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Thermapen® Mk4

SKU: Thermapen Mk4
$99.00

5-up: $91.00 ea.

Rated #1 by Cook's Illustrated

Read the review

Choose Thermapen color before adding to cart
  • 2-3 second readings!
  • High accuracy to ±0.7°F (±0.4°C)
  • Foldaway thermocouple probe
  • Patented auto-rotating display
  • Use in either hand
  • Motion-sensing sleep & wake mode
  • Intelligent backlight
  • Waterproof to IP67
  • 3,000 hour battery life (AAA Battery)
  • 10 colors
  • Display temps in °C or °F

With full readings in only 2 to 3 seconds, the Super-Fast® Thermapen is the world’s best in speed and accuracy. Advanced technology makes the new Thermapen Mk4 even more intuitive than previous models. Hold it in any direction and the display automatically rotates right-side-up so you can read it in any position—in either hand, straight up or down; read temperatures without cocking your head.

  • The Mk4 knows when it’s dark and turns on the backlight for you, making it easy to read at dusk or in complete darkness with maximum battery life. Or, just touch the sensor window anytime with your finger and the display lights up. Leave the probe open and the Mk4 stays on while you use it. Set it down, and Sleep Mode saves battery power. Pick the Mk4 up, and it turns on again instantly. Close the probe when you’re done cooking and the unit stays off for storage. High-tech, intuitive, fast and accurate.

    Patented Auto-Rotating Display

    Auto-Rotating display intuitively flips right side up in either hand, any position.

    Intelligent Backlight

    Backlight activates automatically in low light conditions or turns on any time with the touch of a finger on the sensor window.

    Waterproof to IP67

    Increased water resistance. Now waterproof.

    Motion-Sensing Sleep & Wake Mode

    Always on during use. Sleeps when set down. Wakes when picked up.

    Personalization

    Inside the battery compartment you can lock the display position, disable sleep mode, set °C or °F, 1° or 1.0° resolution.

    Longer Battery Life

    Up to 3,000 hours with common AAA battery.

    Still Super-Fast® and Accurate

    Same speed and performance, and still NO buttons!

  • Specifications
    Range-58.0 to 572.0°F (-49.9 to 299.9°C)
    Accuracy±0.7°F (±0.4°C) from -58 to 392°F (-49.9 to 199.9°C) otherwise ±1.8°F (±1.0°C)
    ResolutionFactory set to 1° (user reconfigurable to 0.1°)
    Response Time2-3 seconds (reads to within 1°F of final temperature of an ice bath in 3 seconds)
    Probe4.3 L inches, High Performance Type K Thermocouple
    Display1 H x 1.54 W inches (25 H x 39 W mm) LCD,� rotates 360°, Intelligent Backlight
    Sleep ModePreset to 30 seconds. User selectable 10 to 180 seconds, �(user reconfigurable to disable)
    Water ResistanceIP 66/67*
    Environmental Range-4 to 122°F (-20 to 50°C)
    Battery1.5 volt AAA, 3,000 hours typical (without backlight)
    Dimensions1.97 H x 6.2 W x 0.75 D inches (50 H x 157 W x 19 D mm)
    Weight0.26 lbs (120g)
    CertificateIncludes NIST-Traceable calibration certificate

    *Protected from dust and immersion in water to 39” depth for up to 30 minutes. The probe should not be rotated while the body is submerged or under a stream of water. Not dishwasher safe.

  • Visit our Help Center For more information and troubleshooting tips.

    Downloads

    Download Thermapen Mk4 Operating Instructions

    Download Thermapen Mk4 Product Info Sheet

    Download Thermapen Mk4 Trim Adjust Procedure

    Complimentary Guidebook with every Thermapen Purchase

    Order a Thermapen today and we'll throw in a copy of our new 20 page guidebook: "Using Your Thermapen: A Guide to Better Food Through the Proper Use and Care of Your Thermapen" at no extra charge. The guide features basic cooking temperature principles, step-by-step instructions for customizing and cleaning your Thermapen, special considerations for getting just the right doneness with meat, poultry and fish, QuickTips, Frequently Asked Questions, diagrams, and more. Plus, there's a handy chart of food safety and chef-recommended temperatures on the back!

    If you own a Thermapen and don't have a guidebook but would like one, Request a guidebook to have one mailed to you.

    Available in Multiple Colors

    Originally, we manufactured the Thermapen in gray only. Later we added all the food-safety color-coding versions. Many people in the food industry use color coding to prevent cross contamination by dedicating tools to specific food products. That way, a knife, cutting board or thermometer that is used for say, raw poultry, won't end up contaminating fresh vegetables like salad greens.

    That was the reason we did multiple colors for the Thermapen. Of course most people buy a color variety simply according to personal preference. Even in commercial applications it seems most people buy colors so they can quickly tell who belongs to which Thermapen (blue is Fred's, yellow is Cathy's, etc…)

    In 2006 we added black and orange which weren't even on the color coding system. If you have a color preference that we don't make yet, email us and we'll keep track of your vote.

    Standard Color Code:

    Red = raw meat, raw beef and pork.

    Blue = raw seafood

    Yellow = raw poultry

    Green = produce

    White = dairy or bakery items

     

     

    Thermapen Mk4 FAQ

    1. Where can I buy the Thermapen?

    You can buy it right here online. There are only a few authorized dealers, (watch out for counterfeit Thermapen look-alikes). There are a few retail outlets in the U.S. and Canada that stock the Thermapen.

    2. Why don't more retail outlets carry it?

    Most retailers want to more than double their money. The big name chains want the most. If a product costs them $4, they want to charge you $10. The Thermapen is already priced at "Trade Pricing". Meaning, this is the price we sell it to commercial food service users and health departments. And, we offer it to the general public at the same price. Big retail chains would have to charge you much, much more and they'd still be mad that we would take your order at a lower price. The retailers that do carry the Thermapen are not making their normal mark-up so thank them if you buy there!

    3. Where can I buy replacement batteries?

    The Thermapen Mk4 uses one AAA battery, which are commonly found at Wal-Mart, Target, and other stores.

    4. How long should the battery last?

    The new Thermapen Mk4 with one AAA battery should give you about 3,000 hours of use. This number is based without using the back light. If you grill a lot at night the number will be reduced.

    5. Will the Thermapen tell me when my meat is done?

    Not exactly. Instead it (very quickly) tells you the actual temperature and you decide if that is "done". We can give you the USDA guidelines for food safety but you should consult your favorite cookbooks, TV shows and recipes for advice not only on safe temperatures but the best cooking temperatures for flavor and texture. Also remember that individual preference is very important.

    6. Other digital cooking thermometers are cheaper. Why pay more for a Thermapen?

    In use there's a big difference. Don't take our word for it. Check our Reviews page to read the many reasons written by others. Cheaper thermometers are limited by the technology that they use. These can be mass produced for just a few dollars. On the other hand, the Thermapen is hand-assembled and hand-tested and uses a professional thermocouple circuit design. This design costs more to make than the cheap thermometers.

    7. Why is the Thermapen so much faster than other cooking thermometers?

    The main reason is the professional thermocouple technology that we use instead of mass-produced thermistor technology. Thermocouples are recommended by the USDA for measurement of cooked meat products and thin portions. Go here to see what a thermocouple means in performance vs. a thermistor. We also use a reduced-diameter needle tip on the probe. Comparable professional meters cost $140 to $300 for the electronics and a similar probe! Some improvements were made in the sensor manufacturing process and the probe assembly in the new Thermapen Mk4 to make it just slightly faster than the original Super-Fast® Thermapen.

  • Don't take our word for it. Thermapen Reviews.

    Independent Recommendations.

    See how others review the Thermapen in books, magazines, product reviews, forums and blogs. The Thermapen has got to be the most written-about thermometer since Gabriel Fahrenheit first published a description of his thermometer. So, why knock ourselves out to write glowing sales copy on the Thermapen when all these well-qualified cooking experts can give you an opinion you're more likely to believe?

    TELEVISION

    JoAnne Weir Essentials

    "Joanne's Top Ten Favorite Tools"

    Alton Brown's Good Eats

    The ultimate "science-guy-chef". If you've been a fan of Alton Brown you've seen the Thermapen in many episodes of "Good Eats". Here's what Alton says in his "GEAR" book: “The best instant-read I’ve used.” (pg. 166) “The thermometer I use most is the Thermapen by ThermoWorks, and, no, I’m not paid to say that. …edges out other (cheaper) digitals… …faster than any other model… My Thermapen can take a clear internal reading on a wafer-thin piece of sole; cheaper models are very unsure of themselves if the food is less than 1 inch thick.” (pg. 167)

    In addition to Good Eats, Alton Brown also appears as the host of Iron Chef America and Feasting on Waves at the Food Network.

    Check Alton's website for his appearance schedule or foodnetwork.com for your local TV schedule for "Good Eats".

    www.altonbrown.com

    CBS Early Show

    Shares Tips on Preparing “The Perfect Steak”

    Chris Kimball shares his views on selecting the best cut of meat, how to cook it to perfection, and adds a few recipes that we’re sure you’ll love from his TV spot on CBS’s The Early Show. Check out the video.

    Chris Kimball on CBS's The Early Show

    America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country (PBS)

    Both programs are produced by the publishers of Cook’s Illustrated. We heartily recommend both shows. They frequently demonstrate the correct use of a thermometer in cooking.

    ONLINE

    Grilling With Rich

    The new Thermapen Mk4 can almost read your mind, let alone check the temperature of your food.

    www.grillingwithrich.com/

    Virtual Weber Bullet

    "There is no better instant-read thermometer than the Thermapen. While other "instant-read" thermometers take 20-30 seconds to reach a full reading, the Thermapen is done in just 4 seconds! ...Can be recalibrated or repaired if damaged. ...worth every penny."

    www.virtualweberbullet.com/resources.html

    Apartment Therapy

    “Called the ‘Rolls Royce’ of thermometers…  …the last one you’ll ever need…”

    www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/cooking/...

    The Kitchn

    "So, what is a Thermapen and why is it so great? Unlike cheaper, more traditional thermometers (which use thermistor sensors) the Thermapen uses what's called a thermocouple sensor. These are used in professional kitchens and other places where getting faster, more accurate temperature readouts is very important "

    http://www.thekitchn.com/a-93-thermometer-why-we-love-t-144840

    BOOKS

    Still not convinced? Read what these well-known authors have to say (these guys have actually been on TV). These opinions are now found in the Library of Congress, not just the internet. By the way, these are all must-have books for your own kitchen library.

    Alton Brown’s GEAR For Your Kitchen by Alton Brown, Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2003

    “The best instant-read I’ve used.” (pg. 166)

    “The thermometer I use most is the Thermapen by ThermoWorks, and, no, I’m not paid to say that. …edges out other (cheaper) digitals… …faster than any other model… My Thermapen can take a clear internal reading on a wafer-thin piece of sole; cheaper models are very unsure of themselves if the food is less than 1 inch thick.” (pg. 167)

    Dr. BBQ’s “Barbecue All Year Long!” Cookbook by Ray Lampe, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2006

    “Another temperature-taking tool that I have become really attached to is the Thermapen, made by a company named ThermoWorks. This thing is the ultimate hand-held food thermometer. …truly accurate. …well worth it.” (pg. 11)

    “My all-time favorite is the Thermapen from ThermoWorks. These things are the greatest. …you’ll love it.” (pg. 274)

    The New Cooks’ Catalogue, The Definitive Guide to Cooking Equipment by Burt Wolf, Emily Aronson, and Florence Fabricant, Alfred A. Knopf, 2000

    “…one of the most capable tools for home thermometry. Use it to measure the internal temperature of just about anything--… Another notable feature: every Thermapen comes with a hand-signed and dated certificate of calibration to ensure that each one leaves the factory in mint condition.” (pg. 14)

    Chocolate Chocolate by Lisa Yockelson, Wiley, 2005

    “The Thermapen Digital Thermometer is an elegant tool…” (pg. 66)

    A Guy’s Guide to Great Eating by Don Mauer, Houghton Mifflin, 1999

    “The best of the best…” (Back Matter)

    The Cook’s Illustrated Guide to Grilling and Barbecue by the Editors of Cook’s Illustrated, America’s Test Kitchen, 2005

    The Yellow Farmhouse Cookbook by Christopher Kimball, Little, Brown & Company, 2006



    Baking for all Occasions by Flo Braker: Chronicle Books, 2008

    “When I'm baking, an instant-read analog or digital thermometer is always within easy reach… I prefer a digital thermometer that gives me an instant readout so I don't overbake or overwarm. If you bake often, you may want to invest in the professional Super-Fast Thermapen instant-read thermometer, which gauges temperatures (from -58 to 572 degrees F) in just 4 seconds.” (page 40)



    The Bread Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum: W.W. Norton & Company, 2003

    “A quality probe thermometer is ideal for taking the temperature of raw dough, baked breads, and myriad other items. The one I find most reliable is the English battery-operated Thermapen…thermometer with a range of

    -50°F to 550°F…” (page 579)



    The Best Slow & Easy Recipes by the Editors of Cook's Illustrated: America's Test Kitchen, 2008

    “In the test kitchen, we always use an instant-read thermometer to determine when meat is optimally cooked. (We also use it to check the temperature of bread, caramel sauce, and candy, and to the test the temperature of oil when frying.) Our favorite instant-read thermometer is the ThermoWorks Super-Fast Thermapen, a test-kitchen workhorse that quickly provides accurate readings across a broad range of temperatures… The ThermoWorks Super-Fast Thermapen is fast, accurate, and easy to use.” (page 73)



    Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller, Sabastien Rouxel, 2012

    "The Thermapen is an excellent instant-read thermometer that reads high temperatures. It's our thermometer of choice and what we recommend." (page 345)



    MAGAZINES

    Chile Pepper: "Tech Toys" March, 2010

    "If you're looking for a surefire way to check the temperature of any spicy meat, turn to the granddaddy of all thermometers - ThermoWorks' Thermapen..." (page 20)



    Entertaining Magazine: "Classic Pinapple-Glazed Ham," May, 2010

    "Years back, we tested a handful of the most promising, and the Thermapen, produced by ThermoWorks, easily bested the rest for its speed and accuracy." (page 18)



    Fast Company: "Tools of My Trade" by Alton Brown, October 2010

    "'I'm a stickler on temp control,' says Brown, who relies on the Thermapen, a high-tech thermometer with a giant retractable needle. 'It's superfast and highly, highly accurate.'" (page 96)



    Taste of Home Collector's Edition, "Stuff We Love!" December 2010

    "TOH Food Editor Pat Schmeling swears by the Thermapen. 'This is the best instant-read thermometer I've ever used,' she says. 'It takes away all doubt of whether or not the food is fully cooked. It's made me a better cook.' She likes it so much she bought one for all of her kids for Christmas…" (page 14)



    Esquire Magazine Best of 2010: "The Alternative Guide to Holiday Roasting" by Francine Maroukian, December, 2010

    "Test the internal temperature with an instant-read meat thermometer, preferably with a large, digital readout, like the superlative Super-Fast Thermapen (three to four seconds and accurate to within 1 degree…)" (page 50)



    Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen: Holiday Cookies, December, 2010

    "Sight, touch, and instinct are age-old ways to gauge when food is done, but for consistent results, none is as reliable as taking the food's internal temperature… The test kitchen's go-to thermometer for any task is the ThermoWorks Super-Fast Thermapen…" (page 15)



    Make Magazine, "Toolbox," Volume 26, May 2011

    "The tiny thermocouple sensor in the tip means that not only are the readings super-fast (about 3 seconds), you can check temperatures of even the thinnest of foodstuffs. Plus, the company's customer service is great…" (page 159)



    GQ: "There's No Such Thing as 'Just a Dash'," July, 2011

    "...buy a thermometer (we like the simple Thermapen)..." (page 62)



    Shape: "Sizzling Hot Tools," August, 2011

    "Neither spilled barbecue sauce nor spray from your kid's cannonball can thwart the ThermoWorks Splash-Proof, Super-Fast Thermapen, which gauges the internal temperature of your meat in just three seconds." (page 133)



    Food Safety Magazine: "Professional Thermocouple," February/March, 2012

    "Each thermocouple is traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology and includes a certificate of calibration with actual test dates." (page 62)



    Today's Parent: In the Kitchen - What's Cookin', March, 2012

    "This pro-chef fave is accurate even with thin, delicate fish." (page 134)



    Fine Cooking: In the Kitchen: Bruce's Must-Have Grill Tools, June/July, 2012

    "My ThermoWorks instant-read thermometer has taken a lot of abuse. It's designed more for a commercial kitchen than a home kitchen; I've dropped mine and gotten it wet, and it still gives me an accurate reading quickly." (page 34)



    Sunset: Meat Master Bruce Aidells shows you how to grill a Thanksgiving Bird, November, 2012

    "The fastest and most accurate is the Super-Fast Thermapen.." (page 90)



    Family Circle: What's Cooking, November, 2012

    "...the right stuff to create a memorable meal" (page 145)



    Saveur: Essential Equipment, June/July, 2011

    "Injected like a needle into the meat, the [Thermapen] takes an extremely accurate and quick temperature" (page 100)



Ratings & Reviews