Most experts at food businesses cook varieties of meat from ham, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, and whatnot. Now, all of these meat types require the various cooking temperature to work with. And, that is where cooking thermometers come to use. Even the ones for medical diagnosis at home need re-calibration regularly.

  1. What do You Mean by Calibrating?

Before we begin this step by step process, it is important to understand what this calibration is after all. Why is it important? Where can we cut some slack to it? Calibration is a process to reset the thermometer so that it gives accurate readings again. For some reasons like below, they start to show wrong readings.

  • Food thermometers can degenerate and get inaccurate with age.
  • The extreme temperature changes between food types also affect them.
  • They also get bruised by accidental drops and mishandling.
  • This is why they need to be calibrated once in a while.

  1. Various Methods to Re-Calibrate

There are two methods that people use widely to calibrate a thermometer whether food or a home thermometer, the methods remain the same. These are known to us by high school science and you can perform them right at home without any special tools.

  • We generally use the freezing point of water as the reset.
  • If you do not have ice cubes, you can always use the boiling point of water.
  • We know they fix on the surface of the earth around the sea level altitude.
  • This science helps us do this thing in a minute right at home.

  1. Using Ice Cold Water

So, first, we want to talk about this cool way to calibrate the thermometer. You need to walk to the refrigerator and get some ice cubes in a glass, and your thermometer in your other hand.

  • Let it sit for some time like a minute or two and stir it with a spoon, it starts to become watery.
  • Stir it again and insert your thermometer into it, take care not to touch the sides or bottom. You just did it in the ice water.
  • The temperature should read 32°F or 0°C.
  • If there is any difference, read it and offset your thermometer appropriately.

  1. Using Boiling Water

This is simply because you may not have a refrigerator at home but surely can manage a Tumblr and Gas. Anything to boil water in is sufficient. Try using drinking water and not tap water which can be hard.

  • Once the water begins to boil, insert your thermometer.
  • Be careful not to touch the bottom or sides of the container.
  • Read the temperature on it and it should read 212°F or 100°C.
  • If there is any difference, record it and reset it. Or remember to offset it when taking your readings.

  1. If You Can’t Recalibrate the Thermometer 

Well, if for some reason you see a discrepancy with the readings that you are taking each time. If they are different or for some reason the thermometer is still not working, try the following:

  • Maybe your battery has run out, so replace it.
  • It is an analog one and does not come with a reset switch, use a marker to mark the new offset.
  • It is giving wrong readings all the time, buy a new one.

TIPS

  • You can reset the analog thermometers by a simple switch, so you some black tape and mark the new reading as the zero reading.
  • With the difference in pressure and altitude, the boiling point might change; use a chart depending on your geographical location.

How do you calibrate a digital thermometer?

What are the two methods for calibrating a thermometer?

There are two common methods for thermometer calibration in food service: the boiling point method and the freezing point method.

How do I know if my thermometer is accurate?

Insert the thermometer stem at least an inch deep in the ice water without letting the stem touch the glass. Wait for the thermometer to register; this usually takes a minute or less. The thermometer is accurate if it registers 32° F or 0° C.

How do you calibrate a thermometer to ensure accurate readings?

Bring water to a rolling boil in a deep saucepan. Place the stem of the thermometer in the boiling water. Again, make sure that it’s submerged at least 2 inches and wait at least 30 seconds. Your thermometer should read 212°F or 100°C.

How do you calibrate a FireBoard thermometer?

Each FireBoard is calibrated at our lab before it ships.

Adjusting for Error

  1. Open the FireBoard App.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap your FireBoard.
  4. Tap Advanced Settings.
  5. Tap Probe Configuration. Each channel can be configured for an offset, with respect to the degree type currently selected (Celsius or Fahrenheit).

Why do you need to calibrate a thermometer?

It is necessary to calibrate a thermometer to assure accurate readings, as the accuracy of a thermometer can drift over time. Exposure of the handle to the extreme temperature can cause the thermometer to drift. Exposure of the thermometer handle to extremely high temperatures can also cause the thermometer to drift.

Can thermometers be calibrated?

Thermometers should be calibrated regularly to make sure the readings are correct. The ice-point method is the most widely used method to calibrate a thermometer.

How often do thermometers need to be calibrated?

Thermometer basics:

Thermometers used frequently must be calibrated frequently (weekly or monthly). Follow manufacturer’s instructions for taking temperatures. Always calibrate a new thermometer, one that has been dropped on a hard surface, or one with a temperature reading that is off by more than +/- 2°F (+/-0.5°C).

How do I calibrate my Vicks thermometer?

How do I calibrate my Vicks thermometer? Stir in a little clean water until the glass is fully filled. Allow three minutes before inserting the thermometer’s sensor into the ice-filled bath. Check that the thermometer reads 32°F after around thirty seconds.

How do I calibrate my Iproven thermometer?

Press and hold the Ear-button for 10 seconds until the display shows “- – -˚C” or “- – -˚F”. Release the Ear-button. Press the Ear-button once to switch from ˚C to ˚F or from ˚F to ˚C. Wait 5 seconds for the thermometer to save the setting and shut off.

What type of thermometer is the most accurate?

Digital thermometers are the most accurate way to take body temperature. There are many types, including oral, rectal, and forehead, plus many that are multifunctional. Once you decide on the type of thermometer you want, you can think about design, extra features, and price.

How do I reset my digital forehead thermometer?

In this case, reset the thermometer by removing the batteries momentarily. With the thermometer off, press and hold the power button. After 3 seconds, the screen will rotate between C / SET / F / SET. Release the power button when the desired temperature scale is displayed.

Why my digital thermometer is not working?

For digital thermometers:

Test every six months or so (depending on frequency of use) to make sure 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.

How do I check my temperature with an infrared thermometer?

How do you fix a digital thermometer error?

Resetting ‘Err’
  1. Press the on/off button to switch off the flexible tip or soother thermometer, then press the on/off button again to switch on the thermometer.
  2. Proceed as usual in measuring the temperature.