01.jpgIt can be a tricky business, determining when grilled meat is properly cooked
inside. You could
inside. You could
buy a probe-equipped thermometer, but that would still need to be checked
periodically –
periodically –
if you’re entertaining guests out by your barbecue, checking a thermometer
is something that
is something that
you could easily forget to do. What someone needs to invent is a cooking
thermometer that
thermometer that
notifies your iPhone, iPod or iPad via Bluetooth, when your steaks have
reached the desired
reached the desired
internal temperature. Needless to say, such a product has, in fact, been
invented – it’s made
invented – it’s made
by iDevices, and is called the iGrill.
The device can read temperatures ranging from 32F (0C) to 400F (204C),
and runs on four
and runs on four
AA batteries. Although it comes with one probe, it can accept two at once,
for simultaneously
for simultaneously
monitoring two pieces of meat. And no, the electronic part of the device
does not sit inside
does not sit inside
your barbecue or oven – only the probe goes in there, which is connected
to the device by
to the device by
a 48-inch (122-cm) heat-resistant cable.
The included Bluetooth app, besides simply relaying the meat’s temperature,
also advises
also advises
what temperatures you should be aiming at for different types of meat,
and lets you know
and lets you know
approximately how long it will be before your meat is ready.
If you’re not part of the Apple cult, or you simply don’t want to bother setting
up the app, the iGrill
up the app, the iGrill
also works as a stand-alone tool. Sealed controls allow you to enter the desired temperature directly
on the device itself, which has its own LED temperature display, and which
will beep when the meat
will beep when the meat
is done. If you do take advantage of its Bluetooth feature, it will be able
to communicate with
to communicate with
your chosen i-whatzit from a range of over 200 feet (61 meters).
The iGrill is available at Apple stores and through the product website, for
US$99.99. It currently
US$99.99. It currently
comes only in white, although a black version is coming out in February,
along with custom skins
along with custom skins
“in a variety of colors and styles to express your individual mood”
(oh, brother). An Android
(oh, brother). An Android
version is also in the works.
