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I still have nightmares from the time I overcooked a beautiful porterhouse. The thick-cut, bone-in, and perfectly-marbled steak was barely edible at medium well. If only I had used a wireless meat thermometer to monitor the cook as I moved it from searing on the stove to finishing in the oven.
A wireless thermometer prevents you from opening your oven or smoker door — thus losing all your heat — to check doneness. They also help you develop your cooking instincts and feel, because you’ll have an accurate point of reference for what you see and feel when your meat is at the right temperature.
If you are done playing guessing games when it comes to preparing wild game, barbeque, and whole birds, then you need one of these best wireless meat thermometers.
Best Overall: Meater
Best Value: ThermoPro TP826
Best for Multiple Probes: Inkbird
How I Tested the Best Wireless Meat Thermometers
I used each of the wireless meat thermometers to monitor a six-hour pork butt smoke. I tested the connectivity range, ease of use, and temperature accuracy during that time. To test their accuracy, I used an instant read thermometer throughout the cook to compare the temperature readings. All the wireless thermometers I tested worked well, but each has nuances that will make them better for different use cases.
Best Wireless Meat Thermometers: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Meater
Meater
Key Features
Bluetooth
Controlled and monitored via app
Rechargeable battery
165 feet wireless range
24-hour battery life
Max Internal Temp: 212 degrees
Max Ambient Temp: 527 degrees
Provides internal and ambient temperatures
Pros
No wires
Easy to setup and use
Accurate readings
Cons
Must insert the probe to a specific depth
The Meater has zero wires which makes it really handy to use in a smoker, grill, or oven. You insert the temperature probe up to the etched line and then monitor the temperature through the Meater app. When you take it out of the package, you’ll have to charge the battery for two hours and then pair your probe to the app. The app has easy-to-follow, guided instructions.
The Meater wireless meat thermometer takes both the ambient and internal temperatures. Scott Einsmann
One thing I really like about the Meater is that it provides ambient and internal temperatures. So you can monitor the temperature of your grill, smoker, or oven and the temperature of your meat. The ambient temp reading was beneficial during my test because my pellet smoker ran out of pellets, and the falling ambient temperature alerted me to that issue. During my 6-hour cook, the temperature reading matched the other probes, and I never lost connectivity when I went inside the house or walked around the yard.
The Meater app allows you to track your cook. Meater
The app has a lot of functionality without being over complicated. You can set a custom temperature alert or select one of the pre-programmed ones. If you’re into nerding out about barbeque, a cool graph displays the ambient and internal temperature.
The main con is that you have to insert the probe to a specific depth (2 ⅝ inches), and it’s just one probe for $70. But despite those limitations, it’s a true wire-free thermometer that works exceptionally well.
Read Next: The Best Pellet Smokers of 2023
Best Value: ThermoPro TP826
ThermoPro
Key Features
Two or four probe options
Temperature Range: 14 to 572 degrees
Uses four AAA batteries (included)
Eight pre-programed temperature presets and custom temp options
500-foot range
Pros
No app required
Very easy to use
Connection range is three times app-based thermometers
Cons
No cool charts that you get from app-based thermometers
I really like the ThermoPro for one big reason, it doesn’t require you to download an app. It consists of a base unit, which you plug the probes into, and a receiver that allows you to monitor your cook from up to 500 feet away. You just carry around the receiver to check out your internal temperature throughout the cook. The receiver has a timer and temperature alarm probe.
During my test, the performance was excellent, with no hiccups or anomalous readings. The thermometer was easy to use and accurate. I still had connection while I was in the house and when I walked 60 yards from my smoker. So it allows you to cut the grass, watch TV, or hang out with your family while you keep an eye on dinner.
The ThermoPro TP826 is ideal for minimalists who don’t want another app and just need an affordable wireless thermometer that gives accurate internal temp readings. It’s also one of the best wireless meat thermometers for staying connected over 100 yards away.
Read Next: How to Cook Venison: The Best Ways to Prepare Every Cut
Best for Multiple Probes: Inkbird
Inkbird
Key Features
Temperature Range: 32 to 482 degrees
One smart meat thermometer, three meat probes, and one ambient probe
150-foot range
Rechargeable battery
Uses BBQ Go app
Pros
Easy setup
Plenty of probes
Magnetic base
Cons
Can’t use above 480 degrees
The Inkbird is a great compromise between the simplicity of the ThermoPro and the advanced features of the Meater. The base is magnetic and displays temp info from the probes. It also connects to the BBQ Go app where you can view graphs, set custom temp alarms, set timers, and see the temperature of all four probes.
Inkbird
Inkbird
The BBQ Go app allows you to track you cooking temperatures via multiple probes and on a graph.
The connection range is the shortest of the thermometers I tested at 150 feet. I had issues staying connected around 120 feet, so I wouldn’t recommend it for folks that have their smoker far from their house.
How to Choose the Best Wireless Meat Thermometer
The best wireless meat thermometers allow you to monitor your cooking without monopolizing your day. Scott Einsmann
Bluetooth, WiFi, or App Free
Wireless meat thermometers connect to a receiver or an app for remote monitoring. For ease of use, reliability, and range, it’s hard to beat an app-free thermometer like the ThermoPro TP826. Bluetooth connection offers good battery life, and the thermometers cost less. WiFi connection extends the range of Bluetooth but requires a larger base and usually costs moore than Bluetooth options.
Wireless vs. Wire Free
Most thermometers are wire “less,” so they still use a wire connecting the probe to the base. But they can be monitored through an app or untethered receiver. The Meater is an exception and uses no wires, which aids in its ease of use because you don’t have to thread a wire through a vent, port, or oven door.
Read Next: What Temperature Should You Cook Venison?
Why You Need a Wireless Thermometer
Barbeque is an art, but those of us who don’t spend hours over a pit can use a little help getting large, expensive cuts just right. Even everyday cooking of steaks, whole chickens, and venison roasts are made much easier with the help of one of the best wireless meat thermometers. After using an accurate thermometer for a while, you’ll be able to use more feel and less tech in your cooking.
FAQs
Q: Is a digital meat thermometer better than a non-digital one?
Digital thermometers are usually faster and more accurate than non-digital options.
Q: What type of thermometer is best for meat?
An instant-read thermometer is excellent for checking internal temperatures. A wireless meat thermometer is best for monitoring internal temperatures over a long period of time.
Q: Is a wireless meat thermometer worth it?
Wireless meat thermometers are worth buying if you are cooking large cuts over long periods of time.
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Final Thoughts
Overcooked venison is dry and chewy, undercooked brisket is tough, and undercooked bear meat is dangerous to eat. When you don’t want to chance a bad meal or case of trichinosis, I recommend using of the best wireless meat thermometers. They’re an easy way to hit the proper doneness no matter what you’re cooking.
Best Overall: Meater
Best Value: ThermoPro TP826
Best for Multiple Probes: Inkbird
The post The Best Wireless Meat Thermometers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.
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