MEATER Plus Review: The Ultimate Wireless Meat Thermometer?

When it comes to cooking meat to perfection, precision is everything. Gone are the days of cutting into a steak to check its doneness or relying on guesswork. The MEATER Plus is a wireless meat thermometer that promises to take the stress out of cooking by giving you real-time temperature readings right on your smartphone. But does it live up to the hype? In this MEATER Plus review, we'll dive deep into its design, features, and performance to help you decide if it's the best meat thermometer for your kitchen.

MEATER has become a household name among BBQ enthusiasts and home cooks alike, and the MEATER Plus is one of their most popular models. With its long-range Bluetooth connectivity, ambient temperature sensor, and guided cook system, it aims to make foolproof cooking accessible to everyone. Whether you're a weekend griller or a seasoned pitmaster, this smart thermometer could be the upgrade you've been looking for.

Design and Build Quality

The MEATER Plus features a sleek, stainless steel probe that looks and feels premium. The probe is thin enough to minimize juice loss but sturdy enough to withstand high heat. It connects to a durable charging base that doubles as a Bluetooth extender, giving you a range of up to 165 feet (50 meters) outdoors. This means you can monitor your cook from inside the house or while entertaining guests in the yard.

One of the standout features of the MEATER Plus is its dual-temperature sensors. One sensor measures the internal temperature of your meat, while the other monitors the ambient temperature of your grill or oven. This allows the thermometer to calculate estimated cook times and alert you when your food is close to being done. The build quality is excellent, and the probe is waterproof, making it easy to clean.

• Long-range Bluetooth up to 165 ft outdoors
• Dual sensors for internal and ambient temperature
• Waterproof probe for easy cleaning

Smart Features and App Integration

The MEATER Plus truly shines when paired with the free MEATER app, available for both iOS and Android. The app guides you through the entire cooking process, from selecting your meat type and desired doneness to providing step-by-step instructions. It even offers a 'Cook' mode that walks you through resting times and carryover cooking, ensuring your meat is perfect every time.

The app's interface is intuitive and user-friendly, with a clean design that displays current temperatures, estimated time remaining, and a helpful graph showing your cook's progress. You can set custom alerts for when your meat reaches a specific temperature, and the built-in meat presets cover everything from chicken and beef to fish and lamb. This makes the MEATER Plus not just a thermometer but a complete cooking companion.

• Free app with guided cook system
• Customizable temperature alerts
• Meat presets for various proteins

Performance and Accuracy

In our testing, the MEATER Plus proved to be incredibly accurate, with readings matching those of a high-end instant-read thermometer within a degree or two. The ambient sensor is particularly useful for maintaining consistent temperatures in smokers and ovens, and the estimated cook times were surprisingly reliable. The Bluetooth range was also impressive, allowing us to monitor a brisket from inside the house while it smoked on the patio.

One minor drawback is that the MEATER Plus relies solely on Bluetooth for connectivity. While the range is excellent, it doesn't have Wi-Fi like some other models, so you can't check your cook remotely from anywhere. However, for most home cooks, the Bluetooth range is more than sufficient. If you need even more features, you might consider the MEATER Pro Duo or MEATER Block, which offer Wi-Fi connectivity and multiple probes.

• Accurate temperature readings within 1-2 degrees
• Reliable estimated cook times
• No Wi-Fi; Bluetooth only

Pros and Cons

Like any product, the MEATER Plus has its strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these can help you decide if it's the right investment for your cooking needs.

The pros are numerous: it's incredibly easy to use, the app is fantastic, and the wireless design means no tangled cords. The build quality is top-notch, and the charging base keeps the probe safe and ready to go. On the downside, the lack of Wi-Fi means you can't monitor your cook from anywhere, and the probe is not suitable for extremely high temperatures above 527°F (275°C). Additionally, the charging base requires a power source, so it's not completely portable.

• Pros: Easy to use, great app, accurate, wireless
• Cons: No Wi-Fi, high-temp limit, base needs power

Value for Money and Comparison

Priced competitively, the MEATER Plus offers excellent value for its features. It's more affordable than the MEATER Pro Duo or MEATER Block, making it a great entry point into smart thermometers. While those higher-end models offer Wi-Fi and multiple probes, the MEATER Plus covers the essentials for most home cooks.

If you're a serious pitmaster who needs to monitor multiple cuts of meat or want to check your cook from anywhere, you might want to invest in the MEATER Pro Duo or MEATER Block. However, for the majority of home cooks, the MEATER Plus provides everything you need at a more accessible price point. It's also worth noting that MEATER offers a range of accessories, like the MEATER BBQ/Oven Mitts and insulated tumblers, to complement your cooking experience.

• Affordable compared to Pro models
• Ideal for most home cooks
• Consider Pro Duo for multi-meat cooks

The MEATER Plus is a standout wireless meat thermometer that combines accuracy, convenience, and smart features in a sleek package. Its app-guided cooking system makes it nearly impossible to overcook your food, and the long-range Bluetooth ensures you stay connected to your cook. While it lacks Wi-Fi, its performance and price make it a top contender for the best meat thermometer for home cooks. If you're ready to elevate your grilling and roasting game, the MEATER Plus is a worthy investment.