What is the best practice for measuring the temperature of cooked liquid food?

The best practice for measuring the temperature of cooked liquid food involves stirring before measuring. When liquids are heated, they can develop hot and cold spots due to uneven heat distribution. Stirring helps to create a more uniform temperature throughout the liquid, ensuring that the reading obtained reflects the actual temperature of the entire volume of food rather than a localized area.

Measuring directly after cooking, while tempting, can lead to inaccurate readings since the temperature may still be fluctuating. Measuring in a shallow bowl can affect the thermal conductivity and may not provide the most accurate reading, as shallow containers might not retain heat evenly. Using an infrared thermometer is not ideal for liquids since it measures surface temperature and may not accurately reflect the internal temperature of the entire liquid. Thus, stirring before measuring is essential for obtaining an accurate temperature reading in cooked liquid foods.