The Best BBQ Thermometer for 2025 (Reviews & Guideline)

Are you using the best BBQ thermometer or temperature? The probe is the easiest method to see that your meat has been cooked to your liking. It is also essential to determine safe internal meat temperatures so that you do not poison yourself or your guests.

Let’s also be clear, the most extreme form of food poisoning ends in death. This is not an exaggeration; this is a serious matter.

These best BBQ thermometers provide quick accurate readings; a few can even monitor the grill remotely while you craft side dishes within the kitchen or mingle.

BBQ Thermometer

Why Barbecue Cooking Needs Special Attention

1. Good sanitation prevents the spread of disease

2. Refrigeration slows down the proliferation of bacteria and spoilage

3. Cooking meat kills bacteria

4. Eating raw pork or chicken is dangerous

As barbecue enthusiasts, we need to take extra care because of the types of food we cook:

1. Pork

2. Ground Meat

3. Chicken

And also thermally, because of how we cook it:

1. Over charcoal

2. Low and slow, which exposes our meat to more extended periods in the thermal range when bacteria proliferate.

The 13 Best BBQ Thermometer Reviews in 2025

Feel Backlight

The Feel Backlight has two probes that are safe to go away in your meat, so you’ll get more accurate measurements by checking both ends of an enormous chunk of brisket.

It comes with a generous 18-month warranty and lifetime probe replacements.

1. Very straightforward to use

2. Fast readings within 3 seconds

3. Can display in Celsius or Fahrenheit

ThermoPro TP21

The ThermoPro TP21 includes a handheld wireless unit that offers preset levels for nine types of meat based on USDA safety recommendations.

So you’ll always know your food has been thoroughly cooked. The monitor features a very large LCD for straightforward reading.

1. The screen changes color to show the temperature

2. High-quality probe

3. Several mounting options

Maverick ET-732

The Maverick ET-732 displays the temperature inside your smoker and the internal temperature of the meat. It beeps and flashes when it goes above a preset range, which you’ll establish based on the precise item being cooked.

1. Two-hybrid probes

2. The LCD screen is easy to read

3. Wireless range of 300 feet

Tenergy Solis

If you’re preparing an enormous feast, the Tenergy Solis has six separate probes that let you monitor each piece. An app available in the Apple or Google Play stores lets you keep track of up to 100 feet away via Bluetooth.

1. Backlit LCD screen

2. 11 preset temperature ranges

3. Can withstand up to 716 Fahrenheit

NutriChef Bluetooth

The stylish NutriChef Bluetooth has a sensitive probe that offers an innovative, hands-free solution for monitoring your meat.

The companion mobile app displays temperature in real-time and can sound an alarm when your food is ready.

1. Large liquid crystal display

2. Stainless steel cable

3. One-year warranty

iDevices iGrill2

The iDevices iGrill2 features a proximity wake-up that lets you see how close your brisket is to being done without lifting the lid on your smoker. It has a 150-foot Bluetooth range and apps for iOS and Android devices.

1. Impressive 150-hour battery life

2. Can be mounted magnetically

3. Sometimes has trouble syncing

Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo

The Lavatools Javelin Pro Duo produces readings in only 2 to 3 seconds and works with all kinds of meat, sauces, and baked goods.

It is equipped with a convenient magnet, so you can always have it quickly available by sticking it to the refrigerator.

1. Rotating backlit display

2. Auto sleep to conserve battery life

3. No preset ranges for meat

Inkbird Digital

If you’ve got things to do in the kitchen and can’t hang around at the grill, Inkbird Digital offers a wireless display with an easy-to-read screen. It’s simple to set alerts for different types of meat, so you’ll always know if you’re in a healthy range.

1. Can monitor two items

2. Displays in Celsius or Fahrenheit

3. Bluetooth is finicky beyond 25 feet

Alpha Grillers Instant Read

The Alpha Grillers Instant Read sports a high-precision sensor that is accurate within one degree, ensuring your meat is never under- or overcooked. It works right out of the box and takes less than seven seconds to get a reading.

1. Laminated temperature guide

2. Easy to wipe clean

3. Somewhat fragile

Luxe Grill Digital

The Luxe Grill Digital offers a clean, streamlined button layout and display, and a good temperature reading range between -40 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. To conserve its battery, it shuts off automatically after 10 minutes of inactivity.

1. Includes a protective sleeve

2. Easy calibration feature

3. Readings are a bit slow

Trend BBQ Thermometer

These TREND BBQ Thermometers are equivalent models utilized in significant chemical, pharmaceutical, and industrial plants and are made to equivalent exacting standards.

This is a 3″ Dial industrial BBQ thermometer with a temperature range of 3″ Dial and a 304 Stainless Steel Case.

Deluxe BBQ Thermometer

This thermometer offers a large 5″ Dial with an adjustable headset at any angle. The 4″ stem provides a more accurate temperature reading for giant smokers and grills—304 Stainless Steel Case with a zero reset.

Case: 304 Stainless Steel

Dial: Anti-Parallax, heavy-gauge aluminum with a matt finish
Moisture-tight seal.

Stem: 304 stainless steel, TIG welded at tip and case connection, 1/4″ diameter stem.

Smart Wireless BBQ Thermometer

This Smart Wireless BBQ Thermometer is the world’s first Bluetooth Barbecue Probe. It enables Bluetooth wireless connection between the probe and the smartphone.

Once the grilled food reaches the preset temperature, it will automatically alarm, making the grilling process much more manageable.

Truly Wire-Free Meat Thermometer

This is the LATEST style of wireless meat thermometer! To monitor the food temperature during your barbecue, you only need one BBQ thermometer and your smartphone.

Probe Has Built-in 2 Temperature Sensors

If you employ the oven for barbecue, the barbecue thermometer can simultaneously detect the food’s and the oven’s internal temperatures.

Three Functions on “Grill ProbeE” APP

RECIPES: with preset temperatures for nine types of meat(ground beef, ground poultry, beef, veal, chicken, pork, poultry, goat, fish) and their various doneness levels recommended by the USDA.

TIMER: You can set the barbecue time according to your experience. When the set time is reached, the app will automatically alarm.

TARGET TEMPERATURE: You can also customize the temperature at which the food is cooked. When it reaches this temperature, it will automatically alarm.

Fast Charge and Multiple Probes

It can be charged quickly for 5 minutes and used for 4 hours. The app can connect four probes simultaneously.

Bluetooth Connection Distance

The connection distance is 33 ft in everyday use and is limited to 3.3 ft when the probe is inside a metal-shielded oven.

How to Charge the Probe

1. Keep the probe in the charger before use, or the battery will be low

2. The external power supply is connected to the USB. The Red Light indicates charging in progress. Each charge requires about 5 minutes

How to Use the BBQ Thermometer

1. Insert the probe into the food to be grilled

2. Note: The insertion depth must be beyond the safe insertion line as shown below

Types of Alarms

Barbecue Alarm

When the grilled food reaches the preset temperature, the smartphone will alarm you at the end of the grilling process. At that point, please remove the food & and the probe from the oven.

Bluetooth Disconnection Alarm

When the Bluetooth connection between the smartphone and the probe is interrupted, an alarm message will pop up to remind you to keep the smartphone closer to the probe within 2 minutes to avoid affecting your grilling process.

How to Wash

The steel part of the probe can be soaked in the water, but the ‘ON’ button on the top should not be washed in the water.

Precautions

1) When the probe stays away from the mobile phone or the oven temperature is below 122°F for ten minutes, the probe will automatically turn off. Please press the ‘ON’ button to restart the Bluetooth connection

2) The communication distance is limited to 3.3 ft when the probe is inside a metal-shielded oven

3) Do not put probes without food into the barbecue oven

4) Barbecue food should be lower than 185°F. The oven temperature should be lower than 527°F. If it exceeds this limit, the probe will be permanently damaged. When this happens, the user should quickly remove the probe

5) The Smart Wireless BBQ Thermometer product works under high temperatures. Improper use will cause damage to the probe. In such circumstances, the manufacturer will not provide any warranty for repair and/or replacement services

How to Prevent Food Poisoning

Although good hygiene practices are mentioned, many people still expose themselves to unnecessary risks by not using a BBQ thermometer.

I used to be the guy who would work on the adage, “Prick the chicken, and if the juices run clear, then it’s safe to eat.” A BBQ thermometer is the sign of someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.

Well, I’ve changed my mind, a BBQ thermometer is the single piece of kit that every outdoor chef must have, and the two common myths below give a good reason why:-

Myth #1 – “If my Meat is Brown Inside, it’s cooked”

Not true. Indeed, meat does turn brown when cooked, but that’s not the sole reason meat turns brown; it also turns brown when aged.

Freshly killed flesh is red because the blood is oxygenated, but as meat is aged, the oxygen level decreases, and the blood turns blue or brown, changing the color of the meat.

Cutting into the meat and checking the color isn’t a reliable way to determine whether it’s safe to eat. However, you can’t argue with the readout of a calibrated BBQ thermometer.

Myth #2 – “Chicken is Completed When the Juices Run Clear”

No longer true. We consume so much chicken these days, it is intensively reared, and it saddens me to say that, in many cases, these birds are fattened up before their bone structures are adequately formed.

Some of these chickens never walk in their short lifetime. For the same reason, when cooking, blood can seep out of the poorly formed bones and taint the meat.

Your chicken could be perfectly cooked despite still having traces of blood, so if you’re not using a BBQ thermometer, you could be completely overcooking your bird. Use a free-range bird; your chicken should have well-calcified bones.

What Type Of BBQ Thermometer Do You Need?

When considering what type of probe to buy, there are three steps to choosing between the good, better, and best styles of BBQ thermometer. The first thing to remember is that measuring meat temperature, a moment-read thermometer, is completely essential, and a digital one is also essential.

Thankfully, the old days of mechanical or mercury thermometers have been surpassed. You’ll still get them; they’re cheap but not sufficiently versatile for barbecuing.

Note: This mechanical thermometer will be installed in your smoker’s hood to monitor the temperature inside your food chamber.

They are reasonably accurate, but the negative is that they reflect the temperature where the thermometer is positioned* and not the temperature at the surface of the cooking grate, which could vary by 20°C (35°F).

The only exception I’ve found is the Jensen Grill, which has its thermometer calibrated to account for the distance between the cooking grate and the position of the thermometer.

Having concluded that a digital readout is the way to go, you can next divide the BBQ thermometer designs into two types: “Instant Read,” which has a display at the end of the probe and will give you a reading when you insert the probe into the meat, and “Regular Read,” which has a display at the end of the probe and will give you a reading when you insert the probe into the meat.

Remote thermometers have a separate readout unit connected to the probe either by wire or wirelessly.

Best Instant Read Temperature Probes

The probes are best suited when you need immediate reading and have easy access to your food:

1. When you lift the lid to turn food on the grill

2. When removing food from the cooking grate to rest

3. When checking food left on the warming rack

The Best Instant-Read BBQ thermometer is the Thermapen

The readout is almost instantaneous (within a couple of seconds). This is important if you lift the lid on your grill, so you don’t lose all the heat.

The readout is large and clear; on the latest ones, it is also directional so that right-handed and left-handed chefs can easily use it.

They are reliable and easy to store in your pocket or apron

I wouldn’t be without my Thermapen, if I had to choose just one piece of barbecue equipment, then this would be it. I don’t just use it for barbecue either, it pretty much goes wherever I go to cook.

There are cheaper thermometers on the market, I’ve tried them and frankly, they don’t come up to the mark. This picture compares the Thermapen to a less expensive Hygiplas probe, and admittedly, the difference is like chalk and cheese.

Look at the picture carefully; you will note that the digital readouts are different. Upon calibration, I proved that the Thermapen is the more accurate reading.

The Hygiplas’ display readout is in the wrong aspect. A right-handed person has to tilt their head to the left to read the output, which will be upside down to a left-handed person.

Essential Thermapen

Even the essential Thermapen without the directional readout is straightforward for a left-handed chef to read. Moreover, take a closer look at the tip of the probe:

The blue Thermapen features a much finer tip, making it much easier to penetrate skin and delicate flesh. When I tried using the yellow Hygiplas, I could not readily penetrate the fish skin and just squished the skin down onto the flesh.

Probe your meat and it is under-cooked, the next time you probe it is cooked, if you haven’t sanitized your probe with a probe wipe between tests, you may have cross-contaminated your cooked meat with any bugs that may have still been present in the earlier under-cooked test.

Best Remote Barbecue Thermometers

When it comes to smoking, you need to be able to monitor the temperature of your meat remotely. You don’t want to open the hood on your smoker every half-hour and lose all the warmth within the food chamber. This is where the remote BBQ thermometer adds value.

Your remote thermometer contains two probes or temperature sensors: The 1st probe is inserted into the meat and remains in the meat during the cookout.

The second sensor is placed on the cooking grate to give an accurate reading of the cooking temperature at the point where the meat is sitting, not halfway up the lid, where most built-in BBQ thermometers reside.

A separate unit provides the display readout, which can be connected by wire or (in the top-of-the-range models) wirelessly.

These BBQ thermometers allow you to monitor the meat temperature continuously, and a few even have an alarm that will sound when your meat reaches the specified temperature, so you don’t overdo it.

Wireless Thermometer

Whether you need a wireless thermometer depends on the design of your smoker, i.e., how the smoker hood closes with wires coming out, or simply how much you want the state-of-the-art.

The wireless remote unit allows you to be up to 100 feet away from your smoker, so when preparing your cookout, you’re not necessarily tied to standing by the barbecue smoker if the weather’s bad or if, like me, you smoke all year round.

I’ve tested a variety of remote BBQ thermometers, and the one that consistently comes out on top is the Maverick ET732. It’s a robust, accurate device that is great value for money.

If I have one niggle, it’s that the instructions are poor, but who reads instructions these days? Spend five minutes playing around with it, and you’ll get to grips with it.

The final option is to have a BBQ thermometer with more than one probe; this will allow you to check more than one point in the meat without moving the probe manually (something that might again require opening the smoker hood).

This can be a specific advantage when cooking an outsized bird, such as a turkey, because you’ll insert one probe within the breast and one within the thigh and keep a check on both temperatures at the same time. For an extra $10, choose the Maverick ET-733.

Calibrating Your Temperature Probe

It pays to calibrate your temperature probe regularly to check that it is giving an accurate readout, and there’s an effortless way to do this:

Insert the probe into the water, and bring it to a rolling boil. It should read 100°C or 212°F. Insert it into ice water and it should read 0°C or 32°F

If you have more than one probe, test them simultaneously as a double-check. If they both read the same then the chances are they are accurate no matter at what temperature you choose to test.

Safe Internal Meat Temperatures

You can check that your food is cooked and safe to eat when you achieve the following internal meat temperatures:-

	Fahrenheit	Celsius
Beef
Rare	135°F	57.2°C
Medium Rare	145°F	62.8°C
Medium	160°F	71.1°C
Well Done	170°F	76.7°C
Veal
Medium Rare	145°F	62.8°C
Medium	160°F	71.1°C
Well Done	170°F	76.7°C
Lamb
Medium Rare	145°F	62.8°C
Medium	160°F	71.1°C
Well Done	170°F	76.7°C
Pork
Medium	160°F	71.1°C
Well Done	170°F	76.7°C
Ham
From Raw	160°F	71.1°C
Reheating Cooked	140°F	60.0°C
Poultry
Whole Chicken	180°F	82.2°C
Whole Turkey	180°F	82.2°C
Roast Breast	170°F	76.7°C
Wings and Thighs	180°F	82.2°C
Stuffing	165°F	73.9°C
Duck & Goose	180°F	82.2°C
Ground Meat
Turkey & Chicken	165°F	73.9°C
Beef, Veal, Lamb & Pork	160°F	71.1°C
Eggs
	160°F	71.1°C
Fish
	145°F	62.8°C

Seafood is a little less definitive, I don’t use a BBQ thermometer for these, it’s best just described in the following way:-

Finfish: Cook until opaque and it flakes easily with a fork. If the skin comes away easily from a fillet, it’s cooked.

Shrimp, Lobster & Crab – Shells turn red and the flesh is white, opaque

Scallops – turn milky white and become slightly firmer

Clams & Mussels – Cook until the shells open, discard any that don’t open

Avoid Food Poisoning With My 4 Food Hygiene Recommendations

For those who do want to know it all, the signs and symptoms of food poisoning range from tummy ache, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and in more severe cases, fever.

Dehydration and even death, but having said all this, please don’t be put off having another barbecue.

Take the proper precautions, use the table above to watch safe internal meat temperatures, follow my four basic food hygiene recommendations, and barbecue gastrointestinal disorders will be a thing of the past.

Do not cover warm food (e.g., with stretch wrap). Covering food that has not adequately cooled creates a moist environment, ideal for those little bugs to grow.

Wash hands and surfaces often. Before and after handling meat, wash your hands and surfaces like chopping boards. Use this guide on how to wash your hands hygienically.

Use chopping boards that are dishwasher safe and the right size. This way, you always get your board hygienically clean. Keep raw and cooked food separate.

If a plate or board has meat on it, always wash it thoroughly before using it for cooked meat.

Store cooked meat above raw meat in the refrigerator, so nothing raw can drip down onto your cooked meat. Store any meat you are simply marinating in clean containers covered with a stretch wrap on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

Refrigerate Promptly

Warm temperatures between 50°F – 100°F (20°C – 40°C) provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, so chilling food quickly is essential, but not before it has cooled significantly.

If you put a large warm mass in your refrigerator, rather than cooling it down, you’ll warm up the refrigerator’s temperature.

Don’t place hot pans in your refrigerator; otherwise, all you will succeed in doing is breaking the glass shelves in your refrigerator.

Do not cover warm food. Covering food that has not adequately cooled creates a moist environment, ideal for those little bugs to grow.

Buying Guide

Easy to Use

The large-screen LCD with a blue backlight provides comfort and ease when determining meat temperature and switching between different settings, with temperature display options for both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

High Quality and Safety

The food thermometer includes a wireless thermometer, transmitter base, chrome steel meat probe, and a built-in timer—all the essentials for cooking, grilling, oven baking, and BBQ.

The long-range probe covers a distance of up to 35 meters, allowing for maximum reach and mobility when cooking.

Multi-Purpose Use

With a variety of pre-programmed meat selection settings and a good choice of private taste settings, your meals will be cooked just the way you wish them, with the various sets of modes you can choose from.

Whether cooking from cook mode or time mode, impress your family and friends with your delicious meal.

Safe Operation

The meat thermometer probe is made from food-grade chrome steel and designed to gauge temperature quickly and accurately. It runs on 4 AAA batteries (not included).

(FAQs)

What is a BBQ thermometer?

A BBQ thermometer is a device used to measure the internal temperature of food, particularly meat, during the cooking process.

Why is a BBQ thermometer critical?

A BBQ thermometer is crucial because it allows you to cook food to a safe internal temperature, which helps to prevent foodborne illnesses. It also helps you to cook meat to your desired level of doneness.

What types of BBQ thermometers are there?

There are several BBQ thermometers, including instant-read thermometers, probe thermometers, wireless thermometers, and infrared thermometers.

How do instant-read thermometers work?

Instant-read thermometers work by inserting the probe into the thickest part of the meat and taking a reading within a few seconds. They are great for quick checks and can be used for various foods.

How do probe thermometers work?

Probe thermometers work by inserting a probe into the meat and leaving it there during cooking. The thermometer displays the temperature in real-time, allowing you to monitor the meat’s progress.

What is a wireless thermometer?

A wireless thermometer is a probe thermometer that can be connected to a remote display or smartphone app, allowing you to monitor the temperature from a distance.

What is an infrared thermometer?

An infrared thermometer measures the surface temperature of the food without making contact, making it great for checking the temperature of grill grates, pizza stones, and other surfaces.

What features should I look for in a BBQ thermometer?

When looking for a BBQ thermometer, consider features such as accuracy, response time, range, durability, ease of use, and whether it has any additional features such as programmable alarms or Bluetooth connectivity.

How do I care for my BBQ thermometer?

Clean the probe after each use to care for your BBQ thermometer and store it in a safe, dry place. Avoid exposing the thermometer to extreme temperatures or moisture.

How often should I calibrate my BBQ thermometer?

It is recommended that you calibrate your BBQ thermometer at least once a year, or more often if you use it frequently or drop it. Calibration ensures that the thermometer provides accurate readings.

Final Thoughts

Monitoring temperature with a leave-in probe BBQ thermometer is the only thanks to know exactly what’s happening inside a beef brisket, smoked turkey, baby back ribs, or pulled pork butt as they come up to temp “low and slow” in a smoker.

Pro barbecue teams wouldn’t dream of going to a competition without one. Dual-channel thermometers with high and low alarms allow you to track your food’s internal temperature and the ambient temperature in your smoker or grill. Instant-read digital thermometers are perfect for spot-checking steaks and chops when grilling over high heat.

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