Test Kitchen tips: calibrating your thermometer

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Whether you use it to tell when a roast is done or to make sure that the frying oil heats to just the right temperature, a dial (instant-read) or digital thermometer eliminates part of the guesswork for the cook. With Donna Deane’s Hungarian pepper salad recipe this week (from ‘Hungarian peppers: a walk on the lighter side,’ by Donna Deane and Jenn Garbee), a thermometer might come in handy as you make sure that your chicken cooks to (safe) perfection before incorporating it into this colorful salad.

Indispensable as it may be, a thermometer is only as good as its accuracy. Calibration is key. Here are some quick tips to keep your thermometer on target:

For dial, or instant-read, thermometers:

• Calibrate the thermometer before it is first used, when it’s dropped and once a month (especially if it’s stored in a drawer where it might get jostled).
• To calibrate using ice water, place the thermometer stem in a bowl or glass of ice water, careful that the sensor (the tiny dimple along the side) is completely submerged. Let it sit for a few minutes, then read the dial. It should register at about 32 degrees. If it doesn’t, use a wrench (or the stem case -- many have adjusters built in) to hold the hex screw behind the dial firmly, then twist the dial until it registers the proper temperature.
• To calibrate using boiling water, place the thermometer stem in a saucepan of boiling water, careful that the sensor (dimple) is completely submerged. Let it sit for a minute or so, then read the dial -- it should register at about 212 degrees. If not, use a wrench (or the stem case -- many have adjusters built in) to hold the hex screw behind the dial firmly, then twist the dial until it registers the proper temperature. Remember that the boiling point of water decreases as elevation increases (about 2 degrees for every 1000 feet).

For digital thermometers:

• Test every six months or so (depending on frequency of use) to make sure that the thermometer works properly, using either the ice water or boiling water method.
• Many digital thermometers have reset buttons. If the accuracy is off, adjust the thermometer to the proper temperature using this button.
• Many digital thermometers have detachable probes attached by wire to the main body. These probes are relatively inexpensive to replace, and can be found at most cooking supply stores.
• Replace the batteries as needed.

-- Noelle Carter