Thermometer Calibration
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:38 pm
I suspect most of the veterans here already know this process, if you even still need thermometers at all. Bear with me though, I'm killing a few minutes to avoid returning to chores, and figure this might help some of the less experienced folks. 
Calibrating or checking your thermometer's accuracy is pretty easy. Here's how:
Part One; Check the Low Range.
Get a glass or a cup and fill it up with ice then add water. Any kind of insulated cup like a Tervis Tumbler or Yeti style insulated cup works great for this
Let the water sit for three minutes to make sure it's properly cold.
Stick your thermometer in without letting it touch the side of the glass.
It should (obviously) read 32 degrees when all is said and done.
Part Two; Check "High" Range
Get a small pot and boil some water. Let it get to a full on boil too.
Again, check the water temperature with your thermometer.
It should hit 212 degrees.
Note here; altitude does affect the temperature water boils at. Not too terribly much though unless you're really up in the mountains. I'm at an altitude of 400 feet and it drops the boil temp by 1/10th of a degree.
Here's a calculator for those who like to be precise:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oboilcalc.html
Anyhoo, based on the results, you can tell if your thermometer is off, adjust your readings appropriately, or just know for sure it's time to get a new one.
ADDENDA: At the risk of stating the obvious, the above temps are Fahrenheit. Those of you who might be elsewhere in the world and using Celsius readings will just have to substitute O degrees and 100 degrees there.
Calibrating or checking your thermometer's accuracy is pretty easy. Here's how:
Part One; Check the Low Range.
Get a glass or a cup and fill it up with ice then add water. Any kind of insulated cup like a Tervis Tumbler or Yeti style insulated cup works great for this
Let the water sit for three minutes to make sure it's properly cold.
Stick your thermometer in without letting it touch the side of the glass.
It should (obviously) read 32 degrees when all is said and done.
Part Two; Check "High" Range
Get a small pot and boil some water. Let it get to a full on boil too.
Again, check the water temperature with your thermometer.
It should hit 212 degrees.
Note here; altitude does affect the temperature water boils at. Not too terribly much though unless you're really up in the mountains. I'm at an altitude of 400 feet and it drops the boil temp by 1/10th of a degree.
Here's a calculator for those who like to be precise:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oboilcalc.html
Anyhoo, based on the results, you can tell if your thermometer is off, adjust your readings appropriately, or just know for sure it's time to get a new one.
ADDENDA: At the risk of stating the obvious, the above temps are Fahrenheit. Those of you who might be elsewhere in the world and using Celsius readings will just have to substitute O degrees and 100 degrees there.
