Thermometers used for checking food temperature must be accurate to what degree?

The correct level of accuracy for thermometers used in checking food temperature is critical for food safety. An accuracy of ± 2 degrees Fahrenheit ensures that the thermometer can reliably measure temperature within a reasonable margin of error. This level of precision is important for ensuring that food is cooked to safe temperatures and held at proper serving temperatures, which helps prevent foodborne illness.

If a thermometer is accurate only to ± 3 degrees Fahrenheit, it may not provide reliable readings necessary for food safety protocols, especially during critical cooking or holding phases. Similarly, having a stricter accuracy of ± 1 degree Fahrenheit or ± 1.5 degrees may be overly sensitive and not standard practice in many food safety settings, where the goal is to achieve an effective and practical balance between precision and usability. Thus, ± 2 degrees Fahrenheit strikes an essential balance for effective temperature monitoring in food safety management.