Last Updated on June 30, 2023
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I’ve found a thermometer to be an indispensable tool for cooking meat and poultry. Not only is it important for making sure it’s cooked to a safe temperature, but it also helps prevent overcooking, which can leave the end product burned, charred, or dry. While there are pro cooks who can determine temperature just on visual or physical inspection, for the rest of us, a thermometer can be a lifesaver.
I’ve found two kinds of thermometers to be useful. One is the venerable oven thermometer. This kind of thermometer can be plugged into, say, a turkey, and used to help mark when said turkey is done.
The other is an instant thermometer. An instant thermometer is terrific when I’m grilling and I need to know, there and then, if my steak or ribs have reached the desired temperature.
To my knowledge, Aldi has never sold an instant thermometer in the past, which has instead led me online to find the instant-read model I need. However, this summer, Aldi slipped in a digital thermometer that appears to fit the bill among a mixed case of other grilling supplies.
I decided to grab the thermometer and test it.
The Range Master Digital Thermometer (Product Code: 709397) is an Aldi Find. It’s only in stores for a limited time, and once it’s sold out, you won’t be able to get it again until it comes back, whenever that may be. Aldi doesn’t offer online ordering after a product is sold out at your local store.
It’s not clear who makes the thermometer. According to the package, it is made in China. There is no warranty.
At post time, the thermometer costs $9.99. That’s as cheap as I can find for a digital thermometer online, and most of them are more expensive. From a price perspective, not bad.
Specifications:
It comes with the thermometer, a pre-installed battery, and a brief manual containing both instructions and the usual warnings. The manual notes the following specs:
- Measurement range from -4° Fahrenheit (-20° Celsius) up to 518° Fahrenheit (270° Celsius)
- Screen will display “LI or “Ho” if the temperature is beyond that range. (I’m assuming the manual meant to say “Lo” or “Hi”…?)
- Response time is 3 seconds
- Auto-off function: thermometer will shut off automatically if it’s unused for 10 minutes
- 180-degree reversible display: easy to read at different angles
- Resolution: 0.1° F / C
- Temperature accuracy:
- -4° F (-20° C) to 302° F (150° C) = + / – 2° F (1° C)
- 302° F (150° C) to 392° F (200 °C) = + / – 4° F (2° C)
- Above 392° F / 200° C, the accuracy will exceed = + / – 4° F (2° C)
- Battery type: CR2032 3V
The manual also has various warnings, including:
- Do not clean the tip in soapy water. Instead, use a soft sponge or cloth.
- Do not immerse the whole thermometer in water.
- Do not attempt to clean in the dishwasher.
Getting Ready:
Before first use, users need to remove both a film from the screen and a plastic tab that separates the battery from the connector.
If you’ve used one of these thermometers before, you’ll be mostly at home. The thermometer turns on by unfolding the probe. To measure, you simply put the tip of the probe into the food you’re cooking.
There are three buttons. The top button lights up a backlight, while holding that same button toggles between Fahrenheit and Celsius. The middle button, marked HOLD, freezes the reading, while pushing it again unfreezes the reading. The third button, MAX/MIN, shows the highest and lowest temperature since the thermometer was turned on.
You’ll hear a rattling sound when you use the thermometer. This is normal: it’s a gravity sensor, which causes the display to flip back and forth depending on what side the thermometer is tilted.
On the back, the thermometer has a magnet that can be used to attach it to a metal surface, as well as a temperature guide for cooking.
Using the Thermometer:
In using this device, I compared it to the Saferell model I’ve had for a few years now. My thermometer cost around $16.
Range Master (Aldi) at top, Saferell (Amazon) at bottom. Both of them are on; note how the Aldi model has a less visible display.
The two have many of the same features in common: backlight, measurement toggle, auto off feature, and instant read capabilities. The Amazon model has a little higher temperature range, but both are fine for most cooking.
The differences do matter, though. My Amazon model is waterproof, while the Aldi model is not. The Amazon model also has a clearer display.
In theory, the Aldi thermometer should have an advantage in its display that flips via a gravity sensor. In practice, though, this isn’t my favorite feature. Even as a left-handed person, I typically hold it with my right hand, so I have the correct angle to view it off the bat. What’s more, sometimes it will flip if I tilt it, which can make the display flicker and ultimately make it a little harder to read.
On the most important points, speed and accuracy, the Aldi thermometer does the job. It locks in the temperature in just a few seconds, and was very close, if not identical, in all of its measurements to my Amazon thermometer. Also, while the display isn’t as vivid as I might like, it was readable when I was outside cooking.
The Verdict:
For the first time, Aldi has sold an instant-read thermometer. It’s on the low end of prices, has a decent suite of features, and in my tests was fast and accurate. It’s got some drawbacks, though, including a gravity-sensitive display that is well-intentioned but not a personal favorite. In addition, it’s not waterproof and isn’t made to handle soapy water, which are unfortunate limitations. Overall, you could do a lot worse … although for a few dollars more, you can also do better.
