Tools of the trade at Old Colony Smokehouse

The foundation of cooking great barbecue, or any protein for that matter, is the ability to cook to perfect moisture and tenderness.  Moisture and tenderness are very much related.  Cook your protein too long and you’ll cause all of the intermuscular fat and collagen to evaporate, resulting in dry meat.  Undercooked proteins are unsafe to eat and can be tough and dry because those same fats and collagens haven’t had time to properly break down.

In order to determine how to perfectly cook a protein, most people resort to recipes for a specified length of cooking time.  If all proteins, all cooking devices, and all environmental conditions were the same, cooking to time would be perfect.  Unfortunately, they’re not, so those recipe timelines don’t always work out.  Luckily, there’s a more fool-proof method…..cooking to temperature with an instant-read thermometer.

Instant read thermometers feature a probe that is inserted into the protein to give you an accurate reading of the protein’s internal temperature.  No more guessing whether your protein is done.  The proof is right at your fingertips. 

So how do you know what internal temperature you’re looking for?  There are plenty of free online resources for protein temperature charts which you can find with a quick google search.  Additionally, most instant read thermometer manufacturers include some type of basic guide with their instructions.  The numbers may seem overwhelming at first, but once you learn the basics, you’ll be a better cook in no time.         

Instant read thermometers come in different shapes, sizes, and price points.  My absolute favorite is the Thermapen by Thermoworks.  It’s the fastest, most accurate, and most durable that I’ve found.  I still have my original Thermapen that I bought 10 years ago and use it regularly.  We also use Thermapens at the restaurant.  If you don’t want to spend $80 on a thermometer, Thermoworks also makes the Thermopop which only costs around $30 and provides the same accuracy and durability, it’s just a tad slower with its temperature readout. 

There are plenty of other instant read thermometers available in local hardware stores and on Amazon.  Find one that’s right for you and start using it.  You’ll be glad you did!