Use your instant read thermometer for more than just meat

If you have an instant read thermometer, there’s a high likelihood that you purchased for its speed and accuracy when measuring the temperature of large cuts of meat like steaks, whole chicken, roasts, and chops. However, the uses for this nifty device don’t end there, as The Washington Post explains. It’s also handy for many other foods, too. 

Delicate items lke fish and seafood also benefit from the kind of precision cooking that instant read thermometers make easy. Banish rubbery scallops or overcooked cod. Baked goods like breads, cakes, muffins and cheesecake also have target temperatures that can help you determine when they are truly ready. 

Custards and other egg-based dishes like quiche benefit from being cooked within a temperature range of 165 to 180 degrees to avoid curdling. The WaPo article provides a handy guide to temperatures for various items that you can save for future reference. Using an instant read thermometer really takes the guesswork out of items with vague instructions like “until almost set” or things that you can’t judge solely by outward appearance, like gooey brownies.