I am new to Wi-Fi meat thermometers, so when I got my hands on the new MeatStick V wireless meat thermometer, I was pretty excited. I purchased pork tenderloin steak cuts, got everything ready, and started to try this new thermometer. Only there were two issues: the Wi-Fi setup is slightly tricky to get going the first time, and it’s not that great for smaller cuts of meat. The rest of the experience? Just one word: fantastic!
The MeatStick V is a wireless thermometer with a built-in Wi-Fi technology and the ability to withstand high-temperature cooking. It can surprise your high-flame grill or high-temp oven. Interestingly, this wireless thermometer can be used for multiple cooking methods, including deep frying, stove top, air frying, in the oven, and for smoking and grilling.
If I talk about the performance, the MeatStick V would score 9 out of 10. The design is user-friendly, but I did find the initial use a bit tricky to understand, for which I would rate it 8.5 out of 10. But once you are familiar with the settings, it’s smooth sailing. I am pretty impressed with the accuracy, battery, charging, and cleanup.
What’s Included
The MeatStick V comes in a neat little box. It looks like an unassuming pen, not just the box design, but the probe itself, too. You get four things inside the packaging: a base with the probe resting inside, a charging cable, and a user’s manual. The Smart Base is shy of 6 inches and sticks to your refrigerator or smoker thanks to its magnetic bottom. The probe measures 4.8 long and 0.5mm in diameter. There is a power button at one end of the base, and an LED light on the other with a Type-C port beneath it to charge the device.
The size is perfect for larger and medium-sized cuts. It is too large for a smaller steak or cuts like chicken breast. I used a smaller steak, and it couldn’t hold upright. The slender contraption is sleek and smooth; however, its smoothness might make it difficult to grab due to the lack of a bigger handle.
MeatStick V Setup
Since this is a wireless meat thermometer, you either need Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity to get it to work. I connected the Smart Base to the Wi-Fi. It is also compatible with Bluetooth, which offers a long-range coverage of up to 900 feet. This works perfectly when the meat is going to take a lot of time to cook, and you can just stay connected to your cook while going about your work elsewhere.
It is compatible with mobile devices running iOS 12 (or higher), or Android 9 (or higher), and Bluetooth 4+. Once you are familiar with what you get in the box and what you want to use it with, you download and install the MeatStick App, charge the base for about 2-4 hours, pair via Bluetooth, or connect to Wi-Fi.
Now, if you are using Wi-Fi, it can get confusing the first time. You need to configure network settings in the app. Another thing I didn’t get right was how to activate it quickly. There are three LED light colors, indicating different statuses: If the light is blue, it means the Smart Base is connected to Wi-Fi. White indicates that the Bluetooth Xtender is on. Red tells you that the Smart Base battery is low, and the green signals charging.
So when you are setting up, the app asks you to press the Base’s button twice and hold for 5 seconds and release, all the while counting down. You need to get along with its rhythm or start over. Then you wait for the LED to start flashing quickly, white and blue. Until that happens, you can’t move on. This could get a little tricky, and you may need some time to pass through this step as I did.
Choose Meat and Doneness
Once connected, you need to set up cook by picking up cooking methods from air fryer, oven, stove top, grill, smoke, sous vide, and deep fry. Next, you will choose the meat type from beef, lamb, poultry, seafood, pork, or plant-based. After you choose the meat type, pick the cut type, and choose the doneness with internal and ambient temperature targets.
There are two warning temperatures for both internal and ambient temperature, both of which you can choose for early and target warnings. This way, you are updated at all times, and your meat never gets overcooked or remains undercooked.
After that, you simply insert the thermometer till the minimum insertion line. There are six temperature sensors in the stick device. The inserted slim part detects internal temperature up to 100 degrees Celsius, while the ambient temperature sensor at the top of the Zirconia ceramic handle detects up to 650 degrees Celsius.
That’s it: now you go about your work, and the MeatStick app will keep you apprised about the cook’s status and send alerts when it is time to take it out/off. Just ensure that the base is within 3 to 6 feet of the probe for optimal range.
Additional Features
What I like most about the app compatibility is that it saves your past cooks and even allows you to save your favorite recipes. This comes in handy if you are cooking the same type of meat and cut to the same perfection. It doesn’t forget what and how you prefer to cook the meat and remembers the settings for you.
Other than a couple of minor setup confusions, the overall features and use are pretty straightforward. I loved using this. The cleaning of the MeatStick V is child’s play. The thermometer is dishwasher-safe, but handwashing is quicker and just as effective. I hand-washed it, of course. Another thing that impressed me is that the device has over 50 hours of battery life on a single charge, which is nothing short of amazing.
Now, let’s evaluate this wireless meat thermometer at a glance with its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros of MeatStick V Wireless Meat Thermometer:
- Ability to sear at high temperatures (max 650 degrees Celsius)
- Offers accurate results
- Wi-Fi capability for unlimited remote monitoring
- Over 50 hours of battery
- Six temperature sensors for more accurate cooking
Cons of MeatStick V Wireless Meat Thermometer:
- Too long for smaller cuts of meat
Final Word
If you compare the prices, some may find the MeatStick V to be slightly on the expensive side at $129 at the official website, but it is the mid-range price for this category. But on Amazon, it is currently selling for $100.
As for my experience with the MeatStick V, I would rank it 9 out of 10 overall. It is a pretty nifty arsenal, especially if you grill or smoke meat regularly. I am thrilled to use it in my future recipes and explore other MeatStick products as well.
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