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Test a Thermometer’s Accuracy Using Boiling Point of Water
Can you get sick if you
eat undercooked chicken meat? Chicken meat should be cooked thoroughly and its
internal temperature measured. A well-cooked chicken should have an internal
temperature of 165℉. Use a calibrated meat thermometer to verify the quality
and safety of your chicken. How is the boiling point of water used to test a
thermometer? Do you know how to test your thermometer for accuracy?
Methods for testing a thermometer’s
accuracy.
A lot of bacteria are found on the outer part of the chicken. You should check the temperature of the meat to determine if it is fully cooked. Chicken breast can be prepared in many different ways. You can cook them on a grill or chop them off to make sandwiches. A safe temperature should be appropriate and consistent. To get the safe temperature for chicken breast, use a calibrated thermometer. Check the thermometer used for accuracy yearly or when dropped. There are two methods used to test if the thermometer is accurate.
1.
Boiling water test.
To
calculate your location’s boiling point, you should consider atmospheric
pressure and altitude. At the sea level where the atmospheric pressure is
normal, an accurate thermometer dipped in boiling water should read 212℉. After
determining the boiling point of the water, use a short, wide pot to boil water
vigorously. Gently stir the water for 10 seconds, then take your reading. The
boiling point of water boiling in a tall, narrow pot is 1℉ higher than a short
wide pot. Hard water has minerals
dissolved in it. The temperature for boiling hard water is 1-2 ℉ higher than
soft water.
2.
Ice bath test.
The
temperature displayed should be 32℉ or less. To create an ice bath, you will
require:
§ Ice
cubes.
§ Tall
glass.
§ Pre-chilled
water.
§ Something
to use for stirring.
Use ice cubes made by the
refrigerator ice maker rather than using crushed ice. Fill a tall glass with
ice cubes. Add pre-chilled water and ensure it is below the top of the ice.
Gently stir the mixture for 15 seconds. Insert the thermometer stem into the
ice bath’s center. It is gently stirred for 15 seconds. The thermometer’s stem
should move constantly and be surrounded by ice cubes. The accurate thermometer
reading should be 32℉. If the thermometer rests on ice, the temperature reading
will be lower. If the thermometer rests on the glass, you will get a higher
reading. Avoid measuring the temperature of the water below the ice. If your
thermometer is off by a few degrees, consider the degrees when taking the
measurements.
Conclusion.
Chicken is a popular meal
loved by many. Undercooked meat is not safe for human consumption. Measure the
temperature of the chicken to know if it is well cooked. To get an accurate
temperature reading, you should ensure your thermometer is well calibrated.
There are two ways to do this. It includes using a boiling water test or ice
bath test. If the thermometer is off by a few degrees, account for the degrees
when taking your measurements.
Photo by Yan Krukov from Pexels
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