Don’t we all love barbequed food? Whether it’s meat or simple veggies, the smoke seeps into the food and makes it so delicious. However, to enjoy some of the most delicious food, you need to ensure proper cooking. And since we’re talking about BBQ, then one of the most essential things you need to pay attention to is the temperature. This can be a rather tricky part since not everyone has that skill to determine exactly how much temperature to set and when you need to lower or raise it. Thus, the best bbq temperature controller becomes a necessity, especially for beginners.
That is because this device checks the grill’s internal heat and regulates a fan which in turn, controls the heat that is generated from the charcoal. So with the help of bbq temperature controller, you’ll be safe from any cooking accidents, and will be able to follow the safe grilling temperature regardless of your meal.
So with that said, let’s take a closer look at this device in more detail, and learn how you can choose the best heat controllers on the market.
Top 7 BBQ Temperature Controllers: Comparison Chart
| Country of Manufacture | Food Probes | Connection | Size | Weight | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flame Boss 500 | USA | 3 | Cloud, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | 7.87 x 4.72 x 14.17 inches |
3.39 pounds |
Check Price |
| BBQ Guru DigiQ DX3 | USA | 1 | Wired | 9.17 x 8.5 x 3.31 inches | 2.6 pounds | Check Price |
| pitmasterIQ IQ110 | USA | 1 | Wired | 11.2 x 10.4 x 4.9 inches | 2.49 pounds | Check Price |
| SMOBOT WiFi | USA | 2 | Wi-Fi | 10.8 x 7.2 x 2.1 inches | 1.7 pounds | Check Price |
| BBQube TempMaster | USA | 3 | Bluetooth | 10.1 x 6.8 x 5.5 inches |
2.35 pounds | Check Price |
| Inkbird ISC-007BW | USA | 3 | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | 11.14 x 8.94 x 5.67 inches | 2.98 pounds | Check Price |
| BBQ Guru UltraQ | USA | 1 | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | 9.13 x 8.46 x 3.31 inches | 2.65 pounds | Check Price |
What Is BBQ Temperature Controller?
BBQing is not as easy as it may seem sometimes. It requires patience, practice, and experience. You must know when exactly to flip the food and turn off the fire and keep in mind the best and proper temperature for your specific food.
And with a smoker temperature control system, you can make a perfect dish every time, by simply letting your device control and distribute heat evenly – so your food will be cooked at an even temperature. It also has alarm settings that notify you of the condition of your meat. So you don’t need to pay attention all the time – only when the buzzer goes off. That means that for the rest of the time, you can go on about your business and don’t worry about your food.
How Does It Work?
Maintaining a safe temperature while cooking is of utmost importance. It ensures that your food is cooked correctly, does not make it unsafe for people around, and keeps the machines and utensils in good condition. A grill temperature controller does precisely that. It monitors the temperature in the pit and adjusts the flow of air to ensure even and safe cooking.
Benefits of Using the Best BBQ Controller
Having a bbq temperature controller is very useful since this device has a lot of benefits:
- Prevents your food from getting dry
- Ensures even cooking
- Wi-fi supporting models can be controlled remotely via phone
- Saves on the usage of coal
- Controls the rate of combustion
- Minimizes risk of a fire hazard
- Gives you the exact temperature of the grill and food
Any Drawbacks?
Although a bbq controller has some great benefits, it also has some drawbacks:
- If the vents of your grill are not in good condition, a smoker temperature controller does not help much
- They may sometimes show faulty results, just like any other electronic device
- These work mostly on electricity and thus are not portable
Things To Consider While Choosing The Best BBQ Controller
Compatibility
Make sure that the controller you are buying must be compatible with the grill or smoker that you own. Otherwise, there’s not much point in purchasing it.
Type
On-Off Control
While creating our bbq temperature controller reviews, we’ve determined that this is the most common and basic type of this device. And its name is pretty self-explanatory because this temperature control can either be turned on or off.
Proportional Control
All you have to do is set the desired temperature and this device will automatically decrease the power supplied to your grill’s heater as and when the temperature nears the set value.
PID Control
It provides proportional, integral, and derivative control. Plus, since PID control works through complex processes, it is generally used by professionals, especially in restaurants.
Open Lid Detection
We often feel the urge to open the lid of our grill and check on the meat. But this has its disadvantage because it causes significant temperature fluctuation. Remember: the more oxygen coal gets, the more ferociously it will burn.
However, the Open Lid detection feature helps you deal with this problem. Once the lids are opened, the fans either stop or the airflow decreases. So if you’re someone who likes to keep checking food while cooking, this is a must feature for you, since it will ensure that the temperature won’t be tampered with.
Alarms
Alarms allow you to go on about your life while your food is cooking. Moreover, while creating these bbq temperature controller reviews, we’ve noticed that these alarm features make the entire cooking experience very convenient. All you need to do is set alarms and it will keep you notified.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi connection lets you control all the functions through your phone. So with this feature, you don’t even have to attend to your device until the alarm goes off.
Digital Display
When you’re considering a digital smoker controller you have to keep in mind that expensive models have extensive displays. So the more your model displays, the pricier will it be. It includes the display of temperature, the set, fan speed, etc.
Standalone vs Wi-Fi BBQ Controllers: Which Are Better?
Whether you want a standalone vertical smoker controller or one that has a Wi-Fi setting is entirely up to you. Some are manual, others can be remote controlled and some are the best of both worlds – combination controllers.
So remember to get a device that provides you with options. If you’re too busy to manually control your device, you can go for the one with remote control. Also, according to many bbq temperature controller reviews, make sure that you think well before deciding so that you won’t regret that you didn’t choose the one that has more features.
Installing a BBQ Controller
Although different models have their way of installing, here are some steps of the basic of installing an automatic bbq temperature controller:
- Look for the air vent and install your fan there. It will be on the top except for kamado-style grills that have a vent at the bottom
- Plug the unit in
- Set the appropriate temperature according to your dish and how rare or well-cooked you want it
However, remember that some more complicated models may need a few more steps. So make sure to go through the user manual before beginning to work with the installation.
Final Word
So overall, what can be said about the best barbeque temperature controller? Only that it is a huge help for anyone that wants to ensure that you cook your cheese, smoked meat, or any other meal just right. And while the beginners are those who will benefit the most out of it, don’t think that you’re safe if you have a year of experience behind you. Every human makes mistakes, and to determine something like an exact temperature, experience alone is not enough.
So when you decide to get yourself this irreplaceable device – keep in mind all the essential aspects and we’re sure that you will find only the best bbq temperature controller 2023, in no time! So best of luck, and don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments below if you have any more questions!
