Who among us hasn’t found themselves in this situation during a holiday meal? You have your big roast in the oven, and you’re afraid of overcooking it. So you go to check it every 20 minutes by opening up your oven door and poking it with a thermometer.
This is exactly the problem wireless smart thermometers are on the market to resolve. Their promise? Stick in the probe and forget it, watching your phone from the couch with excitement because your temp will magically jump.
Here’s the reality of cord-cutting.
The Freedom Factor
One of the appealing aspects of this product is the fact it is wirelessly connected. With traditional digital thermometers, you have dealt with bent wires in an oven door or a tangled wire at a grill station. With a true wireless probe, such issues are left in the past.
“There’s definitely a sense of relief when you can go to the store or cut the grass and still see exactly what your brisket is doing in real time.”
Quick Answer: Who Needs One?
Wireless meat thermometers are a must have for people who regularly cook large cuts of meat such as turkey, brisket, prime rib, or whole chickens. They are ideal for maintaining a constant ambient smoker temp. A conventional instant-read pen is quicker and more handy when cooking fast foods such as steak or a burger.
The “Ambient”
One characteristic common to most decent wireless meat probes is that they come with two sensors. One side is used to detect the meat, and the other side is used for oven/grill detection.
“This is a huge assistance. Then you might realize your oven is actually set for 350 but is fluctuating wildly. Having these kinds of statistics in front of you on your phone can definitely help you adjust as you go,” she says.
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Where the Tech Falls Short
Before you make a purchase, you need to be aware:
- Connectivity: Bluetooth brings lots of convenience, but it’s not without some caveats. Thicker walls or a heavy-duty ceramic smoker can attenuate your signal wave, making you lose connection if you wander too far.
- Thickness: To accommodate tech inside, these probes come pretty thick compared to a standard needle. Putting it into a shallow chicken breast can result in mangled chicken.
- Battery: “You have to keep in mind that you need to keep this dock charged, or you’ll find yourself with a dead tool right before dinner.”
The Bottom Line
A good smoky food or whole chicken rotisserie loves a wireless therm probe. Trust me, this device buys you a very pricey commodity peace of mind. But sear a steak? Use a basic instant-read pen in your cast-iron skillet. No smartphone integration is necessary to flip a burger.
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