If you are a barbecue enthusiast or a cooking aficionado, you certainly need something to enhance your meat-cooking skills, and a meat thermometer is an indispensable tool for you. It can help you achieve perfectly cooked meat, earning you applause at your barbecue parties.
Nowadays, there are various types of meat thermometers. We have also discussed them in previous articles. In this guide, we will introduce you to the top 5 value-for-money wireless grill thermometers for 2023. Among them are genuinely "wireless" thermometers.
MEATER PLUS ($99.95)
Meater Plus comes with a Bluetooth repeater and battery, which powers the repeater and charges the probe. The back of the box has a magnet that can easily attach to cool barbecue parts. The probe and the box need to be kept close for the best signal.
When using Meater for the first time, you need to download the Meater app from the app store. The app is compatible with both Apple and Android systems. You can customize the settings on the app, including your preference for Fahrenheit or Celsius, screen and notification settings. There are also menu ideas for beginners and useful instructional videos.
Product Specifications:
Power: Meater Plus uses a single AAA battery to power the probe, and it can charge the probe up to 100 times. One charge can last up to 24 hours.Wireless Range: The probe needs to be within 10 feet or less to connect to the probe in the oven. With the repeater serving as a signal booster, the wireless range can extend up to 165ft.
Temperature Tolerance: The metal part can withstand a maximum meat temperature of 100°C, while the Ambient temperature can go up to 300°C.
Wi-Fi Capability: If you have an extra smartphone or tablet, you can use it to connect to your home's Wi-Fi network to extend Meater's range.
Pros:
Simple to use
Wide range of meat options
User-friendly app with various features
High precision measurements
Cons:
Relatively expensive ($99 for detecting a single piece of meat)
Excessive Ambient heat can damage the thermometer
No USB charging
Battery life lasts only 24 hours
Inkbird WiFi Grill Thermometer IBBQ-4T ($98)
The INKBIRD IBBQ-4T can be controlled via its free app through WiFi connectivity. This allows you to monitor, set, and/or adjust its temperature on your phone at any time, eliminating the need for frequent checks. It supports high and low-temperature alarms that trigger notifications on your phone when the detected temperature reaches the set high or low temperature.
One smartphone can pair with multiple IBBQ-4T devices, allowing multiple users to control and use the same IBBQ-4T wifi meat thermometer simultaneously. However, it only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
The four probes in the packaging are color-coded. The probe and the end inserted into the IBBQ-4T have the same color, making it easy to identify the probe and its temperature on the thermometer. The screen is backlit, providing clear visibility of temperature data.
Product Specifications:
Power: Rechargeable lithium battery with approximately 26 hours of continuous use without backlight. Charging the battery takes about 4 hours.
Temperature Tolerance: 32°F482°F (0°C250°C)
Item Length: 4 inches
Pros:
Supports USB charging
Can control multiple probes at once
Calibration support
Cons:
Only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
No Bluetooth functionality
IPX3 waterproof rating only
ARMEATOR ONE ($63.9)
Armeator One, like Meater Plus, is a true wireless thermometer. Many devices claiming to be "wireless thermometers" are still connected by a wire between the base and the probe. The usage of these thermometers is quite similar; you need to download the Armeator app, then turn on Bluetooth on your phone to connect to the probe.
The app's settings are relatively straightforward, without complicated options, making it easy for first-time users to quickly get the hang of it. When the target temperature is reached, your phone will send a reminder tone.
Product Specifications:
Power: Uses 2 AAA batteries, rechargeable about 100 times. With one full charge, the probe can last around 72 hours and only takes about 15 minutes to fully charge the probe.
Wireless Range: In an open space, the actual measurement distance between the relay and the cooking equipment can be as long as 70 meters, and the distance between the relay and the phone can also reach 70 meters. However, the actual range may vary based on specific cooking environment conditions.
Temperature Tolerance: The metal part can withstand a maximum meat temperature of 100°C, and the ambient temperature can withstand up to 500°C / 932℉, which is the highest external temperature tolerance among similar products in the industry. This allows you to cook on a variety of cookware, and you can even use it over an open flame.
Currently priced at $63.9 on Amazon, with an additional $10 coupon available. Armeator's official website also offers coupons of up to $20.
BUY NOW>>
Pros:Long wireless range
High external temperature tolerance
Long battery life
High cost-performance ratio
No USB charging
Limited app features
GrillEye Max ($98.02)
GrillEye Max is a cloud-connected eight-channel food thermometer. After downloading the free Apple/Android app, use Bluetooth to send configuration data to the device for setup. Once the device is set, all communication is done through Wi-Fi, using a 2.4GHz router as an intermediary. You can set all cooking parameters from the app, including presets for various meats and doneness levels, custom timers, and exportable data.
GrillEye Max stands out with its unique design. It can be attached to any magnetic surface and rotated 360 degrees, making it highly versatile without getting in the way.
Product Specifications:
Power: Up to 48 hours (with screen protection mode enabled)
Temperature Range: -40 to 572 °F (-40 to 300 °C)
Number of Probes: Includes 2; supports up to 8
Wireless Range: Depends on your home router and Wi-Fi strength.
Pros:
Wide temperature range measurement
Can simultaneously measure up to 8 probes
Supports USB charging
Only has Wi-Fi functionality
Not waterproof
Relatively expensive
MeatStick X Set ($99.99)
Meatstick X Set is an excellent barbecue thermometer. Before starting smoking, it's a good idea to check the battery life; if you need to charge, you can do so before the grilling process. To pair the device, you need to open the Meatstick smartphone app on your phone, activate the phone's Bluetooth function, and then press the button on the front of the Meatstick X transmitter/charger. After that, you can select the desired temperature on the app.
Product Specifications:
Temperature Tolerance: The metal part can withstand a maximum meat temperature of 100°C, and the environmental temperature can withstand up to 500°C.
Power Supply: 2 AA batteries; battery life lasts over 24 hours
Wireless Range: The relay can extend the Bluetooth connection range to 260 feet
Pros:
Simple to use
Wide range of meat options
Suitable for various cooking methods
Excessive external heat can damage the thermometer
No USB charging
Battery life lasts only 24 hours
Final Thought:
Overall, the five most cost-effective wireless meat thermometers of 2023 cater to the needs of both barbecue enthusiasts and cooking aficionados to varying degrees. Whether it's the precise measurements and user-friendliness of the Meater Plus, the multifunctional application of the Inkbird WiFi Grill Thermometer IBBQ-4T, the exceptional value of the ARMEATOR ONE, the multi-channel monitoring and cloud connectivity of the GrillEye Max, or the convenient usability of the MeatStick X Set, they all bring more possibilities to meat cooking.
