Infrared Thermometers

Touchless Temperature Measurements With Infrared Thermometers

Infrared thermometers measure the surface temperatures of foods, liquids, and appliances without touching them. Using an infrared thermometer for cooking minimizes the cross-contamination risk. A probe inserted into a cut of meat can compromise food safety unless you thoroughly disinfect the thermometer each time you use it.

Laser thermometers provide a more sanitary, faster, and easier way of reading temperatures from a distance. Rather than contacting the food or hooking the thermometer to your equipment, you can scan them with a non-contact thermometer. Memory function and backlit display are also some additional features of infrared thermometers. You should attend to the following points when choosing your touchless thermometer.

• Temperature Range: Check the minimum and maximum temperatures the thermometer can show. You might need a wider range, like -70°F to 600°F, if you often measure very cold and hot items.
• Distance-to-Spot Ratio: D:S ratio refers to the specific area an infrared thermometer measures relative to the distance. For instance, an 8:1 ratio means the device can read a 1-inch circle accurately from 8 inches or a 4-inch spot from 32 inches. A higher-ratio touchless thermometer can read the temperature of smaller areas from a farther distance.
• Probe: A common disadvantage of infrared thermometers is that they can only measure surface temperatures. When cooking a large cut of meat, you will also want to get the internal temperature to cook it to perfect doneness. Some no-touch thermometers come with a folding probe for dual use.

You may also wish to see our extensive portfolio of restaurant and food thermometers and other smallwares that will enhance the work efficiency in your commercial kitchen.