It is extremely hard to imagine a person who doesn’t like to grill or at least enjoy a perfect brisk.
Roasted meat, delicious seafood, juicy and tender vegetables are a must in every BBQ party.
It may come as a surprise, but BBQ is a science of its own, a science that needs meticulous precision, especially when it comes to temperature.
Even if your grill already has a built-in thermometer, its precision might be of question.
To solve this problem, we are here to help you choose the best grill surface thermometer.
Top 5 Best Grill Surface Thermometers for Grill Temperature Control
- Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer
- Cooper-Atkins 3210-08-1-E
- Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer
- Rubbermaid Monitoring Thermometer
- REOTEMP S1-F73 Magnetic Analog Surface Thermometer
Grill Surface Thermometers Buying Guide for Grill Temperature Control
While you are doing the BBQ, you have to control the strength of the fire, which is not always an easy task. Many different factors can affect the temperature of your grill. The size of it, the weather, and the type of charcoal.
Whether you’re an experienced griller or just a beginner, there might be a few challenges that you are going to have to overcome. The biggest one would be maintaining the proper temperature of the grilling surface. Although those temperatures are always intense, to say the least, they still might not be enough to cook your festivities properly. This means that the dishes you are grilling could quickly turn brown, but does not mean that the food is ready inside.
Under that crispy brown surface may be hidden undercooked or even raw flesh, which is a less than desirable result. So to avoid that, you have to control your surface grill temperature. There are two ways how to determine whether your grill is ready or not. The first method is to measure the temperature by hand, and the second one is to use a grill surface thermometer. Both methods can help you to determine the heat zones of your grill and one, of course, is less accurate than the other.
The hand testing method may be used when you do not have a thermometer, or the one that is in your grill gives you faulty measurements. You should place your palm above the grilling surface at 3 inches and notice how fast you will feel the heat. 7-9 seconds equals 250°F – 300°F, 6-7 seconds equals 300°F – 350°F, 4-5 seconds equals 350°F – 400°F, 2-4 seconds equals 400°F – 450°F, and 1-2 seconds equals 450°F – 500°F.
But if you want a more precise measurement of the heat zones, you should definitely use a grill surface thermometer. You have to put it in the center of your grill grates for 5 minutes and therefore collect the baseline readings. Move the thermometer with the help of the spatula, tongs, or meat hook to the upper right corner and let it stay there for 30 seconds. After that put it to the left upper corner and repeat the procedure. Do the same for the center and lower parts of the grill to know the precise temperature of your heat zones.
Important features
There’re a few things to keep in mind while choosing a grill surface thermometer. Of all the features that your grill surface thermometer can possess, you should pay more attention to temperature accuracy, range, probe length, and gauge.
Since we all know that the doneness of the meat is directly dependent on the temperature, accurate measurements are extremely important. The difference between well-done and medium-rare is no more than 25°F. So it is a good idea to choose a thermometer that has a rating of ±2 percent and can be calibrated if needed.
The temperature range has to be wide in order to determine the full spectrum of heat produced by the grill. So you can easily understand where the perfect spot is to grill the veggies and where the put lamb ribs should be placed. Such efficiency would help you to divide your attention between grilling and entertaining your guests.
Although it is not the most important feature but probe length will come in handy for certain types of meat. Usually, beef, pork, lamb, and, of course, whole poultry are prepared in thick cuts. So without a proper probe, it would be very hard to determine the doneness of the meat. To achieve better results, the probe should be no less than 5 inches.
Also, the best grill surface thermometer should have an easy-to-read temperature gauge and a durable body.
Best Grill Surface Thermometers Reviews
Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer
Pros
- Easy-to-read measurements from 150 to 700 degrees Fahrenheit
- Detachable wire handles
- Very reasonably priced
Cons
- The temperature gauge quickly becomes brown and hard-to-read
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer is a game-changer when you need to determine heat zones quickly. Two detachable wire handles make it easy to move from zone to zone on the grill grates. The temperature ranges from 150 to 700 degrees, and the fog-resistant screen makes the grilling experience a delight.
User impressions
Users are quite impressed with Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer’s reasonable price and relatively small size. Although most users found this thermometer to be very useful in certain situations, they also note that it seems that it shows a temperature range rather than a specific reading. Some users noted that the surface of the Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer turns brown from the inside out if not used as it was intended.
What we think
Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer proves to be a decent grill surface thermometer. It is small and easy to use due to the simplicity of the design and a wide range of temperature readings. If used accordingly to instruction, it proves to be a helper for a long time.
Bottomline
Cuisinart CSG-100 Surface Thermometer is a perfect choice for someone who seeks to know the approximate temperature range of heat zones of the grill. But if you are looking for a thermometer that will give you very accurate readings, you may skip to the next one on the list.
Cooper-Atkins 3210-08-1-E
Pros
- Has an NSF certification
- Easy-to-read measurements from 100 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons
- Temperature Accuracy: ± 25 degrees Fahrenheit (± 12 degrees Celsius)
- Not efficient on other grills except for flat-top
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
When you are choosing the kitchen equipment, the first thing that you want it to be is safe and reliable. That is why it will totally make sense to purchase the item from a company that has a great reputation in the field. 3210-08-1-E grilled thermometer from Cooper Atkins will be a great choice as it is NSF certified and is known for finding hot spots and low-temperature areas easily.
User impressions
Most users agree that Cooper-Atkins 3210-08-1-E is perfect for flat-top grills but not efficient enough on other types of grills. Some users note that this particular thermometer could be noticeably inaccurate, sometimes up to 25°F of difference between the actual temperature and the reading. That being said, other users didn’t find it inaccurate and are instead impressed with its durability.
What we think
We, like many other people, prefer to trust the kitchen equipment from respectable companies. Cooper Atkins has proven itself to be reliable and trustworthy, providing very precise and accurate kitchen thermometers for various purposes. Even though the description for Cooper-Atkins 3210-08-1-E stated the deflection from the accurate temperature reading, in practice, it’s even more than ±25°F.
Bottomline
Cooper-Atkins 3210-08-1-E is a perfect choice for someone who has a flat-top grill or those who prefer to grill everything slowly and use low temperatures. For others, the deflection in the accuracy might be much of a challenge, and it would be wise to skip to the next on the list.
Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer
Pros
- Has a very sensitive probe that quickly reads the temperature
- Has a waterproof and anti-fog lens
- Easy-to-read measurements from 150 to 900 degrees Fahrenheit
- Easy to install on the grill
Cons
- None that we know of
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
Grilling could become a very tiresome and less delightful process if not for the existence of the Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer. The thermometer has a big screen that is glass sealed with two temperature ranges and one range that is divided into 3 BBQ levels. Also, it has a very sensitive probe that will quickly measure the temperature inside. All to make your life easier.
User impressions
Users say that Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer is a perfect tool for professional and home grillers as it shows extremely accurate readings, even compared to a digital thermometer. Users also note that Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer has a very big dial that is extremely easy to read. The fact that it’s extremely easy to install on the grill, oven, or oven panel makes this thermometer a reasonable choice for many users.
What we think
We love when our thermometer gives us precise temperature readings very quickly. Luckily, Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer offers exactly that and a few useful features on top. Constantly monitoring the degree readings may be quite grim, but Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer has a specialized scale of 3 barbecue levels: Smoking, BBQ Roasting, and SteakHouse Searing. In addition to that, having a chance to know the exact internal temperature will come in handy more than once.
Bottomline
Vankey BBQ Grill Thermometer is a perfect choice for anyone who values the accuracy of the temperature reading more than anything and wants to enjoy every minute of the grilling experience. Having a large screen that is waterproof and sealed with anti-fog glass with 2 temperature ranges in Fahrenheit and Celsius and an additional range of 3 BBQ levels saves you some time to pay attention both to your guests and your grill.
Rubbermaid Monitoring Thermometer
Pros
- Has an NSF certification
- Easy-to-read measurements from 60 to 580 degrees Fahrenheit
- Versatility
Cons
- From time to time can give faulty temperature measurements
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
Everyone values a kitchen appliance that is durable and trustworthy. Rubbermaid Commercial Products made its name on providing its customers with reliable products. Rubbermaid Monitoring Thermometer can be used not only as a verification device for evaluating the work of a built-in thermometer in your oven but as a standalone device that is known for accuracy and precision. Having a truly wide temperature range from 60 to 580 degrees Fahrenheit allows you to find an optimal temperature for any food you are grilling.
User impressions
Users like Rubbermaid Monitoring Thermometer’s accuracy and precision. Some users even use it to double check their own ovens, and in some cases, this thermometer even helped to identify faulty ovens that were in desperate need of replacement. But other users said that the accuracy might be a question about this thermometer as it mismeasured about 50 degrees. Also, the hanging position of the thermometer is not liked by many, as it is preferred to place the thermometer on the racks.
What we think
The versatility and accuracy of the Rubbermaid Monitoring Thermometer make it a perfect choice to use not only for ovens but for outside grills, too. We value this thermometer for its wide temperature range and durability.
Bottomline
Rubbermaid Monitoring Thermometer is a perfect choice for someone who is looking for a versatile grilling thermometer that can be used for various applications. It has a wide range of temperatures from 60 to 580 degrees Fahrenheit.
REOTEMP S1-F73 Magnetic Analog Surface Thermometer
Pros
- Magnetically attaches to any metal surface
- Easy-to-read measurements from 50 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit
Cons
- The screen may become brown over time
- Displays the temperature only in Fahrenheit
See price @ Amazon
Best features and specs
REOTEMP S1-F73 Magnetic Analog Surface Thermometer is a well-built thermometer that is extremely easy to use since all you need to do is to stick it to the metal surface of the grill or the oven. And it will start to measure the temperature right away. It has a wide temperature range from 50 to 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
User impressions
Users agree that REOTEMP S1-F73 Magnetic Analog Surface Thermometer is extremely useful since you don’t have to drill a hole in order to place it properly. Users are impressed with how durable and well-made this thermometer is, but some had a negative experience with a temperature gauge as it turned brown over time. Users say that the magnet is very strong and reliable, and readings are very precise. The only downside seems to be that it hasn’t got the Celsius scale.
What we think
REOTEMP S1-F73 Magnetic Analog Surface Thermometer proves to be a very decent and trustworthy piece of equipment. The feature that we love is that you don’t need to drill the hole in order to install it on the surface of your grill. All you need to do is to put it on any metal surface, and it will start measuring the temperature.
Bottomline
REOTEMP S1-F73 Magnetic Analog Surface Thermometer is a perfect choice for anyone who values convenience. It is very easy to use, and the temperature readings are always correct. The only downside is that you have to be able to read the temperature in Fahrenheit as this thermometer doesn’t have a Celsius scale.