Inkbird

Origins and background

Inkbird is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2010 that specialises in temperature instrumentation: thermometers, probes and controllers for grills, smokers and kamados. In little more than a decade it has become one of the most common names in low-and-slow cooking for one simple reason: it brings features that used to be high-end down to an accessible price.

Temperature control

Its mikamado line-up centres on three thermometers for different needs. The IBBQ-4T is a WiFi thermometer with 4 probes, built to track several cuts (plus pit temperature) from your phone, even away from home. The IBT-26S combines WiFi and Bluetooth, giving long-range network coverage and a direct link when you're standing next to it. The IBT-4XS is the simpler Bluetooth option, ideal for watching a couple of probes from the garden without fuss.

Our assessment

We select Inkbird because temperature control —alongside the charcoal itself— is what most separates a mediocre cook from a great one on a kamado. Based on the specs, the user community and our experience cooking on the Big Green Egg Large, a probe thermometer with alarms is what lets you nail a brisket or a rack of ribs without lifting the lid every half hour —and every time you open a kamado you lose heat and time.

In all honesty: this is not the laboratory-grade precision of premium brands like Thermoworks, and the app and WiFi connectivity have historically been the category's weak spot. But for home use the value is hard to beat, and getting 4 probes or dual connectivity for what these cost is the real argument.

Who it's for

The enthusiast who takes long cooks seriously and wants alarms and phone monitoring without paying for professional gear. If you only do quick grilling, an IBT-4XS is plenty; if you love full-day smokes, the IBBQ-4T or IBT-26S serve you better.