...This is easier said than done when grilling with wood or charcoal...

Got mine at Academy for 12 bucks. It works great.

I've tried several and have had a Winco for several years. It's a chef grade and don't remember what it cost.

Thanks everyone for all the replies and suggestions. There sure is lots of options out there!
I�ll pick one and learn how to cook meat with it. Maybe one with the remote display and one instant read.

I have one I bought at Barbeques Galore. It takes a few seconds to read. Maybe 5. I've never had any trouble with it while cooking brisket, pork shoulder, etc. I think it cost $20

I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a thermopop for general purpose and easy to use. I looked at the differences between that and thermopen and think for my use and comparing the price, the pop will be plenty fine and fast enough. The one we have now can take quite a few minutes to settle down and that can be 10 degrees difference it seems like if you leave it in long enough.

So Coco, this bluetooth thing with the multiple probes has got me very interested. Not only for steaks but for longer times like briskets and stuff.
I assume you can just watch that on your phone and not even have to open the lid or door in case of the vertical smoker? Also for thick salmon/steelhead/redfish fillets and all sorts of stuff. Man on that smoker to be able to watch that thing without having to even go outside sounds amazing. Any particular brands or models you suggest I look at? being able to just monitor the phone - especially all the way back in the house instead of having to steadily keep opening the lid sounds really interesting.

again, thanks to all for the info and suggestions.

I have the Therm Pro. I can watch the meat and grill temp from my recliner without having to walk outside and shake my beer up. Greatest invention ever made.

Chris B. That looks slick! Did you get the TP 20 or some other model?
Is the advertised range of 300' anywhere close?
Through some walls and around a corner or 2, way less than half that distance would be fine for me.
I like the idea that's its all combined with its own remote so no dinking around with bluetooth and your phone.
i think I'ma get me one of these to go with the thermopop and then some grillgrates to finish off this mission.
Now if all that can let me cook some decent steaks I'll be one happy camper!!

Only thing I noticed about some of the bluetooth ones is you can get from 3-6 temp probes which could be handy for multiple racks of stuff in the smoker and one to read air temp in there. But i bet that Therm Pro would be just fine with the 2 probes it comes with. I can't find the lengths of cable from the probe to the remote.
Do you recall the length on your's?

Thanks!!

Don't cheap out on it, I went through three in a year trying to save money.

Are you speaking of the instant reads? I've been through 4 or more of the cheap ones already. If I'd have ordered that damn Thermapen back several years ago when they were something like $20 off regular price I would have paid for it in value received many many times over!

Not true. Really. Just pull it over if you need to. You are not putting your whole arm over just your hand.

I do not know the touch method but will research it. I'll keep an open mind, but I'm more the type person that does better if i can see stuff that is measurable in some way and then repeatable. I like to weigh my charges and look at the scale when handloading rifle cartridges rather than relying on the powder dump for example. Thanks for the suggestion though - i will read up on it.
I will say though that I've eaten some darn good grilled steaks that never had anything remotely related to an instant read thermometer poked into them. Mine and other people's. I used to be able to do it pretty darn good years ago, but have lost that touch as I've got older and more out of practice.

Bought the Harbor 22 Instant Thermometer and have used it ever since. This thermometer is easy to use, read and accurate. It's the best $20 I have ever spent.

Do yourself a favor and get the MK4....they are amazing.