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Thanksgiving cooking for engineers

Michael Singer Staff Writer, CNET News.com
 
Michael Singer
2 min read

Why take off your engineer hat when you don a kitchen apron this Thanksgiving?

A Web site titled "Cooking for Engineers" explains many of the finer technical questions about convection ovens and other culinary techniques.

 ThermoWorks RT-301 Low Cost Pocket thermometer
Credit: ThermoWorks
ThermoWorks RT-301 Low Cost
Pocket thermometer

"Have an analytical mind? Like to cook? This is the site to read!," the site promises.

Michael Chu, who currently works as a hardware application engineer for a major semiconductor manufacturer (we suspect it's Intel), came up with the idea for the site. Chu's credentials are impressive. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the College of Engineering at University of California, Berkeley in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

I thoroughly enjoyed the discussion on thermometers since I can never figure out if the internal temperature of my Smoked Beer Can Turkey is ever right.

Chu recommends a thermometer with the word "engineer" written all over it:

The ThermoWorks RT-301 Low Cost Pocket thermometer for $14

Oh, yea. This thing has a digital instant-read that uses a thermistor (a resistor whose resistance changes with temperature).

This thing reads internal food temperature in less than 4 seconds. It measures even thin portions like burgers. There is a rotating probe that safely folds into the side for safe storage or carrying in a pocket.

The 4.5-inch long probe reaches into large roasts or deep containers and comes with a recently re-designed super-fast tip.

Chu said he selected the name "Cooking For Engineers" on a whim. He said has no idea if it means "To cook for the purposes of providing engineers with food" or "To instruct engineers in the science and art of cooking".