CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.
Getting the right internal temperature on meat when cooking or grilling is crucial. Not only does getting the desired temperature give you maximum flavor, but it's also a safety measure. From grilling to smoking, a meat thermometer can make it easier to keep an eye on the temperature levels. Whether you're looking for an instant read thermometer, digital meat thermometer or something in between, our cooking experts found the best meat thermometers that will give you the precise temperature, not the ambient temperature, have excellent battery life and are user-friendly.
What's the best meat thermometer?
Throughout our testing, the Meater Pro came out on top. It's accurate, like all the probes on this list, but the added benefit of the wide temperature range with a 1,000-degree maximum temperature makes it the most well-rounded probe overall.
We've tested the top meat thermometers on the market to ensure you can grill, smoke, roast, bake or however else you want to cook your meat to perfection every time.
Best meat thermometers
James Bricknell/CNET Photo Gallery 1/1 James Bricknell/CNET Best overall meat thermometer Meater Pro (formally 2 Plus) Pros Capable of being deep fried
Excellent connection
A single AAA battery to charge Cons Bamboo case can get grimy quickly The first time I saw the Meater 2 Plus, now called the Meater Pro, I knew I had to use it. Whether it's a rack of ribs or a spatchcock chicken, I do a lot of cooking in the backyard, but it takes a long time to cook. You really want to cook slowly and evenly on a grill to keep the juices in. The Meater Pro, being one of the wireless probe thermometers that we tested, lets me put the temperature probe into the meat, close the grill lid and maintain a connection to my phone. Not only is the connection tremendous, but if you tell the app what meat you're cooking, it can work out the resting time, too, giving you a perfect piece of meat every time. The update to the Meater Pro means it can be much closer to the heat, and you can even deep fry a turkey. Read more about it here: Our Meater 2 Plus hands-on ... Show more Get it now $130 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Probe material Stainless steel LED display? No App connected? Yes Price $$$ Max probe temperature 1,000F Add to compare
Chris Wedel/CNET Photo Gallery 1/1 Chris Wedel/CNET Best instant read meat thermometer ThermoPro Lightning Pros Instant heat reading
... continue reading