pH meter?

[jtw]

So until we get a dedicated fermentation channel, i guess i'll throw it out here: do you guys have a recommended pH meter? Amazon seems to be full of junk, and I love most things from Thermoworks but it seems people don't love their pH hardware.

Need to measure pH for sauerkraut, peppers, pickles, etc.

[Donw]

I am tagging jfmorris because he probably knows from his brewing. When I was into aquaculture the one I used was several hundred dollars back then and we calibrated it regularly. I would think for fermentation a quality brand of litmus or ph strips might suffice.

[acorgihouse]

I'm old school and just use the ph strips. They are accurate enough for my purposes. Edit to add: I get them at a local brew store.

[TripleB]

That’s what I use to.

[sarredon]

I do the same! Cheap, easy, reliable!

[mnavarre]

This is a newer version of the one I use in the brewery:

https://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-MW102-PH-Temperature-Meter/dp/B001DTNDME/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2O2ZPLHX98UUU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0Z_ZXkoqqh8Bbb5Oo4hExEbt_iKNdr11Q3Y5Yq4tCPP6L1Pis8lvfDAizQEJXAdU_Ht0Jwq7oORSxjAwzV-nGM-cJa102lN5sD2oonAnlz6fsWaWlDakXymmTjTw7dsT-dYkpV2nwuCMI9IHRdeZFQgShu26sYI6EQVQx7yiH_IFvHbTdDQ9_XV742ptX9mcu4SRk_UuQrlQDjTi0wuYXdy6A5N0eTYFgW5X6HZgE6k.m1dIWbvDEf5zpc4xrX3ij5S2H9KcmwAA-pktBDmOA7w&dib_tag=se&keywords=milwaukee+ph+meter&qid=1748743883&sprefix=milw+ph+meter+%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-4

Works great, easy to calibrate, but might be a bit pricey for home use. Apera makes good stuff, too. Honestly though something in the $30-$40 dollar range is going to be good enough.

[JHB]

I use one of these for home brewing and like it. I’ve had decent luck with cheaper ones, too, but found that they tend to break/go nuts after a year or two, so decided to pay up for reliability.

[jfmorris]

Thanks for tagging me, but I don’t measure pH when brewing - I brew 5 or 10 gallons at a time, and the mash pH just doesn’t concern me,or hasn’t yet anyway. I do test with my pool, but in a limited range.

[johnec00]

I have and highly recommend this Apera Instruments pH60s for ensuring safe pH of air dried sausage like salami. Also works fine for fermented vegetables like sauerkraut and even garden soil but its overkill for these. For checking pH of liquids where you're looking for acidification, pH strips are adequate, just get the narrow range ones for pH 3-6.

https://www.amazon.com/Apera-Instruments-Replaceable-Accuracy-2-00-16-00/dp/B01ENFOIK0?crid=56NKOOTQZ6P4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.NqZv4IcA2PMkQn35YpTEa9CmL0bU1g0Z2-KIShm-zR5X3jy4zovchD3WhWhfGdhC7twBxcDq1ju04yMhjur0sTKUMqnocmjPlK507A8abXi8vPMT0IrjEaWLgrFwXtpETwD1pzcZpm78lO68PnCQT6BJiN1PIdXu9tbBh3LN64JIOqB0pOwTPQ09sX8lGUmof66tjuKYBvtIxoWs7gR2PxZbqceixiJCydVvwOeYgrA.JNsswnPlnfwHgEcizE-UaAXxlCzsO_p44Aahx5POjQc&dib_tag=se&keywords=apera%2Binstruments%2Bph60s&qid=1748752496&sprefix=apera%2Binstruments%2Bph60s%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-1&th=1

[Smoker_Boy]

I had a nice pH meter when I brewed.
I propagated all my own yeast so I felt one was necessary.

Taking care of one is a lot of work.
And it only takes one time to let the probe dry out, resulting in you buying a new probe.

Like acorgihouse said, use strips.

[Michael_in_TX]

Taking care of one is a lot of work.

Back when I was in my hot sauce phase, I certainly learned this lesson.

pH meters seem to be intrinsically delicate. Seeing all of the bad reviews of all them on Amazon about accuracy and the constant calibration, I thought to myself, "Self, you work at an R1....surely someone in the chemistry department could recommend a good one." And they did.

Once I got over the sticker shock of a research-grade pH meter, I then learned that the research/laboratory-grade ones are even perhaps more delicate and they are designed to be used nearly daily.

[jtw]

thanks everyone - MCS was telling me i need another probe. i think i'll be picking up some acid strips to keep things simple.
much appreciated!