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Title: How to shop for a smart grill

Date: Thu, 01 May 2025 12:01:28 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/be...

Smart grills are expensive. Unless you find one on clearance, theyΓÇÖre far
from an impulse buy, and companies definitely make you pay a premium for the
conveniences a dash of Wi-Fi can afford. As such, youΓÇÖll need to do some
research before making your selection, taking into account what kind of
cooking you plan to do and how often youΓÇÖll be doing it. There are also
things to consider like added features, especially cooking modes and ease of
clean up.

The real benefit of a smart grill is being able to keep tabs on your food
without having to stand next to it the whole time. Most models allow you to
monitor temperatures and offer some degree of cooking guidance. ThereΓÇÖs
convenience for beginners and experienced cooks alike, especially for things
that take several hours to complete. However, if youΓÇÖre happy with a Weber
Kettle or Big Green Egg, there are ways to get smart grill features without
making a pricey purchase.

Smart grill alternatives ThermoWorks

You can get the basic function of a smart grill for $100 or less. All you
really need to keep tabs on temperatures from a short distance away is an RF
thermometer that has meat probes. For its accuracy and ease of use, I prefer
the ThermoWorks Smoke line. The most affordable option is $99 and it comes
with one food probe and one ambient temperature probe. For $169, you can
upgrade to the longer-range two-probe Smoke X2 and the four-probe Smoke X4 is
$199. All of these allow you to monitor things from inside and they offer the
ability to set both high and low temperature alarms for audible alerts.
ThermoWorks also sells an additional accessory that can add Wi-Fi to the base-
level Smoke model, allowing you to send stats to your phone.

Of course, those devices only monitor temperature. They donΓÇÖt do anything
to help you adjust heat levels. For that, ThermoWorks built Billows. ItΓÇÖs a
temperature control fan that eliminates the need for you to manually
open/close vents on a smoker or grill thatΓÇÖs burning charcoal or wood.
YouΓÇÖll need a ThermoWorks controller to use it, like the $239 four-probe
Signals unit. Signals is more expensive than the Smoke models, but it has Wi-
Fi built in, so it works with your phone right out of the box.

If both Wi-Fi and step-by-step guidance are your thing, the Weber Connect
Smart Grilling Hub is a great option. This adds nearly every smart function
to any grill. WeberΓÇÖs app not only offers tips for how to prep food, but it
also walks you through the entire process ΓÇö from flipping to wrapping and
resting. Timers let you know when the next step is coming and the
hardware/software combo can even estimate when the cook will be complete.
That last bit comes in handy when smoking things like brisket that can take 8-
12 hours. The Hub can accommodate up to four probes, so you can keep tabs on
multiple foods and grill temp via the simple on-board interface.

If having cables criss-crossing the inside of your grill sounds like a hassle
(and it very well can be), there are wireless options available for keeping
tabs on temperature. My preferred product is the Thermoworks RFX, which is
available as an all-inclusive starter kit. This pack comes with a wireless
probe, transmitter and wired grill temperature probe. By separating the
ambient temperature sensor from the main probe, Thermoworks says it avoids
inaccurate temperature readings that can be caused by the evaporative cooling
of meats. The RFX sends data to an app over Wi-Fi and offline Bluetooth
connectivity is in the works. Plus, this probe is supremely durable with an
IP69K rating, good enough for both high-heat searing and deep frying. And
when youΓÇÖre done, you can just toss it in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

Pellet grills Traeger

When it comes to smart grills, the backyard cookers that burn wood pellets
are some of the most popular models. Basically, a heating element in the
bottom of the grill ignites compressed wood thatΓÇÖs fed to the fire pot via
an auger. A fan thatΓÇÖs run by a controller on the grill regulates the size
of the flame and overall temperature. Of course, all of this is done
automatically once you set the temperature. WhatΓÇÖs more, Wi-Fi-enabled
pellet grills allow you to monitor and adjust temperatures from your phone,
so you can stay inside and entertain your guests.

A key advantage of pellet grills is their versatility. Most of them can
handle low-and-slow cooking at as little as 180 degrees Fahrenheit, as well
as searing high-heat temps of 600 degrees or higher. This gives you the
ability to cook everything from brisket, ribs and pork butts to burgers,
pizza and steaks. Some even have a slider that allows you to sear over the
flame of the fire box. These grills allow you to ΓÇ£set it and forget itΓÇ¥
for long cooks, and even for short ones, they donΓÇÖt require much attention
other than flipping or saucing foods.

There are more affordable smart pellet grills on the market, but for the mix
of hardware and software performance, Traeger and Weber are the best picks.
Traeger has a variety of models, almost all of which are Wi-Fi-equipped,
starting at $800. The companyΓÇÖs completely redesigned Timberline series is
basically an outdoor kitchen. It can accommodate a variety of accessories to
expand its abilities and thereΓÇÖs a built-in induction burner on the side
for making sauces, cooking sides, and searing. The cook chamber has double-
wall insulation and the grill comes with a set of Meater wireless
thermometers that connect to its touchscreen controller. However, all of the
updates to the Timberline will cost you a whopping $3,300. And thatΓÇÖs for
the smallest size.

Trager also redesigned the Ironwood series, giving it a lot of the updates
that the new Timberline offers. ThereΓÇÖs no induction burner, wood shelving,
storage or dual-wall construction, but the touchscreen controls, new
accessories (including a modular rail system) and, most importantly, the
companyΓÇÖs redesigned grease and ash management system are all here. The
Ironwood does have an open shelf on the bottom and a large side shelf in
place of the TimberlineΓÇÖs burner. And while it doesnΓÇÖt ship with Meater
probes, this grill does support them if you buy them separately. The lack of
high-end features makes the Ironwood far more affordable, starting at $1,800.

With the Traeger app, you get access to a massive library of recipes, all of
which can be sent to the grill so you donΓÇÖt have to dial in the settings.
You also get step-by-step instructions, timers, food probe temps and the
ability to activate special modes. All of that is in addition to remote
control and monitoring for grill temperature. The software is compatible with
all of the companyΓÇÖs Wi-Fi-enabled models, including older ones, so you
donΓÇÖt need the newest Timberline or Ironwood to take advantage of what the
app has to offer.

If you prefer grills of the Weber variety, the companyΓÇÖs Searwood grill is
your best option currently. Gone are the early days of WeberΓÇÖs pellet
grills that still had some issues to work out. The Searwood is more reliable
and more capable thanks to an open-lid manual mode for searing, griddling and
more. Plus, smaller changes like a more readable display make the overall
experience a lot better. Starting at $899, itΓÇÖs also more affordable than
those Traeger options.

Gas grills Weber

Smart options arenΓÇÖt limited to pellet grills, though. If you donΓÇÖt have
a need for the lower-temperature cooking, a propane or natural gas model
might be a better option. In 2021, Weber brought its Connect smart grilling
platform to its gas grills, offering three- and four-burner configurations,
some of which also have a side burner for extra cooking space. Just like on
the Searwood, Weber Connect not only allows you to monitor both food and
grill temperatures from a comfy chair, it can guide you through the process
and give you time updates. You still have to manually adjust the burners, but
WeberΓÇÖs app can alert you when youΓÇÖre running low on fuel (propane
models).

Other types of smart grills Masterbuilt

Both pellet and gas grills have their merits, but some folks prefer the tried-
and-true flavor of charcoal when cooking outdoors. While the purchase of one
of the previously mentioned accessories will probably achieve what you're
after for a kettle or kamado-style grill you already have, there are some
charcoal smart grills that offer a degree of connectivity for your cooks.

For fans of the kamado-style ceramic grills, Kamado Joe has the Konnected Joe
and Big Joe Konnected Joe. Silly spellings aside, these units address two key
issues with these types of grills: lighting the charcoal and regulating
temperature. To help with the former, the company installed an ignition
system in the bottom of the cooking chamber that lights the fuel at the press
of a button.

The Konnected Joe models are also equipped with built-in smart grilling
features that help you keep the temps consistent while being able to monitor
food and grill temps remotely via an app. Before now, if you wanted smart
features on a Kamado Joe grill, you had to invest in the iKammand add-on.
Starting at $1,699, these grills are another significant investment, though
that figure is on par with the companyΓÇÖs other models that lack the added
features connectivity brings.

If you prefer charcoal but still want a versatile smart grill,
MasterbuiltΓÇÖs Gravity Series does everything from low-and-slow smoking to
high-heat searing. The gravity-fed charcoal hopper allows you to cook with a
fuel source thatΓÇÖs more familiar to most people while the unitΓÇÖs digital
fan maintains temperature. You can monitor the grill from your phone and
adjust the heat levels as needed. The companyΓÇÖs latest version, the Gravity
Series XT, has an updated controller with a color display and a number of
other design improvements.

A word about griddles Weber

Flat-top griddles are having a moment. These grills are insanely popular for
their ability to accommodate smash burgers, fajitas, fried rice, breakfast
and anything else that would otherwise fall through a normal grillΓÇÖs
grates. There are endless options here, most of which offer the same basic
premise: multiple burners underneath a steel, aluminum or cast-iron flat top.
Except for RecteqΓÇÖs SmokeStone that burns pellets, the rest of the griddles
IΓÇÖve seen run on propane or natural gas.

Since the basics are pretty much the same across the board, youΓÇÖll want to
look at finer details in the design of a griddle while youΓÇÖre shopping. How
much space will you need? WhatΓÇÖs the cooktop made out of? Does it have an
attached lid? Are the side shelves big enough to hold everything youΓÇÖll
need to cook? These are the types of questions you should be asking to make
sure you buy something youΓÇÖll be happy with long term, since youΓÇÖll be
spending several hundred or maybe even a thousand dollars on a griddle.

One option that I think goes beyond the normal menu of features is the Weber
Slate. This is the second griddle for Weber, a company with a decades-long
history of charcoal and gas grills. The SlateΓÇÖs cooktop is made of rust-
resistant carbon steel, which requires less maintenance and is more forgiving
when you forget to clean it immediately after cooking. ThereΓÇÖs also a front-
mounted temperature display that shows the average reading across the cooking
surface. Lastly, Weber offers a line of accessories designed for the Slate,
including a caddy, condiment holder, cutting board and storage bins. These
tools allow you to reconfigure the griddle so itΓÇÖs a prep station/cooking
area combo, which means fewer trips to and from the kitchen.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/be...
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