Aftermarket Devices Add App Control to Standard Charcoal Grills

Wireless temperature probes and fan controllers can be attached to existing charcoal grills to maintain set temperatures through a phone app. The upgrades allow users to monitor and adjust cooking conditions without replacing the grill itself. The Venom digital temperature controller from Spider Grills is designed for 22- and 26-inch Weber Kettle grills.

It uses a PID controller to measure temperature differences and adjust airflow via a fan at the bottom vent. 4 GHz Wi-Fi. Users set target temperatures for the grill surface and meat probe, after which the device regulates airflow while the app sends alerts when meat reaches the desired temperature.

ChefsTemp offers modular controllers and fans that fit several grill models, including Kamado Joe, Big Green Egg, MasterKettle, Old Country Smoker, and Akorn. Some installations require drilling a hole in the grill body. The base system includes a meat probe, an ambient-temperature sensor, and a fan that increases or decreases oxygen to the coals.

The process is less precise than built-in smart grills but more consistent than manual vent adjustments.

The Venom performed best at low-and-slow temperatures and overshot by about 25 degrees when set near 475 Fahrenheit before stabilizing. It does not provide instructions for flipping meat or timing specific cuts. Weber plans to release its own line of smart-grill upgrades this year. Big Green Egg already sells a digital temperature controller for its grills.