Smart grills are expensive. The company will definitely make you pay extra for the convenience that a little Wi-Fi can provide. When it comes to pellet grills, you can expect to spend over $1,000. The same goes for gas models with wireless connectivity. Therefore, it’s important to consider what types of cooking you plan to do and how often you plan to do it when shopping. Will you cook burgers during the warm-weather holidays or grill the occasional steak? Giving up that much money might be a bit much. But if you enjoy cooking outdoors nearly year-round and are ready to expand your cooking repertoire to include low-and-slow smoking, you’ve come to the right place.
The real benefit of a smart grill is the ability to keep an eye on your food without having to stand over it all the time. Most models allow you to monitor the temperature and provide some level of cooking guidance. Handy for both beginners and experienced cooks alike, especially for something that takes hours to complete. But if you’re happy with a Weber Kettle or Big Green Egg, there are ways to get smart grilling capabilities without making an expensive purchase.
Smart BBQ Alternative
You can get the basic features of a smart grill for $100 or less. All you really need is an RF thermometer with a meat probe to monitor temperature over a short distance. I prefer the ThermoWorks Smoke series due to its accuracy and ease of use. The most affordable option is $99 and comes with a food probe and an ambient temperature probe. You can upgrade to the longer-range dual-probe Smoke X2 for $169, and the four-probe Smoke X4 for $199. All of these allow you to monitor things from the inside, with the ability to set high and low temperature alarms to sound alarms. ThermoWorks also sells an additional accessory that adds Wi-Fi to the base-level Smoke model, allowing you to send stats to your phone.
Of course, these devices only monitor temperature. They don’t do anything to help you regulate your heat levels. ThermoWorks created Billows for this purpose. It is a temperature controlled fan that eliminates the need for you to manually open/close the vents on your charcoal or wood burning smoker or grill. You’ll need a ThermoWorks controller to use it, such as the $239 four-probe signal unit. Signals is more expensive than the Smoke model, but it has built-in Wi-Fi so it works right out of the box.
If you like both Wi-Fi and step-by-step instructions, the Weber Connect Smart Grill Center is a great choice. This adds almost every smart feature to any grill. Weber’s app not only provides tips on how to prepare your food, but also walks you through the entire process from flipping to wrapping and resting. The timer lets you know when the next step is coming, and the hardware/software combo can even estimate when cooking is complete. That last bit comes in handy when cooking something like smoked brisket that might take 8 to 12 hours. This hub holds up to four probes, so you can keep tabs on a variety of food and grill temperatures with a simple onboard interface.
If having cables crisscrossing the inside of your grill sounds like a hassle, and sometimes it is, there are wireless options for monitoring the temperature. My go-to product is the Meater 2 Plus ($130 and up), which does double duty with one probe. It’s completely wireless and comes with six temperature sensors: five for the internal temperature and one for the ambient heat level of the grill on the other end. The Meater app has an estimator algorithm that predicts how long it will take to cook food and recommends resting times after cooking. The Meater 2 Plus also has updated Bluetooth, extending its range to 250 feet. Additionally, this model can be used over a direct flame and is waterproof, suitable for frying, sous vide and dishwasher.
pellet grill
When it comes to smart grills, wood pellet-burning backyard cookers are one of the most popular models. Basically, a heating element at the base of the grill ignites the compressed wood, which is then fed through an auger into the hot pot. A fan operated by a controller on the grill regulates the size of the flames and overall temperature. Of course, once you set the temperature, all of this is done automatically. Plus, a Wi-Fi-enabled pellet grill lets you monitor and adjust the temperature from your phone, so you can entertain guests indoors.
One of the main advantages of a pellet grill is its versatility. Most of them can handle low-temperature slow cooking as low as 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and searing high temperatures of 600 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. This allows you to cook a variety of dishes, from brisket, pork ribs, and pork butt to burgers, pizza, and steaks. Some even have a slider that allows you to sear over the flames of the firebox. These grills allow you to “set it and forget it” for long or even short bursts of cooking, and they don’t require much attention other than flipping or seasoning your food.
There are more affordable smart pellet grills on the market, but in terms of a combination of hardware and software performance, the Traeger and Weber are the best choices. The Traeger comes in a variety of models, nearly all of which come with Wi-Fi, starting at $800. The company’s completely redesigned Timberline range is basically an outdoor kitchen. It can accommodate a variety of accessories to extend its functionality and has a built-in induction burner on the side for making sauces, cooking side dishes and grilling. The cooking chamber has double insulation, and the grill comes with a set of Meater wireless thermometers connected to a touchscreen controller. However, all of Timberline’s updates will cost you a whopping $3,300. This is the case for the smallest size.
Trager has also redesigned the Ironwood range, giving it a host of updates offered by the new Timberline. There are no induction burners, wood racks, storage or double-walled structures here, but touchscreen controls, new accessories (including a modular rail system) and, most importantly, the company’s redesigned grease and ash management system are all there here. The Ironwood does have an open shelf on the bottom and has a large side shelf in place of the Timberline’s burner. While it doesn’t come with Meater probes, the grill does support them if you buy them separately. Lacking high-end features, the Ironwood is more affordable, starting at $1,800.
With the Traeger app, you have access to a huge library of recipes, all of which can be sent to the grill so you don’t have to dial in settings. You also get step-by-step instructions, a timer, food probe temperature, and the ability to activate special modes. All of this is in addition to remotely controlling and monitoring grill temperature. The software is compatible with all of the company’s Wi-Fi-enabled models, including older ones, so you don’t need the latest Timberline or Ironwood to take advantage of what the app has to offer.
Weber’s SmokeFire pellet grill once appeared in this discussion, but since it was replaced by Seawood in the company’s lineup, I’ve removed it from our recommendations. I’ll be reviewing the Seawood soon, and based on the feature list and brief demo I got at CES, the new model will likely win the spot its predecessor filled. Seawood features a new design and a special cooking mode that allows you to sear and grill with the lid off.
gas grill
Smart choices aren’t limited to pellet grills, though. If you don’t need low-temperature cooking, a propane or natural gas model may be a better choice. For 2021, Weber is bringing its Connect smart grill platform to its gas grills, available in three- and four-burner configurations, some with side burners for extra cooking space. Just like on SmokeFire, Weber Connect not only allows you to monitor food and grill temperatures from the comfort of your chair, it also walks you through the process and gives you time updates. You still need to manually adjust the burner, but Weber’s app can alert you when fuel is low (propane models).
Other types of smart barbecue grills
Both pellet and gas grills have their advantages, but some people prefer the tried-and-true flavor of charcoal when cooking outdoors. While purchasing one of the previously mentioned accessories may satisfy your existing kettle or kamado-style grill needs, there are some charcoal smart grills that can provide a level of connectivity for your cook.
For fans of kamado-style ceramic grills, Kamado Joe recently launched the Konnected Joe. Silly spelling aside, this device solves two key problems with this type of grill: lighting the charcoal and regulating the temperature. To help with the former, the company installed an ignition system in the bottom of the cooking chamber that ignites the fuel at the push of a button. Konnected Joe also comes with built-in smart grilling to help you maintain consistent temperatures, while being able to remotely monitor food and grill temperatures through the app. Until then, if you want the smart features of your Kamado Joe grill, you’ll have to invest in the iKammand add-on. The thing to note here is that I haven’t tested it yet. They were announced in March but won’t ship until June (pre-orders are open, though). At $1,699, this grill is another significant investment, although that number is on par with other models from the company that lack the bells and whistles that connectivity brings.
If you prefer charcoal but still want a versatile, smart grill, Masterbuilt’s Gravity Series can handle all your needs from low and slow to high-temperature grilling. The gravity-fed charcoal hopper allows you to cook with a fuel source more familiar to most people, while the unit’s digital fan maintains the temperature. You can monitor your grill from your phone and adjust the heat levels as needed. The company’s latest version, the Gravity Series XT, features an updated controller, color display, and many other design improvements.
A word about frying pans
Flat-top griddles are having a moment. These grills are extremely popular because of their ability to accommodate smashed burgers, burritos, fried rice, breakfast, and anything else that might fall through the grates of a regular grill. There are countless options out there, and most of them offer the same basic premise: multiple burners beneath a steel, aluminum, or cast iron flat top. With the exception of Recteq’s SmokeStone burning pellets, the rest of the frying pans I’ve seen use propane.
Since all the basics are pretty much the same, you’ll want to look at the finer details in the griddle design as you shop. How much space do you need? What material is the stove made of? Does it come with a lid? Are the side racks large enough to hold everything needed for cooking? You should ask these types of questions to make sure you’re purchasing something you’ll be happy with long-term since you’ll be spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your frying pan.
I think the Weber Slate is an option beyond the normal menu of features. This is the second griddle from Weber, a company with decades of experience in charcoal and gas grills. Made from rust-resistant carbon steel, the Slate’s cooktop requires less maintenance and is more tolerable when you forget to clean it immediately after cooking. There’s also a front-mounted temperature display that shows an average reading across the entire cooking surface. Finally, Weber offers a range of accessories designed specifically for the Slate, including trays, spice racks, cutting boards and storage bins. These tools allow you to reconfigure your griddle into a prep station/cooking area combo, which means fewer trips to and from the kitchen.
