7 top-rated meat thermometers to end overcooked dinners

Make sure your chicken, beef and pork aren’t undercooked or overcooked by using one of these top-rated meat thermometers.

This scenario might sound familiar. You’ve spent time in the kitchen cooking a wonderful meal. You plate everything up, but when you sit down and cut into your piece of meat, it’s totally overcooked — or, worse, raw. A meat thermometer may just be the answer to this culinary conundrum. “[Meat thermometers] let you know the internal temperature without cutting your protein open, which can dry your food out,” says Lauren Allen, chef and owner of Lauren Allen Dinners, which offers private chef experiences, virtual cooking classes and more. “That means your meat will be juicier and cooked to exactly your liking.” Adding this kitchen gadget to your repertoire doesn’t even have to cost you much — a good one can be found for under $20, says Allen.

To help you shop for one of these handy tools, I spoke with two chefs to get their advice on what to look for when choosing a meat thermometer, and then I sourced top-rated options from popular retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target. Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter Top-rated meat thermometers Using expert advice, I selected digital meat thermometers from top retailers that have at least a 4-star average from at least 1,000 ratings. This thermometer has a two to three second