AirProbe3 Review – The Best Smart Thermometer To Rival MEATER



Smart thermometers are an exciting technology. The marriage between barbecue and technology is a thing of beauty. Not everyone is a fan, but I love having the ability to monitor a brisket from my phone — no matter where I am. I also love the simplicity of smart thermometers. Gone are the days of dealing with tangled thermometer cables and wires. Tappecue gave me the opportunity to test the AirProbe3, one of the most advanced smart thermometers on the market. I put it through some through testing, and it passed with flying colors. If you’re considering purchasing a smart thermometer, I would highly recommend the AirProbe3. Keep reading and I’ll show you why.

AirProbe3 Features

  • Food measurement range between 32°F and 212°F
  • Oven measurement range between 32°F and 572°F
  • Compatible with Bluetooth 4.1 (Bluetooth Low Energy)
  • Bluetooth transmitting distance: 98FT / 30 meters
  • The ability to monitor 4 probes on one phone
  • Monitoring via the Tappecue App
  • Stainless steel pipe
  • Waterproof IP67
  • Rechargable via USB cable
  • Battery give 48 hours of continuous cooking
  • AAA battery option
  • Synchronizes with Tappecue Touch
  • Connects to the Cloud
  • Record and backup cook session data
  • Magnet for easy storage
  • Works in smokers, ovens, air fryers, pressure cookers, and more.
  • 1 year warranty
  • Dishwasher safe

More AirProbe3 Spec

  • 1 AirProbe
  • 1 Charger
  • Diameter 5 mm
  • Length 86 mm
  • USB Type-C charging cable
  • Battery type: AAA (not included)
  • Battery life: 48 hours
  • Safe operating range: -4° F to 150° F
  • Minimum temperatures: 32° F for the tip, and 32° F for the ambient sensor.
  • Maximum temperature: 212° F for the meat sensor, and 572° F for the ambient sensor
  • Accuracy: within 1°F
  • Auto shut off function
  • Colors: Green, red, black, or blue
  • Connection: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • Phone App: IOS, Android, Apple watch, Google Home, and Alexa

Check out Airprobe3 Here

What is The AirProbe3? 

AirProbe3 is a wireless food thermometer from Tappecue — a company with a reputation for making high-quality thermometers. Cooks can connect the AirProbe3 to their smartphones and monitor the temperature of their oven or cooker, and the internal temperature of their food. There are no messy wires or cables—just a probe and a charging dock.

The probe has 2-in-1 sensors. One sensor reads the oven temperature, and the other sensor tracks the internal temperature of the meat.

The AirProbe3 connects directly to your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. So you can monitor the temperatures of your meat from anywhere. It’s compatible with Alexa, Google Home and Apple watches, making it one of the most technologically advanced thermometers in the market.

Where Can You Use AirProbe3? Cooks can use an AirProbe3 to track food temps in smokers, grills, ovens, air fryers and pressure cookers. Users can also submerge the thermometer in water for 30 minutes. Something the AirProbe3’s competitors cannot do.

How Much Does The AirProbe3 Cost?

The AirProbe3 and Charging Dock costs $129 at the time of writing. Check the latest price on the Tappecue website here.

If you can’t afford to pay the money upfront, Tappecue has partnered with Afterpay, so you can get the AirProbe3 for 4 payments of $32.25. Tappecue also provide a 1 year warranty with the AirProbe3 if anything should go wrong.

AirProbe vs AirProbe2 vs AirProbe3

As the name suggests, Airprobe3 is the third model in the Airprobe series. Tappecue have continued to improve smart thermometer technology with each model making significant improvements.

The AirProbe3 has made some improvements over previous models. It can last 48 hours, the most notable. So now you can cook a 14 hour brisket without having to swap probes.

The AirProbe2 could only last between 4 and 10 hours before it needed charging. So if you wanted to cook a brisket, you needed two probes. This was the reason never used “smart thermometers” for long cooks. I preferred my regular thermometer. Tappecue was wise to fix this problem.

The other difference with the AirProbe3 is the charger. Airprobe 2 needed an AAA battery on the dock. The AirProbe3 still takes a AAA battery, but it also has USB connection, which makes it much easier to charge.

The original AirProbe1 had some accuracy issues, but Tappecue resolved these problems with the Airprobe 2. The Airprobe 2 became the first smart thermometer to be used in pressure cookers and air fryers.

The diameter of the AirProbe3 has also changed. The Airprobe 2 was 6mm in diameter whereas the Airprobe 3 in 5mm. To be honest, I’m not sure why the newer model is 1mm thinner, but I’m sure there’s a good reason.

ModelAIrProbe1AirProbe2AirProbe3
Battery TypeAAAAAAUSB + AAA
Cooking Time4- 10 hours4 – 10 hours48 hours
Diameter6mm6mm5mm
Used in Air Fryer &
Pressure Cooker
NoYesYes
Accuracy Within 2-3°FWithin 1°FWithin 1°F
The differences between the AirProbe1, AirProbe2, and AirProbe3

How To Use The AirProbe3

The main thing to remember when using the AirProbe3 is to insert the probe into the meat until it reaches the safety insertion line, which is an inch from the handle.

This is important if you want accurate readings. Remember, there are sensors inside the probe. If you don’t insert the probe deep enough, the oven temperature may interfere with the food readings.

The AirProbe3 must be inserted to the line.

6 Key Features Of The Tappecue AirProbe3

AirProbe3 Offers 8 key features:

  1. Ease-of-use
  2. 48 hours cooking time
  3. USB Charger
  4. 2-in-1 sensors
  5. Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker
  6. Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the Cloud
  7. Session data recording
  8. Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Watch

Let’s take a look at each key feature.

1. Ease-Of-Use

The most important AirProbe3 capabilities are very user-friendly. The setup process is quick-and-easy. The App is very straightforward. Once connected, the AirProbe3 immediately gives readings from the meat, and ambient sensors.

Having no wires to deal with makes the entire process completely painless. The sensors are accurate, so you know the temperature readings are correct. You can customize your cooks, and have all your session data sent to your email.

Setup is simple and intuitiv

2. 48 Hours Cooking Time

One of the best features of the AirProbe3 is the ability to cook for 48 hours non-stop. The previous AirProbe thermometers only lasted 4-10 hours before needing to be recharged.

The AirProbe3 also beats the competition. Other smart thermometers like MEATER PLUS can cook for 24 hours before recharging. I’m glad Tappecue addressed this issue. No serious pitmaster only cooks for 4 hours. At least now the AirProbe3 can handle a pork butt, or a large brisket.

3. USB Charger

Another big difference with the AirProbe3 is the ability to charge the thermometer via a USB. You can still use the AAA batteries, but USB makes it as simple as charging a phone. The USB cable comes with the AirProbe3. It takes a few hours to fully charge, then the battery can last for 48 hours.

AirProbe3 Charging dock with USB cable

4. Two-In-One Sensors

The AirProbe3 has two sensors in one. The ambient sensor (oven sensor) is on the handle, while the food sensor is located towards the tip. If you cook in a smoker, the two-in-one sensors allow you to track the internal meat temperature, as well as the pit temperature.

For low-and-slow cooking, this is the bare minimum. If you want to track more meat, then you may need to buy a second probe.

AirProbe3 has a food sensor at the tip, and an ambient oven/stove sensor on the handle.

5. Air Fryer And Pressure Cooker

The AirProbe3 is one of the few thermometers that can be used in an air fryer. A wireless thermometer is the only way to monitor temperatures in an enclosed cooker like a pressure cooker or air fryer.

For me, this is very convenient. When cooking in the air fryer, I’m constantly having to stop and check the meat temperature with an instant-read thermometer. At least now I can set an alarm and walk away.

6. Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi And The Cloud

There are two ways you can connect the AirProbe3 to your phone or tablet. The first is via Bluetooth, and the second is Wi-Fi. However, connecting to Wi-Fi isn’t straightforward. Connecting to Bluetooth is as simple as pairing with your phone, as you would with any device (like bluetooth earphones, speakers, etc).

If you’ve used a Bluetooth device before, you would know that the signal drops out. The AirProbe3 is no different. To maintain a signal, you need to keep a direct line, otherwise you will lose the signal. According to the user-manual, the AirProbe3 has a 98ft range if unobstructed.

As with most Bluetooth thermometers, the AirProbe3 signal drops out when obstructed with walls, etc.

Bluetooth Signal Loss

When I tested the Bluetooth signal strength on the AirProbe3, I placed the AirProbe3 in a pork roast that was in my smoker out the front of my house.

The Bluetooth signal was strong. I could walk around different rooms in my house and read the temperatures on my phone with no signal loss. I’m not a fan of Bluetooth thermometers. But overall, the Bluetooth signal strength of the AirProbe3 surprised me.

How To Connect The AirProbe3 To Wi-Fi And The Cloud

As with all Bluetooth thermometers, they need to be unobstructed otherwise the signal is lost.

Once the AirProbe3 is connected to your smartphone, you can also connect the thermometer to Wi-Fi and the Cloud if you have a second device (like an iPad, tablet, or a spare smartphone). This will allow you to use your phone to monitor your food from anywhere.

Even if you’re walking the dog, or at the store, you can simply open the App on your mobile phone and see what’s happening back home in your smoker or oven. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Pair the second device (iPad or second smartphone) to the AirProbe3 via Bluetooth.
  2. Create a “New Session” on the Tappecue App.
  3. Begin the cook, inserting the AirProbe3 into the meat.
  4. Leave the iPad within range of the thermometer.
  5. Log into the App on your mobile phone and follow the cook session.
By using a second device, the AirProbe3 can be monitored via Wi-Fi from anywhere.

Cook Sessions


Starting a new cook sessions is straightforward. Once you have created a new cook session, the App gives you access to graphs, temperatures, and notes. You can name your cook sessions, “Brisket”, “Pork butt”, or “Chicken”, etc. I find my cook history to be very useful.

Especially when I’m about to smoke a brisket or turkey. There are so many variables when smoking meat, so having access to your old data really helps with planning future cooks.

Save Session Data

When you’re done cooking, you can have the session data delivered to your email. I find graph data particularly useful, especially when cooking larger cuts of meat. The graphs will show you how long your brisket stalled, or you can pinpoint the internal temperatures post wrapping, etc.

I’m always learning from my cooks through trial and error. Keeping a record of your cook sessions is the best reference material to improve your barbecue skills.

Accuracy

Testing the accuracy of a thermometer is the most important test. If a thermometer is inaccurate, then what’s the point? I performed the standard ice bath test and boiling water test and found the AirProbe3 to be within 1 degree—which is very good.

The Ice Bath Test. First I tested the food sensor at the tip of the probe. An ice bath should measure 32°F. When testing my AirProbe3, it measured 33°F.

Testing the food sensor on the tip of the AirProbe3 with an ice bath.

An ice bath test measures the accuracy of a thermometer. An ice bath is 32°F. When performing an ice bath test, the AirProbe3 measured 33°F.

Testing The Oven Sensor. The AirProbe3 has two sensors. A food sensor on the tip, and an oven sensor near the handle. I also tested the accuracy of the oven sensor and found it to be within 1°F. One degree is acceptable. Any more that a degree should be recalibrated.

Where To Buy The AirProbe3?

The best place to buy the AirProbe3 is directly through the Tappecue website. That way you get the support should something go wrong. Tappecue are a well respected company, and theirs customer service is very good. Click the button below to go directly to Tappecue website.

Check Out Airprobe3 Here

Damien

Author and founder at Meat Smoking HQ

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