 200° F. If you need a higher oil temperature, a candy thermometer is a great option for measuring oil temperature because of its wide range capacity.

A wax thermometer can also be used, but clean it first. Also, an all-purpose thermometer has a higher heat capacity.

References: 

1. https://web.uri.edu/foodsafety/kitchen-thermometers/ 
2. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/thermometer