Rating:
Date: 2008-06-22
Sturdy thermometer, quick readings
I bought this to replace a broken thermometer - one with a glass column that was very slow to give a temperature readings. What a difference. While this thermometer is probably not unbreakable, it has no glass to shatter - and it comes with a protective sleeve (bright blue - easy to locate in a drawer full of other things) that allows me to store it with other baking supplies without worrying about breaking it. It gives readings quickly, and they seem accurate. Mostly I use it when baking breads to test the temperature of water or milk before adding yeast, but I find myself grabbing it to test the internal temperature of meats too, and it works fine.

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-21
Great instant read thermometer, but you might need reading glasses!
"Taylor Analog Instant-Read Dial Thermometer" (Taylor model # 5989).

This is a great "instant read" thermometer. I've had it for years and it works quickly and seems accurate enough when I've done comparisons with other thermometers (nothing scientific about my process). This thermometer took 8 seconds to tell me my water was 160 degrees. I also use it for meat temp checking when roasting, etc. I haven't timed those, but I don't feel like it takes very long. So, to me this is pretty darn "instant". I don't even bother with sticking a "real" meat thermometer in my turkey or roast anymore - it's easier to just stick this instant thermometer in for a check.

The only issue with this product is that the dial is extremely small. If you are like me and need reading glasses, you will need them to read this dial. :) On the other hand, I think that the small dial is why the temp can be registered so quickly. To solve the small dial reading problem, I tried the "Taylor Anti-Microbial Instant Read Thermometer with Extra Large Dial" (Taylor model # 8018). That is a terrible thermometer (see my review for it), don't bother with it. I don't know what the solution is to the small dial/readability issue, but I ding this one star for that issue.

Do yourself a favor and stick with this good small dial version instead - and just put on the reading glasses! :)

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-08
Too long to read temp
This thermometer does its job, but usually it's inaccurate. Chicken is continually not done even when the thermometer will read 180. It also takes a long time for the temperature to get up to what it reads, about 60 seconds from the time you insert the probe. I'll be getting a digital instant read soon.

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-05
Taylor Analog Dial Thermometer
It measures temperature reasonably accurately, is east to read and is rugged. Good unit for the price.

Rating:
Date: 2008-05-30
just terrible - virtually unusable!
1. very small dial - i have perfect vision but still can't see. especially when you are cooking meat on the grill or other hot surface, you don't want to stick you face to close to it so you can finally see the temperature.
2. very very slow. it's not even close to be instant. it takes over a minute to get some kind of read and even more if you want to be precise
3. inaccurate - never showed the correct temperature for boiling water.

i got rid of it out and bought Thermapen Super-Fast Instant Read thermometer. it's much more money, but there isn't any other thermometer on the market ( believe me, i've done my research) that compares with it. not even close. it takes 3 seconds for a very accurate and fast read. i love it. if you are spending so much money on a stake, you might as well spend money on a good product so you finally learn how to cook a stake to perfection.