iGrill Remote Thermometer
We put steaks on the grill and monitored them with the iGrill ($99.99), a two-part device that communicates via Bluetooth with the iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad, along with our favorite (and far cheaper) remote thermometer. The latter beeps when food is within 10 degrees of a target. The good news: The iGrill offers a range comparable to our favorite remote thermometer, letting us wander 200 feet from the base unit while still receiving readouts. Even when our phone went into “sleep’’ mode, the iGrill stayed in touch, waking up to report when a target temperature had been reached. What’s more, we could even reset the temperature remotely via our phone. The bad news: The iGrill occasionally gave us readouts that were 2 to 3 degrees cooler than measurements taken directly with our gold standard instant-read thermometer. It also communicates with just one Bluetooth device at a time, and switching to another one is an involved process. Finally, the digital readout of the temperature on the base unit was too faint to be visible in daylight, so using it during the day without a Bluetooth device isn’t feasible. With these flaws, and at this price, we can’t wholeheartedly recommend the iGrill. We’ll be on the lookout for version 2.0.
- Good:
- ★★★
- Fair:
- ★★
- Poor:
- ★
- N/A:
- ----
| Product Tested | Performance | Comfort | Price* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Recommended | ||||
 |
Victorinox (formerly Victorinox Forschner) 6-inch Straight Boning Knife: FlexibleThe nonslip grip and narrow, straight blade let testers remove the smallest bones with precision and complete comfort. Perfectly balanced with enough flexibility to maneuver around tight joints. The low price was a bonus. |
★★★ | ★★★ | $19.95 |
| Recommended | ||||
 |
Wüsthof Classic Boning KnifeHefty in weight, this knife was a solid performer when removing poultry bones, and the handle was easy to grip, even when covered in chicken fat. Piercing silver skin was a challenge since the tip wasn’t sharp enough and the long narrow blade produced slightly jagged cuts. |
★★ | ★★★ | $99.95 |
| Recommended with Reservations | ||||
 |
Mundial Boning Knife: FlexibleThe sharp tip performed well when removing silver skin, but it was too flexible when maneuvering around poultry joints, leaving testers feeling a lack of control. The heavy handle was slightly unbalanced and became slippery once covered in poultry fat. |
★★ | ★★ | $19.95 |
| Not Recommended | ||||
 |
Shun Gokujo Filet KnifeDesigned to replicate a samurai blade, this expensive knife was a disappointment. It struggled to pierce the silver skin, although long cuts were smooth and even. Minimal flexibility and extreme curve got in the way when maneuvering around joints. The smooth handle was hard to grip and slippery. |
★★ | ★ | $179.95 |
 |
MAC Boning Knife—Chef SeriesThe large, cumbersome handle reminded testers of an outdoors knife for fishing and hunting. The blade was too wide to maneuver around joints and it struggled to pierce silver skin. Unlike other knives, this boning knife could only slice in one direction, making intricate cuts around joints difficult. |
★ | ★★ | $34.95 |
 |
Messermeister San Moritz Elite Flexible Boning KnifeThe blade was so flexible it led to erratic cuttings; testers said the knife was hard to control. The blade was not sturdy enough to maneuver around joints and the lightweight handle felt flimsy and unbalanced. |
★ | ★ | $53.60 |
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