WHAT IS AN “INSTANT READ” THERMOMETER, AND IS IT REALLY INSTANT?
It’s a misnomer, actually, generally given to a 1″ diameter bi-metal thermometer. In reality, it takes about 18 seconds to attain a reading (measured from room temperature into boiling water). The moniker comes from the perception that the reading is ‘instant’ only because the pointer reacts very quickly to changes in temperature although actual response time is quite average.
