This handy dishwasher plate thermometer gives you a precise temperature of the water inside your dishmachine, recording both the surface temperature and maximum temperature during a complete cycle. Load the waterproof dishwasher thermometer into a rack—the rubberized rim will protect other dishware in the rack from chipping—and the digital thermometer will do the rest. Accurate to within +/- 1.8ºF, the thermometer registers temperatures from 32ºF to 194ºF in tenths of a degree. How hot does water have to be to sterilize dishes? According to the FDA Food Code, hot enough for dishware surfaces to reach 180ºF for at least 15 seconds. Typically, that means a final rinse water temperature of 190ºF. The 5” x 5” x 5/8” TempRite dishwasher plate thermometer will tell you if your dishmachine hit the mark. The unit includes a NIST Traceable Calibration certificate, and requires a CR2032 battery.