How to Attach a Digital Thermometer to a Cooking Pan

A digital thermometer that is equipped with a pan clip can be used to measure the temperature of the contents of the pan or the interior of the pan itself. Knowing the interior surface area or content temperature of a cooking pan can help you precisely calculate cooking times or know when a dish is ready to be served. This handy step-by-step guide will show you how to properly prepare and attach a cooking thermometer to the pan.

Step 1 - Test and Calibrate the Cooking Thermometer

Before you attach your cooking thermometer to the cooking pan, you should first ensure that it is properly calibrated and can be used to accurately measure the temperature inside your cooking pan. You can do this in one of two ways.

The first choice is to simply heat a pot of water until it reaches a rolling boil, and then place the temperature probe lead into the pot of boiling water. The temperature should read 212 degree F. As long as the thermometer's temperature reading is within a degree or two of the target temperature, you can consider the thermometer to be accurate.

Secondly, you can place the temperature lead into a bowl of crushed ice and water that has had time to settle. Generally speaking, this method is considered to be more accurate. Therefore, there should be very little difference in the temperature displayed on the thermometer and the 32-degree freezing point temperature.

Step 2 - Choose an Appropriate Cooking Pan

You can attach the cooking thermometer to almost any type of cooking pan when measuring only the contents or oil inside the pan; however, if you want to gauge the temperature of the pan itself, you will need to choose an appropriately sized pan. The most important factor will be the depth of the pan. The pan should be shallow enough so that the temperature lead can reach all the way to the bottom of the pan and make direct contact with the bottom surface.

Step 3 - Attach the Thermometer to the Cooking Pan

Use the supplied clip to attach the thermometer probe to the top edge of the pan where the temperature will be measured.

Step 4 - Choose a Measurement Method

You will then need to choose a method for gauging the temperature inside the pan. You'll need to decide if you simply want to monitor the temperature of the contents or the pan, or if you want to set a target temperature and be made aware of when the contents or pan's interior reach that temperature.

Step 5 - Monitor Temperature or Set Alarm

If you will simply be monitoring the temperature inside the pan, you don't need to do anything extra special, except occasionally check the temperature reading on the thermometer. However, you may want to set an alarm to notify you when the pan's temperature reaches a certain level. To do this, follow the directions that came with your cooking thermometer.