Thanks to the smoker thermometer, they help us make sure that the grill is at just the right temperature and that the meat will be cooked as per the expectations without drying out. But what if we say that you can now leave a thermometer inside the smoker or grill itself and have the temperature readings at all times in the palm of your hand?
This is not a science fiction, but a reality now. All you need is a Wi-Fi thermometer and you’re sorted!
Wi-Fi thermometers come equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity such that they are essentially wireless and can connect with your phone and monitor the smoker temperature from any corner of the house.
Sounds good, right? Do you want to have one? We’ve got you covered! In here, we will have a look at our top picks for high end meat thermometers for 2020.
The Best Wifi Meat Thermometer Reviewed for 2020
🥇 OUR TOP PICK: Flame Boss 500-WiFi Smoker Controller
Flame Boss 500 Temperature Controller for ceramic, kamado, grills. Easy way to control and monitor smoking cooks on your grill. New LCD display for grill side management. WiFi capable for control while out and about. Up to 3 meat probes with dedicated port, no splitters needed as with the Big Green EGG EGG Genius.
The Reasons To Buy a Flame Boss 500
Here are 5 jolly good reasons why you need a Flame Boss® 500 this season!
- Larger LCD display with four lines
- Monitor up to three meats (Purchase of additional meat probes is required)
- Includes a magnet in the base to mount without fasteners
- Includes current firmware and mobile app features of the Flame Boss 300 and Flame Boss 400
- The Flame Boss® customer service team is always here for your support
🥇 RUNNER UP: Tappecue
The Tappecue is one of the oldest meat thermometers in the market and was in fact, one of the first of its kind for monitoring and tracking grill temperatures. It does not have the same kind of smart features as the above four thermometers, but it is still quite popular among users.
Top Features
- The Tappecue thermometer can be connected through Wi-Fi to any device which is on the same network such as mobile phone, tablet, laptop or PC or even to multiple devices. All you need is the Tappecue app to be installed on the device that you want to connect it to.
- You can set alerts for temperature readings on both high and low readings so that the thermometer can alert you well in time if the grill is getting too hot or too cold.
- There is an offline mode too which comes in handy when there is no Wi-Fi connection. The thermometer has an internal antenna which will still allow you to monitor the temperature on your device from up to 180 feet away.
- The thermometer has a pretty sturdy and an all-weather kind of design. It is designed with a thick polycarbonate outside body while the jacks are snugly protected by a layer of foam. The thermometer is pretty much protected from rain, snow and any kind of spillages that may result from cooking on the grill.
- The thermometer comes with 4 probes as part of the package. This makes it great for use while cooking large cuts of meat as the probes can be inserted into different parts of the meat to ensure that the entire cut is being cooked at an even temperature.
- The 4 probes have individual settings for temperature and can measure temperatures up to 572 degrees F. Each probe is also equipped with a 6-foot wire which gives you greater flexibility while positioning them.
- The temperature reading accuracy is guaranteed to be up to 1 – 2 degrees.
- The Tappecue can also generate cooking logs which can include data such as length of cooking time and form of temperature. These logs can be exported to a CSV or Excel file. However, the thermometer does not generate any ready to analyze graphs of temperature readings which are actually more convenient for reference than the logs.
What we like about it
With the Tappecue thermometer, focus has been kept on the basic functioning without indulging in too many smart features. The following are the features that we liked best about this thermometer:
- The smart features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, option for setting alarm alerts and ability to keep and export cooking logs are all that you actually need from a smart meat thermometer. It does not have any redundant features that don’t come in useful while driving up the price.
- The thermometer is extremely weather-proof. It is resistant to all elements of nature and will also not be damaged if you actually spill or spray something on it while cooking. This makes the thermometer highly durable and ensures good value for your money.
- The four probes are a good addition to the thermometer package, unlike the two probes that you generally get. This ensures that you do not have to invest in buying extra probes.
What is not so great about it
The Tappecue thermometer passes our quality and ease of use test on most counts. However, being an older model, it does suffer from some drawbacks:
- The thermometer is pretty complex to set up. It does not run on battery and instead requires a power source nearby to fire it up.
- The build of the thermometer may be sturdy and weather proof but it is also very clunky and large which makes it difficult to handle this thermometer.
- The app which is used to connect the thermometer to other devices also suffers from the same problem as the thermometer. It is outdated and therefore not as easy to use. An upgrade to the app would solve most problems though.
Check latest price on Amazon.
🥇 CyberQ
BBQ Guru has launched a number of products in the temperature control system segment such as the Party Q and the Digi Q, each of which has proved to be more popular than the last. The Cyber Q is their latest and most technologically advanced product till date which has surpassed its competitors by a wide margin. Check out its features, pros, and cons below:
Top Features
- The Cyber Q comes with a built-in blower fan which lets you control the temperature inside the grill. Pit Viper as the fan is called, is one of the best features of the CyberQ.
- The temperature of the grill can be monitored remotely on your phone, tablet or laptop once you have connected it to the Wi-Fi. However, the CyberQ’s function is not limited to just monitoring of the temperature. You can even control and change the temperature settings to go higher or lower than what you set before by accessing the thermometer settings through your phone itself.
- The fan is attached to the side of the grill with the help of a grill adapter. It is designed with an adjustable metal plate through which you can control the volume of air you want going into the smoker. This makes the fan good for being used with different smoker sizes.
- As is standard with all Wi-Fi enabled thermometers, you can set alarm alerts for high and low temperature readings as well as timed alerts with the CyberQ. The alarm notifications will be sent by the thermometer through text message or email.
- The thermometer can also be connected to Alexa and Echo provided they are also available on the same Wi-Fi connection. This way you can just ask Alexa to do the job of monitoring the temperature readings and reminding you to check up once in a while.
- The CyberQ comes with two unique smart features that you may not find in other thermometers of this range. The first is the Open Lid feature which means that the thermometer automatically detects when the lid is opened and evens out the temperature immediately to prevent any sharp spikes. It also has a Ramp Mode which allows it to gradually decrease the heat in the grill when the meat is inching closer to finishing.
- The CyberQ will generate logs and graphs of your cooking session. These graphs can be stored by you on your phone and even directly shared on social media apps through the ShareMyCook.com website.
What we like about it
The CyberQ does have some great features which make it one of the best in the market. The following are the features that we like best:
- The built-in Viper Pit fan is a big pro about the CyberQ. There are hardly any thermometers which allow you to control the temperature of the grill but it has been made possible with the Viper Pit fan.
- The CyberQ has loads of smart features such as the Open Lid detection, alarm alerts sent through texts and the Alexa integration which make it a convenient and fun to use device.
- A big advantage to using the CyberQ is its ability to share the cooking graphs and logs on social media apps through ShareMyCook.com or through cloud sharing. This is something that we haven’t found in other thermometers and is therefore unique for the CyberQ.
What is not so great about it
There are a couple of things that may be a disadvantage for some users:
- The setup of the thermometer can be difficult and time taking. Moreover, the software that is used in connecting the thermometer with Wi-Fi can also be riddled with bugs and does not provide a smooth interface use.
- The thermometer is also not waterproof and is not really designed to withstand the elements of nature. The CyberQ is not really known for its sturdy design and is considered to be a fairly delicate construction.
Check latest price on Amazon.
🥇 The FireBoard
A comparatively newer brand that has set the market on fire, the FireBoard thermometer is one of the best that you can find in terms of the sheer number of features it has. It is also one of smallest and most lightweight thermometers in the market.
Top Features
- It works with up to 6 different temperature probes including both meat probes and ambient probes for placing in the grill or smoker pit to measure the temperature of the grill.
- RTD PT-100 probes are included in the package which are recommended for use with this thermometer. Apart from RTD, the thermometer is also compatible with 10K and 100K thermistors.
- The temperature reading accuracy has an error margin of 0.7 degrees which is pretty decent.
- The thermometer can read temperatures ranging from -94 to 752 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You get to choose between the Extreme BBQ Kit which costs $249 and includes 2 ambient probes, 6 food probes and 2 grill clips along with the thermometer itself or the less expensive kit which comes with 1 ambient probe, 2 food probes, and a grill clip.
- The probes have been provided with a 6 inch long cable which makes it easy for the user to insert it deep into the meat or pit.
- You can get live temperature recordings on the LCD screen which allows you to keep a real time check on the temperature levels.
- The Wi-Fi connectivity feature allows you to connect the thermometer to your phone or laptop so that you can constantly monitor the temperatures even when you are not standing close to the grill.
- There is also an option of Bluetooth connectivity which can come in quite useful if you have set up the grill in an area which does not have Wi-Fi network such as a beach. However, the Bluetooth connection will work only within 100 ft of the thermometer.
- Temperature alerts can be set for both maximum and minimum temperature settings. Each probe can also be customized to have different temperature settings and individual alarms can be set. You will also have the option to set timed alarms irrespective of the temperature settings which are helpful in letting you know when it is time to flip the meat.
- The thermometer generates automatic graphs and logs by saving the temperature readings every five seconds. These graphs can also be exported to your e-mail.
- You can rename the probes so that it becomes easier for monitoring and future reference.
- If an alarm goes off when there is no Wi-Fi connection or if you are out of the connectivity range, the alarm notification is received through cloud messaging or even through SMS.
What we like about it
Though FireBoard is a new brand, but it has still earned our favor because of many factors. Take a look at what we like best about this thermometer:
- The thermometer is one of the most affordable products in its range. When you look at its versatile functioning and the number of features it has, you can well understand that it gives a really good value for money.
- This is one of the few thermometers that is compatible with up to 6 probes at a single time. This means that this thermometer is ideal for use in cooking big meats as well as small meats. If you are cooking a large brisket, for instance, you can easily use at least 4 probes to get accurate temperature readings of the smoker as well as the meat from all sides.
- The RTD probes which come in the package are of extremely high quality which also means that they are guaranteed to give you accurate temperature readings. The .7 degrees error margin is pretty low and can safely be ignored for all meats.
- The FireBoard thermometer is a smart device and has been equipped with a lot of technologically advanced features. Right from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity to cloud based messaging, this thermometer is something that will make it much more convenient for you to keep a constant check on your grill temperatures.
- The FireBoard thermometer is even equipped to control temperatures inside the grill. However, you will have to buy a fan as well as a cable that is designed to hold the fan. You will have to pair it with an ambient probe which will help you in monitoring the temperature and controlling it when required.
What is not so great about it?
There is nothing that we can find wrong with the FireBoard thermometer as far as its features are concerned. The build is also pretty decent and leaves little to be wanted. It is as small as a pack of cigarettes in size and therefore really light weight too. However, the only issue that we felt needed some improvement was that the thermometer is not at all waterproof or even water resistant.
It cannot withstand even some light rain or low freezing temperatures. Considering that grills and smokers are usually set up out of doors, this drawback is something that may dampen all the fun if the thermometer suddenly stops working in the middle of cooking session just because it caught a few drops of the spray or if the weather was too cold for it to tolerate.
Check latest price on FireBoard.
🥇 ThermoWorks ThermaQ
The ThermaQ by ThermaWorks is one of the few Wi-Fi thermometers that can literally fit into the palm of your hand. Unlike other thermometers, you won’t need to bolt it to the side of the grill either.
Top features
- The ThermaQ works with two, 2-channel Type K Thermocouple probes.
- The thermometer can easily read temperatures ranging between -328 to 2502F.
- The temperature readings are guaranteed to be accurate to within .7 degrees.
- The ThermaQ works in tandem with the Thermocouple app which will have to be downloaded on to your phone.
- You will have the option of setting both maximum and minimum temperature limits.
- You can set alarms for high and low temperature settings so that you will automatically be notified when the grill temperature crosses the bar.
- Users also get access to temperature graphs and logs on the app screen.
- The temperature readings, graphs etc. can also be viewed and monitored on the thermometer’s LCD screen.
- You can also export the temperature graphs and logs on to your email for a more convenient reading.
- The ThermaQ is highly durable owing to the IP55 rating. It is impact proof and splash proof as well.
- The ThermaQ is water resistant but not water proof which means that it will stay unharmed in a light drizzle but will probably develop problems if it is dipped in water.
- Contributing to the ThermaQ’s portability feature are the AAA batteries on which it works so that there is no issue of a wire trailing after you as you move it around the house.
- With three AAA batteries, the ThermaQ can get up to 3000 hours of battery life. This means that you won’t have to change batteries very often.
What we liked about it
There is a lot to like about the ThermaQ which is bound to make your entire cooking exercise much simpler with its portability and ease of use. However, the following are the reasons why we liked this thermometer:
- The temperature readings given by the thermometer are extremely accurate. An error margin of .7 degrees is considered to be almost negligible. Considering the fact that most other thermometers in the market have an error margin of at least 2-3 degrees, the ThermaQ definitely races ahead of the competition in this aspect.
- The IP55 rating is a remarkable feature for this thermometer. The rating is proof enough that you are buying a product that is highly durable and will probably last a good number of years without needing any repair or replacement. This ensures that you are getting good value for your money which definitely works in its favor.
- Bolting down the thermometer on to the side of the grill is a tedious and time taking process that you won’t have to get into with the ThermaQ. Magnets have been provided on the side of the thermometer that can just snap on securely on to the grill. This lets you finish the installation part in literally a blink of the eyes.
- The ThermaQ has been built to be pretty energy efficient as it can give up to 3000 hours of battery life on three AAA batteries alone. This is a big plus point for the thermometer as it means you won’t have to constantly hunt for new batteries every time you want to use the thermometer.
What is not so great about it
There are some things about the ThermaQ that may be considered as drawbacks of its features by some users. Here is what we think:
- The ThermaQ only allows you to monitor the temperatures remotely but not control them. For instance, if you hear the alarm go off on your phone indicating that your smoker has crossed its maximum temperature setting, there is nothing you will be able to do about it unless you access the thermometer that is snapped on to the side of the grill.
- The logs and graphs that the app generates are a good feature. However, there is no kind of storage facility for saving these graphs on the app itself. If you want to save them, you will have to export them to your e-mail. A cloud storage for accessing graphs from previous cooks would be a valuable addition.
Check latest price on Thermoworks.
🥇 Flame Boss 300
Flame Boss is a company known for its quality products and the Flame Boss 300 thermometer does live up to the company’s reputation. It is available in two versions. The first one comes with a fan that will assist you in controlling the grill temperature as well as monitoring it while the second one comes without a fan.
Top Features
- The Flame Boss 300 is compatible with all kinds of grill including Barrel, Cabinet and Offset Style grills and can easily be attached on to them.
- The thermometer is installed on the grill with the help of ¾ inch pipe which you will have to buy separately from a hardware store. The pipe fitting can be attached to the grill by drilling a couple of holes in the grill.
- The thermometer has a strong metal body that is equipped to withstand any kind of temperature.
- You will get two probes with the thermometer in the package. The probes are made of industrial duty platinum and can be used for measuring temperatures up to 575 degrees F. The dual probes allow you to use one each for measuring the grill temperature and the meat temperature.
- You can buy additional probes too as the thermometer is designed to connect up to 4 probes at the same time.
- The thermometer has a built-in PID controller that smartly senses when you open the lid of the grill and automatically shuts the fan off (if you are using the fan version). This helps in maintaining a smooth temperature in the grill while allowing you to check up on your meat with your own eyes.
- The LCD monitor at the front of the thermometer allows you to monitor temperature readings as well as the custom settings and alarm alerts.
- The thermometer can be connected through Wi-Fi so that you can monitor the temperature through your Android or Apple device. You can also set alerts for high or low temperature readings for which an alarm will be sent to your device through a cloud messaging system or an SMS.
- Apart from setting alarms, you can also program the thermometer to turn the heat down after a certain timed duration or after the grill temperature reaches a certain level.
- Cooking graphs are generated which give a more detailed analysis of the temperature readings of the grill as well as the meat.
- The thermometer can also be connected to Amazon’s Alexa and Echo such that you don’t even have to look at your phone to know the temperature readings. You can just ask Alexa what the temperature readings from any corner of the room and you will get an instant update.
- There is an auto-save option too which will automatically save all the settings of the thermometer including high and low temperature readings, alarms etc. This comes in quite handy in case of a sudden power outage.
What we like about it
The Flame Boss 300 really is a boss in its own right. There are a number of things that we like about this thermometer. Take a look:
- The tough and sturdy build of the thermometer is a major advantage of the Flame Boss 300 over other meat thermometers. While you may find some other thermometers that have more features, you cannot find a thermometer that has a sturdier or more long lasting build.
- The Flame Boss 300 is pretty versatile in the way that it gives you the option to buy it either with or without the fan. We will recommend buying the fan version as that will let you not just monitor the temperatures but also control it to a great extent.
- The thermometer works with up to 4 probes at once. Though you will have to buy the two additional ones, the four probes would really come in handy when you are cooking large cuts of meat.
- The thermometer attaches directly on to the grill. In fact, the attachment is a pretty permanent kind of thing which means that you won’t have to get into the hassle of installing it and taking it off every time you use the grill.
- The PID controller that ensures smooth temperature is a big advantage of this thermometer as it assists in even cooking and also helps the probe in giving more accurate temperature readings.
- The smart features such as the alerts, auto-save, and notifications are obviously pretty great to have in a meat thermometer as they help you in reducing your stress and actually enjoy the entire cooking exercise.
What is not so great about it
Though the Flame Boss 300 is a pretty great meat thermometer, it does suffer from some drawbacks. Take a look:
- The Flame Boss 300 is not a battery operated thermometer but rather runs on electricity and therefore requires to be set up near a power source. This also becomes a disadvantage if you suffer from a power cut in the middle of a cooking session. Moreover, this means that you cannot use the thermometer if you are setting up the grill out of doors such as on a beach.
- The installation of the thermometer is a time taking and tedious process. Not only do you need to buy separate equipment from a hardware store, you will also have to go through the whole process of drilling holes in the grill for installing the thermometer. The Flame Boss 300 thermometer’s app also suffers from a difficult set up procedure and is clunky in use.
Check latest price on Amazon.
Buyer’s Guide for picking the best Wi-Fi meat thermometer
It is not easy to pick out a Wi-Fi meat thermometer which suits all your needs which giving you good value for your money unless you know exactly what to features to look for in the thermometer. Here is our guide to help you in making a knowledgeable choice:
Does the thermometer have all the smart features?
A Wi-Fi thermometer comes equipped with various smart features which make the thermometer really convenient to use. Make sure that the thermometer has at least the basic smart features such as temperature alerts, option to set both maximum and minimum temperature limits and timed alarms that pop up on your smartphone.
In addition to these, many thermometers have additional smart features such as connectivity to Amazon Alexa or Echo or the functionality to build and export temperature graphs and logs.
Design and durability
While some thermometers are built to be more sturdy and durable, others have a delicate design. Water resistant thermometers have always proven to be a good choice for all chefs. The size of the thermometer can also vary from being a large box shaped design to a something as small as a pack of cigarettes.
The thermometer’s app and interface should also be given some consideration as many times the smart features of the thermometer become difficult to use simply because the app is too clunky of the interface is difficult to understand.
Number of probes
Most meat thermometer come with at least two probes which is generally sufficient for small to medium sized meats. However, if you are planning to cook large cuts of meat, you should go for a thermometer that comes with 4 to 6 probes. Alternatively, you can buy additional probes but the thermometer should be compatible to work with at least 4 probes.
Reading accuracy
Wi-Fi thermometers have an average temperature reading accuracy of up to 0.7 degrees. This is the standard error margin for most meat thermometers and therefore, any thermometer that has a higher margin should be avoided. The case may differ slightly for those thermometers that allow you to control the grill heat too apart from monitoring the temperature.
Temperature monitoring vs. temperature control
There are some special models of Wi-Fi meat thermometers that allow you to not just monitor the temperature but also to control is with the help of an in-built blower fan. Though the temperature can be controlled up to only 3 to 4 degrees, it can still make all the difference in turning the meat more juicy and succulent.
Last Updated on August 6, 2020 by Judith Fertig
Gina says
Just an update on the Tappecue. A new version was released last year that does run on battery and is very simple to setup via the TouchScreen on the Tappecue itself. It can also be expanded to 8 readings with splitters and/or use dual sensor probes.. The app was updated at the same time. Thanks for the review!
Chris Phillips says
Are there any wifi thermometers which allow monitoring over the internet? I’d like to plug bbq in and not be tired down to staying on the same network for monitoring.