A LITTLE STORY FOR
YOU…
Let’s pretend for a moment you are an appliance salesman who
knows A LOT about all the brands of ranges and ovens. You know almost everything about their great
features and benefits. You also have a
terrific range at home that has lots of these features. Now, let’s keep pretending it’s the holidays
and you are cooking for your family.
Wouldn't you use these great features? Wouldn't you show off to your family all that
you know about your appliance? Wouldn't
you cook the best meal possible for your family? Well, if your name is Bill and you are the
Assistant General Manager of Holloways the answer would be NO!
This may sound crazy but it is TRUE. Bill has a great oven at home with a
temperature probe, but when he and his family cooked a turkey on Thanksgiving
Day AND a prime rib on Christmas Day they didn't even think to use it. We here at the store think this is
CRAZY! So, mostly this blog post is for
Bill and his family…
HOW TO USE A TEMPERATURE PROBE:
Step 1: Insert probe into oven as shown in the picture.
Step 2: Insert other end of probe into meat.
Step 3: Set the meat probe to the desired internal
temperature on your oven controls.
I admit, not all appliances features are intuitive but it
doesn't get much easier than this.
FAQ
Q: What happens when the meat reaches its set temperature?
A: Depending on the brand, your oven will either turn off when
it has reached its correct temperature or it will buzz to let you know it has
reached temperature. You will need to
look it up in the use and care manual to see which your appliance does.
Q: What temperature do I set the temperature probe?
A: I usually just look it up on the internet…but if you want
to be super-duper safe, you can follow the FDA guidelines found here: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/UCM260394.pdf
Q: Does
using a probe make a roast better?
A: I
believe it does. There is no guess work
allowing the food to get done at exactly the right time and temperature.
Q: What is the best place to insert a probe in a
chicken or turkey?
A:
You want to place the temperature probe into the thickest part of the
meat. Insert the probe in the fleshiest
part of the thigh where it attaches to the drumstick, but do not let it touch
the bone.
Q:
Can I still baste with the probe in?
A:
Absolutely! If you open the oven to baste your turkey, the thermometer will continue to read the internal temperature of the bird. There is no need to reset the temperature if you need to open the oven door.
Q: Should
I use the probe in my casseroles?
A:
You betcha…but make sure the probe is only in the item of food. You do not want the probe touching the bottom
or side of the pan. It will be up to you
to figure out the internal temperature of the food you are trying to cook.
Have
any other questions? Shoot me an email
at laurie@holloways.com. I’d love to answer
any others so you can be the best chef you can be!
Laurie
Holloways Appliance Center serves all of Connecticut including Avon, Canton, West Hartford, Glastonbury, Farmington, Windsor and western Massachusetts.