The Brookstone Grill Alert Talking Remote Meat Thermometer takes the guesswork out of cooking almost any type of meat. This innovative gadget works great in the kitchen, but it is most useful when cooking on the barbeque. Whether you're entertaining guests, watching television, working in the yard or hanging out by the pool, the Grill Alert ensures that you'll never overcook your dinner.

This three-piece remote thermometer is very easy to use. First insert the transmitter unit's included steel temperature probe into the center of the meat, then turn on the handheld remote unit and the base station. Put the meat on the grill, and the handheld unit displays the meat's temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius degrees. You can also select the type of meat you are cooking (beef, pork, lamb, turkey, fish, etc.), and the Grill Alert will monitor your food and give an "Almost Ready" voice prompt when the food is within 5 degrees of the target temperature. "Ready" indicates that the meat has reached the right temperature, and if you start to overcook your food, the Grill Alert begins to beep continuously.

While it is a bit bulky, the handheld unit can be attached to your belt, or you can leave it sitting in the base station. The remote has a range of up to 300 feet, although walls, fences and other obstacles can significantly reduce this distance. The unit's digital display is easy to read, and since it is backlit, it is very convenient to use when grilling at night. The display shows the target temperature and the actual temperature, as well as a growing bar image to give you a visual representation of the cooking's progress.

We first used the Grill Alert while preparing steaks. The steaks cooked to the exact degree of doneness we programmed, although flipping them was a bit inconvenient, as we had to remove and reinsert the probe. This would hold true for many (if not most) meats and cuts, and we found it easier to cook the meat close to the desired temperature before inserting the probe. In addition, the Grill Alert is best suited to thicker cuts like roasts, extra-thick steaks and whole roasters. Despite these shortcomings, the Grill Alert is a great grilling gadget, and it is also very useful in the kitchen. No more standing guard over the oven, opening and closing the door checking the traditional meat thermometer and heating the kitchen in the process.

The Grill Alert operates at 433MHz, so it should not interfere with your cordless telephones or other wireless equipment. For flawless cooking without constant supervision, check out the Brookstone Grill Alert Talking Remote Meat Thermometer.


Pros: Voice prompts takes the guesswork out of grilling, ensures meats are cooked to your desired doneness, displays the target and actual temperatures, easy-to-read backlit digital display, long remote range
Cons: Not practical for thinner cuts of meat, difficult to flip meat without taking the probe out first

Warranty
1-year limited