MEATER Pro XL Review: 4 Wireless Probes Deliver Unmatched Accuracy and High-Temp Cooking Power

The MEATER Pro XL is a game-changer for anyone serious about precision cooking. Known for pioneering wireless meat probes, MEATER has significantly upgraded its technology with the Pro XL, offering four stainless steel probes capable of monitoring up to 1000°F ambient temperatures. Each probe features five internal sensors, ensuring precise temperature readings for perfect results every time. Whether you’re searing a steak or slow-cooking a brisket, the MEATER Pro XL is designed to simplify your cooking experience. With a sleek base station, improved app features, and fast charging, this device elevates your cooking to a professional level with ease.

I was offered the opportunity to test the MEATER Pro XL before its official launch, and I have to say that I’m very impressed by its improvement over the earliest probes.

The early probes weren’t waterproof and could not be used above certain ambient temperatures due to a plastic ambient sensor at the top of the probe.

The probes are now made of stainless steel with a zirconia ceramic band between the internal probe sensors and the ambient sensor. This allows the probes to handle up to 1000º Fahrenheit ambient temperature, which completely upgrades how you can cook with them.

The MEATER Pro XL’s probes utilize 5 internal temperature sensors, which provide a better, more accurate internal temperature reading. They can now read up to 221º Fahrenheit, allowing you to smoke a brisket to tender perfection.

The probes’ bodies have a slight indentation to show how deep they need to be inserted to get all 5 temperature sensors on the inside, which is a nice touch.

As mentioned above, the ambient sensor at the probe’s rear can read up to 1000º Fahrenheit, allowing for searing or direct heat cooking; this is perfect for searing a steak.

The MEATER Pro XL probes’ battery life is 24 hours if fully charged, perfect for a long brisket smoke.

They’re also fast-charging, so if your probes are out of juice, you can charge them for only 5 minutes, but they’ll still last for a 2-hour cook. They’ll fully charge in only 30 minutes. The probes measure 5mm in diameter and use a Bluetooth 5.2 Coded PHY long-range connection.

The probes connect wirelessly to the charging base station using that Bluetooth connection. The base station connects to your home’s WiFi network, which then connects to MEATER Cloud, which powers the MEATER smartphone app to track your cook from anywhere.

The base station is USB-powered, allowing the fast charging previously mentioned. It has an OLED screen and touch capacitive buttons that help you set up the probes, connect the base station to your WiFi network, and cook without the app if you’d like.

The MEATER Pro XL base station has an aesthetic bamboo finish, so it will fit most indoor and outdoor kitchens. It also has a metal stand so you can place it near your grill or other cooking device.

My seasoned steak

The MEATER app is also much improved; it now features a Guided Cook System that walks you through every step of the cooking process.

You can also set up custom alerts and notifications based on temperature and/or time. The app also features an Advanced estimate algorithm that estimates how long your food will take to cook and the resting time to help you manage your time.

My experience with the MEATER Pro XL has been supremely positive; it took only a few minutes to set up and connect to my WiFi network. The MEATER app instantly recognized the base station, and I was ready to cook after less than 10 minutes.

While small, the base station’s OLED screen is enough to see what you need to know if you’re standing close. To be honest, I’m not sure how many people would want to use that screen rather than viewing the information on their phone, which is much easier to use.

The probes are slim and easy to insert, and I love that they can now handle up to 1000º Fahrenheit ambient temperature. This allowed me to sear my Porterhouse at the maximum temperature on one side of the grill and then finish it low over indirect heat on the other side of the grill.

I used two probes, one on the strip side and one on the filet side of the Porterhouse, to track each temperature independently since they cook differently.

I found the accuracy of the probes to be very good, as I could cook my steak exactly how I like it: medium rare on the strip side. My wife prefers the tender filet at a medium temperature, so it worked out perfectly.

While you must keep the MEATER Pro XL base station near the probes to maintain the Bluetooth connection, I never lost connection between the probes and my MEATER app. I was given notifications on when to remove my Porterhouse from the heat and an estimated time that it would be ready, given my preferred interior temperature.

Check out the below gallery with screenshots taken while using the MEATER app:

I’m really impressed by the latest MEATER Pro XL probes and plan to continue using them for future cooks. The stainless steel design and higher temperature capability work well for the way that I typically cook.

The MEATER app is a great way to track your cooking, even using multiple probes with multiple dishes. Between the upgraded probes and app experience, the MEATER Pro XL will be the wireless probe to beat!

The MEATER Pro XL retails for $349.95; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer Supplied review sample

What I Like: Stainless steel design; High-temperature capability; Accurate readings with 5 internal sensors; Hugely improved app with guided recipes and estimated completion; Fast charging

What Needs Improvement: I’d love it if the base station had a larger, more functional screen, but it’s not the end of the world