Lightning speed, accuracy, ease of use, water resistance, and a rugged design all make the Thermapen® so versatile that so many who own one use theirs every day. Your Thermapen should last through thousands of temperature spot-checks both in and outside of your home. Proper use and care will keep it in peak operating condition. Here are 3 simple habits to extend the life of your Thermapen:
1. Keep Your Thermapen Clean
Cleaning any tool used with food is important, not only to keep your product in tip-top shape, but also for general food safety.
➤ Cleaning the Thermapen Body
Our recommended method is spraying anti-bacterial cleaner onto a paper towel and wiping the body (an antibacterial wipe may also be used).
⚠ Avoid wipes or solutions with high a concentration of IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) as they are too harsh and can damage the LCD screen
☼ Get Every Nook and Cranny: Take special care to fully wipe clean the rotating hub and probe retention groove. These can be cleaned with the edge of your towel or wipe.
➤ Cleaning the Probe
The Thermapen probe may be exposed to harmful bacteria each time meat is tested–particularly before probing cooked food that is ready to eat. ).
- If you’re using the same paper towel or wipe, avoid cross contamination by using a different part of the paper towel
☼ Note: The Thermapen is fully waterproof to IP67 as long as you don’t rotate the hub under water.
⚠ The Classic Thermapen is splash-proof to withstand spills and the wet conditions of a kitchen, but it is NOT immersible.
⚠ Thermapens (both the Classic and the Thermapen) should NEVER be put in a dishwasher.
➤ As a general rule, avoid getting moisture, flour, or oil on the rotating hub. Although there are two O-ring seals inside the hub, oils and fine powders that are left on the rotating hub for extended periods of time can eventually work
their way past the seal over time and accumulate in the housing, potentially causing problems with the electrical components.
2. Avoid Overheating the Thermapen
The Thermapen probe’s thermal range of -58 to 572°F (-50 to 300°C) covers the full spectrum of standard cooking. But never put the Thermapen’s probe directly onto hot coals or into an open flame (or even very hot liquids) as temperatures above 572°F (300°C) can cause internal damage to the 
probe.
To avoid damage to the body or LCD screen, never leave the Thermapen inside an oven, grill, smoker, microwave, or even direct sunlight for extended periods while cooking. The body of the Thermapen is rated from -4 to 122°F (-20 to 50°C).
➤ Rule of Thumb: If the heat is too high for your hand (without a protective mitt) it is probably too hot for the Thermapen body.
If you are likely to use the Thermapen in high-heat environments, consider fitting your Thermapen with a Silicone Boot. Silicone offers short-term protection from radiant or contact heat, fits snugly, and can easily be removed for cleaning.
3. Store Your Thermapen in a Secure Place
The Thermapen has been built to be compact and durable. It can be stored nearly anywhere. However, sharp knives or other kitchen instruments can cause damage if they jostle around in a drawer together. Avoid damage to your Thermapen by keeping it away from sharp objects. A zip wallet or wall mount bracket are great storage solutions to protect and prolong the life of your Thermapen.
These simple tips will help extend the life of your Thermapen, but if you do experience any issues with your product please contact our famous Tech Support team. We are always here to help! And we’re only just a phone call or email away.
Products Featured:
Silicone Boot
Steve says
My thermapen probe began to rotate past the normal stop on top of the pen. I am now concerned about its continued accuracy?
Any thoughts?
Kim says
Steve,
Your question has been passed along to Tech Support. You can contact them directly at techsupport@thermoworks.com or 1-800-393-6434.
Thanks,
-Kim
Norb Lustine says
I’m on my second Thermo Pen and love it.
I don’t grill or cook without it. I even take it with me when I’m doing the grilling away from home.
Kim says
Norb,
So glad to hear you love your Thermapen! And I’m the same way—I don’t travel without mine!
Thanks,
-Kim
Shirley says
Good info! Thanks. What I want is a chart for temps of cooked baked goods– i.e. What should the internal temp be for a cake? Cornbread? Brownies?
Sprenger.lange@gmail.com
Kim says
Shirley,
Thank you so much for your comment and suggestion! The internal temps of baked items is on the content list.
-Kim
HumptyDumpty says
Which brands of antibacterial cleaners/wipes do you recommend for cleaning of MK4s?
Kim says
HumptyDumpty,
Any antibacterial wipe will work. Just be sure they don’t contain high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, which can damage the LCD screen.
Thanks!
-Kim
Nancy says
I love my Thermapen. I took it on vacation recently when visiting my sister in Florida. I knew I’d be cooking, and I would be lost without it. It was used all the time!
Kim says
Nancy,
I always travel with my Thermapen. It’s amazing how once you see how dramatically it can improve your cooking, you never want to be without it! Thank you for your comment.
-Kim
Tom Kritzman says
I have given 3 thermapens as gifts and influenced 4 of my relatives to buy. I don’t cook without one! I speak so highly of your products to my friends and family I should be considered to be a sales representative! Great Product
Kim says
Tom,
So glad to hear the Thermapen is a valuable tool in your kitchen, and thank you for the good word!
-Kim
Debbie says
Just started using my Thermapen MK4, works great, only problem is I’m left handed! Another problem in the world of lefties… sigh…
Kim says
Debbie,
The auto-rotating feature of the Mk4 should help a bit with left-handed usage.
-Kim
Steve says
Can you use diluted bleach/water to clean the probe on MK4?
Is beach an issue?
Thanks
Kim says
Steve,
Yes! A bleach solution is a good sanitizer for your Mk4. The only solution we recommend you not use for cleaning is anything containing isopropyl alcohol.
-Kim
Louis says
I have the Mk4 with the wall mount holder. It doesn’t come with anything to affix it to the wall, so I got some velcro and attached it to the top side of my knife block. Always handy now. Use and depend on it every day!!
Kim says
Louis,
What a great idea, thanks for sharing!
-Kim
Tony says
I keep a silicone boot on my classic Thermapen although it’s a shame to cover up the special edition flames!
The magnets in the boot make it easy to stick the Thermapen to the side of our OTR microwave or the side of any of our grills.
Garry Leonard says
Both of my Thermapens have gotten a bit stiff to open. May I lubricate them with mineral oil or WD-40?
Kim says
Garry,
No, WD-40 will degrade the plastic and the O-ring. Contact our tech support team and they’ll take good care of you. 🙂
Tech Support: techsupport@thermoworks.com or 1-800-393-6434
Thanks!
-Kim
Peter says
Hi,
I know you said isopropyl alcohol is not safe to use for cleaning, buy how about ethyl alcohol, which is the other alcohol used in rubbing alcohol? Is there something specific about IPA? Rubbing alcohol (either isopropyl or ethyl) is typically 70% concentration. For around the house, I use an EPA registered disinfectant called Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant that is 29.4% ethyl alcohol. Would this be acceptable or best avoided?
Martin says
Peter,
The alcohol to avoid is isopropyl. Ethyl is just fine!