Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Meat thermometer as lab thermormeter substitute

Yttrium2 - 7-2-2023 at 11:01

Remember seeing meat thermometers being used as laboratory thermometers, I did some reading and remember that there were a certain set of parameters that must have been met by the meat thermometers, does anyone know what they may have been? (A certain temp range was all IIRC)

My mom is shopping for one, is there any features that would make it a good repurposed thermometer?

we probably want to avoid the expensive features like the remotes and alarm and stuff,


but input appreciated.

Mateo_swe - 7-2-2023 at 15:15

Why use kitchen stuff?
Get one of these, cost 5Euros or dollars.
You can put the tip in a glass tube (sealed shut in the end with a torch) and fill the tube with silicone or motor oil.
Voila and you have a perfect digital temperature meter for chemical use.

Yttrium2 - 7-2-2023 at 16:06

It's for the kitchen
Versatility appreciated

[Edited on 2/8/2023 by Yttrium2]

j_sum1 - 7-2-2023 at 16:35

Quote: Originally posted by Yttrium2  
It's for the kitchen
Versatility appreciated

[Edited on 2/8/2023 by Yttrium2]

I do not understand.
You said (in the title) that you wanted to use a meat thermometer as a lab thermometer. Now you are saying it is for the kitchen. Which is it?


IMO, a digital thermocouple as described above is the way to go. Cheap. Versatile. Hard to damage. Good range. There really is no downside.
I once did buy a candy thermometer for use in the 100-250C range. I have never used it.

Yttrium2 - 7-2-2023 at 18:01

my mom is looking for a meat thermometer.

recommendations?





That's it.

Yttrium2 - 7-2-2023 at 18:04

P.S. -- I've seen them utilized to probe oil bath temps, and was hoping to generate discourse.


-- I'd like to get one that is versatile that could probe an oil bath, or an ice bath. or maybe even steam.

It is for the kitchen, primarily! Cant have the glass break off in the pork loin, nor its metal react in acid

[Edited on 2/8/2023 by Yttrium2]

Yttrium2 - 7-2-2023 at 18:16

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1  
Quote: Originally posted by Yttrium2  
It's for the kitchen
Versatility appreciated

[Edited on 2/8/2023 by Yttrium2]

I do not understand.
You said (in the title) that you wanted to use a meat thermometer as a lab thermometer. Now you are saying it is for the kitchen. Which is it?


IMO, a digital thermocouple as described above is the way to go. Cheap. Versatile. Hard to damage. Good range. There really is no downside.
I once did buy a candy thermometer for use in the 100-250C range. I have never used it.


dual purpose. admittedly, I was vague.

j_sum1 - 7-2-2023 at 19:28

Dual purpose?

Which leads to the next question...
What the hell are you thinking if you intend to take the thermometer used for Cr(VI) solutions and poke it into your steak?

Sulaiman - 8-2-2023 at 01:06

These under a dollar/pound/euro types work OK but are not very durable
https://shp.ee/v5yju6e

This type is a little more durable
https://shp.ee/8t7e75e

or a generic type-k thermocouple probe
https://shp.ee/knkcqxe
for use with type-k temperature meters as above phpto
https://shp.ee/fwquy4e
One simple probe included - for science.

All of the above could be checked / calibrated vs melting ice and/or boiling water etc for more reliable measurements.


[Edited on 8-2-2023 by Sulaiman]

Mateo_swe - 8-2-2023 at 07:56

Its generally a bad idea to use kitchen stuff used for cooking in chemical experiments.
Even if its just for measuring the temperature in a oilbath.
Its kind of a rule not to mix tools for chemistry and cooking.
Since a very nice digital temperature meter is only 5 dollars why not get one?
A meat thermometer is more expensive and less usable for chemistry.

charley1957 - 8-2-2023 at 08:59

You should change your name to Cheap Beyond All Reason. Don’t mix stuff between the lab and the kitchen. One of the worst ideas I’ve seen, and I don’t know squat about anything.