If you don’t have much time and just want to find out what the best smoker thermometer is, then I recommend the MEATER Long Range Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer as the best one.
When I’m smoking my meat, either for a family get-together in the backyard or just for a night in with some classic barbecue, I want my meat to be cooked to the perfect temperature. Digital meat thermometers with wireless monitors are a far cry from the tangle of cords and buttons I used to use.
Why Do You Need a Smoker Thermometer?
A good smoker comes with a temperature gauge that helps you keep track of the temperature of the smoking chamber. The problem is that these readings can be notoriously difficult to interpret. It takes experience to know what you’re looking at.
A digital meat thermometer with a wireless monitor can help you bypass some of this experience. This way, you have direct control over your meat’s internal temperature. You can, then, adjust your smoker accordingly, and get the best results out of your propane or wood smoker.
How to Choose the Best Meat Thermometer
A wireless thermometer is useful even if you’re cooking alone. However, these thermometers are at their best when I can keep an eye on dinner while enjoying the company. There’s nothing worse than thinking about the temperature the whole time while trying to talk to your guests, except of course for forgetting about it altogether.
This is why I always look for the distance at which these monitors remain accurate before buying one. You want a few hundred feet to ensure that you can be anywhere in the house and still have an accurate read on your meat outside.
You also want to make sure your thermometer has been tested for accuracy and reads up to 200+ degrees. Other conveniences might include presets. Presets tell you the safe doneness temperature of different kinds of commonly available meats.
Advantages of Digital Thermometers
Of course, you could indeed Google this information. But having these presets right there on the monitor is really handy, trust me. It keeps you aware of the cooking times for each meat. And if you have multiple readings going on several cuts, it’s way better to have all the information in one place.
Speaking of multiple cuts, if you like to entertain and run your smoker with a bunch of different meats at once, look for a thermometer that has several temperature nodes. Some come with as many as 6.
There are also many thermometers now that connect by Bluetooth right to your smartphone or tablet. This is a great feature for those who frequently use their phone. I remember looking up something after getting distracted at a family gathering and reminding myself by seeing the app that the meat was just about done.
When I’m entertaining, I want to be able to monitor the meat with as much simplicity as possible. You don’t need a remote with a ton of buttons to do this: some thermometers have simple interfaces with just one button. Others run purely through the app.
The features of some thermometers aren’t limited to measuring temperature. Some of them have algorithms built in that calculate the cooking time for you. They might even include a guess about how long to let the meat rest for the optimum serving temperature.
What’s the Best Way to Use a Digital Meat Thermometer?
If you’ve bought a suitably advanced meat thermometer like the one I have, there’s a bit of prep work you have to do to get the most out of it. First, figure out the different cuts of meat you’re working with and select the right presets.
Some thermometers give you cooking and resting time estimates. This lets you plan way ahead, which is particularly useful when you plan on entertaining.
Next, distribute as many nodes as you prefer between the different cuts. Some thermometers come with quite a few! Then, using whichever monitoring method you prefer – either a handheld monitor or smartphone connection – you can keep track of your smoker without being there.
Meat Thermometer Reviews
ThermoPro Wireless Digital Thermometer
While not the most advanced-looking thermometer, the ThermoPro mimics the feel of the old wired versions. But it comes with durable, upgraded features. If I was going to buy a meat thermometer for my dad, this is the one I’d buy.
It comes with nine presets for different kinds of meat and two stainless steel probes to multitask two cuts of meat at once, or even to use one as a monitor of the ambient smoker or oven temperature. It reads temperature accurately up to an impressive 300 feet away and even comes with a 3-year warranty.
ThermoPro reads accurately up to 300 degrees and has been certified by every consumer organization you can think of, including the FCC, CE, and ROHS.
Pros:
- Old-school design with durable monitor
- Two probes for multitasking two readings
- Nine presets for different types of meat
- Tested and approved by several consumer organizations
- Impressive warranty
Cons:
- Grill clip is a little slippery
- Its alarm is a bit quiet and can’t be adjusted
Wireless Meat Thermometer
For even more heavy-duty cooking, this Wireless Meat Thermometer measures temperatures up to 572 degrees. The best feature of this one is the 6 nodes for simultaneous monitoring of different cuts of meat.
It comes pre-programmed with modes for 11 types of food. One convenient feature of this thermometer is its ability to link to the latest iPhone and Android devices via Bluetooth.
This does cut down on its range a little, however, to about 100 feet indoors or 170 feet outdoors. Still, if your patio and backyard are set up at all like mine, that should be plenty of room to mingle with your guests or help out in the kitchen and still keep tabs on your smoker.
Pros:
- 6 nodes for simultaneous monitoring
- Bluetooth connectivity to Apple and Android devices
- 11 presets for temperature management of specific meats
- Magnetic back so you don’t have to worry about clips
Cons:
- Batteries are prone to falling out
- The app tends to crash and needs to be reset
MEATER Wireless Meat Thermometer
Most meat thermometers, even those that come with an app or monitor attachment, have some kind of wire, usually leading from the probe to the sensor. What makes the MEATER the best meat thermometer for grilling is that it completely gets rid of all wires.
The probe that goes into the meat is self-sustaining and completely wireless. It connects to your smartphone through a free app available for iOS and Android and even tablets.
For beginners, the app is especially helpful. It comes with a guided cooking tour, telling you how to make your specific cut of meat perfect. It calculates the cooking time for you and even includes resting time. That way, you can be sure you’ll serve it perfectly without ever worrying.
Pros:
- 100% wireless probe means no hassling with cords or the smoker door
- Connects directly to smartphones and tablets for easy access to your temperature and alarms
- Comes with a cooking guide and a smart algorithm to help you determine your exact cooking strategy
Cons:
- The software needs occasional updates
- Less accurate for ambient temperatures than for internal temperatures. Recommended for propane smokers and grills but not as much for charcoal
Cappec Bluetooth Digital Meat Thermometer
This is a low-tech option. Still, the Cappec instant-read meat thermometer measures up to 500 degrees and has two stainless steel probes for multiple temperature measurements.
It connects by Bluetooth to iOS and Android devices for easy readability up to 100 feet away. This is a no-frills, single readout device with a simple three-button interface.
Pros:
- Simplistic interface and more traditional wired probes for familiar use
- Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones
Cons:
- Meat probe sometimes slip
- It’s better to stay a bit less than 100 feet away from the smoker when using this thermometer
Weber iGrill 2 Thermometer
The Weber iGrill 2 is a top-rated meat thermometer. It is heat-resistant up to 716 degrees. It includes two meat probes but has the capacity for four. It connects to a free app and even allows you to leave the thermometer in after cooking to determine the ideal serving temperature.
Preset monitoring temperatures give you versatility with different cuts of meat. The Weber’s 200-hour battery life is second to none. It’s just perfect for those overnight smoking endeavors.
Pros:
- High heat resistance
- Extra slots for probes
- Amazing 200-hour battery life
Cons:
- The app is a little glitchy
- The distance of accurate readout is a little too variable
Conclusion
The MEATER Long Range Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer represents meat monitoring advancing to the modern age. I love its guided cook system, which gives you a step-by-step guide of the cooking process for whatever cut of meat you enter into its system.
You may think this is only useful for novices, but even advanced cooks could make use of its algorithms. Indeed, they calculate not only how long the meat needs to cook to be done but how long it needs to rest before serving.
Best of all, it’s the only completely wireless probe I’ve seen. The probe itself connects directly to your phone via Bluetooth. This not only saves hassle with cords. It also reduces the reasons to open the smoking chamber doors and improves the efficiency of the device all around.
