Best Candy Thermometer Reviews 2019: Top 5+ Recommended

Best Candy Thermometer

In my long candy-making career, the use of a candy thermometer was a must for me during the preparation process. That was a must until my last one broke a couple of years ago. Since then, I’ve been talking constantly to my husband about the fact that we don’t have it anymore, hoping he will buy one for me.

Two years have passed, and I still didn’t have it. So I stopped expecting and decided to get one myself. I conducted thorough research and found the perfect one.

During the research process, I improved my knowledge of food thermometers, so I will give you some facts and describe how I choose the perfect candy thermometer for my needs.

What Is A Candy Thermometer?

A candy thermometer is a thermometer that we use to measure the temperature (and stage) of a cooking sugar solution so that the right temperature is achieved for preparing our candies. Sometimes it is also known as a deep fryer thermometer, sugar thermometer, or jam thermometer.

Candy thermometers are similar to meat thermometers, except that they are calibrated for higher temperature ranges required for candy making.

There are many multipurpose thermometers on the market that can measure the temperature of hot oil when deep frying, the temperature of meat, bread, liquids, and candy.

That is usually stated in their name, like candy/deep-fry thermometer, meat thermometer with a long probe for food, meat, candy, bathwater, etc.

Why Should You Use A Candy Thermometer?

I know many of you have doubts about the usefulness of the candy thermometer. But candy making is a process that demands following a set of strict rules so that the optimum results are achieved.
The temperature of the sugar syrup plays a crucial role in that process. That is why it’s important to have a good, reliable thermometer to secure the success of our candy recipe.

What to Look for in a Candy Thermometer?

The most important things you should consider before purchasing a candy thermometer are:

Do you need it for just candy or other purposes also?
What type of pot you’ll be using it in? It’s important to choose a thermometer that is safe from touching the bottom and is also long enough to read the temperature of the content.
Do you need a digital or an analog type? Digital have their advantages and additional features, but analog is just as good in doing its main purpose, which is measuring temperature.
Should it be a glass or a metal thermometer? Glass is more fragile, other than that, there’s not much difference.

The answers to these questions are important if you want to end up with just the right product for you.

For example, I already have a digital Acurite meat thermometer, which I bought online. I found it on the Home Depot thermometers page. I absolutely love it, and it’s perfect for my meat. But that’s no wonder. Acurite meat thermometers are known for their quality. I can use it for other purposes as well. But for candies, I needed a special one.

Types of Candy Thermometers

There are different types of analog and digital thermometers. They can be made of glass or metal and all have their “Pros” and “Cons”.

Analog Thermometers

They contain mercury or spirits which react to heat and move through the thermometer to deliver a reading on the dial or the scale.
They are usually very affordable.
Take a longer time to read the right temperature.

Metal Thermometers

Usually, this type of thermometer has a 7 – 8-inch probe.
Analog metal thermometers usually have a round dial face for the temperature reading. They usually have clips for attaching onto the pot.
Digital metal thermometers have a case with a display for temperature reading and a metal probe.

Glass Thermometers

Usually, they are tube-shaped, and they have a clip, so they can be hooked onto a pot where they stay during cooking.
Some glass thermometers have protectors around them, to prevent breaking and also to prevent the thermometer from touching the sides of the pot during cooking.
Some of them are mounted onto a metal or stainless steel backing, which also helps prevent the glass from breaking. The backing can sometimes include temperature zones for different stages of heat, which is a useful feature.

Digital Thermometers

Have an easy to read digital display.
Read temperatures and deliver results electronically.
Are more accurate.
Have fast temperature readings.
Some types come with an alarm that informs you when a certain temperature is achieved.
Some models of thermometers even have markers for different stages of candy making, such as softball, firm ball and hardball, or soft crack and hard crack stage. This feature is very useful, because you don’t want to leave your sugar in a liquid state or make caramelized sugar, and ruin the candy.

More about thermometers: Selected Wireless Meat Thermometers – Reviews

Calibration of Candy Thermometers

Both analog and digital thermometers need frequent calibration to assure accuracy. Analog thermometers need to be calibrated more often, and digital thermometers are reliable for a longer period of time.

The usual method is putting the thermometer in freezing or boiling water and then manually adjusting it if the option is available on your thermometer. If not, the only option is buying a new one, because you want your readings to be accurate.

For candy thermometers, you will probably be using only the boiling water method because most of them don’t have a reading for freezing. It’s important to remember not to plunge the thermometer into the boiling water because it can break.

How to Use a Candy Thermometer?

For those of you that have never used a candy thermometer before, here is the process in brief:

The sugar syrup should be put to boil over medium-high heat. When the solution is at a full boil, the heat should be turned to medium again, but it should continue to boil.

At that point, the candy thermometer should be inserted. It is imperative to keep the thermometer from touching the sides or the bottom of the pot, for the reading to be accurate.

Also, touching the bottom of the pot may ruin the thermometer.

The mixture should boil until it reaches the required stage, and should not pass it because if it does, that means that you have ruined your candy.

Most Recommended Candy Thermometers: Detailed Reviews 2022

Upon deciding I was no longer going to wait for my husband to buy it for me, I started researching for the perfect candy thermometer to fit my needs.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted another analog-like or a digital candy thermometer, so I looked at both types. I ended up looking up these five models:

Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer

It provides instant reading in Fahrenheit or Celsius on its easy-to-view digital display.

The ThermoPro candy thermometer has a 3.9-inch stainless steel probe that you need to dip in your boiling or simmering candy pot in order to get an instant temperature reading. The reading will remain on display for up to 10 minutes.

The thermometer has a temperature range of -50 up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is compact, lightweight, and foldable so that it won’t take up any space in your kitchen drawer. Plus, it has a built-in magnet in the back, so you can stick it on your fridge door or on the oven door. The size of the thermometer is 6.1 x 1.3 x 1.6 inches, and it weighs 2.4 ounces.

It can be used for all types of cooking, grilling, roasting, baking, and other needs, so it is one of the most universal of all of the kitchen thermometers on this list.

The nifty candy thermometer costs less than $15 and yet comes with a 3-year warranty and with the AAA battery included too.

What I liked:

It is light, foldable and won’t take up any space
The temperature reading is almost instant
You can switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius to follow different recipes properly
The probe is 3.9 inches long so you can use it in pots of almost any depth
It has a wide temperature range and an accuracy of +-0.9 degrees Fahrenheit
This kitchen thermometer can be used for all types of indoor and outdoor food prep and cooking
It holds the reading for long

What I didn’t like:

It may not be as durable or as sturdy as some of the other candy thermometers on this list

Polder THM-515 Stainless Steel Candy/Jelly/Deep Fry Thermometer

This analog alcohol thermometer is huge and seems sturdy. It’s around 15 inches in length, so it’s not suitable for small pots. Also, it has a nice clip to hold it to the side of the pot, which can also slide up or down the thermometer to adjust to the depth of the pot. The glass part seems brittle, though.

The thermometer has both Fahrenheit and Celsius readings, and it also has “shortcut” readings, such as “thread”, “softball”, “soft crack”, “hardball”, “deep fry”, etc., which is a great feature for candy making.

The minimum temperature reading is 90° F (50° C), and the maximum is 400° F (210° C), although it seems a bit inaccurate, which is crucial in candy making. It seems to me it’s better for deep frying than for candy making. The good thing is that it can be calibrated.

It’s labeled as dishwasher safe, but I didn’t want to test my luck. You better soak it first and then scrape the remains. It cannot be used in an oven because it has a plastic part on the top that would melt.

It’s easy to read, but the numbers seem to come off quickly. The edges are sharp, so you have to be careful when using it not to cut yourself.

Things I liked

Affordable
Easy to read
Extensive temperature range (90F to 400F or 50C to 210C)
Nice handle
Useful sliding clip
Has shortcuts for candy making stages
It can be calibrated

Things I didn’t like

Not always accurate
Too big, not suitable for smaller pots and pans
Sharp edges, easy to cut yourself
Brittle glass
The numbers are coming off

GoodCook Classic Candy and Deep Fry Thermometer, red

If you prefer using a good old classic glass thermometer for checking the temperature of your candy mix or other food you are preparing, then this thermometer by GoodCook could be one of the top options you will find on the market for 2022.

The glass thermometer is probably the least expensive one you will find on the market, as it costs under $5.

At the same time, it is easy to use and will read temperatures from 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is a perfect, affordable, and simple option for deep frying or for making candy.

The thermometer can be attached to the side of the pot via the included clip-on its top.

It also comes with a protective sheath which has a temperature chart printed on it with the appropriate temperatures for making different types of candy and for deep frying foods.

It is only 12 x 4 x 1.25 inches in size and weighs 2.4 ounces.

Things I liked:

It costs under $5
It is very straightforward to use and read
You can attach it to the side of any pot with its added clip
It will read temperatures in a arrange of 100-400 degrees F
It has a protective sheathe with a nifty temperature chart for all different types of candies printed on it
It can be used for deep frying as well

Things I didn’t like:

Being made of glass makes this thermometer more fragile than others
It cannot read temperatures over 400 degrees

Norpro Candy Thermometer

This is a stainless steel analog candy thermometer approximately 9 inches long. The stem is 5.75-inch long.

It has a metal clip so you can attach it to the side of the pot. The clip fits great on the edge of the pot, and it is adjustable. You can adjust it so that the probe tip is right at the bottom of the pot. According to my opinion, it is the greatest feature of this product.

It seems very well made and easy to use. Easy to read also. It has both Fahrenheit and Celsius readings on the measuring scale, which ranges from 100 to 400° F. It reaches higher temperatures required for candy making with no problem.

It is very easily cleaned, which is a greatly appreciated feature for me. All you need is to put it in hot water, and the sugar residues get off.

It is obvious just from the way it looks that this thermometer is made for candy-making purposes only. The design, the material it is made of, the adjustable clip, everything about it.

I enjoyed using it while making my kids’ favorite fudge. It performed perfectly, just as I had expected.

Things I liked

Made of stainless steel
Easy to use
Easy to read
Adjustable clip
Well made
Easily cleaned

Things I didn’t like

None

More about thermometers: Recommended Smoker Thermometers in 2022

Farberware Protek Candy and Deep Fry Glass Thermometer

This one is an analog glass tube thermometer for candy and deep fry, with a protective cover and a total length of 11.8 “. It has a clip, so you can attach it to the side of the pot while cooking, but it’s not very reliable, and doesn’t hold well on the pot. I tried it in several pots, but it couldn’t stay straight, and I was afraid I would burn myself.

The temperature range is 100 F to 400 F, but it was very hard to read it because the steam easily goes inside, fogs it, and makes the numbers unreadable. Also, I had a feeling that it took a lot of time to measure the temperature and it doesn’t seem accurate.

The top of the thermometer easily pops off so never immerse it in water because the paper inside will get wet. On the back, it has a magnet so you can mount it on the refrigerator or stove, which is a feature I really liked.

I didn’t like that it is made of glass that seems very fragile, and the overall feeling was that it could be easily broken.

Things I liked

Affordable
Extensive temperature range (100F to 400F)
Magnets on the back for mounting

Things I didn’t like

The clip doesn’t hold well
It fogs easily
Difficult to read, the numbers are very small
Very fragile, easily broken
Slow measuring

The Best Candy Thermometer You Can Get Right Now Is…

In the end, after trying out these five models, I decided which one is the most suitable candy thermometer for me.

Since I already have a meat thermometer that I can use for other purposes, and I only needed a candy one this time, for my needs I chose the Norpro Candy Thermometer.

It’s well made, durable, clips easily onto different pots (e.g, Red Copper, Copper Chef, Gotham Steel) and it’s easy to read.

I bought my new candy thermometer on Amazon.com. Actually, I bought two same thermometers. It was an easy pick after my research.

Now I’ll never worry when I’m making my candies because I have a spare one. Hope this one is going to be my best candy thermometer ever.

If you require a multi-purpose thermometer, because you predominately want to use it for checking your meat, BBQs, milk, water or for some other use, I would recommend you purchase the ThermoPro TP03.

I personally think it has great attributes and would buy it for myself if didn’t already have one.

Best Candy Thermometer Reviews 2022: Top 5+ Recommended