ThermoPro Digital Instant Read Meat Thermometer ($12 at Amazon ... Compared to many of the other models I tested, it has a small, backlit LCD that registers to the nearest one-tenth degree.

These days, most digital thermometers can handle freezing through over 500 degrees. A small display without lighting can be a safety hazard, especially for cooks who don’t have great vision.

However, unlike other models with backlight displays, the Exergen has a relatively small LCD ... I found the large digital display to be the easiest to read of all the thermometers I tested.