I thought the $200 'smart' meat thermometer was a total scam until my Thanksgiving turkey.
My brother got one of those Bluetooth probes that connects to your phone. I laughed at him, said a $15 analog dial does the same job. But then he was out in the yard with the kids, his phone buzzed, and he just walked in and pulled a perfectly cooked 22 pound bird out of the oven. Didn't have to keep running inside to check. I had to admit, the remote monitoring thing is actually useful, not just a gimmick. Anyone else have a gadget they were totally wrong about?
Honestly, I still think it's overkill. I mean, setting a timer on your phone works fine and costs nothing. Maybe it's just me, but I don't mind checking the oven a few times.
But what about when you're not in the kitchen? I get distracted and walk into another room all the time. A phone timer doesn't help if you can't hear it. A dedicated beeper is just always there on the oven, you know? It feels more reliable for my scatterbrain habits.