Grilling meat takes skill, but getting it right every time needs accuracy. A BBQ food thermometer can help with that a lot. Without one, it’s hard to tell if your food is raw or cooked. With so much uncertainty, you’ll have no way of knowing the taste of the meat or even if it is safe to eat. No self-professed grill expert wants to serve a raw steak or dry ribs.
A BBQ food thermometer shows the exact temperature inside the meat. This means you can cook without worry. Each type of meat needs a specific heat level to be just right. For example, chicken needs to get to 165°F to be safe, while a medium-rare steak needs to reach a safe temperature of at least 135°F. Using a good BBQ thermometer helps you reach the right temperature, no matter what you’re grilling.
When cooking food, having a good meat thermometer for BBQ really helps. But with so many kinds to pick from, how do you find the right thermometer for your cooking? Let’s look at some main types so you know which one fits you best.
Instant-read thermometers work quickly and are simple to use. They show the temperature in just a few seconds. These tools work great for checking burgers, steaks, or chicken because they tell you the internal temperature right away.
This tool helps a lot with that. If you need a fast way to check your meat temp, this is a good choice. The disadvantage to this type of thermometer is that can not be used over a long period of time. Instead, they are meant to be used at the end of shorter grilling sessions.
Probe thermometers give you an easier way to check your food. These probes feature one or more sensors that go into the meat and stay there while cooking. This tool is really important for grilling and smoking fans. It keeps you updated on the cooking. Have you been thinking of getting the best BBQ meat thermometer for long cooking times? Probe thermometers probably work best.
Wireless meat thermometers bring extra comfort and freedom. Many BBQ lovers prefer them now. The ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus 600-ft Wireless Meat Thermometer lets you check heat levels from afar using Bluetooth 5.2. Did you know some of the best BBQ thermometers continue to work from as far as 600 feet? You can walk away from the grill and still know what’s happening. The Bluetooth system sends updates to your smartphone via the ThermoPro app and tells you when your food hits the right temperature.
Wireless meat thermometers are really great for slow-cooking meats that need close monitoring for hours. These offer top precision and are a favorite for tech-loving grillers.
Each type of meat has a recommended internal temperature for doneness. For example:
After you take the meat off the grill, let it sit for a few minutes. This gives the juices time to move around and helps the heat settle. The temperature might even go up a little after cooking. Use your thermometer to check the final temperature before eating.
After each use, you need to clean your BBQ thermometer well. The ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus is IP67-rated waterproof, so you can wash it safely with warm soapy water. If yours isn’t waterproof, only clean the probe and avoid getting the rest wet.
Wipe the probe with a soft cloth or sponge to get rid of any remaining food. Pay special attention to the tip. Cleaning it often helps keep readings correct and stops germs from spreading.
How you store your BBQ thermometer also matters. After cleaning, dry it completely before putting it in a safe and dry spot. Many top models have cases or magnets, which makes it easier to store safely.
Don’t leave your thermometer in hot or wet places when you’re not using it. Keep it in a cool, dry place protects the probe and the electronic parts, helping the thermometer last longer.
For a correct temperature, the probe needs to go into the thickest part of the meat. It should not touch bone, fat, or gristle which will give incorrect temperatures. Doing so could cause the meat to turn out undercooked or overcooked. Always put the probe right in the middle of the thickest spot. This is very important for bigger pieces of meat like roasts or whole chickens.
Some people only look at the temperature when cooking is almost done. What happens then? The meat might already be overcooked. It is really helpful to check temperatures often, especially for large cuts or when smoking food. A good BBQ thermometer with more than one probe helps a lot. The ThermoPro TP972 Twin TempSpike Plus lets you watch both the meat’s heat and the grill’s temperature throughout the cooking process.
After removing the meat from the grill, the heat inside it may continue to rise. This process is called carryover cooking. Do you have a meat thermometer at home? This helps you check the final temperature after the meat rests. Serving meat too early could waste important juices and ruin the taste.
