A Digital Meat Thermometer is an Essential Tool for the New Barbeque Cook

Thermometers are essential for barbeque cooking. We highly recommend having a digital meat thermometer for checking the internal temperature of food.

We also recommend having an smoker thermometer if your smoker doesn't have a temperature gauge for the cooking chamber. An oven type thermometer will be needed for checking the temperature of the smoker itself.

There are many temperature probes on the market. For checking food we prefer the "instant read" digital meat thermometers that have an easy to read display and a sharp point. I really like the simple ones that clip into your shirt pocket.

Some of the probes don't give you a numerical temperature because they only display an indicator that says the meat is done based on the type (beef, pork, chicken, lamb). Stay away from this variety and go for those that have a numerical display.

For monitoring the temperature of the meat there are also some remote digital thermometers that we have used with great success. I really love those remote types because it really minimizes opening the lid of the smoker.

Many of the oven thermometers used for the cooking chamber are analog devices that you have to be placed on the grate. The problem with these is that you have to open the lid to check the temperature.

Try to make sure that your smoker has a temperature gauge.