I bought two Taylor 1474 thermometers from Amazon a couple weeks ago. I paid $10 each (reg. $40), but they are $15 now. Here are my impressions/results:
Quality - Overall they appear fairly well-made. They aren't all that rugged, but they should be fine if properly cared for. A magnet on the back of the main unit would be a nice touch, but that's easily added. The probe leads are 37 in. long and covered with wire braid.
Features - The base unit has a count up/down timer and pre-programmed temperature settings by doneness (rare, medium rare, medium and well) for all major meats (beef, ground beef, veal, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey). Of course it also has a programmable setting for a custom temperature. One feature I found really useful is that the count-up timer automatically starts when the target temperature is hit.
Accuracy - I used a web calculator to determine the precise boiling point of water given the elevation in Boise (2600 ft) and the current barometric pressure (30.05 in). The calculated the boiling point was 207.6 degrees. Both thermometers were perfectly accurate, showing a reading of 208.
Wireless - The wireless remote for both units worked flawlessly even around a corner at about 50 feet. They never once lost communication with the base unit. Each unit can be set to use a separate RF channel to prevent them from interfering with each other.
Conclusion - I am very impressed with these units, especially given the $10 bargain basement price. Amazon has since raised the price to $15, but they are still a steal at that price. My tests were done in my kitchen, a couple real cooks will tell the whole story. I look forward to putting them through their paces.
John
Patio Daddio BBQ
