Lately, I’ve been interested in elevating my culinary skills. The experts all agree that a food thermometer is an essential tool for experienced chefs and, more importantly, easily intimidated, wannabe cooks like me. So it’s logical that I would want a thermometer that’s smarter than me to make me fearless in the kitchen. Luckily, I found the Yummly smart thermometer, which is supposedly the next big thing to help you cook the perfect pork chop or cut of steak. I’ll be the judge of that!
What is the Yummly smart thermometer?
The Yummly smart thermometer is a leave-in, probe-style meat thermometer that connects wirelessly via Bluetooth to a free app on your phone or tablet. As long as the device is within 150 feet of the thermometer and dock, you can monitor temperatures and get alerts to tell you when it’s time to flip the food, change the temperature or let the meat rest.
This versatile thermometer works in the oven, on the grill, with a smoker or on the stovetop. The overall length of the thermometer is 4.25 inches, including the 3-inch stainless steel probe. The thermometer sits in a sleek plastic dock that charges the thermometer when not in use, and connects to the Yummly app on your smart device. The dock has a button for pairing and lights to indicate power status and connectivity.
We Tried It
Yummly Smart Thermometer
Take the guesswork out of cooking and get the results you want with the wireless Yummly smart thermometer and intuitive app.
Yummly Smart Thermometer Features
The Yummly smart thermometer measures internal temperatures up to 210 degrees Fahrenheit and handles heat as high as 572 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, Yummly promises 25 hours of continuous cooking between charges.
The Yummly app is user friendly with options to select the type and cut of meat and your preferred level of doneness. The thermometer does the rest, notifying you along the way. Plus, you can connect up to four Yummly thermometers to accommodate varying levels of doneness. With Yummly, every steak can be made to order and done to perfection.
The dock is a slim and sturdy unit with a clear plastic cover. On the back of the dock, you’ll find a removable extractor tool to safely pull the thermometer out of the hot meat. Another clever feature is that the dock is magnetic, so it’s easy to hang it on your refrigerator or grill, which comes in handy because the dock needs to be within 5 feet of the thermometer to connect to the app.
How We Tested It
The setup for the Yummly smart thermometer was as simple as inserting the included AAA batteries into the Yummly dock and charging the thermometer for 30 minutes. In the meantime, I downloaded the Yummly app and paired my phone with the thermometer. The app is intuitive and walks you through the steps, asking what you’re cooking, the cut and your preferred doneness. It calculates the cooking time and reports the internal, ambient and target temperatures.
To start, I grilled a large pork butt roast and set the Yummly smart thermometer for medium doneness. The grill was on the back patio, about 50 feet from the front deck where we were hanging out and enjoying the lake. The Yummly had no problem keeping me informed of the status. After I got a nice sear on the roast, I set the grill on slow, low heat, inserted the probe and waited for the internal temperature to reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit. When it was finally time to cut into the 4-pound roast, it was actually medium-rare. I chalked it up to beginner error, but in retrospect, the meat may have been too thick for the short probe.
My next test was using the Yummly to monitor chicken on the Ninja Woodfire outdoor oven. Having the notifications on my phone freed me up to do other things, and the chicken turned out perfect, thanks to the smart thermometer.
Six weeks passed before I used the Yummly smart thermometer again. To my delight, it connected seamlessly. The filet mignon cooked to perfection and brought back my confidence as a cook.
Pros
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- 150-foot connectivity range
- Monitors 24 hours of continuous cooking
- Easy to use
- Free intuitive app and notifications
- Display it on the fridge with the magnetic dock
- App connects up to four thermometers
- Extractor tool tucks into the dock
Cons
- Short probe may not work for thick cuts
- Probe is thick
- Can’t be exposed to flames
FAQ
Is the Yummly smart thermometer accurate?
I tested the accuracy of the Yummly smart thermometer by dipping the probe in 2.5 inches of ice water and watched the temperature drop on the app to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Likewise, I watched the temperature quickly rise to 94 degrees Fahrenheit when I stuck it under my leg while sitting at my desk. I also compared the temperature readings with the smart thermometer on the Ninja indoor grill with the same results.
The temperature sensor is in the middle of the 3-inch stainless probe. As a result, if the middle of the meat is deeper than 1.5 inches (like our huge butt roast), the thermometer can’t detect the true internal temperature of the meat. However, for standard cuts of meat, the Yummly works great and the temperature is accurate.
Can you use Yummly without a subscription?
The Yummly app is free and required for the smart thermometer to work, but a subscription is not mandatory. The free app is brimming with locked paywall Pro features enticing users to subscribe. If you like personalized recipes, shopping list tools and meal-planning tips, upgrading to the Pro app is the way to go for $4.99 a month.
Can the Yummly smart thermometer go in the oven?
Yes, the Yummly smart thermometer is oven safe up to 570 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also suitable for use with air fryers, grills, smokers and the stovetop.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
With over 2,100 ratings on Amazon alone, the Yummly smart thermometer has earned an average of 4.3 out of five stars. Here’s what real-life users have to say:
“Cooked two prime ribeyes last night. It was amazing the information the probe sent back to my phone,” writes five-star reviewer, James Gregory. “It showed the temp in my grill, the food temp, how long it would take to reach medium rare, told me when to turn the steaks and when to take them up. They were perfectly cooked to medium-rare. Absolutely love this technology. It make cooking perfectly cooked foods a breeze.”
“Trusted our Thanksgiving dinner to Yummly,” shares verified purchaser, Randy Hyken. “I was skeptical at first, but it worked great! On a turkey, the proper location to place the probe is above the joint in the leg. This is the part of a turkey that is the last to reach temperature. I’ve also used it in a thick New York strip and it was near perfect. I like the app, too!”
Eric Powell, another five-star reviewer, says “I’ve learned a couple things by using this thermometer, the most eye opening of which is the temperature inside my oven is all over the place. The other thing I learned is cooking by time is really inaccurate. I am most impressed by how well cooking salmon to exact temperature creates perfection! And don’t get me started about my grilled steaks… they’ve always been good, but now they’re incredible! I’m getting hungry. The software tells you when to remove your item from the heat and even has a rest timer. If you’re going to flip your food, it can tell you when to do that, too.”
Product Comparison
There is a newer Yummly smart thermometer that has a few upgrades from the one I tested here. It has a longer battery life to monitor temperatures for up to 43 hours, so it’s ideal for chefs who love using a smoker. The gadget also features upgraded temperature sensors and an extended range of up to 165 feet, with the ability to share data on a second device with the broadcast sharing feature. Additionally, Yummly includes expanded categories of fish and wild game with the upgrade.
The newer version is compatible with IOS 15 or later and Android 7.0 or later, versus the original model that’s backward compatible with IOS 13 or later and Android 4.4 or later.
The latest dock has changed slightly from the original version, lacking the extraction tool that neatly stows away on the back of the dock, the pairing button and separate lights to indicate Bluetooth connectivity and power. If you’re on a budget, grab the original version.
Final Verdict
The Yummly smart thermometer is an attractive and sleek package, and the dock and probe are substantial and well made. The countdown for the estimated time remaining helps the cook prepare side dishes and makes timing a meal a breeze. I love the wireless connectivity and how easily the app sets up a cooking session and tracks it along the way, freeing me up to do other things while dinner is cooking.
Novice cooks (like me!) can use all the help they can get, and the Yummly smart thermometer is a useful helper in my kitchen. Honestly, I’ve never had the courage to cook an expensive filet mignon until now. Yummly gave me the confidence to try, and I’m so glad I did.
Where to Buy the Yummly Smart Thermometer
We Tried It
Yummly Smart Thermometer
Take the guesswork out of cooking and get the results you want with the wireless Yummly smart thermometer and intuitive app.
The original Yummly smart thermometer is available for $99 at Amazon, Lowe’s, Target, Food52, Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Best Buy. Whether you’re a beginner griller or know someone who would appreciate it as a gift, this cool gadget will come in handy for many meals to come.
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