Need a thermometer reco....


 
W

Willie (Green Bay)

TVWBB Member
Hey guys!

Just did my first smoke on my WSM and was simply amazed at how stable she held the temps. My original plan was to invest in a DigiQ DX with adapter and fan right off the bat. But with the way she's been holding the temps i don't know if i need to make that investment.

So I am wondering what's a good digital thermometer that i can set next to the grill to monitor meat temp? I would love to use it to monitor internal cooker temp as well, but not sure what's available to do both.

TIA!

Matt
 
Many like this one.

Personally, I am not a fan of sticking a probe on the grate. Rather, I stick the grate probe in a lid vent. You can do whatever you wish.
 
Willie - you could get one of the deep fryer thermometers - not for the thermometer (although I have used those in a pinch) but for the v-clip that is used to hold it in place. You could put the probe through a lid vent as Kevin suggests and use the v-clip from the deep-fry thermometer to hold the probe in place. I've not done that on my WSM, but that's the kind of clip that holds the thermometers on my BGE's in place.

Pat
 
I drilled a hole just a hair larger than the probe diameter in a small block of 1x2 wood. The length of the block is about an inch shorter than the probe length so that the end of the probe is sticking out free.

Then I got a couple of small hook eyes from HD and screwed them into the top of the block.

With this setup I can hang the probe underneath the top grate and get the temperature underneath whatever is on the top grate and just above whatever is on the bottom grate. Can't think of anyplace better to monitor temps.

Russ
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Willie (Green Bay):
What could i mount the grate prob onto that could allow it to somewhat "hover" above the grate but not affect it's reading and not burn up? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mav ET732 as already suggested. Grate temp probe comes with a little metal "stand" that clips to the grate (probe sits about 1/2" above the grate) and meat temp probe. Both plug into a sending unit that links up with a remote receiver.

Watch both temps while you're in watching the game on your 70" LCD.
 
If you go with the mav 732 or similar be aware that the cooker probe when attached near the outer edge will register the hotter temp coming up the sides of the smoker. Took me way to long to realize this and I had several cooks that lasted hours longer than necessary.
To correct the problem when I do brisket or have filled the top rack to the point that I have no room for the probe toward the center I use a short skewer in the meat with the probe attached to it. Gives a much better reading of temp around the meat.
Steve
 
Willie,

Right off the bat, I am a big advocate of temp controller systems, so I have to make that known.

Soon as the winter temps and winds head your way, it may not be so easy to control your WSM temps. By using a Guru as you mentioned, you can seal off the bottom air vents of your machine making the wind harder to affect it. For this reason alone, I am a big fan of Guru's.

I use a Maverick ET-732 with eyelets for the probes to enter. I use a probe tree on the grate to keep things simple and neat inside.

If you are a grill watcher, you probably wont need this stuff since you will be nervous running back and forth to your WSM to make sure it is just right. All I do is let the temp gauges and Guru do the work for me as I sleep like a baby thru the night as the briskets or butts do a nice lo n slo. Next day I enjoy the smokey rewards of technology.
 
Can you set alarms on the Mav to alert you when the grill temp (not meat) drop below a preset number?

I am doing a overnight cook this weekend for a big BBQ on Sat and I am worried about the temps dropping if I happen to fall asleep for to long.
 
Nevermind, i answered my own question
icon_smile.gif


Now just need to find one by Friday!
 
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