I recently had the pleasure of using the ThermoWorks Pro-Surface Thermapen for my cookware heat distribution tests. Having previously experimented with infrared thermometers, I found the Pro-Surface Thermapen to be a superior alternative due to its accuracy and ease of use.
Infared thermometers can have accuracy ranges of ±2%, whereas the Pro-Surface Thermapen has an accuracy rating of ±0.7°F. You also need to take into account distances and the emissivity of different materials (e.g. stainless steel, nonstick, and cast iron) when using infrared thermometers; something you don’t have to worry about with the Pro-Surface Thermapen.
My Experience With The ThermoWorks Pro-Surface Thermapen
In order to evaluate the Pro-Surface Thermapen’s accuracy, I used the Breville Control Freak, a precision induction unit which measures the temperature of a pan’s bottom when the pan is placed on the induction unit.. When the induction unit was off, both the Control Freak and the Thermapen displayed identical temperatures. While there were some differences once I started to heat up the pan, it’s important to note that induction cooking is an active process and that the temperatures of the bottom and top of the pan will be different.
The great thing about owning the Pro Surface Thermapen is that I can effectively turn my full size induction range into a precision cooktop like the Control Freak. Of course it requires that I manually fiddle with the temperature more than I would on the Control Freak, but it allows me to precision cook in much larger pans by taking advantage of the larger induction coil on my full sized induction range.
One thing that this Thermapen is missing is a backlight. The lack of a backlight makes the temperature read-out difficult to see in darker rooms. Hopefully ThermoWorks adds a backlight to a future version of this thermometer.
Overall, I highly recommend the Pro Surface for those who want to experiment with precision cooking.
The Pro Surface Thermapen features a swivel tip for optimal surface contact and comes with an NIST-Traceable calibration certificate, guaranteeing its reliability. Its water-resistant design, coupled with Biomaster silver ion technology, not only enhances durability but also inhibits microbial growth. It can be set to Fahrenheit or Celsius, operates with an auto on/off mechanism, and boasts an impressive 1,500-hour battery life. Additionally, it comes complete with a convenient padded zipper case.
Enjoy this review? Be sure to read my review of other ThermoWorks products, such as the ChefAlarm, the Square DOT, the ThermoPop 2, and the RH Spot Thermometer.