Best for smoking
1. ThermoPro TP20
ThermoPro TP20 is a dual-probe wireless meat thermometer that lets you monitor meat and ambient temperatures from a distance of up to 300 feet. It can be used for meat, fish, and candy and it is suitable for use in ovens, slow cookers, grills, and smokers. The thermometer features a durable transmitter, a receiver with a large backlit display, and two 6.5-inch stainless steel probes with heat-resistant wires measuring 40 inches in length.
ThermoPro TP20 is accurate within 1.8°F and takes 5 seconds to display a full reading. Its temperature range is 32°F to 572°F. The key features of this top-notch wireless meat thermometer include 9 USDA presets, custom peak temperatures, countdown and count up timers, time and temperature alerts, and signal-loss alarms.
ThermoPro TP20 comes with a 1-year warranty. If you register the product upon purchase, you get the extended 3-year warranty with free probe replacements.
| Technical specifications | |
|---|---|
| Response Time | ? |
| Accuracy | ± 1.8°F |
| Temperature Range | 32°F-572°F (0°C-300°C) |
| Battery Life | ? |
| Backlit Display | |
| Magnet | |
| Range | 300ft |
Best for barbecue
2. Maverick ET-732
Maverick ET-732 is a dual-probe wireless meat thermometer that lets you monitor meat and ambient temperatures from a distance of 300 feet. It is suitable for use in ovens, grills, and smokers and it can only be used for meat and fish. The thermometer consists of a transmitter and a receiver with a backlit LCD display. It features a 6-inch meat probe and a 3-inch ambient temperature probe, both made of stainless steel. The probes come with wires heat-resistant to 716°F.
Maverick ET-732’s margin of error is 5°F, its temperature range is 32°F to 572°F, and its average response time is about 12 seconds. The thermometer’s feature set includes countdown and count up timers, programed temperature alarms, and signal-loss alerts.
Maverick ET-732 comes with a 90-day warranty.
| Technical specifications | |
|---|---|
| Response Time | ? |
| Accuracy | ± 3-4°F |
| Temperature Range | 32°F-572°F (0°C-300°C) |
| Battery Life | ? |
| Backlit Display | |
| Magnet | |
| Range | 300ft |
Best for oven roasting
3. MEATER Thermometer
MEATER is a wireless smart meat thermometer with a communication range of up to 33 feet. It exclusively consists of a 5-inch dual-sensor probe that monitors food and ambient temperatures. It communicates with your mobile devices via a free app for Android and iOS.
The thermometer is made of stainless steel and ceramics. It can be used in pans, slow cookers, ovens, smokers, rotisseries, kamados, and grills. It is only suitable for meat and fish. MEATER is accurate within 1°F and it reads the temperature once per second. The ambient temperature sensor can be exposed to temperatures up to 527°F while the internal sensor can withstand temperatures of up to 212°F.
The key features of MEATER include presets, custom time and temperature alerts, cook and rest time estimates, and Guided Cook System that walks you through the entire cooking process. MEATER comes with a 1-year warranty.
| Technical specifications | |
|---|---|
| Response Time | ? |
| Accuracy | ± 1°F |
| Temperature Range | ?-212°F (?-100°C) |
| Battery Life | 24-72 hours |
| Backlit Display | N/A |
| Magnet | |
| Range | 33ft |
Best for brisket
4. Inkbird BBQ Thermometer
Inkbird Meat Thermometer is an affordable dual-probe wireless meat thermometer with a communication range of 150 feet. It measures both food and ambient temperatures. It can be used in ovens, grills, smokers, and slow cookers. It is suitable for everything from meat and fish to baked goods and homebrew.
The thermometer features a small plastic body that accommodates 2 stainless steel probes with long wires. It comes with a free app for Android and iOS. Inkbird Meat Thermometer is accurate within 2°F, its temperature range is 32°F to 482°F (572°F for instant temperature checks), and it provides readings in just a few seconds.
The main features of the thermometer include temperature graph, 8 USDA presets with doneness levels, custom peak temperatures, countdown timer, time, temperature, and signal-loss alarms, and auto shut-off. The thermometer comes with a 1-year warranty.
| Technical specifications | |
|---|---|
| Response Time | ? |
| Accuracy | ± 2°F |
| Temperature Range | 32°F~572°F (0°C~300°C) |
| Battery Life | ? |
| Backlit Display | |
| Magnet | |
| Range | 150ft |
Best for multiple cuts
5. GrillEye Thermometer
GrillEye Meat Thermometer is a wireless meat thermometer designed for remote meat and ambient temperature monitoring from a distance of up to 300 feet. It accommodates up to 6 probes. It is primarily designed for smoking and grilling, but it can be used in any cooking unit. Apart from meat, it can be used for baked goods as well.
The thermometer has a clear circular display showing both current and target temperatures. It comes with 2 probes, both 3.7 inches long, FDA approved, made of stainless steel, and resistant to temperatures up to 716°F. GrillEye measures temperatures between -58°F to 572°F and it is normally accurate within 4°F. Temperature readings are constantly refreshed, with virtually no delays.
With the dedicated GrillEye app for Android and iOS, you can choose from multiple USDA presets, set custom peak temperatures and timers, receive time and temperature alerts, and more.
The thermometer comes with a 1-year warranty.
| Technical specifications | |
|---|---|
| Response Time | ? |
| Accuracy | ± 1.8°F |
| Temperature Range | -122°F-572°F (-50°C-300°C) |
| Battery Life | 168+ hours |
| Backlit Display | |
| Magnet | |
| Range | 300ft |
Why Get A Wireless Meat Thermometer
As tools that have revolutionized outdoor cooking, wireless meat thermometers are of the greatest use to amateur and pro BBQ chefs and cooks who use smokers and rotisseries on a regular basis. However, with advancements in technology and significant decreases in prices, wireless meat thermometers have become valuable assistants to all home cooks who want to up their meat cooking game.
The greatest advantage of a wireless meat thermometer is that it allows you to do household chores, prepare side dishes or simply relax while the meat is cooking, without the fear of undercooking or burning it. You no longer have to sweat by the stove or grill since your wireless meat thermometer is there to alert you when it is time to remove the meat from heat.
Another benefit of wireless models is their great versatility. The best wireless meat thermometers are not only suitable for use in ovens, smokers, grills, and rotisseries but they can also be used in pans and deep fryers, covering all your meat cooking needs. Furthermore, many models can be used for other foods as well, monitoring the temperature of candy, baked goods, and even homebrew.
In addition to remote temperature monitoring and a vast range of potential uses, wireless meat thermometers provide great programmability and they are often more feature-rich than other temperature monitoring tools. From a multitude of presets, custom peak temperatures, timers, and alerts to useful cook and rest time estimates, they offer everything you need to achieve professional meat cooking results.
In other words, if you are tired of standing by the grill, if you want a versatile tool that can be of use in all of your cooking projects, and if you appreciate an impressive feature set, a wireless meat thermometer is the right choice for you.
How Wireless Meat Thermometers Work
Wireless meat thermometers were developed to facilitate meat cooking by allowing for remote temperature monitoring. They use technologies like radio frequency, Bluetooth or WiFi to transmit information to the user who may be just 10 or as many as 300 feet away from the cooking unit.
Meat thermometers of this kind generally come in 2 varieties. You can either opt for a wireless meat thermometer with a receiver and a transmitter or you can choose a thermometer that does not feature a mobile receiver but instead communicates with your smartphone or tablet via a dedicated app. Both varieties come with probes that are attached to the transmitter with heat-resistant wires.
If you opt for a wireless meat thermometer with a transmitter and a receiver, you use the receiver to view the current temperature, choose the desired peak temperature, set timers, receive alerts, and more. With thermometers that come with smartphone apps, you can access all the above-mentioned information and programming options via your mobile device.
Recent technological advancements have led to the creation of another type of wireless meat thermometers that actually come with zero wires. Such thermometers eliminate the need for a base unit and exclusively consist of a smart probe that communicates with your smartphone or tablet. These innovative tools are not common on the market and they currently suffer from such drawbacks like a limited communication range. Further developments may solve such issues and make these thermometers even more appealing to cooks who appreciate innovations.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing The Best Wireless Meat Thermometer
When shopping for a wireless meat thermometer, it is crucial not to get carried away by flashy extras and assume that all models come with all the basic and truly useful features. To help you understand what a wireless meat thermometer needs to provide in order to be labeled as the best of the best, we will now provide an overview of the characteristics you should focus on when making your choice.
Communication Range
Since the main purpose of a wireless meat thermometer is to allow for remote temperature monitoring, the communication range of the thermometer is one of the main factors that should influence your purchasing decision. The best wireless meat thermometers can work over a distance of up to 300 feet and they never have communication ranges smaller than 33 feet.
Even if you choose a thermometer with a smaller range, be sure to check whether the presence of obstacles can significantly diminish the range and reduce it to, say, 5 feet. This issue is rather common among less powerful wireless models and limits the usefulness of the tool.
Accuracy
If you want your meat to be perfectly cooked, you should opt for a wireless meat thermometer that is accurate within 1-2°F. A margin of error of up to 5°F is tolerable, but anything beyond that can adversely affect your cooking results.
Speed
The best wireless meat thermometers usually provide readings in up to 7 seconds, with minor variations. In low and slow cooking, a response time of up to 10-12 seconds is fine, but be sure to choose a faster thermometer if you usually cook on high heat.
Temperature Range
Wireless meat thermometers need to have wide temperature ranges because temperatures can get rather high in grills and similar cooking units. Generally, you should look for a range of 32°F – 572°F, but the ultimate choice depends on the maximum temperature in the cooking units you normally use.
Probes
The probes need to be long (preferably 5+ inches) and made of food-grade stainless steel. Water resistance is a great plus.
A single probe is fine if you only want to monitor the temperature of 1 meat cut. For multiple cuts or ambient temperature monitoring, you need a dual-probe or multi-probe wireless meat thermometer.
Features
The best wireless meat thermometers come with a variety of useful features, the most important of which include countdown and count up timers, USDA presets for different meat types and doneness levels, custom peak temperatures, time and temperature alarms, and automatic shut-off. Handy extra features may include temperature graphs, cook and rest time estimates, minimum and maximum temperatures, and signal-loss alarms.
Versatility
To get the best value for your money, make sure that the wireless meat thermometer of your choice can be used in different cooking units and with different food types. Top-of-the-line models can be used in ovens, grills, smokers, rotisseries, kamados, deep fryers, slow cookers, and pans and they can be used for meat, fish, bread, candy, oil, homebrew, coffee, and much, much more.
Durability
Even if you get the most budget-friendly wireless meat thermometer, you want it to last for at least a year. The durability of a wireless meat thermometer is mainly determined by material quality, water and shock resistance, and heat tolerance. Checking the warranty period is also a good idea because it allows you to estimate the expected lifespan.
Price
Wireless meat thermometers use advanced technologies, so they are worth paying a bit extra. However, you should keep in mind that you can get an excellent wireless meat thermometer for just around $30.