There are plenty of choices in the world of smart meat thermometers, so it’s worth checking what you’re getting: is your choice wired, wireless, or “mostly” wireless? Does it have a companion app? Can it be used in multiple cooking situations and what is the range? These food thermometers are some of the most popular options on the market.
There are many different types of thermometers, and for a quick meal like burgers, a simple hand probe will do the job. If you’re looking at a roast, ribs, or other cuts of meat that take hours to complete, you’ll want a wireless probe that uses an app or otherwise has some level of connectivity or smarts. Selecting a “smart” interface can really help you take your cook to the next level by sending temperature automation, alerts and notifications straight to your phone, meaning even if you walk away from the grill – or the house. – always know what’s going on under the grill lid.
Meat Stick X
Check temps for both meat and ambient heat
Pros
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Truly wireless control
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Uses readily available AA batteries
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Dual temperature sensors
cons
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Limited range when used with the door/lid closed
The MeatStick X is a true wireless meat thermometer. It uses a probe with two AA batteries that connects to your smartphone. It has two sensors, one at the base of the stick and one at the tip, to give you both the internal meat temperature and the ambient temperature around it. It is fryer, sous vide and dishwasher safe. The range would be 33 feet if used with an open grill or BBQ, and 6 feet with a closed grill or in an oven.
Meat Stick X
Check temps for both meat and ambient heat
Nice smart thermometer
Smart device in a small package
Pros
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Dual temperature sensors
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Uses AAA batteries
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Good range
Yummly’s Smart Thermometer is also a wireless stick probe that connects to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. It has dual temperature sensors and is charged via a dock that uses two AAA batteries. Charging takes approximately 25 hours between charges. The thermometer is not dishwasher safe, but can be cleaned with soapy water. The probe is splash-proof, but cannot be submerged in water. It can connect to devices up to 50 meters away.
Nice smart thermometer
Smart device in a small package
meater
Meater wireless smart meat thermometer
Wonder in wood look
Pros
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Dual temperature sensors
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Rechargeable
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Beautiful wooden box
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Can detect meat type
Meater is a wireless stick probe that uses dual sensors to provide ambient and internal temperatures. The range is 30 feet (although the Meater Plus can read up to 50 feet away). The probe is dishwasher safe. Meater’s app is simple to use: just insert the probe and Meater claims it can see what kind of meat you’re cooking. It gives you a range of doneness, and you can adjust those ranges to your preferences. The Meater lasts up to 24 hours between charges and is charged by an AAA battery in the attractive magnetic wooden storage case. Check out our full Meater review to learn more.
Meater wireless smart meat thermometer
Wonder in wood look
iGrill 3
Simple device from BBQ giant
Pros
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Multiple probes
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Good range
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Uses AAA batteries
cons
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Not really wireless
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No reading on the device
Weber’s iGrill 3 is a “mostly” wireless meat thermometer that works a little differently than the others listed here. It is purpose built to work with Weber grills and is made to be permanently mounted on your grill. There is no readout on the device itself, so you have to run the app to see the temps. It uses a base station with wired probes. The iGrill 3 comes with two probes and the base station can handle up to four. It is powered by three AAA batteries and connects up to 50 meters away via Bluetooth.
iGrill 3
Simple device from BBQ giant
Inkbird meat thermometer with four probes
Multiple probes for many meats and dishes
Pros
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Rechargeable
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Magnetic back for easy storage or visibility
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Alarm clocks, timers and more
The Inkbird IBT-4XC is a “largely” waterproof meat thermometer. Like the iGrill 3, it has wired probes that plug into a base unit. The Inkbird stands out in that it is completely portable and has a magnetic back to keep it in place near your grill or oven. It’s also the only probe on our list with a built-in lithium battery that charges via USB. It has a range of 150 feet and the app provides timers, alarms and estimated time remaining for your cook.
Inkbird meat thermometer with four probes
Multiple probes for many meats and dishes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a wireless meat thermometer?
When it comes to wireless probes, there are a number of different styles to consider. Some companies have gone with a completely wireless system, with a stick probe that is powered and sends a signal back to your smartphone. The other style includes a probe with a wire that plugs into a base unit that you leave next to the oven barbecue, which then sends a wireless signal to your smartphone. So consider these options completely wireless and “mostly” wireless.
The great thing about wireless is that you no longer have to stay in the house to look at a wired temperature probe. There are also issues with wires tangling, causing you to lose your grip on your roast in the heavy pan and worrying about getting burned if they have to be moved. Wireless solves all these problems and makes things easier and simpler, which is really the goal here.
The other big advantage is that you know at a glance exactly where your roast is in the cooking process. Not only can you see where the meat is in terms of heat, but most apps will also give you a graph to show its progress over time, and alarms/timers to tell you when your meat has reached the desired temperature. No more opening or grilling the oven a hundred times, which slows down cooking while checking it over and over. For things like spareribs – with multiple steps based on temperature – all the guesswork is gone: just open your smartphone, load the app and you can see the status of your food in an instant. Still not sold? We wrote extensively about whether a smart food thermometer is worth it, so you can judge for yourself.
Smart gas grills
It’s also worth spilling some ink on other new technology designed to help you grill and barbeque better. Gas grill makers like Weber are now natively building smart technology into their grills, so it won’t be long before add-on appliances are obsolete. Weber’s brand new Gensis smart grill claims to be “the greatest grilling innovation in decades, creating a complete backyard culinary experience”. With this grill, you can replace the grill grate with custom Weber Crafted grilling utensils, which use Weber Connect smart technology for real-time food temperature alerts. It sounds pretty futuristic and a little hard to fathom, so we’re going for a spin this spring. Check out our review of the Weber Genesis smart grill over the coming weeks.
Whichever wireless probe you choose, you can rest assured that you can get your food off the grill or out of the oven at the perfect time, and say goodbye to overcooked and undercooked foods.
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