Your Oven Is Lying to You — Chefs Recommend Using These Tools for the Perfect Roast

If you’ve ever pulled out a holiday roast or cake after the kitchen timer has gone off, only to find that it’s severely underdone inside, you likely understand the frustration (and devastation) of a deceptive oven. All the chefs we spoke to agree that home ovens’ accuracy can’t be trusted. In fact, many can be off “by 25 to 50°F,” according to Melissa Araujo, owner and chef at Alma Cafe in New Orleans, Louisiana. Instead, the best way to roast and bake more accurately is to independently monitor your oven’s heat using an oven thermometer. These pros recommend grabbing an analog oven thermometer, infrared thermometer, or a digital thermometer that can report on both internal and ambient temperatures.

KitchenAid Analog Dial Oven/Appliance Thermometer

According to chef Araujo, factors that lead to inaccurate temperature readings include the location of the oven’s internal sensor, the calibration of the appliance, and its heat distribution. She recommends a simple oven thermometer like the KitchenAid dial thermometer, which she calls a “must-have for anyone looking to ensure accurate cooking temperatures.” Araujo likes that it’s easy to read, durable, and can be placed directly on a rack in different areas of the oven to give accurate measurements. Some models are even more affordable at just $7.

ThermoPro TempSpike Wireless Meat Thermometer

For a digital solution, Araujo appreciates the “dual-purpose functionality” of the ThermoPro TempSpike, which wirelessly measures the internal temperature of foods in addition to monitoring the ambient temperature inside an oven. Now 33% off, this wireless thermometer has a 500-foot range and can be paired with a phone app for streamlined data reporting. The set comes with two separate probes so you can monitor two foods at once. This digital thermometer is also great if you want to “set it and forget it,” says Dennis Littley, a chef of over 40 years. Littley adds that it will “save you from the guessing game” and help you better understand your oven’s quirks in order to adjust your recipes and timing accordingly.

Etekcity Lasergrip 774 Infrared Thermometer

Chef and recipe developer Scott Groth recommends an infrared thermometer like this Etekcity Lasergrip, which is “amazingly accurate” and easy to use. “Just open the door, pull the trigger, and get the reading,” says Groth. He also likes that using an infrared thermometer requires less cleaning and doesn’t sacrifice any oven space compared to an analog thermometer. Plus, this model happens to be an Amazon bestseller, with over 10,000 units purchased in the past month alone.