Best BBQ Thermometers
There's nothing worse than spending all day smelling delicious, slow-roasted meat and then cutting in only to discover that the meat is completely raw on the inside or worse – dry as a brick. While some pitmasters and grill masters may swear by the age-old trick to testing meat readiness by touch, this is an inexact science – and not one that you want to trust your expensive cut of meat to. In fact, we hate to dispel the myth, but touching the meat or looking for clear juices aren’t truly accurate measurements of meat’s doneness.
The only right and foolproof way to ensure that your meat is done is with thermometers for outdoor grilling. These specialty tools, designed for use with grills and smokers, accurately read and display readouts of meat’s internal temperatures, and the best bbq thermometers are very accurate. Any other meat temping method means that you’re serving undercooked food, and your guests get sick, or you’re serving charcoal instead of a delicious and tender cut of meat.
At BBQ Galore, we’re passionate about all things barbecue, from outdoor cooking in a decked-out outdoor kitchen to charcoal grilling or smoking in a pellet grill. We believe in carrying the best products, and we only sell the top-of-the-line grilling equipment to our customers. So, we recommend using thermometers for outdoor grilling so that your meat turns out perfect each time.
Best Wireless Thermometers
Taking everything we’ve discussed under consideration, now you can see why we’ve decided that these three thermometers are the best BBQ thermometers for outdoor grilling.
Maverick LT-04 Infrared Laser Surface Thermometer
This thermometer operates through a laser pointer, simply point and get an accurate digital readout up to 5 feet away.
- LCD reading in larger font
- Laser pointer allows temping of hot or cold spots
- Instant reading in either Celsius or Fahrenheit
- Dynamic range, 44°F to 1022°F
- No-contact sensors, accurate from up to 5' away
- Operates on a 9V battery
BT-30 Maverick Stake Wireless Probe Thermometer
This is truly a smart thermometer, combining the benefits of a thermocouple with the precision of digital temperature.
- It’s a wireless probe inserted into your smoked or grilled meat
- USB cord and charging case included
- Heat range up to 572°F (300°C)
- Monitor through the Maverick app on your phone or tablet.
- Food grade stainless steel construction
- Ultra-durable Heat-Resistant Ceramic Handle
Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub
The Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub is your newest secret weapon to grilling up perfect food with its step-by-step assistance feature.
- Wireless probe and integration to your phone
- Monitor your food in real-time as you entertain
- In-App Food readiness countdown and estimated cook time
- USB Rechargeable Batter
- 9 Segment LED Display
- Selective doneness & readiness alerts
What Makes a Grill Thermometer Good
As one of the leading barbecue aficionados, we know that you really need the best outdoor grilling thermometers to ensure a perfect meal each time. Therefore, we’ve ranked the best BBQ thermometers for home use using several criteria. Our rankings are based on the overall performance of each thermometer, including the quality, value, and features.
We’re explaining each of these selection criteria in more detail below.
Quality
The quality of a grill thermometer ensures that it will be able to withstand any outdoor cooking conditions. From durability to food-grade materials, a quality thermometer will last you a very long time. When we rate the quality of outdoor grilling thermometers, we consider the strength of the device and the estimated longevity of the materials used to create it.
Performance
Whether you need a readout at the last minute to ensure that your meat is done, or if you're periodically monitoring the progress of a larger or tougher cut of meat, you need a high-performing tool. We evaluate thermometer performance on accuracy and responsiveness. From traditional to Bluetooth models, we consider signal range, response and accuracy, and prolonged use.
Features
Whether you need a readout at the last minute to ensure that your meat is done, or if you're periodically monitoring the progress of a larger or tougher cut of meat, you need a high-performing tool. We evaluate thermometer performance on accuracy and responsiveness. From traditional to Bluetooth models, we consider signal range, response and accuracy, and prolonged use.
Value
While good thermometers for outdoor grilling should have the primary feature of being accurate when temping meat, the best BBQ thermometers have additional features. We’ll walk you through the benefits of different features, showing which additional ones are worth a higher price and which features, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Types of BBQ Thermometers
Thermocouples
Thermocouples have numerous advantages such as higher temperature ranges from -58 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit. This high degree of the range also ensures that they’re more accurate. Its design allows the temperature sensing bead to be laced further into the pointed end of the probe, which means that it can equilibrate the target temperature faster than most. Thermocouple grilling thermometers are built for continuous use, best for low and slow smoking and grilling.
Digital Instant-Read
Instant read digital thermometers consist of a small probe, but these are designed for instant insertion and temperature checks, not for use throughout the entirety of grilling or smoking. These thermometers deliver speedy results with large, easy-to-read digital temperatures. These are best for smaller items that don’t require long-term monitoring, including steaks, chicken, and fish. Many digital thermometers are also equipped with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity.
Dial Thermometers
Dial thermometers use a dial readout instead of digital. Many people believe that dials show a more accurate temperature, but a digital option may be better for people with impaired vision or those who can’t read a dial thermometer. One feature that dial thermometers have that's better than digital is price. You can get an excellent dial thermometer for about $10 to $15, and if you have great eyesight and don’t care about fancy bells and whistles, then dial is the way to go.
