How should thermometers be maintained for accurate readings?

Keeping thermometers in a cup of ice slush is crucial for maintaining accurate readings because it helps ensure that they are properly calibrated for low-temperature measurements. Ice slush creates a stable and uniform temperature environment, allowing the thermometer to accurately reflect the freezing point of water, which is essential for checking food storage temperatures and adhering to food safety guidelines.

This method helps avoid fluctuations and inaccuracies that can result from storing thermometers in environments that are too warm or exposed to direct sunlight. Maintaining thermometers in ice slush also helps to prevent any residual heat from affecting the readings, ensuring more reliable performance when measuring temperatures of perishable items.

In contrast, storing thermometers in warm water or a drawer can lead to inaccurate measurements due to potential exposure to temperatures outside the ideal calibration range, while direct sunlight can introduce additional heat and skew results.