Serious question, is an instant read thermometer actually necessary for bread or just a crutch?

I keep seeing people online swear you need one to know when a loaf is done. But I've been baking for years just tapping the bottom and listening for that hollow sound. Never had an issue with underbaked bread. My mom baked for 30 years without one. So is this a real tool or just another thing to buy? What do you all think, has a thermometer ever saved a bake for you or is it overkill?

2 comments

2 Comments

phoenix_adams601mo ago

My buddy Jeff ruined three sourdough loaves in a row until he borrowed my thermometer and found his oven was running 30 degrees cool. It saved his weekend bake.

the_drew1mo ago

Heard this exact thing on a baking podcast last week. They said most home ovens are off by at least 15-25 degrees, especially the cheaper ones. The host tested his own oven and found it was running a full 40 degrees cold on the bottom rack. Honestly its wild how many bakes get screwed up by something that simple. An oven thermometer costs like 8 bucks and saves you from wasting expensive flour and hours of work.