The ThermoPro TP-27B food thermometer is a four-channel unit that features extended range – 500 feet (152m) – as well as the ability to set either a target temperature for food or a temperature range for the cooker.
The cases for the transmitter (the larger unit) and the receiver have a rubberized perimeter to protect against damage from dropping. They both have seals around their battery boxes to guard against moisture ingress. The probe jacks are not sealed, however.
Both the transmitter unit and the remote receiver display all four channels’ temperatures. The temperature alarm limits can be set on each channel independently, but only from the transmitter. Alarms can be armed on a channel-by-channel basis, or all turned on or off together. You can specify a single temperature for a piece of food or you can specify a temperature range that, if exceeded, will trigger an alarm. The alarm on the receiver can be off, a beep, a vibration, or a combination of the two. The backlight flashes on both units when an alarm triggers. There is a low battery indicator on both units. There are no pre-programmed temperatures for different doneness levels – a ‘feature’ that won’t bother experienced users.
Operation is pretty intuitive, but reading the operator’s manual will reveal a few tricks that aren’t obvious. The communication between the transmitter and the receiver is claimed to work up to 500 feet (152m). This assumes ideal conditions, like line-of-sight, but it should be better than the typical Bluetooth or Wi-Fi ranges in real world conditions.
The transmitter-receiver pair work together and don’t require other devices like a smart phone. This means that you won’t be able to monitor your temperatures via an internet connection. All the controls are found on the transmitter, so you won’t be able to make changes to alarm settings remotely. On the other hand, if you’re near your cooker, you’ll be able to see and manage the alarms without the receiver unit even being turned on.
The probes have robust cables. However, I would like to see strain reliefs built into the probes to reduce flexing and failure. The probes are also only 43 inches (1m) in length; that’s a little short for outdoor cooking. Each probe is color-coded to make it easier to see at a glance which probe goes to which channel.
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One major failing is in how the remote unit responds to a loss of signal from the transmitter. A loss of signal garners no response for 30 minutes, then after 30 minutes the receiver sounds and alarm and shuts off. Thirty minutes is too much time; a signal loss should annunciate within minutes. Otherwise the cooking can go awry. This shortcoming prevents this unit from getting a Gold Medal.
Accuracy is very good. Build quality is good. There isn’t a timer feature, but I never use that anyway. Warranty is for one year. The user’s manual has a phone number and an e-mail address if one needs guidance or has a problem.
All in all, this is a very nice thermometer at a very competitive price. ThermoPro seems to be aiming for a mid- to upper-middle segment of the marketplace with its latest offerings. I’m giving it a Silver Medal for aggressive positioning in a market crowded with similar units.
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