How is a probe thermometer calibrated

If you have a bimetal thermometer, look for a calibration nut beneath the display dial. You may need a wrench or pliers to turn the nut. To calibrate a digital thermometer, look for the reset button. If the thermometer does not have a reset button, you may not be able to calibrate it.

Check the instructions that came with the product for details. Some liquid-filled thermometers can be calibrated by moving the thermometer stem inside the holder. Check the product instructions for more information. A calibrated food thermometer is vital to your ability to prepare and serve safe food.

Make sure to test your thermometer often to make sure it stays accurate. The exact calibration schedule depends on the type of thermometer you use and how you use it. The following are some guidelines for when you should recalibrate your thermometers.

Now you know how to calibrate a thermometer! For more food safety tips, check out our food handler training. Toggle navigation search. Log In. Download Our Resources!

A properly calibrated meat thermometer is key for achieving both meat safety and quality. When considering meat safety, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service states that the only way to accurately measure if a product is cooked to a safe temperature is to use a food thermometer.

Use of a properly calibrated thermometer is also key to determining if products, such as steaks and chops, are cooked to your preferred degree of doneness. A three-day, virtual event celebrating local food production and use in South Dakota, SDLFC invites all supporters of local food to attend and discuss presentations on specialty crop production, industry challenges, new technologies and opportunities.

Thermometer accuracy can be affected by extreme temperature changes, like going from extremely hot food to cold food, or by being dropped or roughly handled. And if you're using your thermometer frequently, you may want to check it monthly just to make sure it's performing at its best. Luckily, you can test the accuracy of your thermometer and, in most cases, calibrate it to read accurately again.

Many thermometers have a nut under their temperature dial that allows them to be adjusted, while most digital models have a reset button. In rare cases, thermometers can't be calibrated. In this case, you can note the degree of inaccuracy and adjust your cooking temperature accordingly. Or, in seeing that your thermometer is inaccurate, you could buy a new one.

There are two methods for testing the accuracy of your thermometer and calibrating accordingly: You can calibrate it in extremely high temperatures or using extremely cold temperatures.

Fill a large glass with ice and then fill it with cold tap water. Stir the ice water and let it sit for 3 minutes. Place your thermometer in the ice water, making sure to stick the probe at least 2 inches into the mixture, but not to touch the sides or the bottom of the glass.