Adventures in predictive thermometering 👁️😁

[smokenoob]

So as I posted in another thread, my combustion.inc predictive thermometer came in today. I charged it up and planned to use it on my Thanksgiving turkey smoke. But then, temptation got the best of me and I decided to try it on tonights pork loin grill! Downloaded the app, it was easy even for a guy who invented the computer but hates them now, my faith is restored in technology! easy peazy!

Instructions say be sure to put the probe in to the mark on the probe or further. The brains are in the tip and will be fine inside the meat. If not placed in far enough the brains will fry. Reminded me of the old commercial where they fry an egg and say this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs….
anyway, I put the probe out the side of the pork loin which presented a problem with searing on that side, probably should have inserted the probe axially? So I know the probe can withstand 575° so I flipped the pork on the probe side and shortly after alarms went off, take it off the grill idiot! Did so and nothing melted…..no harm no foul 😁
Cook turned out great! Fun having it say “dinner ready in 6 minutes” (editorial license…)

can’t wait to try it on the turkey!
would be interested in other pitmaster experiences!

disclaimer: I have no affiliation with combustion.inc and I don’t play a pitmaster on daytime TV 👍

[Santamarina]

I use the MEATER wireless probe. The predictive feature works well for hotter cooks like a turkey, chicken, steaks - but low and slow cooks like brisket and pork butt tend to be off because the prediction doesn’t account for the stall.

That’s not an issue for me because I always start those cooks several hours earlier than needed because I can hold the meat until it’s time to eat.

[SheilaAnn]

smokenoob I’m a combustion user. I love and hate it at the same time. I love that it’s so freaking spot on. gboss busted balls with me (in the kindest way) about putting the probe in past the little lines, and I now agree. I hate it because I just want to cook using my instinct and skillz. Will I give it up? Nope. Will I use it for every single cook? Nope.

[gboss]

The funny thing is, I've actually come around a bit on leaving more of the probe sticking out. Having one extra sensor on the "outside" gives good data on the surface temp vs pit temp. I still keep the probe mostly buried but not quite as much as at the beginning.

[smokenoob]

I guess I have an advantage there, I have no instinct or skillz 😁

[RonB]

I use a Combustion too. When it works, it's great, but mine will disconnect at times even when the display is right next to the cooker, and I bought the range extender thingy too.

[Alan Brice]

Meater+ will disconnect if I wrap a foil pan ?!?

[smokenoob]

I was wondering about that. Seems when the bluetooth device is in an enclosed grill or smoker that would act as a faraday cage and degrade the signal.

[Johnny Booth]

So many numbers…. Now I have a headache. 😝

[hoovarmin]

I like that it has 5 brains to measure temps at several parts of the meat.

[MsTwiggy]

8 brains. . . 🙄 but who is counting 🔥🔥🐿️

[gboss]

For pork tenderloin, I like to put the probe in mostly "axially" but still at a diagonal.

[smokenoob]

on sale $159 (figures 🙄) 😂

[smokenoob]

So I stuck this thing in my turkey breast. My smoker is at 350° (set at 325°) and the ambient reading on the probe is 287°. Should I increase the smoker set temp until the ambient reading on the bird is 325°?

[STEbbq]

I find the ambient takes a while to adjust. Give it 20 minutes.

[smokenoob]

STEbbq Thanks! I was thinking the cold bird was affecting the ambient temp and that they should converge with time.

[STEbbq]

Yes, exactly the case with my turkey today too. No adjustments needed.

[smokenoob]

having fun now
one hour till target temp!

[smokenoob]

My predictor has got prediction creep……if it creeps much farther I will be too drunk to carve…..😁

[SheilaAnn]

I could t get mine to connect…. Used the therm-pro instead.

[GolfGeezer]

SheilaAnn Not sure what your issue is/was. I just went through a problem with my recently received second probe and Booster (no problems with the first one). It would not connect to the Display or my Android app. I received the following directions from CI, and I was successful with getting it connected and updated.

[GolfGeezer]

@SheilaAnn

"Please remove the thermometer from its charging sleeve and leave it at room temperature for 30+ hours. This will keep the thermometer in instant read mode and ensure its battery drains fully in that time. It is important for the firmware for this drain to happen outside of the charging sleeve.
Then attempt a full recharge, reconnect, and update the firmware through the app. Note the LED behavior should go from Red or Amber when the thermometer is inserted to Green when charged."

[ssennott]

Mine connected fine but I had the receiver right beside the stove.

[smokenoob]

That’s how mine was setup also, I think it then relays the signal to the iphone or ipad

[RonB]

Has anyone noticed the time to done change if ya open the cooker/oven? I keep forgetting to check if letting heated air out confuses the prediction algorithm.

[smokenoob]

I opened my cook a few times to add water and to probe different areas. My predicted time did push/creep out longer but it never reduced time to done so I don’t think it was actually confused, I think it was extending predicted time cause I let the heat out. Would be interested in thoughts of others

[SheilaAnn]

RonB I notice on the graph the dip in temp when opening the oven or grill lid. And it usually pops right back up quickly as I’m closin or covering rather quickly.

[SmokingSteve]

I heard that if possible do not place the booster on a metal surface as it can mess up reception of the Bluetooth signal. It can create a Faraday cage. When I follow that advice I get a stronger/better signal.