Tappecue AirProbe Mini Review

The Tappecue AirProbe Mini is a smaller version wireless temperature probe that works in much the same way as its big brother, the AirProbe3. Its reduced diameter: 0.17″ (4.3mm) leaves a smaller wound in the cooked meat. It also has a shorter probe, 2.5” (64mm).

The probe can be used by connecting directly with your Apple or Android smart phone via Bluetooth. The app connects with the probe, making the temperature measurements visible. The probe can also connect to a Tappecue Touch module that displays the temperatures on its own screen and allows cloud connectivity so you can check the temperature anywhere that has an internet connection. The probe comes with four colored collars so you can keep track of which probe is which.

Like earlier versions of the wireless probe, it has two sensors: one at the tip of the probe to measure food temperature and another in the handle that measures ambient temp. The probe must be inserted into the food all the way to the handle. This protects the internal electronics from temps above 212°F (100°C). The handle end is safe to 572°F (300°C).

This new probe displays the following temperature accuracy at the food end:

Actual/measured:
32°: 32°
130°: 129°
212°: 213°

This result is slightly better than its longer cousin, the AirProbe 3, especially at the top end of its range. The manufacturer claims that the probe will function for 9 hours on a single charge, considerably less than the 48 hours it claimed for the AirProbe 3. This shorter time might be a problem if one is cooking a large chunk of meat like a brisket or a port butt that might require 12 or more hours in the smoker. The probe can be fully charged in 30 to 60 minutes.

The app can display the temperatures of up to four probes simultaneously. Since each probe has two sensors, eight different temps can be monitored at the same time. This is true whether one is connecting directly to the probe with the app, or one is using the Tappecue Touch as an intermediate path. The instantaneous temperature and a graph of temp vs. time are displayed for each sensor. You can set a target temp for each sensor, and, when reached, will announce, “Check your meat.” You can set your own target or choose a doneness level for various food types.

The sensor in the handle pretends to measure the ambient temperature inside the cooker. One might expect that it would read the actual temp, but there’s a catch: the sensor is close to the meat and is affected by the evaporative cooling losses in close proximity to the food. Therefore, don’t expect close agreement between this sensor and the oven/smoker temperature setting. The probe will read noticeably lower. This is to be expected.

The range between the probe and the app depends on the connection scheme. If the probe is connecting directly with the phone/tablet via Bluetooth, you can get up to 98’ (30m) if unobstructed. If the probe is connecting to a Touch within 98’ (via Bluetooth), and the Touch is within 180’ (55m) of your router (via Wi-Fi), you can get unlimited range via the cloud. Your mileage will vary if there are any obstructions, like the cooker itself or the walls of your home. Unfortunately, if connection is lost, there is no audible annunciation of the situation.

A word on probe length: all of these wireless temperature probes must be inserted far enough into the food so that its internal electronics don’t rise above about 212°F (100°C). This probe must be inserted all the way to the handle, about 2.5” (64mm). This may or may not position the sensor at the tip where you would want it. In some cases, the probe might be too short or too long to yield the actual core temperature of the meat. Longer probes have minimum insertion depths but give you extra length to allow you to properly position the sensor. Caveat emptor.

Overall, this is an easy thermometer to use, although the app is not the most intuitive I’ve ever seen. The directions are barely adequate; I would like to see better printed documentation without having to search around on the company’s website where there are lots of instructions to be had. I like hard copy instructions that I can hold in my hand while using the product. Call me old-fashioned.

The build quality is good. You can put the probe in a dish washer, or submerge it completely. I could not find any info, either in the instructions or on the website, that addresses warranty.

If help is needed, the manufacturer’s contact info is via its website and/or a QR code. Overall, a nice product.