Ambient Temperature Sensor

Understanding how the ambient sensor works, what temperature it reads, and its purpose can be challenging. This article will help you learn about the ambient temperature sensor and how to use it effectively.

What Is an Ambient Sensor?

The ambient sensor in your MEATER probe measures the air temperature directly outside the meat.

Purpose of the Ambient Sensor

The ambient sensor helps estimate your cook time. The probe sends the ambient temperature it reads to the MEATER app. Combined with the internal sensor readings, the app uses a special algorithm to estimate your cook time, which is shown in the app.

IMPORTANT! The ambient sensor is NOT designed to measure or confirm your cooking appliance's set temperature.

Compare Ambient Sensors between Alpha & Pro Collection Probes

Ambient Sensor Location on a Probe

No matter which probe you’re using, the ambient sensor is located at the square end at the top of the probe.

The ambient end on MEATER Pro (MEATER 2 Plus) probes is silver; it’s black on Original MEATER, MEATER Plus, and MEATER Block probes.

Ambient Sensor Temperature Limits & Compatible Cooking Methods

MEATER probes are designed to handle specific temperature ranges. The app will alert you if your ambient sensor detects temperatures nearing these limits.

The materials used in the ambient sensor’s casing affect both the temperature limits and the cooking methods suitable for each probe.

• Alpha Collection Probes: The ceramic casing on these MEATER probes is designed for indirect heat cooking methods within the temperature limits.
  • For example, if you sear meat in a pan with a MEATER probe inserted, you could damage the ambient sensor. We recommend using a reverse sear method, where the MEATER is used for cooking but removed before searing.
• Pro Collection Probes: The stainless steel casing allows these MEATER probes to be used for both indirect and direct heat cooking methods within the temperature limits.
  
  • You can safely use your Pro Collection MEATER for deep frying, high-heat searing, or open-fire cooking, as long as temperatures stay within the limits.
    
    

Viewing Ambient Temperature in the MEATER App

The ambient temperature will appear in the MEATER app when it reads 10°F or 5°C higher than the internal temperature sensor’s reading.

Ambient Sensor Temperature Accuracy

The ambient sensor is accurate within 5°C / 9°F of the temperature at its location. However, keep in mind that the ambient sensor is not meant to show your appliance’s set temperature (see Purpose of the Ambient Sensor above).

Most cooking appliances have hot and cold spots. MEATER ambient sensors are highly sensitive to microclimates* in the appliance, allowing the probe to measure the temperature your food is actually exposed to and use that to calculate estimated cook times.

• *Microclimates refer to specific temperature conditions in small, localized areas of the cooking appliance.
  
  

Why Ambient Sensor and Appliance Temperatures Differ

Keep in mind! The MEATER ambient sensor is not designed to measure the overall temperature of your cooking appliance. Its goal is to help estimate a cook time that gives you the best results for your meat.

• *While this video uses Alpha Collection probes to explain ambient temperature, the concepts of how the ambient sensor measures temperature apply to all MEATER probes.

There are several reasons why your MEATER’s ambient temperature may differ from the temperature shown on your cooking appliance or a heat gun.

• MEATER Design: MEATER probes are built differently from most instant-read thermometers. They use an algorithm to process sensor data and provide a close-to-accurate reading of the cooking environment, compensating for the time it takes for heated air to warm the probe’s stainless-steel or ceramic ambient end.
• Cool Air Bubbles: When you place cold meat in your cooker, it cools the air around it, and your MEATER’s ambient reading will reflect that. This is called the cool air bubble. The larger the piece of meat, the bigger this bubble will be.
  • As the meat cooks, the cool air bubble shrinks, and the ambient sensor’s readings should start to align more closely with the appliance’s set temperature.
• Moisture: As moisture evaporates from the meat’s surface during cooking, it absorbs heat, lowering the temperature around the meat.
• Probe placement: If your MEATER probe is inserted too far, the ambient end may touch the meat, cooling the sensor’s readings.
  
  For best results, insert the probe into the center of the thickest part of the meat, halfway between the insertion notch and the ceramic ambient end.
• Heat variations within the cooking appliance: Your cooker’s temperature reading comes from its built-in thermometer’s location. Most appliances don’t have a uniform temperature throughout the cooking chamber, and the appliance’s design accounts for its shape, size, and function.
  • Heat variations depend on the cooker’s size and performance, with hot and cold spots differing by up to 50°C/122°F or more from the set temperature in extreme cases.
• Type of cooking appliance: Temperature variations depend on the type of appliance you’re using.
  • Conventional ovens have heating elements at the top and bottom, with the hottest spots near the metal walls.
  • Fan and convection ovens distribute heat more evenly than conventional ovens.
  • Grills are typically hottest near areas with increased airflow, like the chimney or vents.
• Thermal mass: Thermal mass refers to the amount of meat in the cooker and its ability to absorb, store, and release heat. The more food you’re cooking and how closely packed it is will affect the ambient sensor.
  • If you’re cooking a lot of meat or food, the ambient sensor readings will likely be lower.