Wireless meat thermometers

[drobinson]

I am in the market for a wireless meat thermometer---would be interested in advice before purchasing.

[STEbbq]

I think the best one is easily the Combustion by a long shot. It is not cheap but that is wireless for you. I do love mine.

https://combustion.inc/

[UncleSpike]

I recently bought the Twin TempSpike.
Like all the reviews say, the range is not anywhere close to what they claim - even line of sight. Recently one of the probes loses range at 15' as soon as I put the lid on the grill...

Other than that, it has been a good set. The app is simple to use, and anytime I've double checked the accuracy of the probe it was perfect.

I have no experience with any other brands.

[PNWsmoke]

One probe went battery dead after about 6 hours during pork butt cook.
Otherwise i like it.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

Absolutely love mine

[Alan Brice]

I have a meater+ that I bought for the roti. I think it was on sale for $79. It has been a couple years. Def loose connectivity when it goes into the oven. No big deal to me. I do hear Combustion Inc has something going on. It is considerably more $$.

[yakima]

I got the basic Combustion package this past September. No experience with other products. I recommend it. Easy set up, simple app, easy to use. Excellent for rotisserie chicken on Big Green Egg, spatchcocked turkey on an Akorn, or pork butt on MAK 2 star. No Faraday cage issues. 18 yards from my recliner to BGE. The predictive feature does not yet deal well with brisket stall. That may be getting sorted in 2024.

The Thanksgiving turkey was spatchcocked like mad, only legs and wings were left. It was done in an hour and a half, over lump. As my son noted, we would have overcooked it if not using a thermometer.
The Christmas brisket was troublesome. The point/flat reached 203 long before the leaner flat end. Cut it off, ultimately finished it in foil in kitchen oven, with probe. Turned out great. The predictive feature spent lots of time calculating, would come with a time to be done, then would keep extending it. I did not wrap or boat the point/flat.

One thing I have not figured out. Most of the time it will indicate surface temp, but sometimes that goes away, then reappears. It may be related to calculating predictive time done, but I don't see a logical connection there. It is interesting to see surface vs ambient temp; and on the MAK, to compare those temps to the MAK's thermocouple.

[kenrobin]

Here's another vote for Combustion. Meater's app is the slickest and prettiest but Combustion is the most reliable and the functionality of their app has improved since its release. I have the Meater+, Meat Stick, and Combustion..... the Combustion is the only that I reach for now.

[Jerod Broussard]

OK, but which SMOKER do you reach for?

[kenrobin]

Jerod Broussard Today I'm reaching for my new Weber Smokey Mountain 😆

[SmokingSteve]

Combustion Predictive thermometers for the win! I have two, one Display, and 2 Boosters. There is a bit of a learning curve but it is not difficult.

Customer Service is great. I had an issue with one of the thermometers showing as grayed out in the app for 2 or 3 cooks but still reporting data. Then it stopped working and would not accept a charge. I contacted them by email, they responded in a timely manner, had me try two tests at home to see if it would duplicate issues, then sent me a replacement under warranty. I will be returning the defective one so their engineers can check it out.

[Alan Brice]

The future of wireless thermometers, to be sure.

[ssennott]

I also vote for Combustion I have two with boosters and the display, they have recently added an update for safe cooking temperatures that I have not used yet. Thier service is outstanding they will help you thru any problems that you might have.

[HawkerXP]

I have a couple of TempSpikes. I like them.

[DaveD]

I have a Meater+ from a couple of years ago, and it's fine, but I rarely use it anymore after getting my Fireboard 2 with six inputs, I reach for that every time even though it's wired.

Whatever you do in a wireless probe, take advantage of the recent developments that put multiple sensors in the stick instead of only one at either end for internal and ambient. Both Combustion and Meater do that - Meater just releasted its Meater 2 plus which has the same functionality, to first order. If I were to resume using wireless, I'd go for one of those for sure. Having that T-gradient info is incredibly informative.

[Alan Brice]

Can not stand the wires. Still use them on occasion. Use the Meater+ exclusively.

[GolfGeezer]

Another vote, in the wireless category, for Combustion Inc. The new Meater 2+ is pretty competitive now with multiple sensors (6 versus CI's 8) from tip to ambient, a Stainless Steel construction that is rated up to 1000* F for the ambient, allows for use over open flame (CI cannot be used over open flame that hot), and the Meater 2+ is now about the same thin diameter as CI.

My "beef" with both offerings is that they are Bluetooth only - I am a WiFi fan, so I tend to use my Fireboard 2 with wired probes when low-n-slow smoking, while I use the CI probes for oven stuff and when grilling steaks (indirect and then reverse sear). I'm tempted to get the Meater 2+ just to see which one fits my cooking habits better (a First World problem for sure).

EDIT: Meater also has the ability to connect via WiFi, but only if you have an extra smartphone/device that it links to that uses that phones WiFi for a cloud connection. I happen to have an extra, so MCS is pulling strongly to check it out!

[drobinson]

Thanks for all the input----will let you know which way I go.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

I vote for Temp Spike...easy to use, I like that you do not need to use your phone (you can )


.I tried Meater + and kept losing connection

[Alan Brice]

I can see that.

[drobinson]

Decided to go with Meater*2 and will inaugurate
next week with this tomahawk that Santa brought.