The Best Thermometers For Smokers | Reviews in 2023

A thermometer is a thermometer. But, unfortunately, many people think that because they’re all designed relatively the same, they all will, as a result, have the same functions and capabilities.

Well, sorry to say, you’re going to have to give a bit more thought to select a thermometer for your smoker. But, for anyone a little lost with how they can choose the best thermometer for their smoker, then you’re in the right place to quickly narrow down your search.

First things first, look below at a quick comparison table of the Top 5 Best Thermometers for Smokers. We’ll follow this up by highlighting differences between thermometer types and finally bringing you detailed reviews of the Top 5 smoker thermometers, including some pros and cons.

Benefits of Owning a High-Quality Smoker Thermometer

We’ve highlighted the word’s high quality for obvious reasons. You can go out and buy any old thermometer for your smoker, but if you want to get the maximum benefit from your unit, then you’ll want to invest in a high-quality thermometer. So what exactly makes a high-quality thermometer? We’ll get into that in our FAQ at the end of the article, which will focus on some primary buying considerations, but for starters, take a look at a few of the benefits of owning a high-performance smoker thermometer.

• Improved Accuracy
• It takes away the guesswork; set it and forget it.
• Wireless/Bluetooth connectivity provides better temperature control.
• Higher functioning probes

Thermometers For Smokers – Core Features

Model	Main Specs Probe Range (Degrees F/C) Transmission Range (ft)	What’s Included?	Price
Thermoworks Smoke	Probe R: -58 to 572 / -50 to 300 Transmission R: 300	Transmitter, Receiver, (2) Pro series high temp probes – with braided stainless steel & strain reliefs, Grill clip, Lanyard, Instruction manual	Price
Maverick ET-733	Probe R: 32 to 572 / 0 to 300 Transmission R: 300	Illuminated transmitter, Receiver, (2) Probes, (4) AAA Batteries	Price
iGrill 2	Probe R: -22 to 572 / -30 to 300 Transmission R: 150	Readout, Stand, (2) Probes with storage reels, (2) AA Batteries, Magnet mount, Quick-start instructions	Price
ThermoPro TP08	Probe R: 32 to 572 / 0 to 300 Transmission R: 300	Transmitter, Receiver, (2) Probes, (4) AAA batteries, Owners manual	Price
Maverick ET-732	Probe R: 32 to 572 / 0 to 300 Transmission R: 300	Remote transmitter with LCD display, Radio frequency receiver, (2) Probes, Temperature magnet	Price

Thermometer Types

Thermometer designs have changed significantly from the first models that were released. Nowadays, as with other tools, the thermometer has become influenced by its exposure to technological advancements and innovation over the years. As a result, there are three categories of thermometers we can use to classify; they are Instant Read, Infrared, and Wireless.

Instant Read

Traditionally the most common type of thermometer and the one we are all reasonably familiar with. Typically this type of thermometer is placed directly in the food to obtain an instant reading of the overall temperature. Another form of the instant-read is an Ambient Probe which can be placed inside the smoker. These thermometers require no previous knowledge to operate and are simple to read. The downside is that all they do is read the temperature and nothing more. If you want to stick with the simplicity of the instant-read thermometer but would like more of an accurate read, you can purchase an instant-read digital model.

Infrared

Typically found being used in commercial kitchens, the infrared thermometer uses a simple point-and-shoot system. The temperature measurement is obtained by detecting how much infrared energy is coming off the product that is cooking/smoking. These thermometers are often more expensive of an investment.

Wireless

The whole idea of a smoker is to place your food inside and walk away while still monitoring its progress. This is where the wireless type of thermometer is an excellent option for smokers. You can connect them via wireless network or Bluetooth and upload temperature tracking information to a cloud for reference later on. If you’re looking for a highly accurate thermometer that won’t allow your food to overcook suddenly, then the wireless models are the best.

Best Thermometers For Smokers

To save you the hassle of reading countless reviews in hopes of finding the best thermometer for your smoker, we’ve done the work for you and have identified the top 5 best thermometers for smokers based on customer reviews. In addition, we’ve compared price, features, readability and accuracy as these are some of the primary considerations required to finding the best thermometer.

#1. Thermoworks Smoke

A dream tool for outdoor cooks looking to maximize the performance capabilities of their smokers. The Thermoworks Smoke thermometer comes out on top for being the best combo thermometer that excels in the speed and accuracy of its readings. In addition, the transmitter and receiver on the Thermoworks Smoke thermometer work together over radio frequencies, allowing you to be up to 300 ft away from the transmitter without fault in function.

Thermoworks is a leader in innovation and technology and functions similarly to how Apple does by having taken over the market in smartphones. Thermoworks is taking the world of thermometers by storm and going one step further all the time, leaving their competition in the dust. In addition, this model offers solutions to problems other models such as the Maverick ET-732 (featured below) have experienced.

Marketed as a thermometer for professionals, bbq and smoking enthusiasts, this is incredibly durable and provides accurate results, +/- 1.8 degrees F up to 248 degrees F, throughout the cooking process. Some see the high price as a downfall; however, when you consider the full capabilities of the unit, you’ll be left wondering why it isn’t priced higher. Design features include a large LCD screen with lights, making reading temperatures from afar or in the dark easy, two probes, and a rugged outer construction on the transmitter. The overall build and high quality, along with intelligent design, make it the best thermometer for smokers on the market today.

Pros:

• Intuitive menus
• Close to instant-read (4-5 seconds)
• User friendly
• Water-resistant
• Long-lasting and durable: The probes are longer, stable and more accurate than the competition

Cons:

• Controls are on the transmitter, making it impossible to adjust min and max temps remotely. Not too much of a problem since you usually set the temperatures beforehand
• No timer

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#2. Maverick ET-733

Coming in at second place for flexibility in function, the Maverick ET-733 has an edge up when it comes to its probes. Equipped with two identical probes, which allow you to monitor two points simultaneously, this model will enable you to program everything with the receiver. Although this unit is slightly less user-friendly than the Thermoworks Smoke, it will become easier to use once you become familiar with the Maverick ET-733. The transmission receiver can monitor the temperature up to 300 feet away, making it the same range as the Thermoworks but for less of a price! This model also includes a timer, sound alerts and is water and splashproof.

Pros:

• Hybrid probes: Easy to control
• Withstands heat up to 716 degrees F
• Backlit screen: Displays time and temperature settings

Cons:

• Preset temperature settings: Although there are 15 temperature settings to choose from, they still aren’t as accurate as some reviewers would like

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#3. iGrill 2

Introducing a unit that uses Bluetooth rather than WIFI technology to pair the thermometer to a tablet or phone. The iGrill 2 monitors temperatures from your phone with the quick and straightforward installation of the free app. With this thermometer, there is no longer a need to stand next to your unit watching and monitoring food and ambient cooking temperature during the entire duration. One of the best features of the iGrill 2 is its colossal reading range, from -22F to 572 F, which you can obtain from any one of the four probes. Set the thermometer and walk away; with up to 20 hours of battery life, you’ll never have to worry about foods under or overcooking as a result of a dead battery. In addition, when you’re food is approaching the set temperature, an automatic alarm with sound letting you know your product is close to being finished.

Reviews on the Smart Device app rave about how customizable the unit is for setting each probe independently. Choose from a selection of settings for specific doneness or set the alarm to sound once a set temperature has been reached. You also have access to a temperature and item graph which can be exported and used for reference later on. Another notable extra innovative feature is what they call ‘Global’; this option allows you to share experiences and photos with other iGrill 2 through social media platforms such as Facebook.

Pros:

• Bluetooth is compatible with any Android 4.3 device or greater.
• Auto-shutoff: 8 hours. When no probe is connected, the device will shut down after 5 minutes
• Battery conservation: When the device is far from the transmitter, the unit goes into sleep mode to preserve the battery

Cons:

• The range is not as long as other units such as the radio-style Maverick ET-733

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#4. ThermoPro TP08

Reviewers love this thermometer for its simplicity, affordability and ability to offer complete temperature control. There is nothing fancy about the ThermoPro TP08, but when it performs as one of the most accurate thermometers on the market, often stifling the competition, it doesn’t need to do a whole lot more. What’s even better about this bad boy is that it’s extremely low cost and provides incredible value for the price.

The ideal user of this thermometer is a solid knowledge of cooking temperatures and the time required to reach these temperatures. Since settings limit you, the user must have more know-how with this thermometer than with others in the list. You will need to set the temperature yourself since there is no setting to select the desired doneness. However, if you understand proper times for different products, you’ll have no problem achieving accuracy with this thermometer.

Pros:

• Incredibly accurate
• Low cost

Cons:

• Not overly fast at reading temperatures
• A beginners cook may have problems initially with undercooking or overcooking items if they do not have a solid understanding of temperature and time settings.

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#5. Maverick ET-732

What sets this Maverick model apart from the Maverick ET-733 we’ve featured higher in our list? Although it’s the best choice for the money, the ET-733 has slightly better probes and has more features overall than the Maverick ET-732. Many smoker thermometer reviews comment that this unit has sufficient features and is priced lower than the others, making it a top choice for the value it offers. The range on the thermometer is also far more significant than most, and its ability to monitor at high temperatures is second to none.

Both probes plug into a radio frequency (RF) transmitter module that sends temperatures to a receiver that you can then take in hand. There’s no more need to stand next to your smoker waiting for your food to cook; with this thermometer, you can continue to monitor the progress of your product while away from the smoker.

Pros:

• Heat resistant up to 716 degrees F
• Timer: Counts up and down
• Out of range alert: When the radio frequency signal is lost, you are notified by a sound
• Temperature settings can be saved

Cons:

• The probes are not very durable: Reviews claim they are prone to break

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Smoker Thermometer FAQ

Do smoker thermometers guarantee 100% accuracy?

Nothing is ever a 100% guarantee; however, if you choose a digital thermometer that can be set to an exact temperature, such as the Thermoworks Smoke, your accuracy rating will be closer to 100%. It is important to note that all thermometers for smokers do change in accuracy depending on the temperature range. For example, maybe from 32 – 150 degrees. F, accuracy is +/- 1 whereas, between 150 – 300 F, accuracy may vary +/- 2.

What kind of innovative features are available on smoker thermometers?

Features classified as ‘smart’ can be anything from wireless/Bluetooth convectively, timer and sound settings, or something more sophisticated such as the ability to connect with other users. This feature, for example, is one of the most talked-about on the iGrill 2.

Are dual probes better to have?

If your thermometer comes with two or more probes, this is often very desirable as it allows you to measure the temperature of different products simultaneously. You can obtain accurate readings from each specific product.

Conclusion

The best thermometer for smokers is an accurate one, allows for the input of temperature settings and is easy to use. If you’re serious about smoking foods and you want maximum accuracy and performance without having to do little, then the Thermoworks Smoke will be the best pick for you.

For a slightly more budget-friendly option, those who already have a good understanding of temperature controls and the time required to smoke different types of meats will be happy with the ThermoPro TP0 8.

Personally, after going through numerous thermometer reviews, we would highly lean towards either the iGrill 2 or Maverick ET-733 if looking to purchasing an all-around high-performing and durable thermometer for your smoker.

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