The Meater 2 Plus thermometer is the latest wireless food thermometer from Apption Labs. It features five separate temperature sensors along the probe’s length to mitigate errors caused by less-than-perfect placement in the food. There is another sensor in the handle of the probe that measures the ambient temperature in the cooker. The probe communicates with the charger/range booster which, in turn, communicates with your phone.
Operation Time
The charger uses one AAA battery to operate and keeps the probe charged while it is in its cradle. Fully charged, the probe is rated to operate for 24 hours. The battery in the charger is rated to last two years. The exact circumstances that produce these numbers aren’t specified. If the probe were to discharge, 15 minutes in the charger would give about 12 hours of operation.
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Bluetooth Function
Closed cookers act as electromagnetic shields, so it’s important to place the charger/booster close by. The boosted signal from the probe is relayed to the smartphone via Bluetooth 5.2. The range between the booster and the phone is said to be extended by the use of the Coded Phy Bluetooth protocol. Range claims usually rely on ideal conditions that are almost never present, so testing these claims is a dubious proposition. Under ideal conditions, the manufacturer claims 250′ (76m). Should communication between the probe and the phone be lost, the app will make noise and splash a warning on the phone’s screen.
The delicate electronics inside the probe are limited to 221°F (105°C), so the probe relies on the meat to act as a heat sink. The thermometer MUST be inserted to at least the etched ring on the probe, about 2.5″ (6.4cm) from the tip, or damage may result. The handle is rated at 932°F (500°C), the highest I’ve seen on any competing product. The manufacturer claims that the probe will survive flare-ups, a comforting thought. The probe is smaller in diameter than most of its competitors: 0.20″ (5mm). The probe is waterproof and can be cleaned in a dishwasher.
Testing
I tested the food end of the probe at three temperatures: 135°, 160°, and 205°F (57°, 71°, and 96°C, respectively). These temps correspond to medium-rare beef, safe poultry temp, and brisket/pork butt. The measured values were 134.7, 159.9, and 205° – excellent results. My test equipment won’t accommodate the size of the probe’s handle, so I tested it at 32° and 212°F (0° and 100°C). The measured values were 25° and 223°F. Each of the six probes is individually calibrated if needed. A calibration sheet is included with the product.
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The Meater 2 Plus thermometer’s app is easy to use. It displays the current food and ambient temperatures as well as the target temperature. You can enter the latter manually or from a menu of meat types and their doneness. It will also display the time remaining before the food is done, factoring in resting and carry-over. We will make this feature the subject of a future article so it won’t be addressed here. My one gripe with the app is the ads that appear in the instructional videos. These are difficult to avoid and very irritating to this reviewer. Please include a switch to turn them off.
The warranty is one year. You can find contact info in the printed material and the app, should you need help.
Conclusion
So, we have a thermometer that is very accurate, has multiple sensors, is thinner than most wireless probes, has higher safe temperatures, is waterproof, is quick to charge, and is easy to set up and use. Aside from the irritating advertisements, there is nothing to complain about. I give it a solid recommendation and a Gold Medal.
