Some people like to dump racing engines into old cars. I understand the appeal, as I’ve spent this spring souping up an old Weber kettle charcoal grill. Why? Because temperature is everything when it comes to cooking up crispy-barked brisket or a perfect rack of ribs. There’s now a whole new world of aftermarket backyard tech that can trick out an old-fashioned Weber Kettle or Kamado Joe into a smart grill. Throw on a digital temp controller with probes and a fan that controls the oxygen, and even the most basic grill can perform as well as a $1,200 pellet grill—it might even last longer, since you can upgrade your controller without having to swap out the grill. 

The best I’ve found so far is a Venom from Spider Grills that I can control from my phone and keep the temp stable within about 25 degrees Fahrenheit. But a ProTemp S1 controller from ChefsTemp can work with a whole range of grills. With probes monitoring the temp of the meat, I still pulled out tender and delicious ribs even after letting a Kamado Joe get too hot by opening up its vent. If my grill is smart, it leaves me free to be a little dumb.