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Kitchen thermometers
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| In the old days, kitchens had absolutely no sort of technological way of checking temperatures. It was left up to the skill and experience of cooks, who had a traditional expertise which had been handed down from generation to generation, to determine when the oven had reached the right temperature. In today's kitchens, especially professional ones, thermometers are proving to be very helpful tools. |
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A food thermometer can prove to be very useful in today's kitchen, helping cooks to avoid over- or undercooking dishes and thus ensuring full-flavored food. Indeed, every type of food has its own specific ideal cooking temperature. For roast beef, for example, the internal temperature of the roast should be 52-54 °C for rare, 60 °C for medium and 71 °C for well-done cuts. Every type of preparation has its own ideal degree of cooking. Manufacturers have thus come up with different types of thermometers for checking the cooking process of roasted and fried foods and determining the ideal temperature for bringing out all the flavor in wines and cheeses.
You can choose between digital and dial thermometers with metal probes, both very practical because they are utilizable for different functions and are capable of measuring temperatures between 18 e 104 °C.
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Dial thermometers are sold by most kitchen supply and grocery stores. They cover different temperature ranges, which are indicated on a dial situated at the top of a long metal rod. Dial thermometers can stand up to oven temperatures and are perfect for large roasts and fowl. Smaller dial thermometers that allow instant temperature measurement are not made to withstand oven temperatures, serving instead for checking the temperature of foods once the prescribed cooking time has elapsed. They are capable of accurately measuring the temperature in just 5 seconds.
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Digital thermometers (or "thermistors") can be purchased in kitchen-supply stores or larger grocery stores. They feature a small readout screen showing the measured temperature at the top of a long metal rod. Battery operated, like dial thermometers they are capable of measuring the temperature of foods in about 5 seconds. In order to check the temperature once the prescribed cooking time has elapsed, it is necessary to insert them into the food. Located at the tip of the probe, the sensor is perfect for measuring the temperature of thin items, like hamburger patties and chicken breast. These thermometers are not designed to withstand oven temperatures and should not be immersed in water.
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