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Those with a knack for whipping up delicious meals in the kitchen know how important temperature control is. It’s even more critical when cooking roasts or grilling poultry, red meat and fish. It prevents food from being undercooked, which can be harmful when consumed, and lets you closely monitor cooking temperatures so you can cook your meals to perfection.
The best meat thermometers are easy to use and offer fast response times to alert you when cooking temperatures meet or exceed a set threshold. Smart thermometers allow you to receive notifications straight to your smartphone, but traditional thermometers are cheaper, and if they’re equipped with a high-grade probe, they’ll also do the trick.
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We researched numerous meat thermometers and found the Meater Plus Long-Range Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer to be the very best for most cooks. Thanks to its app, you can monitor the progress of your food and receive an alert when it’s done.
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Editors’ Choice: Meater Plus Long-Range Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer
Temperature Range: Internal Max up to 212 degrees and Ambient Max up to 527 degrees | Response Time: 3 seconds | Probe Length: NA | Display Type: Smart | Waterproof or Water Resistant: Water resistant
A smart thermometer is excellent for monitoring meat temperature no matter where you are. The Meater Plus Long-Range Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer has an open-air wireless Bluetooth range of over 1,000 feet. In homes with walls and obstacles, the average range is approximately 165 feet.
The app works with iOS and Android tablets and smartphones and provides estimated cook times. The guided cook system removes all the guesswork so you get consistent results every time, and you can set up custom alerts and notifications. Plus, you can monitor multiple meals cooking simultaneously, and if you need a range boost, you can bridge the connection with a second smartphone connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
This smart thermometer is suitable for preparing meals in various ways, including BBQ, oven, grill, kitchen, smoker and rotisserie. The wireless design makes it convenient for those who want to multitask around the house without worrying if the meat is cooked at the right temperature.
Great Value: Alpha Grillers Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Temperature Range: Up to 300 degrees | Response Time: 2 to 3 seconds | Probe Length: NA | Display Type: LCD | Waterproof or Water Resistance: IP67 waterproof rating
Those who want a traditional thermometer that monitors temperatures when cooking foods such as meats, liquids, deep-fried appetizers and candy will not be disappointed with the Alpha Grillers Meat Thermometer. This thermometer is easy to use thanks to a large LCD and adjustable probe, and it comes with two batteries so you can use it as soon as you open it.
It has a large dial with a bright blue backlight to monitor temperature easily, whether you’re grilling outdoors in low light or baking in the kitchen. It has an IP67 protection rating, meaning it can be submerged in 1 meter of water for up to two minutes without damage, and it boasts a response time of 2 to 3 seconds. It has a meat temperature chart and four hook-and-loop dots for storage, and it’s pre-calibrated and ready to go right out of the box.
It’s a simple thermometer, and sometimes, that’s all you need to get a thoroughly cooked meal the way you want. It’s one of the cheaper meat thermometers on our list, but it works well in most cases and offers fast response times while delivering consistent results.
Responsive and Intuitive: ThermoPro TP-17 Dual Probe Digital Cooking Meat Thermometer
Temperature Range: 14 to 572 degrees | Response Time: 0.5 seconds | Probe Length: 8.5” | Display Type: LCD | Waterproof or Water Resistance: NA
The ThermoPro TP17 Dual Probe Digital Cooking Meat Thermometer is slightly more advanced than traditional meat thermometers but isn’t overly complicated. It’s an excellent smoker thermometer that flashes and beeps to tell you if your grill’s temperature exceeds your desired temperature range and when to add more fuel.
We love this thermometer because you can monitor two pieces of meat or grill temperatures without changing probes or using different devices. It features USDA preset temperatures, but you can manually adjust and set your preferred temperature. The large display features temperatures and a timer for an intuitive experience, and the backlight makes it easy to see temperatures in low-light conditions.
It offers terrific response times, immediately alerting you of temperature changes. What’s more, it’s certified by the National Sanitation Foundation Institute, making it safe for all foods. It’s slightly more expensive than a traditional thermometer, but it’s a terrific mid-tier probe thermometer considering its additional features.
Bargain Pick Smart Thermometer: ThermoPro Wireless Meat Thermometer
Temperature Range: 15.8 to 572 degrees | Response Time: 2 seconds | Probe Length: NA | Display Type: Digital | Waterproof or Water Resistance: NA
The ThermoPro Wireless Meat Thermometer offers wireless connectivity so you can multitask without worrying about monitoring your cooking temperatures closely. It has a 650-foot Bluetooth range and features dual probes to get simultaneous temperature readings for two different meats at once.
The app is highly intuitive and provides real-time alerts when meat temperature changes. You can set your preferred food temperatures, customize alarms and timers and view graphs on your phone that show temperature trends.
It comes loaded with USDA presets, which takes the guesswork out of cooking, but doesn’t offer as many premium features as other smart thermometers. However, for the relatively low cost, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better smart thermometer that delivers accurate results.
Easiest to Use: Weber Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Temperature Range: 32 to 446 degrees | Response Time: 15 seconds | Probe Length: 8” | Display Type: Digital | Waterproof or Water Resistance: No
The Weber Instant Read Meat Thermometer is as close to a traditional thermometer as you’ll get. However, this meat thermometer features a digital screen instead of a dial, which makes it easy to read temperatures. It provides fast, accurate readings, and you can toggle between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
It boasts a temperature range of 32 to 446 degrees and works well whether you’re grilling over gas or charcoal. It’s powered by a single CR2032 battery, and it’s easy to clean — just wipe it with a clean, dry cloth. This simple maneuver helps prepare it for future use and keeps it in mint condition so it always provides accurate readings.
Although it isn’t nearly as advanced as the other meat thermometers on our list, this is an excellent bare-bones unit for anyone who wants a simple thermometer to monitor cooking temperature. It’s easy to use, works fast and provides consistent results.
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Meat thermometer types
A meat thermometer may be a simple tool, but there are several different kinds of meat thermometers available for today’s cook. Let’s take a look.
Leave-in analog meat thermometers
These old-fashioned dial thermometers remain in the meat while it cooks. While inexpensive and easy to use, they’re also difficult to read without removing the meat from the oven since you have to look closely to see the reading on the dial.
Although they take longer to provide accurate temperature readings, analog meat thermometers are sturdy and, unlike digital thermometers, they don’t require batteries.
Instant-read analog meat thermometers
Inexpensive and readily available, these dial-top thermometers require a minute or less to provide a temperature reading once you insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat. It can be difficult to read the temperature because you have to look closely at the dial, and you’ll get an inaccurate reading if you insert the thermometer incorrectly.
To get accurate readings, make sure the stem of an analog instant-read thermometer is inserted at least 2 inches into the food. Instant-read analog thermometers do not remain in the meat while it cooks.
Digital instant-read meat thermometers
Just push the probe into the thickest part of the meat, wait a few seconds, and read the temperature. Digital instant-read meat thermometers don’t stay inside the oven while the meat cooks. They work the same as analog thermometers, but they have an LCD screen that makes it easier to read temperatures and get faster readings. They also provide more accurate readings since they can measure temperature to a 10th of a degree, while most analog thermometers can only do so by increments of 1 degree.
Leave-in digital probes
These thermometers provide the best of both worlds: The probe remains inside the meat as it cooks, and the base unit sits on a nearby counter where you can easily read it. A cord, which is thin enough not to break the oven door seal, connects the two. These are accurate and easy to use and often have additional features, such as a timer and alarm.
Disposable pop-up indicators
You’ll most often use these in whole turkeys, and some meatpackers sell their turkeys with the pop-up indicator already in place. The indicator should pop up when the bird’s interior reaches the recommended temperature of 165 degrees.
Pop-up indicators are manufactured under strict quality-control measures to ensure accuracy within 2 degrees.
Leave-in wireless digital probes
These thermometers are similar to digital leave-in probes, but they transmit wirelessly to the base unit and, like most digital thermometers, are highly accurate to a 10th of a degree. That makes this type of thermometer a great choice for both outdoor grilling and indoor cooking.
For more, including tips for calibrating and using your meat thermometers, visit the official BestReviews website.
