Can You Use a Meat Thermometer for a Fever? It's Not the Most Accurate Method
By Michelle SteinUpdated
Having a reliable thermometer on hand isn't something that seems super important until it's 3 a.m. and you wake up feeling feverish. (Or, when you're in the middle of a pandemic and thermometers are about as scarce as toilet paper and antibacterial hand soap.) Which is why plenty of people are wondering: Can you use a meat thermometer for a fever?
I mean, we rely on meat thermometers all the time to make sure our chicken, pork chops, roasts, etc. are cooked to a safe internal temperature. So they must be reliable enough to offer an accurate reading for a body temperature, right? Unfortunately, it's not that simple.
Let's take a look at whether a meat thermometer can accurately gauge whether you have a fever — along with other potential methods of determining body temperature if you happen to find yourself without a thermometer.
Can you use a meat thermometer for a fever?
The simple answer is no; a meat thermometer shouldn't be used if you think you have a fever. Any credible online source out there lists a number of reliable ways to check for a fever — and sorry, but a meat thermometer just isn't one of them.
Meat thermometers are used to measure much higher temperatures — because cooking, and killing E. coli, etc. They're just not calibrated for accurate readings at the lower end, in the range of a human body temperature.
So if the reading is off just 1-2 degrees, that's kind of a big deal when you're talking about a human versus a hamburger. (Also, as a general rule, I would refrain from impaling yourself with a meat thermometer.)
Can I shove a meat thermometer into my thigh to make sure I don’t have a fever?
— Sophie Boudreau (@sophrubo) March 15, 2020
You can try using your hand to check for a fever — but it's not very accurate, either.
If you don't have a thermometer, you could always have someone else check if you feel warm via touch — but that's still not very accurate. But hey, if it helps you feel more assured about making an appointment with your doctor, then go for it.
If you're using touch to check for fever in someone else, first touch your own skin, and then compare temperatures by touching the other person, according to Healthline. Additionally, pinching the skin on the back of the hand is a way to check for signs of dehydration, which could be a sign of fever. If the skin doesn't quickly snap back, dehydration could be possible.
Can I use the Weber iGrill meat thermometer to tell if I have a fever? It’s the only thermometer we own so maybe we will find out in a week or two.
— Ryan, Perdido en TX (@RyanLostinTX) March 15, 2020
What are the other symptoms of a fever?
Although it's normal for your body temperature to fluctuate 1-2 degrees through the day, a reading above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered as having a fever, according to Cleveland Clinic.
If you don't have access to a thermometer though, it's smart to take a moment to assess other symptoms, which according to Healthline can include: headache, warm forehead, chills, muscle aches, feeling weak, sore eyes, loss of appetite, dehydration, swollen lymph nodes.
For infants and young children, the definition of a fever is different and should be taken seriously, according to Parents. Symptoms of fever for little ones can include: lethargy, grater irritability than usual, flushed skin, difficulty swallowing, paleness, refusal to eat or drink. More serious symptoms to watch out for include: excessive sleepiness, confusion, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, pain during urination, and severe pain in other parts of the body.
Twitter is joking about meat thermometers in light of coronavirus panic-buying.
Seriously, though. What are people supposed to do when regular digital thermometers are sold out at Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.? Please step away from the meat thermometers, folks.
I’ve been checking my temperature now and then to see if this manflu I caught needs checking be the docs. So far no fever but I think my wife isn’t going to want her meat thermometer back.
— Angry Exile ☀️ (@AngryExile) March 12, 2020
Good luck on finding a fever thermometer in town or online. Guess I will resort to a meat thermometer if I get feverish... 🌡 #COVID19 #COVIDー19 #CoronaVirus
— Daniel Flagg (@DanFlagg52) March 14, 2020
I supposed more people should have heeded this advice much earlier — before the panic-buying ensued and digital thermometers were about as difficult to come by as hand sanitizer.
This is random but make sure you pick up a thermometer if you don’t already have one. (Not a meat thermometer this time lol!) With allergy season here to confuse you on symptoms, good to know if you’re actually running a fever or not.
— Angela (@TheKitchenista) March 11, 2020
So, no. Unfortunately, meat thermometers are not a good way to check for a fever if you don't have a digital body thermometer on hand. I mean, you could always try it if you're really bored. But it's not going to be very reliable.
Doing a touch check— as well as assessing your other symptoms — might help you decide if you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. But when in doubt, it's always best to err on the side of caution and go ahead and seek medical attention.
Just maybe don't quote to your doctor the meat thermometer reading if boredom did end up getting the best of you.