Digital thermometers stand on the frontline when it comes to ensuring food safety. These reliable, carefully calibrated instruments are essential in providing instantaneous readings in a precise format. Their portability, durability and readiness for use are some of the reasons why they are considered such an efficient tool for tracking the temperature of food and ingredients.
What is a digital thermometer and how is it used in food safety?
At its most basic, a digital thermometers functions are two fold
- Measure the temperature of a given object or item.
- Convert and display that measurement into an easily readable and understood number on a defined scale.
There are many different forms of digital thermometers, each having their own specific application in the world of food safety. Some instruments are designed to measure surface temperature directly, while others are designed to measure internal temperatures of solid and semi-solid media. Both styles of thermometers are readily available at Testo.
Digital thermometers have a wide array of uses in both industrial and commercial settings. In food safety specifically, they are used in situations ranging from production plants and storage facilities, to individual restaurants and food service businesses. It goes without saying that maintaining a safe temperature is vital at every stage of the supply chain when it comes to food. This is why there are so many businesses that utilise these instruments for crucial safety tests on a near constant basis.
Due to these constant uses, the importance of accurate, quickly visible readings cannot be understated. This is one of the major benefits of using a digital thermometer. In order to ensure accuracy, proper use is essential. The best way to ensure your digital thermometer provides accurate readings is by carefully reviewing the instructions that come with the instrument.
The digital thermometer will then provide a signal, such as a fixed temperature operating on a readout screen, indicating the process is complete. Users can record the reading and then take appropriate measures, such as adjusting the temperature at which food or ingredient is being cooked, stored or pasteurised. There are times where the reading is within defined food safety parameters, especially situations where the food is being cooked prior to being served to a customer or is placed in a hot or cold holding area, no further action may be required.
Top Digital thermometers for food safety
Testo offers a wide range of effective solutions across the industry of food production and service. Some of the subsectors of the industry that we offer instruments for include:
- Food production: Including instruments for measuring temperature in pasteurisation, sterilisation and freeze-drying; temperature spot checks and monitoring; and cooking oil quality.
- Bakers and butchers: Including instruments for temperature spot checks and monitoring, as well as pH measurement.
- Supermarkets and retail: Including solutions for all aspects of operations, such as checking the temperature of incoming and stored goods as well as in refrigerators and freezers, stocking fresh goods counters, and for monitoring safety and quality in freshly prepared foods.
- Restaurants and catering: Including instruments for measuring the temperature of incoming and stored goods as well as in food preparation and service.
- Cold chain: Including solutions for maintaining optimal temperature and humidity throughout the cold chain