As T3’s Home Editor, I’ve tested almost every cooking appliance you could possibly think of, which means I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen. One such tool which has become an essential in my kitchen – which I initially didn’t think I ever needed – is a meat thermometer.
A meat thermometer is so much more than just sticking a probe in a piece of steak to make sure it’s cooked properly. It can be used for multiple different dishes, and within multiple appliances, like a barbecue and even air fryer.
One thing I’ve found an issue with when using a meat thermometer is the amount of quick cleaning and resetting I need to do in order to check internal temperatures on different foods while I’m cooking a full meal. But Meater has seemed to solve that with the Pro Duo, its first ever two-probe meat thermometer.
I have tested many Meater products, including the Pro and the Plus, so I wanted to see how the Meater Pro Duo measured up – here’s what I found.
Meater Pro Duo review: price and availability
The Meater Pro Duo is priced at £189 / $199.95 and available to buy at Meater. Previously, the Pro range consisted of single (£129 / $129.95) and four or XL (£329 / $349.95) probe options, so the Pro Duo is a happy medium.
Meater Pro Duo review: unboxing and set-up
The Meater Pro Duo arrived with the two probes in the charging / storage block, and a USB-C charger – and that’s it! To set it up, I charged it for a few hours before connecting it to the Meater app which took no time at all, as I had the app installed on my phone as I already owned two Meater thermometers. But the entire process was extremely easy to do and takes a matter of minutes.
Meater Pro Duo review: design and features
The Meater Pro Duo is part of the brand’s Pro series, which currently consists of the Pro, the Pro Duo and the Pro XL. The Pro thermometers differ from the Block and Plus as they have a thinner and sleeker design, as well as other smart features.
As mentioned, the Meater Pro Duo has many of the same features as the other Pro devices, but you get two probes instead of one of four. The Meater Pro Duo is a happy middle between this number and if anything, makes it more accessible and easy to use in the kitchen, especially with larger cuts of meat or big meals.
The Meater Pro Duo has a thin stainless steel, and can be used for a variety of cooking methods, including barbecuing, sous-vide and deep fat frying. The probes are extremely small and lightweight, plus they sit in its compact wooden charging block which also takes up minimal space.
For the ultimate cooking precision, the Meater Pro Duo uses Smart Temp Multi-Sensor technology. Within each probe are five internal sensors and one ambient sensor so they can monitor both internal and external temperatures at the same time.
The Meater Pro Duo comes with unlimited Wi-Fi and Cloud range which differs from the brand’s other models. When connected to the Meater app and with access to Meater’s cloud, you can check temperatures and see cooking recommendations while also receiving real-time updates on your cooking progress, even when in different rooms in your house.
Meater Pro Duo review: performance and app
Having previously used the Meater Plus which has a fatter shape and design, I really enjoyed using the Meater Pro Duo and found it easier to use. The thinner probe made it much easier to stab through cuts of meat. What was even better was that it added minimal ‘damage’ to meat as it left no big holes or tears.
I used the Meater Pro Duo for making a leg of lamb, beef Wellington and beer can chicken on the barbecue. I especially enjoyed using the Meater Pro Duo when cooking beef as the Meater app allowed me to select the type of cooking of the meat that I wanted, which gave very accurate (and tasty) results.
Undoubtedly, the best part of the Meater Pro Duo is the app. It’s user friendly and offers in depth insights about the meat you’re cooking and the entire cooking process. I liked how the app accurately suggested the right cooking time and temperature as well as rest time which made my meals much juicier and less dry.
Having two probes rather than one was incredibly valuable, particularly when making big meals like a leg of lamb. I used the thermometers in two different spots of the lamb to ensure I was cooking it properly and so I was getting the most out of the meat, which gave great results. The Wi-Fi connection was also great – I used the probes outside my garden in my barbecue where I don’t get the best connection. But the Meater Pro Duo stayed connected while I was on a different floor of my house.
The only slight negative I had of the Meater Pro Duo is that the probes do get very hot at the ends. As they’re made of stainless steel and are used in high temperatures, it’s to be expected but just don’t be an idiot like me and try to remove them before they’ve cooled down! That being said, they cool down quite quickly.
Meater Pro Duo review: verdict
The Meater Pro Duo is an outstanding meat thermometer that has incredible accuracy, a lightweight and attractive design and brilliant Wi-Fi connection. The Meater app will always be my favourite part of any Meater thermometer, but compared to the Meater Plus which I had previously, the Meater Pro Duo excels in almost every way.
Of course, if you don’t need more than one meat thermometer, then you don’t need the Meater Pro Duo and should choose the Pro instead. But I speak from experience that having more than one is extremely helpful, and it’ll definitely come in handy with seasons like Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving when you make a lot of food!
Meater Pro Duo review: alternatives to consider
If two probes just isn’t enough, the Meater Block has all the features you want from a Meater thermometer, except you get four probes instead of one or two.
Another excellent meat thermometer is the Ninja ProChef Connected Thermometer that was launched last year. It’s the first product of its kind from Ninja so it could still streamline some of its features, but it’s less expensive than the Meater Pro Duo and has a similar thin design. You only get one probe, though.
