#ad: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Want a temperature without touching anything? A cheap infrared thermometer gun does exactly that, and mine turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
I picked up an inexpensive IR thermometer on Amazon (sold as a TopOne back then) and put it to work on ice water, a pot on the stove and a gas grill. The exact model from my video isn’t listed anymore, so the button below goes to a current, well-reviewed laser IR thermometer gun that works the same way: point, pull the trigger, read the screen.
- No contact needed, so you can read hard-to-reach spots
- Batteries included, works right out of the box
- Laser shows exactly where you’re reading
- Backlit screen and quick °F/°C switch
- Light, portable, about the size of your hand
- Reads the surface you point at, not the inside of food
- The instruction booklet isn’t much help (you won’t need it, though)
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
What comes in the box
It comes with a small instruction booklet and two AAA batteries, which is a nice touch on a budget tool. The front of the grip pivots down and snaps into place with a couple of detents, and that’s where the batteries go.
Honestly, this thing is point and shoot. Pull the trigger and it gives you a temperature.
Buttons, laser and sights
Up front there’s the laser and, next to it, the opening where the temperature sensor sits. On top you get something pretty similar to pistol sights if you really want to aim it.
There are three buttons. One toggles the laser, one toggles the backlight, and one switches between Celsius and Fahrenheit. Mine came set to Celsius, so I switched it right away. I left both the backlight and the laser on, because I like having both.
When you let go of the trigger, the screen holds the last temperature it grabbed.
How accurate is it? My kitchen and grill tests
First I aimed at my own skin and got 94.7°F, which may or may not be true, but it’s in the right neighborhood.
- Ice water: with the laser on an ice cube it read 28°F, then 30°F and 32°F. Ice should be about freezing, so I’m impressed.
- Pot of water warming on the stove: the water read 130°F and the metal pot 160°F, which makes sense.
- Gas grill: 250°F on the grill surface and 175°F pointed into the flame area.
All of those were believable numbers, and the laser makes it obvious what you’re measuring.
What I’d use an IR thermometer for
The big draw is that you don’t touch anything. That’s great for hard-to-reach places like part of an engine or the inside of some equipment, or anything that isn’t really set up for a probe. Shooting channels use these to check hot gun barrels for the same reason.
It’s also handy for cooking and grilling, or for working on cars, just to make sure things are cool before you touch them.
FAQ
What batteries does it use?
Two AAA batteries. Mine came with them.
Can it switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius?
Yes, there’s a dedicated button for it.
Can I turn the laser off?
Yes. One button toggles the laser and another toggles the backlight.
Is a cheap IR thermometer accurate?
In my tests the readings were believable: ice read about 28-32°F and warm water 130°F.
Does it need setup?
No, it’s plug and play. Put the batteries in and pull the trigger.
Leave a Reply