How do you know the temperature that it reaches. Does it have a thermometer, or can I use a regular oven thermometer or meat thermometer?
144230
It has a built-in oven thermometer hanging at the top. It's face is pointed upwards, so you can read it without opening the oven. I've had my oven for a couple years and have done LOTS of cooking with it. It seems that the built-in thermometer is no longer accurate: it often reads high. I don't tend to worry about it...the food cooks just the same. If you are not using the entire shelf for your pot, you could add a regular oven thermometer or use a meat thermometer inside your pot if you're not satisfied with the built-in one.
144231
You could probably use a regular oven thermometer. My Sun Oven came with one though.
144232
It has a small round oven thermometer in the upper right corner of the enclosed oven. It works very well, sometimes it's a little foggy due to condensed steam on the overlying window but I like it. I suppose it's possible that it reads a bit hotter than the lower parts of the oven, especially before the whole oven has heated up.
144233
It does come with a thermometer but I always use a meat thermometer as well... old habits die hard. Love the oven and it does exactly what it says it will do.
144234
There is a thermometer attached to the interior of the oven - very visible. The oven usually reaches 325 to 350 degrees on a clear day.
144235
Yes, there is a thermometer enclosed and it works very well. It tells you the temperature of the oven and you can regulate it by moving the oven to direct sun rays.
144236
Even though it's 90 million miles away, the energy from the sun will heat and cook your food if the oven is aimed correctly. The built in oven thermometer typically reaches between 300 to 350 degrees on a clear day and outside air temperatures really aren't a factor. You can use what ever additional thermometer you like to ensure the meat is done to your satisfaction. Just remember... the sun is cooking your food. It has no timer or temperature setting. Never burned a meal in a sun oven.
1645105
I've never actually taken temperature readings, but I feel it does a good job with the burgers and steaks I grill on it. I also use it for salmon patties and it does a super job on those.
418480
The probe is 2 3/4 inches long. I would think you don't have to go to the very center to get an appropriate reading. Remember also, the meat temp will rise at least 5 degrees after taking it out of the oven.
235745
I have only used it with the probe in meat in the oven and the thermometer either on top of the stove top or the counter. It is a very handy thermometer. I especially like it to roast a turkey as you dont have to open the oven that much, only if needing to baste.
1816418
I would suggest that you purchase an actual meat thermometer. This device would only measure the outside temperature and it's the inside meat temperature that matters. If you were to cook the outside to the higher temperature desired the meat will be really dry. I cook a lot of chicken that's why is decided to share on this question. Good luck
613078
Mine was able to reach about 220 F using an accurate oven thermometer, but I did need to rotate the unit periodically to capture the most sunlight. The test day was clear,in the mid 70s and I'm sitting at about 38 degrees N latitude. That was actually the second day I tried. The first test out was disappointing since the temp only reached about 185 F. I have no idea why the difference but assume it was due to a few factors such as time of day and me rotating the unit more often during the second test. I haven't yet tried to cook anything.
324308
The thermometer is to be inserted into the meat you are cooking. It doesn't matter if you are cooking the meat on a grill or in an oven. It shows the temperature of the meat, not the grill or oven. Hope this helps.
2035534
I never used it that way, but I suppose it could be an instant-read thermometer since it's meant to be inserted into the meat to get internal temp. FWIW, I never use this thermometer anymore and wish I had sent it back. Neither the meat end, nor the oven end are accurate in my Chargriller Akorn. I calibrated the temps using 3 other thermometers I have and this one was off way too far to be used.
1611970
No, it doesn't have a temp gauge that says how hot it is while cooking but it does have a settings gauge so you can set it for a specific temp (like an oven gauge)
508045
I bought one a couple of days ago. The manual now says it reaches over 710 degrees. I checked after 10 minutes and my high temperature thermometer reads nearly but not quite 725 (but I did have to open the lid to read the temp). Let's call it 720 (the thermometer is marked with 25 degree increments). As for why you'd want that amount of heat: the shorter the cooking time of a pizza the less the crust dries out. And it does not burn once you figure out how long it takes for a pizza to cook. I'm still working on figuring that out so that I don't have to keep opening the lid.
1123650
As most have said, you can get the temperature of the internal oven surface. I don't think you are asking this, but just in case you were wondering, you can't check the internal temperature of meat with this since it will only give you surface readings.
970805
This thermometer must NOT BE PUT IN THE OVEN! It is an instant read and not intended to be used like the old fashioned thermometers stuck in the meat and left there. You will destroy the thermometer if you leave it in the oven.
240618
Probably, this would not be the best choice for reading meat temperatures. It was designed as a candy and deep frying, and for that it has few peers. For its purpose, this is my own favourite, but I have several thermometers in my kitchen. I use them all, as each is designed to measure temperatures of specific kinds of food in specific situations.
1513171
I own one of these. There is no way to tell internal ambient temperature or the temp of the meat. Just low, medium and high on the dial. It's just like a crockpot.
769793
I haven't tried an oven thermometer yet (good idea) but so far everything that I've tried in it has cooked/baked according to the suggested time and temperature in recipes. Of course, I most often use it for toasting English muffins for breakfast or grilled cheese in the evening, so exact temps have never been an issue.
33122
Put the probe in the meat in the oven or grill when you start cooking. Close the oven door or grill lid. The probe's wire can then be plugged in to the register outside the oven or grill. The oven door and grill lid can and will close around the wire and not impact oven or grill temperature.
1070352
You can purchase a small oven thermometer and place it in your oven and set to the desired temperature to check. The easy answer is, the oven has an internal thermostat that turns the heating elements on or off to maintain the temperature you have chosen.