BEST MEAT THERMOMETERS
Selecting the best food thermometer for BBQ, smokers, grills, and oven use. We have tested 40 thermometers and have designed this page to summarize the results and reveal our top picks in each category. From Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wireless probe thermometers, to instant read devices, we'll explain which type of meat thermometer is best for the way you cook.
Whether you’re a meat smoking master or a baking prodigy, you’re likely aware of the virtues of a good, meat thermometer. That burger might look done in the middle, but still be undercooked enough to hurt you.
There’s a difference between food appearing done, and actually being safe to eat. Most commercially-sourced meat contains the potential for contamination from harmful bacteria and pathogens and cooking it to the proper temperature is the best way to ensure your food is safe to eat. - Top Geek | SmokingMeatGeeks.com
Cooking without a good digital thermometer is like driving without a speedometer, building furniture without a tape measure, or filling your tires without a pressure gauge. Invest in good thermometers. They’re inexpensive, fast, and accurate. They will pay for themselves. Nothing will improve your cooking more."- Meathead | AmazingRibs.com
Keep reading to learn everything you ever wanted to know about meat thermometers and smart thermometers in general. Peruse our many test results and full reviews to find the food thermometer that fits your cooking style and needs best.
Meat Thermometers For BBQ, Grilling & Cooking
Choosing the right food thermometer should start with defining exactly what kind of cooking you’re going to be doing.
A powerful Wi-FI thermometer capable of withstanding high heat and bad weather and equipped with a long battery life, might be your go-to. You may even want to find one that can control a blower for maintaining constant temperature. If, you’re just looking for a good way to know your steaks and burgers on the back grill are done, you may want to opt for cheaper Bluetooth thermometer. And if you’re looking to use it for baking and general cooking duties in the kitchen, a reliable instant read meat thermometer is your best choice. Below our the top winners from our testing and reviews of each one of our thermometer categories.
BEST THERMOMETER FOR GRILLING
Signals by ThermoWorksTake your grilling activities further with an improved WiFi/Bluetooth connection. The Signals meat thermometer system already allows you to name channels, set alarms, and get alerts while you BBQ. But now you can get realtime WiFi updates using cloud technology. So now there no reason you can't use the standalone readout model or the app. This device has a rugged standing digital display that's easy to read and has a built-in magnet on the back. Stick it to the side of your grill table or metal frame.
It has additional high-temp probe rings that can identify which thermometer wire goes where you want it. This model also comes with three high-temp cooking probes and one high-temp ambient commercial-grade probe. These allow you to monitor cooking temps from 58- 572 degrees Fahrenheit with accurate readings averaging (0.7-1.0 degrees). And there is a new add-on fan control using the ThermoWorks Billows. When it comes to Barbecuing rain or shine, this model has a great splash-proof IP66 weather-rated housing.
I like that there's an adjustable alarm noise control on the standalone display. It's loud enough to hear it inside the house. Another great plus is the Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery. You'll be glad to know it's also made in the USA by BBQ enthusiasts like you and me.
BEST THERMOMETER FOR SMOKING & BBQ
Fireboard 2Most of us BBQ fans already know Fireboard by name. The Fireboard 2(FBX2) and Fireboard 2 Drive (FB2DX) is our top choice for all your BBQ needs catch our testing and review here.
When it comes to long smoke sessions Fireboard 2 excels in their class for utter simplicity. The realtime display shows you what temperature your meat is, but when consistent low temps are needed for smoking, it's critical. Plus, both of these models can have optional wiring and attachments to add a fan for set-it-and-forget-it pit control. The fan is controlled via the Fireboard app to hold a particular temperature from start to finish.The display is very handy by itself and you can see the temperatures while smoking from up 2 meters away and further. No matter what time of day it is, the monitor will display the current temperature that's easy to read. You can also set this display to show all four temp readings and so the graph charts of your cooking time. Even though many of the better settings can be programmed into the app, you'll get instant control via Bluetooth. This allows you to update temp settings and adjust fan control remotely.
When you're serious about smoking your meats, you can't go wrong with improving your programming features. Even in the case of a stalled smoker, you can't go wrong with instant updates to correct and automatically bring it back up to speed.
RUNNER-UP THERMOMETER FOR SMOKING/BBQ
Smoke XHere's a simple alternative to modern smart thermometers. No need for Wi-Fi, phones, computers, PC Load Letter errors, etc. ThermoWorks has developed a no-frills answer to keeping an eye on your smoked meat temperatures with a 2-in-1 digital display kit. The main display has all your meat thermometer cables attached and the second is an RF receiver display. You can take this mobile monitor around the house and get instant temperature reports instantly. If comes with a handy neck strap just like a coach's stopwatch too.
There are actually two model versions including the X2 and the X4. We tested and reviewed the X4 and you can catch the full writeup and video here. The X2 gives you 2 meat probes with an ambient probe, and the X4 gives you 4 probes with one ambient probe. The best part is that on either of these meat thermometers can connect the Billows blower to maintain optimal temperatures. The Billows blower doesn't need to be synced to Smoke X, making it a great add-on bonus. And your main display does have a few extras that work to your advantage also. You can set the various probe channels and control the alarm volume level, change the temp from Fahrenheit to Celsius, and it has a backlight button to see the LCD display.
Smoke X thermometer also has two strong magnets that allow it to be attached to your metal smoker chamber. The handheld receiver gets instant reports every 30 seconds and can receive reports up to 1000 feet away. It doesn't need any sync-up since it pairs with your main display transmitter the moment they are turned on. Once your meat reaches the set time your alarm notifies you right away. The alarm button can be muted as well.
BEST THERMOMETER FOR BAKING
ThermaPen MK4Maybe grilling and smoking meat isn’t the only thing you’re good at, and you frequently find yourself cooking everything from oven-baked chicken to soups. In that case, you’ll likely want something small, reliable, and wieldy, like the ThermoWorks ThermaPen Mk4 instant read thermometer.
This nifty little digital instant read thermometer uses a Type K Thermocouple probe that goes up to 572F and is accurate within .7F +/-. It’s super fast, reading within about 2 seconds, and has a 3000-hour life on a single battery. An IP67-rating means it is waterproof and impact-resistant.
ThermoWorks added some cool, convenient features, like a self-rotating LCD screen that adjusts to whatever angle you’re holding the thermometer at, and an intelligent backlight that illuminates the screen whenever the room gets dark. It’s perhaps the priciest of digital meat instant read thermometers, but it’s from ThermoWorks.
You really can’t go wrong with the ThermaPen MK4 digital meat thermometer, and you will find yourself using it for every type of food; from those chicken breasts you threw in the pan, to baking homemade breads and cakes, and even creating delicious sauces and candies.
Types of Meat Thermometers
There is no lack of meat thermometers on the market. You will need to decide which type of thermometer is best for your style of cooking, grilling, or baking.
Digital instant read thermometers are the most versatile – great for any occasion. Bluetooth meat thermometers shine when grilling or baking for extended periods of time. And of course, our favorite are Wi-Fi smart thermometers uniquely designed for long smoking sessions.
Instant Read
Known as the all purpose meat thermometer devices. Every cook or grill master should own this tool for everyday cooking. These devices are reliable and most have an instant read ability to render accurate temperature readings within 3 - 5 seconds. See our testing and review of the top instant reads.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth (or wireless) thermometers are at their best when baking, grilling or smoking meats. They are not subject to the limitations of needing a Wi-Fi internet connection. They are equipped with many of the smart features you would expect from a device that can communicate data to your smart phone. See our reviews of the Top Bluetooh Thermometers.
"I always feel everyone should have an instant read thermometer regardless of style of cooking style. However, for my money, you bet I'm going with a Wi-Fi meat thermometer with multi probes as my favorite all-around kitchen accessory."
Wi-Fi
Designed with multiple probes for monitoring the internal grill temperature, meat temperatures, some are even equipped with blower devices which assist in controlling the internal temperature of a grill – all from your smart phone. See the winners from our Wi-Fi Devices for BBQ & Smokers.
Wireless Probes
The latest in smart temperature monitoring are standalone probes that feature both internal and ambient temperture sensors which communicate via Bluetooh to your smart device. These leave-in style thermometers free you from wires while boasting long-lasting battery life. See our Wireless Thermometer Probes.
Thermometer Testing& Reviews
Smoking Meat Geek Reviews - by Top Geek, Jacob Cordero
We've taken the time to breakdown the best meat thermometers in each category: instant read, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi to stand-alone wireless probes. Our articles breakdown what to look out for, what you should know about each type of device and of course, the results of our testing. With so many temperature readers on the market your thermometer must be something you can rely on to check doneness, and it should match your style of how you cook meat or other foods. Welcome to an archive our most popular testing and reviews.
Instant Read
Instant reads are a kitchen staple. We reviewed top sellers; Thermopop, ThermoPro, Maverick and Javelin PRO all to see which ones were the most accurate, obtained the quickest readings and how easy they were to use. The winner for it's quick readings, accuracy and price-point is the Themapen by ThermoWorks[...]
Wi-Fi / Smart
We looked at every mainstream Wi-Fi thermometer; Fireboard, Signals, Flame Boss, UltraQ and more, with Signals by ThermoWorks earning our top spot. These devices are the best device for anyone who BBQs tasty meats. These smart devices are loaded with features and options.[...]]
Bluetooh & Wireless
Wireless thermometers offer remote monitoring without the need to connect to a network like with WiFi devices. These the best bluetooth and wireless thermometers. Coming in at #1 is the Inkbird for its straight forward functionality and entry level price point.[...]
Signals, Wi-Fi Winner [Full Review]
ThemoWorks does it again with Signals, their WiFi + Bluetooth combo. Signals has capabilities to monitor up to four channels simultaneously with flawless connectivity to the cloud. Utilizing their mobile app you can monitor and control each channel from your smart phone. As a latest upgrade to the Signals capabilities it can now control pit temperatures with its thermostatic controller Billows. [...]
SmokeX4, Wireless Winner [Full Review]
We had a chance to spend an afternoon working with the latest wireless thermometer that runs on radio frequencies (RF). With ThermoWorks claiming 1 mile of transmission connectivity it stands as the only thermometer on the market that can offer such a range. We wanted to put the large connective range to the test, here's what we found out[...]
DOT, Bluetooth Winner [Full Review]
The BlueDot took first place as the best bluetooth thermometer. It comes out of the box ready to go, simple and accurate. Below is the product review, including the feedback from our[...]
Tappecue Touch [Full Review]
Tappecue is the original WiFi thermometer. Upon the release of the newest model, The Tappecue Touch, we were contacted by the family owned and operated company out of Kansas City and they asked if we would put their newest device to the test; here's the results[...]
Flame Boss 500 [Full Review]
Flame Boss 500 the newest Wi-Fi thermometer by FlameBoss. It includes everything needed to control pit temperature with a blower fan. This is a great pick for Meat Geeks who love smoking meats. The review explains what we discovered including our full video review[...]
Wireless Temperature Probes [Winners & Losers]
A single probe free from wirers that can report ambient and internal meat temperatures back to your smart device? Sounds a little too good to be true. We thought so too so we rounded up the Meater, MeatStick, AirProbe, and Yummly! and tested them side-by-side [...]
Why you need a good thermometer.
Hacks just won't hack it
"It's safe to bite when the temperature is right"...don't trust age old hacks and gimmicks. According to USDA, one out of four burgers turn brown on the inside before they reach food safe meat temperatures for consumption.
Despite what you read on the internet, you can’t judge a piece of meat’s internal temperature (and thus, it’s safety) simply by looking at it or by feeling it. You should know what the ideal doneness temperature is for any given cut. Any methods you’ve heard of to do so are simply myths. Let's take a look at two of the most popular ways to test doneness without a meat thermometer:
1. Juices running clearFor example, a hamburger or piece of chicken may no longer be pink in the middle but still be unsafe meat to consume. It could also be totally overdone and still be pink thanks to myoglobin in the meat (the protein that causes juices to turn red). In that same vein, gauging how “clear” the juices run isn’t exactly a strict science. Nitrates used for preserving, the age of the meat, and how much oxygen it has been exposed to, can all have large effects on the color of the meat, among other factors.
2. Hand testOn the same note, prodding and pushing a steak with your thumb or finger to see what part of your hand it feels like, and basing your doneness on that, isn’t likely to give you much clue of anything. This has got to be one of the worst methods of judging doneness; no two cuts of meat are alike – and neither are two hands – and trying to compare the fleshy part of your thumb to a rare steak is an exercise in futility, not time-saving chef’s wisdom.
None of these methods are reliable. A meat thermometer is. Invest in one, and you’ll find your brisket gets softer and juicier, your steaks achieve the perfect level of tender, medium-rareness, and your chicken stops coming out as rubbery as a bouncy ball. Furthermore, your fine sauces and desserts, and even your cakes and breads, will reach another level of quality.
Types of Thermometers
There are several different kinds of meat thermometers to choose from. Some are higher-tech and more advanced than others.
There are three common types of meat thermometers: bi-metal dials, thermistors, and thermocouples.
Bi-metal
The most basic kind is the bi-metal dial you’ll usually find on your grill or smoker. You know, the metal dial kind that you find hosted in your grill or smoker’s lid, that look super old-fashioned and the temperature using a small needle and gauge. They use a very low-tech method of reading temperatures, using individual coils that expand with heat and move the dial to indicate temperature. They’re usually cheap and pretty unreliable (see more below).
Digital thermometers
Digital thermometers work a bit different, usually using one of two kinds of probes; thermistor and thermocouples.
Thermistors probes are cheaper and less sophisticated than thermocouple probes, and are usually only accurate to within a few degrees of final temperature. They’re also a bit slower than thermocouple probes. They work by sending a current through a wire in the probe, where a resistor resides, and measures the changes in resistance as they relate to the rising temperature inside the meat.
Thermistor probes are not always a good choice for thinner cuts of meat, as they take longer to register a final temperature reading than other kinds of thermometer. Those seconds can matter when you’re cooking a very thin and unforgiving foods, such as fish or thin chicken filets. Where they excel, however, is when left inside a turkey or large roast in the oven, where the temperature is likely more stable throughout the entire piece of meat.
Thermocouple, probes on the other hand, are much more precise, usually reading temperatures within .7F of true temperature. Instead of just one wire inside the probe, they contain two small wires made of different metals welded together. These two metals react differently to heat, which creates voltages across the wires that is measured by the included meter, and then converted into a readable temperature – usually displayed on the LCD reader screen.
Generally, thermocouple probes are the nicer option, but thermistors are usually perfectly fine for most home use in your kitchen or backyard. The small differences between the two are likely unnoticeable when you’re grilling a couple of nice steaks or whole chicken breasts. Another kind of probe you might see are RTD’s, short for Resistance Temperature Detector. These probes are very accurate and stable, but read out slower than thermocouples, making them a better choice for leaving the probe in the meat, as opposed to quick, instant reads.
Why the bi-metal thermometer that came with your grill sucks.
Bi-metal thermometers and gauges that come with your grill or smoker can’t be trusted.
The coil method they use is not nearly as accurate as more advanced digital thermometers, and the thermometers are usually built to poor quality standards. As a result, these kinds of bi-metal dial thermometers unreliable and prone to very inaccurate temperature readings, often off by up to 50 degrees! They’re also quite slow, taking 30 seconds to a minute to read the final temperature.
Hopefully, you were only planning on using these gauges for monitoring the ambient temperature of the grill. Even if they were accurate, they aren’t designed for using on meat – which is why they sit in the lid of the grill, way too high up to actually tell you even the ambient temperature of the grill.
So why even bother with them?
"It's so hard to get that perfect bark on a brisket with a bi-metal dial gauge because they're rarely ever accurate. I've tested many of them and find that they are usually of by at least 15°F and seen them off by as many as 50°F straight from the factory."
Understanding features of a smart thermometer and how to find the best one.
The term “smart thermometer” generally refers to their ability to sync with your phone or device (either via WiFi, Bluetooth, or the cloud) via an app and give provide you with a variety of “smart features”, such as monitoring the temperature remotely, setting alarms and alerts, and even sharing on social media.
There’s a lot of digital meat thermometers out there, from top-of-the-line WiFi models built for 24-hour long smokes to smaller instant read models just there to ensure your chicken is safe to eat. Where to start? With asking yourself these questions:
1. How Many Probes Do You Need?
This number will also likely be based on what you’re cooking, but how many temperatures probes your meat thermometer comes is an essential consideration in choosing one.
Smoking a piece of meat likely requires at least two probes, so you can monitor both the internal temperature of the meat, and the ambient temperature of the grill. If doing multiple pieces, you will want multiple probes.
If you’re just grilling steaks or chicken, you can likely get away with just one probe or an instant read thermometer – same for baking and other kitchen tasks.
2. How Accurate Are The Probes (And What Type Are They?)
There are a few different types of meat thermometer probes out there, and some are more accurate than others, as well as capable of reading a wider range of temperatures (both ambient and internal). We discussed above about Thermistor probes being less sophisticated and less accurate, but they can usually read meat temperatures accurately within several degrees. The other popular form of probe is the thermocouple probe, which usually costs more but is more accurate (often to with less than one degree of actual temperature), stabilize faster for a good readout, and can read wider temperatures accurately (often up to 572-600°F, some even beyond). Regardless of the type of probe you go with, I always recommend testing a thermometer before using it. Smart thermometers have a lot going on when it comes to hardware -- while they come shipped pre-calibrated -- it's good idea to double check. Since these types of thermometers offer the ability to recalibrate them you can always make adjustments to temperature readings should it be required.
3. What Kind of Smart Features Does It Have?
You may not think so at first, but this is an essential consideration for virtually any meat thermometer. In addition to reading temperatures, most smart thermometers will have app notifications and alerts that pop up on your phone or tablet (in some cases, even on your laptop), and allow you to set custom temperature thresholds and alerts for meat doneness as well as ambient pit temperatures.
Many models even have graphs and charts that allow you to create logs and track how your food cooked, a function you may find particularly useful for all-day smokes.
For more see our complete reviews on the best Bluetooth and Wi-Fi meat thermometers devices.