In the modern world, there is a smart gadget for pretty much everything. Following the advent of the smart phone, there’s been an attempt to turn anything and everything into a smart device to make life easier. From smart scales to smart fridges, and everything in between, consumers really are faced with a plethora of choice. When I discovered I was being sent a smart meat thermometer to review, I was a bit sceptical. My initial thought is ‘do I really need this?’ and I wondered if it might be another smart device that’s destined to stay in my kitchen drawer for the rest of time.
With some trepidation, I unboxed the ‘MEATER Pro’ wireless smart meat thermometer and my first impression is that it’s compact for an item that retails for around £129. The stainless-steel thermometer is housed in a single battery charged wooden case and to the eye, it looks like a stylus. At the end of the thermometer are 5 sensors and they can withstand heat up to 105 degrees centigrade. This device has been designed to be thinner than its predecessor so it can be used in thinner cuts of meat and at the tip is an ambient sensor that can withstand heat up to 550 degrees centigrade.
So far, so impressive. In order to use the MEATER Pro you must download the MEATER app to your phone and that guides you through the setup. You push the panel on the back to reveal the battery and there’s a tab to pull out so the battery works. After fifteen minutes, the thermometer is ready to pair to the app. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to start cooking. The app features a large blue ‘Tap to Set Up Cook’ button and after tapping that, you can select what you’re cooking e.g. Beef, Pork, Poultry. Once you’ve selected your meat, you can select the right cut so for beef you have choices that are categorised into Steak, Roast and Other.
Next you choose your method of cooking – Oven, Gas Grill, Air Fryer etc – and the app displays the recommended temperatures based on how well done you want the meat to be. It also recommends a temperature for the cut of meat you’ve selected, which is helpful if you’ve no idea where to start. Once an option is selected, you tap ‘Start Cook’, insert the thermometer into your meat and away you go. A nice feature is that it estimates your cooking time for you so you can monitor throughout the duration of cooking to ensure you get the best results.
The ‘MEATER Pro’ offers a great level of flexibility to support your cooking efforts. You can adjust the cook after you’ve started so if you change your mind about how well done you want your meat, then it’s no problem to switch temperatures. The thermometer advises you on how long to rest the meat once it’s cooked, so you serve it at the right temperature. You can get alerts sent to your phone so you can keep an eye on it, even if you’re not in the kitchen while your meat is cooking.
Another nice addition is videos within the app to help you get used to using the thermometer and get the best out of it. One thing to note is that you need to keep the charger case close by so that the thermometer works as effectively as possible.
The ‘MEATER Pro’ is a seriously impressive gadget. Despite my initial scepticism, it easily won me over when I tested it while cooking a roast chicken. My roast came out of the oven perfectly cooked and most importantly, it wasn’t dry as a bone or undercooked. Add to that how easy it is to clean and store, and the ‘MEATER Pro’ is a must-have for any home cooks.
Released by: MEATER R.R.P.: £129 Buy ‘MEATER Pro’ now
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