We're hosting an exclusive two-and-a-half-day-only sale on the Thermapen, our favorite kitchen thermometer, from Thursday, October 29 at noon to Saturday, October 31 at midnight (Eastern time). The typically $96 thermometer will be available to Serious Eats readers for $69, which means that if you've been on the fence, now is the time to invest in your future.*

* If you want your future to be filled with non-overcooked meat, that is.

If you do any type of meat cookery whatsoever, a good digital instant-read thermometer is essential for perfect, consistent results. (Don't even think about using that "poke" test.)

There are all kinds of tricks and gimmicks for trying to keep meat moist as you cook it, but there's only one that really makes a significant difference: cooking it to the right temperature. In the days before precision cooking equipment was readily available to home cooks, we overshot our cooking in the name of food safety. We were told to roast turkey "until juices run clear," and pork chops were reduced to leather. With the help of thermometers, we can now guarantee both the safety of our food and its palatability.

Think: turkey with breast meat that's worth eating (try 150°F) or prime rib that nails that perfectly pink-centered medium rare (130°F). Pork chops as juicy as bacon (135°F), steaks that are charred on the outside and rare in the center (125°F), and the juiciest chicken breast you've ever had.

There are plenty of thermometers out there, and, frankly, anything that can give you an accurate reading on temperature will do the job. But there's getting the job done, and then there's getting it done with style. The Thermapen has been my favorite thermometer for years now because not only is it accurate to within half a degree, it also takes readings in a matter of seconds, with a large display face that makes it easy to read. Being splash-proof and simple to use, with a no-button design, helps give it longevity.

Use this link to get your $69 Thermapen before Sunday. Luxury never came so cheap!

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