Combustion App: Overview and FAQsUpdated 4 days ago
The Combustion app is the control panel and display for the cook you are doing right now. It shows the temperature in and around your food, predicts when that food will be ready, and lets you set targets, alarms, and food safety limits.
It is deliberately streamlined. No ads, no recipes pushed at you, no content you did not ask for. It has one job, and it does that job.
This page is the map. Start here if you are not sure where to look.
What the app does
- Shows live temperature from every sensor in your Predictive Thermometer
- Predicts when your food will hit the temperature you asked for
- Runs SafeCook, which tells you when your food is safe as well as when it is done
- Graphs the whole cook so you can see how heat moved through your food
- Sets alarms for target temperature, high and low limits, and low battery
- Updates the firmware on all of your Combustion tools
- Extends your range by turning a Display or Booster into a relay
- Streams a cook to MeatNet Cloud so you can watch it from anywhere
Do you need the app?
For a cook, no, provided you have a Display. Your Predictive Thermometer does all of its own thinking. There is a small computer inside it, and it calculates temperatures and predictions onboard rather than relying on a live connection to your phone. If the signal drops for a minute or an hour, the app and the Display both pick straight back up with current data, because the thermometer never stopped working.
That is unusual. Most wireless thermometers process their data on your phone or in the cloud, which means a dropped connection is a lost cook.
For firmware, yes. Firmware updates are the one thing that has to come through the app.
Finding your way around
Getting started
If you want to | Read |
| Set the app up for the first time | |
| Cook something and get a "ready in" prediction | |
| Understand the temperatures, sensors, and graphs | |
| Set up food safety |
Using Specific Features
| Keep the thermometer awake for sous vide or wet cooking | |
| Update firmware on any tool | |
| Watch a cook while you are away from home | |
| Get alerts on your phone | |
| Try new features early |
When something is wrong
| Fix a problem in the app | |
| Fix a thermometer that will not connect or charge | |
| Work out whether a reading is wrong or just surprising | |
| See what changed in the last app release |
Frequently asked questions
What devices can run the app?
Any phone or tablet running iOS or Android, and Apple Silicon Macs. You will need Bluetooth switched on.
Can I cook without the app?
Yes, if you have a Display. The Display shows your temperatures and lets you set a target on its own. You will still need the app when it is time to update firmware.
Can I use the app without internet?
Yes. The app talks to your thermometer over Bluetooth, and Bluetooth does not need the internet. An old phone with no service at all will work perfectly well as a display, as long as its Bluetooth works.
There are no sign-ins and no accounts required for ordinary cooking. You only need to get online occasionally to pick up app updates and firmware updates for your tools.
Do I need an account?
Only for MeatNet Cloud, which is what lets you watch a cook from somewhere else. Everything else works signed out.
If you do create one, note that a Combustion Store account (for shopping and order history) is a completely separate thing. Create a new login for MeatNet rather than letting your browser autofill your store password.
Can I use someone else's phone to update my firmware?
Yes. Almost any iOS or Android device will do, including a friend's phone or an iPad. The whole process usually takes under five minutes.
You do not need to create an account or enter any information, and the phone is not permanently tied to your thermometer afterwards. Your friend can delete the app when you are done, and you can use a different device next time.
How far does it reach?
Each tool has a working range of about 100m (330ft) in ideal conditions. Put a Display or Booster near the cook and let it relay, and with the app in the chain you can get close to 1000ft in the open.
Real conditions are less generous. Metal, water, brick, glass, and people all absorb the signal. In practice, it is comfortable enough for almost any home setup, and if it is not, MeatNet Cloud extends your reach as far as the internet goes.
Are there ads or recipes in the app?
No. Some people have asked for recipes, and we have deliberately left them out. The app is a control panel for the cook in front of you.
Still have a question?
If something is not covered here or in the guides linked above, email [email protected]. Tell us which device you are on and what you were trying to do, and we will point you at the right answer.
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