This Wireless Meat Thermometer Makes Grilling a Breeze (2024)

These thermometers also give grillmasters and cooks some freedom to roam, no longer needing to stay close to their cooking as they otherwise might—because the charging cases for the probes act as Bluetooth range extenders. Some models claim to work up to 650 feet from the probe. That said, these range claims can be a little iffy. They assume best-case scenarios with no physical obstacles that might get in the way of the signal; in most cases, you’ll need to keep your smartphone device relatively close to the probe and/or its charging case to receive alerts and track progress.

Who needs a wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer?

Wireless bluetooth meat thermometers promise to be a terrifically useful new tool for grillmasters in particular, with 30-hour (and often much more than that) battery lives that make low-and-slow smoking a set-it-and-forget-it affair. And this style of thermometer is especially useful for rotisserie cooking, since it can be inserted into the food and left there without cords coiling around the spit.

While they essentially do have instant-read capabilities, the range of their sensors is customized for cooking meat. For all models we tested, the internal probes have a temperature range that caps out at 212ºF (most models also have a sensor on the handle of the probe, which can withstand much higher ambient temps of the oven or grill). You can’t use them to measure the temperature of oil for deep-frying or as candy thermometers, but given their size and design they wouldn’t be very useful for either anyway.

In addition to using them on the grill and for poultry or roasts in the oven, they’re versatile enough to work in an air fryer, a sous vide cooker, stovetop, and some models even claim to be safe for deep-frying, as long as the sensitive internal probes are fully inserted into the food, protected from the high temperatures of the oil.

Most have thicker probes than more traditional probe thermometers, and they need to be inserted at least a few inches into your food to protect the internal sensors. This makes them better for large roasts, whole birds, and thick cuts than for delicate or smaller proteins like thin fish filets.

How we tested

We tested accuracy in boiling water and then moved on to the main event. We grilled, roasted, and air-fried a range of different meats, from large cuts and whole chickens, to smaller filets of fish, burgers, and chicken breasts, to test the capabilities of each thermometer. We explored each app to evaluate the setup process, ease of synching, and the range of features and functionalities. If applicable, we used the app presets for our meat selections, following the instructions and paying close attention to the alerts and notifications that our smartphones received, and for apps that don’t include presets, we configured our settings according to USDA guidelines for meat temperatures.

Factors we evaluated

Is it easy to set up and use?

We fully charged each thermometer, then studied each one’s tutorial to learn correct practices. We took note of the number of sensors on each probe, as well as how much of the probe must be inserted into the meat, to protect the internal sensors from damage.

Is the app user-friendly? Is the experience pleasant?

Then we downloaded the app, set up an account, and started cooking. Using the app, we programmed our desired temperatures and followed the guidance it provided. We took note of excessive reminders and alerts, and also whether or not the app factored in resting time in its programming.

Is the thermometer accurate? Does it help us cook and grill better?

All the thermometers we tested had accurate readings in our hot water tests, but how were the results when applied to food? If it read 135ºF was the doneness what we’d expect.

Other wireless meat thermometers we tested

MeatStick 4X

Like the Combustion the Meatstick 4X has a meat probe with multiple sensors—three that measure internal temperature, and one ceramic handle. This allows a wider range of readings inside the meat and reduces the risk of improper insertion. It has a robust app with dozens of temperature presets for different types of meat and cooking processes, be it the grill or an air fryer, but I found the app to be more frustrating to use than the others due to excessive warnings, reminders, pushy smartphone permission needs, and seemingly endless pop-ups while using the thermometer. Also the relatively thick, 3.5-inch probe must be fully inserted into the meat, which is challenging with thin or smaller portions.

The ChefIQ Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer is essentially a guided cooking experience, with a charging unit that doubles as a speaker that issues warnings and reminders as you cook. The probe is as thin as the Combustion and it’s shorter, so it requires less depth for insertion, but it only has one sensor, near the tip. The app is quite robust with Instacart integration for shopping, interactive recipes, and all the presets that other models have. For those seeking more of a maximally guided cooking experience with your wireless Bluetooth thermometer, the Chef IQ will be a great option for you, but more skilled cooks may find its range of functions excessive.

ThermoPro TempSpike ($79.99)

From the makers of the reliably excellent ThermoWorks Thermapen (the best instant-read thermometer in our opinion), this wireless thermometer has a less robust but perfectly functional app, as well as a charging case that includes a speaker—to issue alarms and alerts. Its probe has just one sensor for measuring internal temps (additionally, there’s an ambient probe in the handle). It also claims to have a significant 500-foot range; though, as we mentioned, this assumes optimal conditions and minimal obstructions. We found it easier to overcook with the TempSpike, since it doesn’t factor in resting time, but it’s easy to navigate around this concern after repeated use and increased familiarity.

Nutrichef Smart Wireless BBQ Thermometer ($45.05)

We were excited to test the Nutrichef Smart Wireless Thermometer hoping that its significantly lower price point would translate to excellent value, but ultimately we had to disqualify it from the testing—because it’s not actually wireless. Like some others that claim to be wireless like the Thermopro TP20 or the Inkbird IBBQ, but actually are not, the temperature probes on the Nutrichef connect to a base unit display via cords,and then through an app, the activity can be monitored. Those cords cut down on the freedom and convenience that the Bluetooth versions offer.

The takeaway

A wireless Bluetooth thermometer is an exciting tool to add to your grilling and roasting arsenal, particularly if you aren’t afraid to incorporate your smartphone into your cooking and don’t mind the potential for Bluetooth devices to track activity and have access to smartphone data. The Combustion Predictive Thermometer is a cut above the competition in this category with its separate display timer and multi-sensor probe. And for a solid wireless Bluetooth thermometer that offers a clean and straightforward app experience, the Meater Plus is also an excellent and less expensive option.