TL;DR
The Kitchn food editor Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn says she relies on an instant-read thermometer when cooking turkey and recommends ThermoWorks’ Thermapen Nano after testing it for more than two months. She reports that it reads temperatures in about 0.4 seconds and is accurate to within ±0.5°F; those performance details come from her product review, not an independent test cited in the source.
The Kitchn food editor Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn recommends using an instant-read thermometer to check Thanksgiving turkey, highlighting ThermoWorks’ Thermapen Nano after testing the device for more than two months. She says it returned a reading in about 0.4 seconds and is accurate to within ±0.5°F, though those figures are reported from her review rather than a separate test described in the source.
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Wawrzyn writes that cooks should not rely on signs such as clear juices to judge whether poultry is fully cooked. She argues that a thermometer offers a more dependable way to check temperature, a point she connects to food safety. The article recommends the Nano as a kitchen tool, not as a substitute for following safe cooking and handling guidance.
In her review, Wawrzyn compares the Nano with the Thermapen One, which she says she had used for more than five years. She reports that the earlier model could produce a reading in about one second, while the Nano returned readings in about 0.4 seconds. The stated accuracy is ±0.5°F. She also describes the Nano’s rotating, backlit display as 300% brighter than the One’s.
The review lists several practical features: a built-in magnet for storage, an IP67 waterproof rating, a slimmer profile than its predecessor, and a rear button for switching between Fahrenheit and Celsius. The Nano comes with a five-year warranty. The Kitchn says ThermoWorks intends the Nano to replace the Thermapen One in its product lineup once the One’s remaining inventory is sold.
Checking Turkey Temperature Reliably
The recommendation addresses a common holiday cooking decision: how to tell when a large bird is done. A turkey’s appearance or the color of its juices does not provide the same direct temperature reading as a thermometer. An instant-read device can help cooks check the meat rather than estimate doneness from appearance alone.
The review’s practical case for the Nano is that a quick reading and a brighter screen may make checking food easier around a hot oven. That is Wawrzyn’s assessment based on her own use; the source does not provide a comparative laboratory test or independent verification of the product’s performance. The food-safety value lies in taking a temperature reading and following established safe-cooking advice, not in any one brand name.
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The Nano Replaces a Prior Model
ThermoWorks’ Thermapen One had been a long-standing pick at The Kitchn, according to Wawrzyn. She says she used it exclusively for more than five years and had no complaints about its reliability, speed, or durability. Her review frames the Nano as an update to a product she already liked, rather than a first-time assessment of instant-read thermometers.
Wawrzyn says the Thermapen Nano is intended to take the Thermapen One’s place in ThermoWorks’ lineup, with the older model no longer to be produced after existing stock is gone. The Kitchn also notes that it independently selects products and may earn a commission when readers buy through its links. Prices were accurate when the review was published, but the source material does not include a price.
““No one should be relying on unreliable advice like ‘when the juices run clear it’s done’ to make sure their food is cooked thoroughly.””
— Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn, The Kitchn food editor
Limits of the Product Review
The source is a first-person product review, not an independent evaluation. It does not describe a testing protocol, identify a comparison sample, or provide third-party confirmation of the Nano’s stated speed, accuracy, brightness, or durability. Wawrzyn says she has not had accuracy problems with ThermoWorks thermometers and recommends regular recalibration, but the article does not explain how often to recalibrate this model.
The source material also does not give the Nano’s price, availability, or details about how the stated IP67 rating applies to cleaning. It does not set out turkey cooking temperatures or safe-handling instructions. Readers should consult current food-safety guidance for the appropriate temperature and where to measure it, rather than treating the review as a complete cooking or safety guide.
Model Change and Holiday Use
ThermoWorks’ stated plan, as reported by The Kitchn, is for the Nano to replace the Thermapen One after remaining One inventory sells through. The review does not give a date for that change or say how much stock remains. Buyers comparing the models may want to check the manufacturer’s current product information for availability, price, warranty terms, and calibration instructions.
For Thanksgiving cooks, the practical next step is to use a reliable food thermometer and follow current food-safety guidance when preparing poultry. Wawrzyn’s review presents the Nano as her preferred tool based on more than two months of use; it does not establish that cooks need this specific model to prepare a turkey safely.
Key Questions
What tool does The Kitchn editor recommend for Thanksgiving turkey?
Andrea Rivera Wawrzyn recommends an instant-read thermometer and highlights the ThermoWorks Thermapen Nano in her review.
How fast does the Thermapen Nano read temperature?
Wawrzyn reports that it returned readings in about 0.4 seconds during her testing. The source does not describe an independent test of that figure.
How accurate does the review say the Nano is?
The review gives an accuracy of ±0.5°F. That specification is presented in the reviewer’s account; the source does not include third-party verification.
Is the Thermapen Nano replacing the Thermapen One?
According to The Kitchn, ThermoWorks intends the Nano to replace the One in its lineup once existing Thermapen One inventory is gone. The review does not state when that stock will run out.
Does the review provide safe cooking instructions for turkey?
No. It recommends checking temperature but does not give a target temperature or measurement location. Follow current food-safety guidance for poultry cooking and handling.
Source: thekitchn.com
