The infrared temperature gun is an essential tool for anyone serious about fire cooking and BBQ, especially when precision and control over surface heat matter. It measures the temperature of surfaces quickly and accurately, allowing you to monitor cooking stones, grates, and planchas without contact. This fits perfectly with Smoke & Soil's ethos of clean, whole-food cooking over fire, where understanding and managing heat is fundamental to achieving great flavour and texture. Knowing the exact temperature of your cooking surface helps avoid guesswork and ensures consistent results every time. Using an infrared temperature gun means you can map hot spots across your cooking surface, identify where the heat is most intense, and adjust your setup accordingly. For example, when cooking pizza on a stone, it’s crucial to know the stone’s temperature to get that perfect crust. Similarly, checking the temperature of a plancha or cast iron surface ensures you’re cooking at the right intensity to develop flavour without burning. This tool empowers you to cook with confidence and precision, essential for everyday BBQ that respects seasonal, homegrown ingredients. Practically, it’s important to remember that the infrared gun only reads surface temperatures, not internal food temperatures. Use it to check stones, grates, and pans, but rely on a probe thermometer for meat. Also, keep the gun close to the surface, ideally within 30cm, to get an accurate reading because the spot size grows with distance. Avoid measuring shiny or polished metal surfaces as they reflect infrared light and give false readings. Steam or moisture between the gun and surface can also affect accuracy, so take care to measure in clear air. These practical tips ensure you get the most from this valuable piece of kit.
Best for
- Pizza stone temperature
- Plancha surface checks
- Hot spot mapping
- Cast iron surface monitoring
- Grate heat assessment
Common mistakes
- Using on shiny metal, infrared misreads polished steel and gives false low readings
- Thinking it reads internal temperature, it only measures surface heat
- Measuring from too far away, spot size grows with distance causing inaccurate readings
- Not accounting for steam or moisture between gun and surface, which throws off measurements
- Ignoring lens cleanliness, which reduces sensor accuracy
Maintenance
To keep your infrared temperature gun reliable and accurate, regular cleaning is essential. Wipe the lens gently with a soft, dry cloth to remove any dirt or grease that could interfere with readings. Avoid using abrasive materials or liquids directly on the lens as this can damage the sensor. After use, store the gun in a dry place away from damp or extreme temperatures to protect its internal electronics. Proper storage extends the life of the device and maintains its accuracy. Avoid leaving it exposed to smoke or grease build-up, which can degrade performance over time. If you notice inconsistent readings, check the lens for smudges or debris and clean accordingly. Treat it as a precision instrument and it will serve you well for many BBQ seasons.