ThermoPro TempSpike Review
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The ThermoPro TempSpike TP960 is a completely wireless meat probe that will transmit the internal temperature of your food and the ambient temperature of your cooking chamber via a Bluetooth signal to your smartphone or tablet.
I’ve tested and reviewed all of the top wireless meat probes to find out if any of them are worth your time and money. How does the ThermoPro Temp Spike measure up?
I’ll answer that question as well as explore the features, usability, accuracy, durability, and price of the ThermoPro TempSpike.
Review Summary
Best Feature- The internal temperature sensor is accurate, partially helped by its placement near the tip of the thermometer.
Worst Feature- The ambient temperature sensor isn’t accurate.
Thermomeat Verdict- A wireless meat probe with a good signal range, the TempSpike is accurate at measuring meat temperatures but not at cooking temperatures. USB charging and an IP67 waterproof rating are great features. The mobile app and lack of WiFi connectivity aren’t great features. Still has a decent value if you only care about tracking your meat temperature.
The MEATER, MeatStick X, Tappecue AirProbe3, Yummly, and ThermoPro TempSpike wireless meat probes inserted into a whole chicken on a smoker.
ThermoPro TempSpike TP960 Truly Wireless Bluetooth Meat Thermometer
The ThermoPro TempSpike is a completely wireless Bluetooth meat thermometer with a good signal range thanks to its signal booster/charger.
This is ThermoPro’s first foray into the trendy wireless meat probe market. This space of the thermometer world is dominated by the likes of the MEATER and MeatStick wireless meat probes. The Tappecue AirProbe is also another strong competitor in this space.
ThermoPro produces many highly-rated thermometers and I’ve reviewed most of them. How does the ThermoPro TempSpike compare to the popular models?
The TempSpike is accurate in measuring meat temperatures and its internal temperature sensor is located closest to its probe tip out of all the top models.
It also has a strong Bluetooth signal range rivaled only by the MeatStick X. An IP67 waterproof rating also places it at the top with the Tappecue AirProbe3.
The TempSpike is also one of the easiest probes to connect to its mobile app.
There are some areas where the TempSpike falls behind its competitors. One of them is the ambient temperature sensor.
The ambient temperature sensor that is located in the ceramic handle is responsible for measuring the cooking chamber temperature.
The TempSpike’s ambient readings were consistently near the bottom during my many test cooks.
There is also no WiFi connectivity possible with the TempSpike. This is a helpful feature should the Bluetooth signal cut out for some reason.
The MEATER Plus, MeatStick X, and Tappecue AirProbe3 all have the option of WiFi connectivity, the caveat being you will need an extra mobile device to act as WiFi liaison.
The TempSpike’s mobile app, while straightforward and easy to use, lacks the graphing capabilities for the internal temperature part of your cook and none for the ambient chamber temperature.
One other thing to note is the TempSpike is the thickest probe in diameter among the leading wireless meat probes. It will definitely leave a sizeable hole in your meat.
Overall, the TempSpike does an accurate job of reading meat temperatures and has a good signal range. It does lack some of the features of its competitors, but then again, it is around $20 less.
If you’re in the market for this type of thermometer, the TempSpike offers a decent value at its lower price point.
View TP960 on AmazonFeatures
Here are all of the important features and specifications of the ThermoPro TempSpike TP960.
- One Probe
The stainless steel probe has NTC thermistor temperature sensors in both the handle and the probe tip. There is an internal lithium battery inside the probe. It is also rated IP67 waterproof. The probe is also thicker than its competitors.
- One Booster
The booster acts as the Bluetooth signal extender for the probe. It has two battery indicator lights and one connection light indicator. The S button silences the alarm and also pairs the booster to the probe.
- A USB Charging Cable
- User’s Manual
Specifications
- Internal Temperature Range: 14°F to 212°F (-10°C to 100°C)
- Ambient Temperature Range: 14°F to 572°F (-10°C to 300°C)
- Accuracy: +- 1.8°F (+-1.0°C)
- Probe to Booster Transmission Range: 6 feet to 33 feet (2 meters to 10 meters)
- Booster to Smartphone Range: Up to 500 feet (dependent on your phone’s Bluetooth)
- IP67 Waterproof
- Probe Battery: 2.4V rechargeable lithium battery
- Probe Battery Life: 48 hours between charges.
- Booster Battery: 3.7V rechargeable lithium battery
- Booster Battery Life: 3 months
- Wireless Technology: Bluetooth 5.2
- Probe Diameter: 1/4 inch
The TempSpike is the thickest wireless meat probe I’ve reviewed.
- Probe Length: 5 1/16 inches
Usability
Connecting the TempSpike to its corresponding mobile app is very easy. After downloading the app from the App store you will be asked to add a device.
Remove the probe from the charger and press the add device button and the app will connect automatically to the probe.
It is one of the easier wireless meat probes to connect to its app.
Once connected, tap on the TempSpike on the screen and it will take you to the main temperature display screen. (pictured above)
To change the temperature alarm setting for the internal temperature sensor (top section of the screen), tap the “Meat” button and it will take you to a screen of preset temperatures.
You can either choose to use these temperatures or create your own by pressing the add button at the bottom of the screen.
One of the drawbacks of the mobile app is that there is only temperature graphing for the internal temperature portion of the probe and none at all for the ambient temperature.
This is a curious omission and definitely places the TempSpike’s mobile app at a disadvantage to its competitors, who all feature better temperature graphing.
For those of you who only care about when you’re food is going to be done and aren’t concerned with how your meat is reacting to changes in cooking temperature then this isn’t going to be a huge issue.
Other usability features include the ability to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius, customizable alarms, and disconnection notices. You can also set a pre-alarm before the actual alarm to alert you that your food is getting close to being done.
There is no WiFi connectivity for the TempSpike. It is strictly Bluetooth. If you stay within range of the booster this isn’t a big deal.
Bluetooth Range
The TempSpike has a reported Bluetooth range of 500 feet between the booster and your mobile device. This is a best-case-scenario, line-of-sight distance that doesn’t take into account obstacles and your mobile device’s own Bluetooth capabilities.
You most likely won’t achieve 500 feet. But then again, most people don’t need that type of signal range for a typical grilling or smoking session.
I was able to achieve a Bluetooth signal range of around 200 feet from inside my house to down the sidewalk. I have an ancient iPhone 7.
The TempSpike was able to achieve this Bluetooth signal range even through a few walls. I would consider its Bluetooth signal range better than the MEATER Plus and the Tappecue AirProbe and on par with the MeatStick X.
Accuracy
The TempSpike has two temperature sensors, an ambient temperature sensor in the ceramic handle and an internal temperature sensor in the tip of the probe.
It then makes sense to split the examination of the TempSpike’s accuracy into two portions. First, let’s look at the internal temperature sensor.
Internal Temp Sensor of the TempSpike
The TempSpike is the only wireless meat probe I’ve tested with the internal temperature sensor located in the actual tip of the probe.
Why is this significant?
When you insert a thermometer probe into a piece of meat you are trying to get as close to the thermal center as possible to monitor its cook progress.
That’s why every instant-read meat thermometer and every conventional temperature probe has a temperature sensor located in the tip.
This isn’t so for many of the wireless meat probes on the market. The popular MEATER Plus, MeatStick X, and Tappecue AirProbe models have their internal temperature sensors located further away from the tip.
The sensor placements of the MEATER Plus (top), Tappecue AirProbe (middle), and MeatStick X(bottom).
This makes it difficult to gauge how far to insert the probe into your meat to find its thermal center.
This also doesn’t make them less accurate necessarily, there is just less room for error when attempting to find the middle of your meat.
The significance of this sensor placement is less pronounced when you’re using these types of probes for larger pieces of meat over extended periods of time.
As you can see in the picture above, all four of the wireless meat probes are displaying internal temperatures between 138°F and 143°F inserted into a whole chicken after 90 minutes on a kamado smoker.
There are variables that can affect these readings such as probe placement in the meat and the location of the heat source so it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about which probe is the most accurate.
However, after testing these wireless meat probes over many cooking sessions I can state that they are all generally accurate in reading internal meat temperatures of larger cuts of meat over extended cooking times.
It is when you are cooking something smaller like a pork chop for a shorter period of time that you will definitely see a significant temperature difference even over a span of 0.5 inches.
The Ambient Temperature Sensor of the TempSpike
The ambient temperature sensor located in the handle of the TempSpike is definitely its worst feature.
After many cooks over three months, it was consistently the worst performer in tracking cooking temperatures.
The silver lining is that none of the wireless temperature probes were accurate in terms of ambient temperature accuracy.
Some were closer than others. The MeatStick X was generally the closest in tracking cooking temperatures during testing, but even then it was still 10 to 20°F off.
The MeatStick X (top), MEATER Plus (middle), and TempSpike (lower right) are displaying lower ambient temperatures than the Thermoworks Signals (lower left)
Does this make all of these wireless meat probes useless? Not necessarily.
Most of the wireless meat probes I’ve tested do a pretty decent job of tracking internal meat temperatures.
If the temperature of your meat is all you care about then this isn’t an issue.
You will run into trouble if you rely on the “estimated time left” cooking estimates in the TempSpike, MEATER Plus, and the MeatStick X mobile apps.
These cook time estimates are all based on faulty ambient cooking chamber temperatures, rendering these estimates useless.
Durability
One of the strengths of this thermometer is that it is well-built. What does that mean exactly?
It has an IP67 waterproof rating which means the probe is protected even when it’s submerged in water for up to 30 minutes.
The ceramic handle can tolerate cooking chamber temperatures up to 572°F. The notches in the handle are a nice design feature allowing you to grip it for easier probe extraction from your meat after cooking.
The TempSpike (in the lower right corner) was the easiest to extract from the chicken after cooking.
This thoughtful handle design lessens the amount of stress you place on the probe while pulling it out of your meat.
If you’ve ever cooked a chicken with a probe tracking its temperature you know that the meat will tighten around it making it hard to remove.
The MEATER Plus (top left in the photo above) is the hardest probe to remove from meat after cooking. Its handle is very hard to get a grip on and you feel like you’re going to rip it away from the rest of the probe when removing it.
The internal temperature sensor in the TempSpike’s probe tip has a heat tolerance of up to 212°F. You need to insert the probe into your meat up to the notch to keep this sensor from getting too hot.
The clear plastic cover for the charger/signal booster is also a nice touch and helps keep the rain out when you’re cooking outside.
One other thing to note is that the TempSpike cannot be used in a pressure cooker because of its internal battery.
I rate the TempSpike as one of the most durable wireless meat probes outside of the Tappecue AirProbe due to its design and waterproof rating.
Price
The price of the ThermoPro TempSpike at the time of this review is $79. This places it around $20 less than the competing MeatStick X and MEATER Plus and $50 less than the Tappecue AirProbe3 wireless meat probe.
Here are my reviews of the MeatStick X and the MEATER Plus.
My Thoughts
None of the wireless meat probes I’ve tested over the last 3 years have been capable of reading ambient cooking temperatures accurately. The ThermoPro TempSpike is no exception.
This is complicated by the fact that most of the wireless meat probes I’ve tested are generally accurate in measuring internal meat temperatures. Again the TempSpike is no exception.
I want this completely wire-free technology to work, but I think it’s halfway there with just one of the two temperature sensors that are trustworthy.
The TempSpike does a lot of things well. Its Bluetooth range is solid and its IP67 waterproof rating is great. The USB chargeable booster is nice added feature as well.
The mobile app is basic but does the job. There is also no WiFi connectivity.
However, the TempSpike is just as accurate if not more so than its competitors in measuring meat temperature. If this is your top priority then the TempSpike could be a wireless meat probe option at its lower price point.
- 500-Ft Ultra-Long Range: Connected via the most advanced Bluetooth 5.2, this wireless thermometer for grilling can monitor your cooking from up to 500 feet away, truly wirelessly tracking your meal from anywhere!
- 100% Wire-Free: Wireless thermometer for grilling removes all the tanged wires, makes it a versatile tool for electric rotisserie, BBQ, smoker, oven grilling, pan-fry or sous vide; Enjoy 100% wire-free cooking and the convenience of no-hassle setup and cleanup
- 1 Probe, 2 Sensors: Bluetooth thermometer for smoker features a meat temperature probe that can simultaneously measure internal meat temperature and ambient pit temperatures, while still reading highly accurately in just 3 seconds, so you’ll never overcook or undercook again!
- Easy-to-Use, Multifunctional App: Get real-time alerts on the go with the smart thermometer App; Supports custom timer and temperature graphs; USDA-recommended preset temperatures elevate your cooking like a pro every time you fire up your grill with our smoker thermometer
- Effectively Manage Your Time: Wireless grill thermometer App takes the guesswork out by estimating how long to cook; Set up ambient pit temperature alarms and cooking pre-alarms that trigger within 5°F/10°F/15°F of the target temperature!
- Rechageable & Waterproof: The Signal Booster for this wireless meat thermometer for grilling and smoking can last up to 3 months on a full charge; Wireless meat probe features IP67-rated stainless steel that is easy to clean, allowing you to always keep your space tidy, dishwasher-safe
- 500-Ft Ultra-Long Range: Connected via the most advanced Bluetooth 5.2, this wireless thermometer for grilling can monitor your cooking from up to 500 feet away, truly wirelessly tracking your meal from anywhere!
- 100% Wire-Free: Wireless thermometer for grilling removes all the tanged wires, makes it a versatile tool for electric rotisserie, BBQ, smoker, oven grilling, pan-fry or sous vide; Enjoy 100% wire-free cooking and the convenience of no-hassle setup and cleanup
- 1 Probe, 2 Sensors: Bluetooth thermometer for smoker features a meat temperature probe that can simultaneously measure internal meat temperature and ambient pit temperatures, while still reading highly accurately in just 3 seconds, so you’ll never overcook or undercook again!
- Easy-to-Use, Multifunctional App: Get real-time alerts on the go with the smart thermometer App; Supports custom timer and temperature graphs; USDA-recommended preset temperatures elevate your cooking like a pro every time you fire up your grill with our smoker thermometer
- Effectively Manage Your Time: Wireless grill thermometer App takes the guesswork out by estimating how long to cook; Set up ambient pit temperature alarms and cooking pre-alarms that trigger within 5°F/10°F/15°F of the target temperature!
- Rechageable & Waterproof: The Signal Booster for this wireless meat thermometer for grilling and smoking can last up to 3 months on a full charge; Wireless meat probe features IP67-rated stainless steel that is easy to clean, allowing you to always keep your space tidy, dishwasher-s
