Although instant-read thermometers come in both digital and dial forms, the digital version could be easier to read but may require that you know the desired temperature. Many dial-face instant thermometers are labeled with the proper temperature for each kind of meat. These can be easier to use if you are not sure what temperature a piece of meat will need to reach to be cooked through. The guides even include variations in degree of cooking from rare to well-done.

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For convection cooking or to avoid having to open an oven, there are digital oven thermometers that have a probe that goes into the meat and then a digital face that remains on the outside of the oven. Some are connected with a wire while others are wireless and allow the cook to take them to another location within a specified range. These types of oven thermometers are inserted when the meat is placed in the oven and are not meant to take an instant reading. Rather, the temperature on the gauge rises as the meat cooks. Depending on the specific features of the oven thermometer, many can alert the user when the meat has reached a desired internal temperature.