Quick answer: Use the testo 104 as a folding penetration thermometer: open and clean the probe, measure the representative interior of the food, wait for a stable core reading and record it according to your food-safety plan. It does not make an infrared surface measurement; that capability belongs to separate instruments such as the testo 104-IR.
The features specific to the testo 104
The testo 104 is a robust folding food thermometer with a waterproof IP65 housing, backlit display, Auto Hold/Hold and min/max functions according to its US product documentation. Testo includes color-coded adhesive identification strips that can help operators separate equipment by area or food type to reduce cross-contamination risk. The probe is longer than the pocket-sized testo 103 design, which can help reach into larger foods. For a comparable instrument with interchangeable food probes, see the testo 110 Food probe selection guide.
Check the actual item code on the instrument: Testo has sold different regional configurations. The fact that a product is called 104 does not mean it has Bluetooth or infrared measurement. Those are distinct model variants. If non-contact testing is being considered, the testo 830-T1 infrared measurement guide explains infrared measurement setup and accuracy.
Field procedure for a repeatable spot check
- Confirm the intended food category, sampling plan and target required by the approved HACCP or food-safety program.
- Inspect the hinge, sensor tip and housing seals; check the current calibration/functional verification evidence.
- Clean and sanitize the probe. If the color strip system is used, verify the assigned area/product color.
- Open the probe and insert its sensitive end into the thickest representative portion, away from bones, metal pans and other heat-transfer surfaces.
- Allow the temperature to stabilize. Use Auto Hold where supported, but verify the captured value corresponds to the final stable reading.
- Record product, batch, location, date/time, operator and temperature. Perform corrective action under the site’s policy when required.
- Clean and sanitize again before switching product categories, then fold for storage.
Worked example: compare two pans
Hypothetical audit: a sauce in pan A is 63 °C (145.4 °F) and in pan B is 57 °C (134.6 °F). The measured difference is 6 °C (10.8 °F). It identifies different sampled temperatures, not automatically a regulatory violation: assess the dish, measuring points, time under control and the local site plan before deciding what to do.
What Auto Hold and min/max do not prove
| Function | Useful for | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Hold | Capturing an apparently stable measurement | Still requires correct probe placement |
| Min/max | Seeing extremes during a measurement session | Not a time-stamped shipment log |
| IP65 housing | Water resistance under specified conditions | Not approval for every sanitizer, dishwasher or immersion method |
| Color-coded strips | Equipment identification | Do not replace sanitation and hand hygiene |
Cleaning and verification
Use the manufacturer’s permitted cleaning process and the site’s food-contact disinfectant instructions, including contact time and chemical compatibility. Inspect seals after cleaning. Check thermometer accuracy with an approved reference procedure at temperatures relevant to use; an instrument’s advertised resolution does not establish its accuracy in an actual food sample. For a comparable probe thermometer’s cleaning and use procedure, see the testo 108-2 food thermometer cleaning guide.
References
testo 104 official product page and instructions; FDA Food Code.