I love cooking meats to perfection. My family regularly eats grilled burgers, roasted pork loin in the slow cooker, and fall-off-the-bone, oven-baked ribs. But I’ve always wanted to cook grilled and smoked meats. I just needed the correct outdoor products to help make the transition easier.
The hesitation I had with more expensive and arguably tastier cuts is that I was too afraid of wasting the time and effort for something to turn out wrong. I’ve been fairly confident in my cooking ability over the past 25 years to understand the ins and outs of time and temperature for meats once I get a particular recipe right after a few tries.
I wanted a sturdy thermometer to make roasts and thicker steaks tender without having to open the grill. Opening the grill changes the ambient temperature, which can lengthen the cooking time.
I took a few days to consider what to buy. Then I splurged on the MEATER Block Wi-Fi enabled meat thermometer to treat myself to a Father’s Day present. Although not without its snafus, this outdoor product is completely worth it for the convenience and worry-free barbecuing for that perfectly cooked meat.
Key Features
Rather than one probe, the MEATER Block has four, which lets me monitor multiple cuts of meat at once or up to four different parts of the same meat. This cooking gadget is ideal for smoking multiple pieces of meat simultaneously when they are different sizes or need to cook to different temperatures.
Each probe reads two temperatures. One is the temperature of the meat, and the other is the ambient temperature surrounding the meat. The maximum meat temperature is 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 Celsius). The top ambient temperature the probes can withstand is 527 degrees Fahrenheit (275 Celsius).
The probes of the MEATER Block connect to your phone through a dedicated repeater. That’s the device that comes with the four probes. It converts a short-range Bluetooth signal into Wi-Fi to broadcast over your home network.
The real beauty of this outdoor product is the MEATER Block app. It shows you the current internal temperature of the meat, the target temperature, and the ambient temperature. If you’re a novice, consider the Guided Cook option. As a more experienced grill enthusiast, I prefer the Custom Cook option that allows me to set the target temperature. I appreciate this mode because my family and I usually like our meats cooked to a temperature a bit higher than the recipe suggests. We want to make sure everything is done thoroughly.
Pros
- High-quality construction made to withstand hot temperatures associated with cooking meats.
- Easy to operate after you put everything together and learn how it functions.
- Fantastic for thicker, slow-cooked meats to achieve that just-right tenderness.
- Perfect for novice or experienced grill enthusiasts.
- MEATER Block probes also work in the oven.
- Easy to clean afterward with hot soapy water (I also use a sanitizer just to be sure).
- Good range when connecting to my home’s Wi-Fi (product also comes in other models with different ranges).
- The MEATER Block app makes recipes super simple to handle.
- The probes are rechargeable.
- Works in standalone mode with just Bluetooth if you want to stay within 10 to 20 feet of the grill.
Cons
- The MEATER Block doesn’t work with thinner cuts of meat. I recommend steaks at least 1-1/2 inches thick for the probe to stay in properly. Remember, meat generally shrinks when it cooks.
- If you use ground meats, make sure they are thick enough.
- The repeater goes through a lot of batteries. But that’s to be expected because its goal is to strengthen a Bluetooth signal.
- Signals from the probes may become blocked if you have a thick-walled grill or oven, if your cooker is insulated, or if you move around the house. Make sure your home Wi-Fi can be detected outdoors if you plan on going inside during the cooking time.
Value for Money
The MEATER Block’s value for the money depends on how much you use it. For me, it’s worth every penny as I cook every weekend of the year. As with other high-tech outdoor products, and especially a meat thermometer, experiment until you get the results you want. I found it very easy to follow a recipe and then tweak it a bit.
Who Should Buy This Outdoor Product?
Anyone who loves beautiful cuts of meat cooked to perfection. If you’re just starting out, you can reduce the headaches and stress that may come from trying to cook a premium cut to perfection. For the person with some experience, the MEATER Block elevates your grilling or smoking without having to fret or lift the cover.
Alternative Items to Consider
If you want a wireless digital thermometer for the grill, MEATER has other options beyond this one. The ThermoMaven smart Bluetooth wireless meat thermometer is highly rated thanks to its ease of use.
The Chef iQ Sense smart wireless meat thermometer has been the industry standard. It was one of the first wireless models to hit the market when it came out in 2022.
Is The MEATER Block Worth It?
Absolutely yes! This outdoor product not only helps your meats turn out the way you want them, but it also makes you a better chef. Yes, it is an investment. You get more out of the MEATER Block the more you use it. I think it’s worth every penny I spent on it.
