If you're looking for a compact digital cooking thermometer that you insert, read, and then remove, the Chaney 03164 Digital Instant Read Swivel Head Thermometer may be the perfect find. It's a wide-range unit that provides accurate temperature readings in only 5 to 7 seconds, and it can display temperatures in °F or °C. You can use the 03164 in virtually any roasting, barbecuing, baking, or other cooking application that allows you to get your hands relatively close to the hot food for a short period of time. (We don't recommend using this thermometer, for example, when deep-frying because oil spatters can cause nasty burns on bare hands.) The 03164's swivel head with soft-touch feel moves a full 180° for easy viewing. And cooking is only one application of this versatile instrument.

The probe on the Chaney 03164 thermometer is 4-3/4 inches long. In addition to cooking in general and meats in particular, additional potential applications of the 03164 include beverages, brewing, food storage, pharmaceutical, photography, automotive, and refrigeration.

The temperature digits in the 03164's LCD panel are almost 5/16 inch tall, and you can select °F or °C for the temperature unit at the push of a button. The displayed temperature ranges are -50°F to +392°F and -45°C to +200°C.

In addition to the ON/OFF and °C/°F buttons on the top of the swivel head is a HOLD button. After a temperature reading stabilizes, you can press the HOLD button to retain the reading if desired.

The 03164 comes with a handy plastic sheath with pocket clip for transportation and storage. For quick reference, the USDA recommended internal temperatures for common meat types are printed on the sheath. A table with more extensive meat and fowl listings is printed on the back of the 03164's package. You'll want to keep this table handy as well.

The required LR44 button cell alkaline battery is included with the 03164. A convenient 15-minute auto-off feature maximizes battery life.

Do not leave the 03164 in your oven, rotisserie, microwave, or grill during the cooking cycle. It is intended for quickly checking the temperature of food, after which it must be promptly removed. While Chaney Instrument describes the 03164 as waterproof, nowhere is it indicated that the unit is dishwasher-safe. We figure that the 03164 can survive a dunking, but we would never put it in a dishwasher. To clean the thermometer, you simply wash the probe in hot, soapy water. To prevent cross-contamination, the manufacturer suggests washing the probe after each insertion. To clean the swivel head, use a damp cloth.

The Chaney Instrument 03164 Swivel Head Instant Read Digital Thermometer is covered by a manufacturer's 1-year limited warranty.