Wireless Meat Thermometers vs Built-In Thermometers: Which Wins for Kamado Grilling?

If you’re a grill enthusiast, you’ve likely stumbled upon kamado grills in your search. This grill has been making waves online, and people are curious. What is a kamado grill? Is it worth it? 

If you already have one, you’re probably looking for ways to maximise the grilling results. This guide explores wireless meat thermometers vs built-in thermometers and the best Kamado Joe grill accessories worth investing in.

The Kamado Grill Principle

Understanding the Kamado grill’s principles is the best way to know why it’s so unique and which accessories complement this cooking method. 

The secret lies in the ceramic material. Whereas most grills utilise circulating hot air, it’s the ceramic material that makes the difference. Ceramic locks in moisture better, keeping the meat juicier.

 Ceramic stores heat once you produce fire through the charcoal. This means the grill will require less energy (compared to traditional grills) to maintain the ideal grilling temperature. 

Aside from the energy efficiency of a Kamado grill, ceramic allows for a more consistent temperature for a longer period. For example, you can keep the grill within the ideal temperature range for up to 24 hours. The heat-storing ceramic eliminates the need to continually add coal to maintain the desired temperature. For this reason, the Kamado grill is also reliable for a variety of cooking methods, including braising, smoking, roasting, and low-and-slow cooking.

Kamado grills stand out for their precise temperature control – it can make or break your cooking results! Unfortunately, built-in thermometers may not always be accurate, and upgrading may be necessary to achieve more reliable temperature controls. Mastering temperature management using the appropriate tools is the key to becoming an adept Kamado chef! 

Wireless Meat Thermometers vs Built-in Thermometers

Topping the list of must-have Kamado Joe accessories are thermometers. However, the real question is which type of thermometer to use. While Kamado grills have a built-in thermometer, is it worth the added expense to upgrade to wireless meat thermometers?

Let’s break down each to help you make the right decision.

Built-in Thermometers Pros & Cons

Built-in thermometers are those that are attached to the dome or lid of a Kamado grill. It is designed to measure the internal grill air temperature. However, there are accuracy issues with the original analogue gauge, necessitating an upgrade to more accurate Kamado grill accessories. 

There is a considerable discrepancy between the internal grill air and the dome temperature. If you rely on the built-in thermometer reading, you won’t achieve the right cook, texture, and flavour in the meat due to the discrepancy.

Aside from the inaccuracies due to the placement being far from the food, there are several other issues with built-in thermometers. It is also notable for its slow response time to temperature changes. With heated air constantly circulating inside the dome, temperature fluctuations will occur throughout the cook. It’s crucial to know how to manage these fluctuations to achieve consistent cooking results. 

The original dome gauge is best for quick grilling sessions or cooking that doesn’t require precise temperature readings. 

Wireless Meat Thermometers Pros & Cons

A wireless meat thermometer, such as the ProTemp S1, is one of the most common accessories for the Kamado Joe grill. It aims to fill the gap in the dome gauge to ensure cooking accuracy.

Wireless meat thermometers come with a wireless probe. They use platinum sensors that capture temperature data and transmit it to the app (once connected to the ProTemp S1). 

Real-time tracking is the main advantage of wireless meat thermometers for Kamado grills. You can even set up alerts on your phone so you are notified once it reaches your desired temperature. 

Aside from real-time tracking, coupling it with the remote monitoring capabilities makes the wireless meat thermometer a must-have for serious grillers. Built-in thermometers require you to walk back and forth to the grill to check the temperature. It can be an issue when it is too hot or cold outside. With a wireless meat thermometer, there is no need to go out. You can log into the app on your phone and monitor the temperature without stepping outside. You can even run errands, do other household chores, or shop while the meat is grilling. Since most smoking sessions can last up to 10 hours (some overnight), this capability is such a handy addition to your grilling experience. 

Gone are the days when you are stuck in front of the grill; now, you can entertain friends and family. It gives you more flexibility to do other things without compromising on the quality and flavour of the grilled meat.

Modern wireless thermometers offer advanced features that let you customise settings. The customised alerts give maximum control over how you cook your meat, such as when you reach a specific internal temperature. The meat is cooked perfectly, not overdone or undercooked. 

The downside of wireless meat thermometers is that they require a significant financial investment, especially if a dome gauge is already available. But the access to more precise tracking and temperature control is well worth the upgrade. 

Given these features, wireless meat thermometers for grilling are ideal when precision matters most. 

Wireless vs Built-in Thermometers

Let’s take a closer look at the wireless and built-in thermometer to determine the best Kamado Joe grill accessory. 

1. Accuracy and Performance

Temperature accuracy is a crucial consideration when choosing accessories for a Kamado grill. Wireless thermometers have an edge over built-in thermometers because they use platinum sensors that are more accurate and precise in reading temperature changes. And speaking of changes, the S1 also allows for temperature compensation. It factors in variations in the external environment to prevent them from affecting the temperature reading on the food, ensuring more precise temperature management. 

While the S1 does not have probes that can be inserted into the meat, it is long-stemmed, allowing it to reach close to the cooking surface. It will enable you to keep track of the cooking surface and predict when the food is done. 

Wireless thermometers are also ideal for cooking with indirect heat and for low-and-slow cooking or grilling. For example, you can cook a brisket for 10 hours on the Kamado grill using wireless thermometers to attain consistent temperature throughout the cook and achieve the best-cooked brisket.

2. Convenience and Ease of Use

Built-in thermometers do not require setup; they are already built into the grill. On the other hand, wireless thermometers require pairing and setup. Therefore, wireless thermometers would be more challenging for non-tech-savvy grill enthusiasts. 

Once set up, wireless thermometers offer convenience and remote monitoring. You can easily check the temperature when grilling from your phone or app. However, with the dome analogue gauge, you have to constantly babysit the grill to check if you’ve reached the right temperature. It can be tedious and exhausting, especially when you have to do it for several hours in challenging weather conditions. 

Choosing between built-in and wireless thermometers requires assessment of the user’s tech comfort level. Are you a tech-savvy user who values data precision? Or do you prefer a tool that is simple and easy to use? You can choose what’s convenient for you, but make sure you don’t compromise the cooking results.

3. Cost and Value

Since built-in thermometers come with the Kamado grill, you won’t have to pay extra for it. Wireless thermometer models range from $50 to $200, depending on the brand, features, and capabilities.

So, what does it cost you? Consider this question when choosing the right Kamado Joe grill upgrade. Wireless thermometers might require a monetary investment, but the value they deliver in terms of improved cooking quality and more consistent results more than pays for itself. 

Tip: click here to learn more about the differences between wireless thermometers and traditional thermometers.

Conclusion: Which are the Best Kamado Joe Grill Accessories? 

Kamado grills are challenging to master. While it promises the best grilling results, it requires expert hands. 

Even if you’ve spent years grilling, grilling involves numerous variables that cause fluctuations in temperature readings, making it challenging to cook the meat precisely. Equipping yourself with the right tool, such as a wireless meat thermometer, gives you more confidence when cooking with beef on a Kamado grill, regardless of your cooking style. With its accuracy, versatility, and precision, you can host casual weekend cookouts and barbecues with more confidence.