Question about pit thermometers

[mayapoppa]

I have been a little confused about something regarding thermometers for a while. I have a couple leave-in digital meat thermometers (not sure of the brand, got them at Bed Bath and Beyond before finding this site) and a Thermopop. For a while I was hanging one of the probes of the generic thermometers off of the rebar in the PBC to keep an eye on temps, but the readings never really made sense. Like reading 180 2hours into a cook, with a healthy basket of coals going just fine. I eventually figured I was doing more harm than good in chasing around suspect temps, so I abandoned the practice. I am assuming that there is a difference in the thermometer (or probe) for a leave-in thermometer and a pit thermometer. Is this right? I have never checked the accuracy of the leave-in thermometer, but using it as intended has always given good results, and corresponded reasonably well with the Thermopop.

So what is a good pit thermometer? I need an inexpensive solution, as the wife will simply not understand the need for another thermometer (I have since gotten an IR surface gun, and ordered the Meater). Or am I wrong, and my leave-in thermometers should be doing the job just fine?

[CeramicChef]

mayapoppa - I'm a big fan of anything Thermoworks. Quality products that are long lived. They are not the cheapest, but it'll be the last thermometer you'll buy.

[PaulstheRibList]

What you are looking for is the Maverick. You should buy one TODAY! I now own 4 of them...

http://amazingribs.com/bbq_equipment_reviews_ratings/thermometers/maverick-et-732-redi-check

[Bigfish8]

What you are looking for is the Maverick. You should buy one TODAY! I now own 4 of them...
http://amazingribs.com/bbq_equipment...732-redi-check

I own two Mavericks and have convinced several friends to purchase. Both of my Mavericks allow me to monitor pit and meat temps from 60 to 70 yards away. The 732 model comes with a meat and pit probe which has a little clip that attaches to the grate near the meat. Big Poppa sells them!

Ken

[richinlbrg]

I have a Maverick.

I also have a Meater on order, but it will not ship until March.

I want a thermometer that will transmit to a remote (indoor) unit.

Generally Thermoworks is, I think, considered the gold standard, but they don't transmit. That is why I'm going to try Meater.

[CeramicChef]

richinlbrg - I'd really be interested in your review of the Meater.

[richinlbrg]

CeramicChef , I am anxious, too! There are at least a few of us who have them on order. I'm also looking forward to the AR review of them.

[Noonesperfect]

The OP had an interesting question - is there a difference between an ambient temperature probe and a leave-in probe? Thermoworks sells a probe that specifies it is for ambient air temps for monitoring the grill temps - can I use the leave-in probe that came with my Chef Alarm as an ambient air probe to measure grill temps, or do I need to order the ambient air probe?

[Papa Bob]

yes you can put it through a small apple or potato so the probe sticks out put the tip close to what ever you are cooking and you got it. don't let the cable be over direct heat or it WILL go bad on you but the ambient air probe has a clip for the grate and you can put it anywhere I have several and I do like them

[jgg85234]

Hello mayapoppa



Let me try to answer your original question first. Whichever brand of probes and devices you look at, I think you'll see that the actual probes for insertion are different from the air temperature probes. While the air temp probes specifically state they are not for insertion, the insertion probes don't say that. Nonetheless, the probes are most definitely different.
If you are trying to use an insertion probe to read air temps, I don't think you'll be all that successful at getting precise temperatures. At least, that's been my experience.


Now, what's an economical one? Since you've already ordered the Meater, you could wait for that one.

Maverick has some good units, and so do Thermoworks.
In addition to the expensive ThermaQ, they also have the DOT and ChefAlarm units, which are much less expensive. But, the units only come with insertion probes as standard, and you still need to order the air temperature probe to measure the pit.

Best regards,
Jim

[richinlbrg]

I think the Mavericks are dual purpose.

[fzxdoc]

I agree with richinlbrg. I use a Maverick meat probe and a Maverick air probe in the PBC to monitor temps. When I place them side by side, they read the same. When I separate them across the width of the PBC I get different readings due to the temperature gradient across the barrel when meat is cooking. I monitor those different readings to have a better idea of the temperatures in the PBC during a cook.

I only have Maverick (or Ivation Maverick) thermometers, though. Other thermometers may not have the dual probe feature.

Kathryn

[mayapoppa]

Thanks everyone for the input... I'm going to look into maybe the Thermoworks DOT with a grill probe. While The Meater should do the trick in many ways, I want something dedicated for when the Meater isn't practical, like ribs.

[Papa Bob]

excellent choice

[Jerod Broussard]

I agree.

[vandy]

I just got a new catalog from Thermoworks and apparently they have been listening as well because they now have a new thermometer that will transmit via Bluetooth to a smart phone or a PC. It is called BlueTherm Duo and comes with 2 probes, one for the meat and another with an alligator clip on it to clip to the grill grate to check the cooker temps. It is rather pricey at $199.00 for the kit but I bet it will work and last a lot longer than the Maveriks. As soon as I can I am getting one and I will let you know how it works when I get it, or if anyone else gets one first let us know how it works. I know my ThermaQ works flawlessly and I performed a temperature check on it last night and it reads only 1 degree high and the probes are first class and are made very well. Compare that to the Maverik and the food probe reads 7 degrees high and the cooker probe reads 2 to 4 degrees high.

[Huskee]

vandy With Bluetooth you sacrifice a LOT of range compared to radio frequency (RF). How far Bluetooth reaches depends on its generation (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 etc) But if you only need a short range then it's a moot point. Just be aware that you won't get nearly the range as the Mavs. Maverick offers a Bluetooth wireless thermometer, the ET 735, with upgraded probes form the 732 and 733, in case you weren't aware. I understand the love of ThermoWorks though, they are the Lexus of thermometers.

[vandy]

I understand what you are saying but I don't think that would be a problem for me because the distance is only about 15 to 20 feet between my smoker and where I would be monitoring it. I have just had a lot of problems with the Maverik and I don't want to spend more money on something that I feel is just not reliable and the temps are just all over the place with it.

[DWCowles]

I don't know why people don't like the Maverick. I have 8 of the ET-733 for 3 years now and 2 ET-735. I haven't had any problems with any of them.

[Huskee]

You have 10 Mavericks? Lol. I have four 732s and no real issues that weren't my own fault.

[DWCowles]

Huskee I order two ChefAlarms from Thermoworks today just for my steak cooks.

[vandy]

I guess it is like anything else, you can get a lemon no matter what you buy, from a 50 dollar thermometer to a 50 thousand dollar car. I have always been the kind of person that when I get something that does not meet expectations then I never give the product a second chance. Here is what I do know, the Maveriks have failed me and the several Thermoworks products that I own have all worked continuously and are accurate and have never failed me. To me that is what buying something is all about.

[Butterman]

I'm intrigued by the BlueTherm Duo and some of the other bluetooth options that they have. That said, Huskee is right on the range of bluetooth.

Not sure that I can mess around with it too much without purchasing something expensive, but I'm really interested in the ability to use the PC based software (ThermaData Studio) than anything else.

I like my Maverick, but started looking up options this week when my first probe kicked the bucket.