Is it totally waterproof?Updated 6 days ago

Yes, and how waterproof depends on which generation you have.

Either way, the seal that keeps water out also keeps out cooking oil, drippings, and marinade.

You can spray it down in the sink, run it under the tap, or put it in the dishwasher. Hand-washing generally works better, but the dishwasher will not hurt it.

Sous vide and vacuum sealing

Current thermometers are built for this. The 2nd Generation's hermetic seal is rated for full submersion and for vacuum sealing, so sous vide is a normal, supported way to cook with it.

One thing surprises people, and it is not a fault: your thermometer may switch itself off in the water. It goes to sleep when something bridges the two charging contacts on the handle, and water does exactly that. To stop it, turn on Always-On Mode in the app before you start.

You may also notice the surface temperature reading behaving oddly during a sous vide cook. In a water bath, everything sits at almost exactly the same temperature, so there is no meaningful difference between surface and core for the app to find. That is the physics of the cook, not a problem with the thermometer.

If you have a 1st Generation thermometer bought before June 2023 and you are not sure whether it is suited to sous vide, get in touch using the section at the end and we will check which version you have.

What about the handle?

The handle is ceramic, not plastic. Despite the friendly colour, it's solid ceramic and close to indestructible. It shrugs off flare-ups, drops, and the dishwasher. We once poached one in liquid nitrogen, and it didn't flinch. (Engineering would prefer we didn't do that again.)

Do not quench a hot thermometer

Let it cool to room temperature before soaking or washing it. Dropping a hot ceramic handle into cold water can crack it through thermal shock, and a cracked handle is the one thing that genuinely compromises the seal.

Also, do not pick up the handle straight off the heat. It burns.

If your thermometer has ever set off an overheat alarm at the handle end, treat it as no longer waterproof from then on, and hand-wash only. See Overheat Alarm: Display Flashing Red and Screeching.

Where waterproofing is not the issue

Pressure cookers are still a no, but not because of the seal. Pressure raises the boiling point of water to about 248°F (120°C), and the water inside your food can no longer keep the sensors in the tip below their 220°F (105°C) limit. See Compatible Appliances.

Still have a question?

If you are unsure whether your setup is safe for the thermometer, email [email protected] and tell us which generation you have and what you are planning to cook.

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