The Best Wireless Meat Thermometer for Hands-Off Grilling

Bluetooth-enhanced devices have been creeping into the kitchen for several years now, and in thegrilling space, with its affection for precision and gadgets, wireless Bluetooth meat thermometers have become a competitive, fast emerging category. As much as the term is overused, these can fairly be called smart meat thermometers. Going beyond what olderdigital meat thermometers可以,这些新车型承诺改变grilling by eliminating the guesswork once involved in hitting a target temp. Many come equipped with apps that put an encyclopedia of tools and information at the tip of your fingers, providing not just internal temperature readings, but ambient and surface temperatures, too; projected cooking times; pop-up warnings and reminders; the ability to share a cooking dashboard with other grillmasters and devices; as well as interactive recipes, preset temperatures for different proteins, and the space to log your cooking history for future reference.

You do have to fully sign on in order to use them: You’ll have to not only register your device and create an account with your thermometer’s manufacturer, but give their apps permission on your smartphone to access your location. When you’re done you’ll likely get some emails to “please rate your experience cookingChicken Breast” within hours. But these are the table stakes for using most smart devices at this point, so if you already haveAmazon Echoor aGoogle Home, heck if you have a social media or even an email account, some version of this may be happening already and it may be a small price to pay for perfectly smoked piece of meat.

After silencing my inner Luddite, I rounded up top-rated wireless thermometers, fired up a grill, and put them to the test. Find our top picks below and scroll further down for more on how we tested and what didn’t make the cut.

Best wireless meat thermometer overall
Another great (and less expensive) wireless meat thermometer
How does a wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer work?
Who needs a wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer?
How we tested
Factors we evaluated
Other wireless meat thermometers we tested
The takeaway

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There are several things that distinguish the Combustion Predictive Thermometer from the competition. The first is obvious: Unlike the other thermometers, which require using a smartphone or tablet app, the Combustion can be operated with just a Bluetooth-operated display and timer unit. Combustion does have an app, too, but it’s optional thanks to the display. The one notable thing you get from the app that you don’t get from the display is a graph showing your cook progress. Personally, I love not needing the app because it helps reduce my smartphone dependence, but if you do pair the app with the display, the display functions as a Bluetooth extender, broadening the wireless range up to 330 feet (if that distance is unobstructed) of the probe.

The other thing that makes the Combustion stand out is that unlike most wireless thermometers, which have one temperature sensor near the tip of the stainless-steel probe (some fancier ones have a second sensor that measures ambient temperature as well), the Combustion has eight total sensors: seven running down the length of the probe, spaced out at 1 centimeter intervals, and one in the ceramic handle that measures ambient temperature and can withstand temperatures up to 575ºF. No other thermometer on the market has so many sensors, and here’s why it matters: The sensors allow the thermometer to identify the coolest part of the meat on its own, so that you don’t need to stress about finding the thickest, coolest part of your protein. The extra sensors also make it possible to measure the surface temperature, which can be useful for sous vide cooking.

Photo by Travis Rainey, Styling by Joseph De Leo

Additionally, the thermometer requires only a 2-inch minimum insertion. This is helpful because other models require their 3- to 4-inch-long probes to be fully inserted into proteins, all the way up to their handles, which can be tricky with smaller and thinner cuts of meat. And with the thinnest probe of those we tested (the only other comparable thinness is theChefIQ), it’s also the least disruptive to the meat itself.

在这一切之上,它是通过化妆吸引人,with a sleek yellow design that’s easy to spot in a cluttered drawer. The thermometer case is about the size of a Sharpie and charges the probe when not in use, and the minimalist, easy-to-read display timer props up like a picture frame for easy viewing. Combustion’s fine-tuning and attention to detail really comes through in its thermometer, and it seriously distinguishes itself from the others we tested as a class of its own.

Over time the display timer becomes more intuitive to use, but because of its minimalist design, it’s not easy to figure out right out of the box. And for those who don’t need myriad functions in the app—like temperate presets for different types of proteins, recipes, logs of cooking history, etc.—the Combustion app will probably be refreshing in its lo-fi simplicity. But those who want more bells and whistles may find it lacking. (Combustion claims that through firmware updates, the thermometer, its battery, and its app and other functionality will continue to improve over time.)

Probe length:3.8"
Sensors: 8 (7 internal, 1 ambient)
Compatibility:iPhoneandAndroid
Dishwasher-safe:Yes
Bluetooth range:660 feet (with display)
App-free use:Available
Can accommodate multiple probes:Yes

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Because of the Combustion’s advantages, choosing a runner-up is a bit of a challenge—the others are all quite similar, and a lot of what stands out in one thermometer will come down to personal preference, specifically around the app’s usability and functionality. For me, I prefer a simple and intuitive app with an uncluttered interface, and with its sleek design, durable probe, and easy-to-navigate app, theMeater Plusis a great next-best option. And if you choose the stand-alone single probe (instead of the Meater Block, which uses Wi-Fi to extend the thermometers range) is about half the price of the Combustion.

Actually, the Meater Plus is one of the least expensive that we tested, and the most pleasurable to use. The probe has one sensor for internal readings and another in the handle for tracking ambient temperature, and it needs to be inserted only 2.5 inches into your protein. The charging box and Bluetooth extender is powered by a singleAAA battery—others are rechargeable with USB cords—and one battery will last 100 charges.

Critically, unlike most of the other apps, the Meater app factors in resting time, so that if your desired temp is 165ºF, it’ll tell you to remove it from the heat at 160ºF. This is something skilled cooks already know to do, but if you’re going to surrender your hard-earned cooking wisdom to a Bluetooth device, it might as well be at least as clever as you are.

From the app, you can set your target internal temperature by selecting your protein and its specific cut, which are all programmed with temperature presets (you can also easily set a custom target temperature). It’s then easy to track, with a dial that illustrates the progress and updates the remaining cooking time, with preset reminders as well as the option to set additional ones if you need them. There’s also a catalog of video recipes within the app that aren’t interactive, but can be very helpful for getting started and learning how to harness the power of the thermometer. And as with the other thermometers we tested, you can add more probes (up to three, sold separately) and monitor them at the same time.

With just one sensor in the probe, you’ll need to be careful to locate the thickest part of the meat. And I found charging it a touch clunky, as I needed to make sure that the thermometer was properly aligned in the case. Some reviewers have complained of Bluetooth connection issues, but I didn’t have any.

Probe length:5.1"
Sensors:2 (1 internal, 1 ambient)
Compatibility:iPhoneandAndroid
Dishwasher-safe:No
Bluetooth range:165 feet
App free use:With Meater Block
Can accommodate multiple probes:Yes

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Unlike an instant read thermometer or a digital thermometer that connects its probe to a display via a cord, a Bluetooth thermometer typically comes in two parts: a wireless probe and a charging case; there’s no temperature dial in sight. Rather, from a smartphone app, you can track the temperature of the meat (as well as other data, like ambient temps, surface temps, remaining cooking time) and receive temperature alerts, transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth.

These thermometers also give grillmasters and cooks some freedom to roam, no longer needing to stay close to their cooking as they otherwise might—because the charging cases for the probes act as Bluetooth range extenders. Some models claim to work up to 650 feet from the probe. That said, these range claims can be a little iffy. They assume best-case scenarios with no physical obstacles that might get in the way of the signal; in most cases, you’ll need to keep your smartphone device relatively close to the probe and/or its charging case to receive alerts and track progress.

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Wireless bluetooth meat thermometers promise to be a terrifically useful new tool for grillmasters in particular, with 30-hour (and often much more than that) battery lives that make low-and-slow smoking a set-it-and-forget-it affair. And this style of thermometer is especially useful for rotisserie cooking, since it can be inserted into the food and left there without cords coiling around the spit.

While they essentially do have instant-read capabilities, the range of their sensors is customized for cooking meat. For all models we tested, the internal probes have a temperature range that caps out at 212ºF (most models also have a sensor on the handle of the probe, which can withstand much higher ambient temps of the oven or grill). You can’t use them to measure the temperature of oil for deep-frying or as candy thermometers, but given their size and design they wouldn’t be very useful for either anyway.

In addition to using them on the grill and for poultry or roasts in the oven, they’re versatile enough to work in anair fryer, asous vide cooker, stovetop, and some models even claim to be safe fordeep-frying, as long as the sensitive internal probes are fully inserted into the food, protected from the high temperatures of the oil.

Most have thicker probes than more traditional probe thermometers, and they need to be inserted at least a few inches into your food to protect the internal sensors. This makes them better for large roasts, whole birds, and thick cuts than for delicate or smaller proteins like thin fish filets.

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We tested accuracy in boiling water and then moved on to the main event. We grilled, roasted, and air-fried a range of different meats, from large cuts andwhole chickens,tosmaller filets of fish,burgers, and chicken breasts, to test the capabilities of each thermometer. We explored each app to evaluate the setup process, ease of synching, and the range of features and functionalities. If applicable, we used the app presets for our meat selections, following the instructions and paying close attention to the alerts and notifications that our smartphones received, and for apps that don’t include presets, we configured our settings according to USDA guidelines for meat temperatures.

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We fully charged each thermometer, then studied each one’s tutorial to learn correct practices. We took note of the number of sensors on each probe, as well as how much of the probe must be inserted into the meat, to protect the internal sensors from damage.

Then we downloaded the app, set up an account, and started cooking. Using the app, we programmed our desired temperatures and followed the guidance it provided. We took note of excessive reminders and alerts, and also whether or not the app factored in resting time in its programming.

All the thermometers we tested had accurate readings in our hot water tests, but how were the results when applied to food? If it read 135ºF was the doneness what we’d expect.

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Like the Combustion the Meatstick 4X has a meat probe with multiple sensors—three that measure internal temperature, and one ceramic handle. This allows a wider range of readings inside the meat and reduces the risk of improper insertion. It has a robust app with dozens of temperature presets for different types of meat and cooking processes, be it the grill or an air fryer, but I found the app to be more frustrating to use than the others due to excessive warnings, reminders, pushy smartphone permission needs, and seemingly endless pop-ups while using the thermometer. Also the relatively thick, 3.5-inch probe must be fully inserted into the meat, which is challenging with thin or smaller portions.

The ChefIQ Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer is essentially a guided cooking experience, with a charging unit that doubles as a speaker that issues warnings and reminders as you cook. The probe is as thin as the Combustion and it’s shorter, so it requires less depth for insertion, but it only has one sensor, near the tip. The app is quite robust with Instacart integration for shopping, interactive recipes, and all the presets that other models have. For those seeking more of a maximally guided cooking experience with your wireless Bluetooth thermometer, the Chef IQ will be a great option for you, but more skilled cooks may find its range of functions excessive.

From the makers of the reliably excellent ThermoWorks Thermapen (the best instant-read thermometer in our opinion), this wireless thermometer has a less robust but perfectly functional app, as well as a charging case that includes a speaker—to issue alarms and alerts. Its probe has just one sensor for measuring internal temps (additionally, there’s an ambient probe in the handle). It also claims to have a significant 500-foot range; though, as we mentioned, this assumes optimal conditions and minimal obstructions. We found it easier to overcook with the TempSpike, since it doesn’t factor in resting time, but it’s easy to navigate around this concern after repeated use and increased familiarity.

我们很高兴测试Nutrichef智能无线ss Thermometer hoping that its significantly lower price point would translate to excellent value, but ultimately we had to disqualify it from the testing—because it’s not actually wireless. Like some others that claim to be wireless like the Thermopro TP20 or the Inkbird IBBQ, but actually are not, the temperature probes on the Nutrichef connect to a base unit display via cords, andthenthrough an app, the activity can be monitored. Those cords cut down on the freedom and convenience that the Bluetooth versions offer.

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A wireless Bluetooth thermometer is an exciting tool to add to your grilling and roasting arsenal, particularly if you aren’t afraid to incorporate your smartphone into your cooking and don’t mind the potential for Bluetooth devices to track activity and have access to smartphone data. TheCombustion Predictive Thermometeris a cut above the competition in this category with its separate display timer and multi-sensor probe. And for a solid wireless Bluetooth thermometer that offers a clean and straightforward app experience, theMeater Plusis also an excellent and less expensive option.