The Supermechanical Range temperature probe is designed to work with later iPhones and performs acceptably. Since it is just the probe, it will not provide any functionality without the smart phone attached.
There are a couple of models of this unit that vary in probe length and the type of sheathing on the cable. We tested only the 3″ probe with the standard cable. This cable is vulnerable to damage from high oven temps, so care is required in choosing temperatures at which to cook.
Accuracy of the unit, particularly at food temperatures, was good. It responds too slowly to be an effective hand-held instant-read thermometer, but it is adequate for in-food/in-cooker use. The free app provides a graph of temperature versus time and allows you to pick meat type and doneness. You can choose ºF or ºC, and whether the doneness values conform to the USDA number or a “gourmet” option. You can also set your prefered temperature if you like. The app also provides the ability to create multiple named alarms, as well as a stopwatch function and a count-down timer.
At nearly $70, this is a very pricey probe that requires a $200 phone to work. If you like playing with your iPhone while cooking, this might be the unit for you. If you really want a cooking thermometer, there are better options at a lower price that don’t require tying up your smart phone.
We give it a Bronze rating for meeting basic expectations at a high price.
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