Those who don't have access to a reliable thermometer have likely wondered: Can you use a meat thermometer for a fever? Let's see if it's a good idea.

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?

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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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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