Grate Temp vs Lid Temp

[Darren H]

Hey folks...

Cooking up some pork ribs..started them at 5:30pm and have a question. I have a temp probe on the top grate and a probe on the lid.
Lid temp is currently 248 and grate temp is...180F. All recipe call for a 225 LID temp..
that would put my grate at 150F.
Is there something wrong here?

P.S. I notice whenever I start the BBQ... I atrract a lot of flies...hmm



DH

 

[Craig Castille]

If your water pan was filled with cold water it may take a while to heat the "heatsink".

After a couple of hours though your temps should be getting closer together. Have you checked both probes for accuracy?

I don't bother measuring grate level. I use an analog therm through the lid vent. I allow about 15 degree difference from lid to grate (not 75).

I aim for 240-260 lid temps, and go from there.

 

[David Lohrentz]

I think there is a good chance that one of your thermometers is not working properly. If your grate temp really is 180, then you are going to have a long wait for those ribs. Can you try the boiling water test on your thermometers to verify their accuracy?