Best ThermoWorks Product For A Beginner

[kenrobin]

My. dad has been 'barbecuing" for as long as I can remember but he has never learned about the benefits of temperature control or safety. I joined this site last year & I have taken my skills to a higher level, so much that he's been asking me for tips. I've been talking to him about the importance of monitoring the temperature of the cooker and the internal meat temp. He has a Brinkman charcoal grill & Brinkman's version of the WSM so I'm guessing that the built-in thermometers are as unreliable as most for getting an accurate internal temp reading.

I want to buy him a ThermoWorks thermometer (maybe two thermometers or one with an additional probe) for Father's Day (they just announced a new sale) but I'm not sure where to begin. His cooks are not adventurous... mostly chicken wings, hot dogs, links, burgers & occasionally baby back ribs. I'm trying to decide between an instant read like the Thermapen & a unit that uses probes like the DOT or ChefAlarm. I want to get something that will be useful for him right away, is easy for a novice & will hopefully help him to expand on his skills.

Any suggestions?

[RonB]

I would suggest an instant read and a leave in. Depending on your budget the Thermopen or Thermopop and either a Chef's Alarm or a Dot, (maybe two Dots so he can monitor both pit and meat). If he likes using them, he can decide what more he can use.
Personally, I'd go the cheaper route until I knew he would use them on a regular basis. And when you buy whatever, I'd also gift him with a small Boston butt - just to get him started.

[FLBuckeye]

None of what he cooks would need a leave in thermometer. I would go all out and get him the MK4. If you subscribe to their newsletter, they have specials on the MK4.

[Huskee]

For instant-read, ThermaPen for sure. Are you set on ThermoWorks? For a novice, (or even for pros too) a cheaper yet still great leave-in option would be the Maverick Redi-Chek. If that's not of interest, Meathead has worked with ThermoWorks to create the "ThermaQ Meathead Kit"....pricier than the Maverick but it's the Ferrari of BBQ tools. Check it out!

[boftx]

I'm gonna second Huskee, here. The Maverick is a solid, all-around tool that can be used at any skill level.

[CeramicChef]

Yeah, I think the MK4 is probably the best solution for his Dad's types of cooks.

I"e included the link for the ThemoWorks MK4.

[Huskee]

My Thermapen link above includes the AmazingRibs affiliate link, feel free to copy it into yours.

[CeramicChef]

Huskee - Thanks again! I've just got to cure this cranial/rectal inversion I'm suffering with lately!

[Thunder77]

I love my Mk4! I leave it open when I'm grilling or doing anything requiring temp taking. It comes on instantly when you pick it up. No closing and re-opening the probe. I will sometimes jiggle the surface it's on to see how sensitive it is. A very small vibration wakes it up. (Can you see I'm easily amused?) And being lefthanded, I love that I can read it any which way I hold it. And the backlight is great for night cooks. Accidentally left it out in the rain? No problem. Just dry it off. My absolute favorite thermometer.

Ok I will shut up now. I sound like a Thermoworks ad. 😜

[FLBuckeye]

I use my MK4 pretty much every day. Just cooked some chicken (sliced into 1/2" strips for a quesadilla) on my Nu Wave and temped every piece to make sure I was over 160. When I make spaghetti, I always temp the water to make sure it is in calibration.

[ribeyeguy]

I'm guessing that your Dad isn't interested in watching a readout that monitors the internal temps every second. Assuming he just wants to lift the lid and get a quick, accurate reading get him a ThermaPop. He'll have the lid off for all of 10 seconds and he'll have the exact internal temperature of the meat he's cooking.

[MBMorgan]

+1 for the MK4.

[Nate]

I have a Pen, Pop, Dot, and Chef Alarm.... the new Pen is amazing and is versatile ... comes in handy in kitchen as well as when grilling.

Nice thing about the Dot and Chef Alarm is they use the same probes... I like the Chef Alarm a little better but Dot is very handy as well.... You can buy a quick read thermometer probe for them as well as the various protein and ambient probes....

All that being said if your dad isn't doing anything that requires long cooks or that need/can hold a thermometer through the entire cook and mostly doing steaks, burgers, chops, etc... then I would definitely go with the Pen..... unless it is cost prohibitive then look at the Pop.

[DWCowles]

And you can't have to many...I keep a spare or two.

[Jon Solberg]

Mk4 is nice. I still love the Classic pen. Great value now.

[Huskee]

Only thing I don't like about the new Mk4 is the auto screen off is too sensitive. I wish it stayed on longer when I set it down.

[surfdog]

If he just wants to open the lid and quickly check the temps...and based on what you've said...the Mk4 is a winner. The "classic" is still a fine tool, but I really like the new version (gave away the older one) and can't imagine being without either. Simple to use, simple to carry, simple to clean...fast and accurate. It covers all the bases.

​For a "leave in" I'd have to suggest the ThermaQ. To be fair, I've never used a Dot or Chef Alarm but I'm certain they're also built to the same standards...though perhaps not quite as "robust". (But that comes at a price.) I also like having two (near bullet proof) probes and like the simplicity of it. Obviously the accuracy is a plus. LOL
But that doesn't seem to be a priority.
Yet. ;-)

That said...I've given away a few ThermoPops and have converted more than a few people to the world of proper temp control. Some have even started doing the same...purchase Pops as gifts.

[kenrobin]

Thanks for the feedback... lots of great suggestions. Right now I'm leaning towards following RonB 's suggestion of buying an instant read & a leave in thermometer. Based on what my Dad has traditionally cooked, I'm not sure that we would ever use the leave in but who knows... maybe he'll get inspired! Maybe I should include a nice cut of meat like a Boston Butt...

I think it will be a ThermoPop and a DOT. My Dad can always graduate to other thermometers if he really gets into it.

I currently own a ThermaQ, ChefAlarm and a ThermaPen. Like Thunder77, I'm also a lefty and all of the great comments about the MK4 has me thinking that I need to buy one of those as a Father's Day gift to myself!

[RonB]

Yes - my suggestion was to buy cheap in case he doesn't wind up using them, and also get a butt to nudge him into cooking it.

[Jon Solberg]

Great stuff!