Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Grilling How to Check the Temperature of Your Grill You don’t need a built-in thermometer to gauge the temperature. Just your hand. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 20, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email RealSimple.com. Photo: Michele Gastl In an ideal world, your grill comes with a built-in thermometer. But if not, use the hand test: Hold your open palm about 3 inches above the grill grate and count how many seconds you can keep it there before pulling away. Then check the chart below for the corresponding temperature. Temperature: High Thermometer reading: 450 F to 500 F Hand check: 1 to 2 seconds Temperature: Medium-high Thermometer reading: 400 F to 450 F Hand check: 2 to 4 seconds Temperature: Medium Thermometer reading: 350 F to 400 F Hand check: 4 to 5 seconds Temperature: Medium-low Thermometer reading: 300 F to 350 F Hand check: 6 to 7 seconds Temperature: Low Thermometer reading: 250 F to 300 F Hand check: 7 to 9 seconds If you're just learning how to barbecue, this primer will help you get your grill started. Then, learn how to grill just about anything with this printer-friendly PDF. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit