Thermapen age

slammmed · 12-26-2012, 08:25 PM

How long has everyone had their thermapen? I am looking to bite the bullet but I'm torn between that and the greatly cheaper rt600c. The temperature range is whats making me lean towards the thermapen but the price difference is staggering.

But... It'd be worth it if I know it's going to pay for itself I the long run. So, how long have you had your thermapen?

Offthehook · 12-26-2012, 08:26 PM

I always go by look and touch, still have good results without a thermometer.

Pyle's BBQ · 12-26-2012, 08:41 PM

I know I have had my first one for over 5 years. The second one for at least 3 years. The older one gets used everyday at the restaurant. The second one is the splashproof ultra fast yellow and that is the one I use. I have not had a problem with either one of them.

IamMadMan · 12-26-2012, 09:00 PM

I have 2 Thermopens, one for poultry (yellow) and one for beef and pork (red).

I have had them for two years without any problems of any type. I use the Thermopen rather than total reliance on twist and touch. I like to know just how close I am to target time for scheduled dinner time, this allows me to adjust the cooker to meet my time schedule.

They are indispensable when cooking hundreds of pieces of chicken or 20 to 40 Pork Butts to make sure a safe temperature is reached before putting in the trays to rest. It also allows you to move items around in the cooker to balance out the hot spots.

If you keep an eye out you can get a Thermopen on an Open Box Sale with full warranty. http://www.thermoworks.com/products/..._box_sale.html

Everyone has their own method of checking, and bottom line is that there are differences in the same cuts of meat, so the thermometer is just a guide to assist you, except in the case of poultry. With poultry nothing leaves my cookers until proper temperatures are achieved in each piece of meat.

.

Soybomb · 12-26-2012, 09:18 PM

My thermapen is about a year and a half old. My dad's thermapen is about 4 years old by now. It used to be mine but eventually I could no longer separate the two of them...

At the end of the day I believe I use my thermapen for every cook on the grill or smoker even if its just verification and it also gets used inside for non patio cooking. It is probably my most used cooking tool. There may be a cheaper substitute option that works well but I have no regrets over the cash I've dropped on both of them.

rlt · 12-26-2012, 11:49 PM

I use mine on almost every cook, but I use it for baking too. I make alot of bread and it is invaluable to check water temperature before pitching yeast. It truly is a helpful tool.

slammmed · 12-27-2012, 05:01 AM

Great, thanks for the feedback. At the rate I'm dropping on thermometers that break I'm just going to order it.

Untraceable · 12-27-2012, 06:45 AM

speaking of splashproof, mine went through the washmachine. even like an idiot I open it up right away and was blown away that it turned on. quick turned it off, opened the battery cap, poured out water, left it open for a week to dry out and its working just like the day I got it.

smoke-n-my-i's · 12-27-2012, 07:15 AM

I have two thermapens. The older, super fast red one, is now going on 5 yrs. The newer one, screaming fast orange, is abt 2 yrs old. Both doing GREAT......

I recently purchased 5 of the rt600c thermometers, and IMHO, I would not recommend them for a lot of cooking.... they have a rather long skinny probe and a rather small case. I would think that if used a lot, that would be the weak point and break or come apart there.

Bite the bullet and get the pen if you are serious abt a great thermometer that will hold up.

Bill

smoke-n-my-i's · 12-27-2012, 07:16 AM

You will find also that the rt600c is a slower responding thermometer, not much, but it is slower, and the accuracy is NOT as good as the real deal thermopens.....

chad · 12-27-2012, 07:24 AM

I've had mine for 5 or 6 years and never a problem. It's been used at home, comps, and catering in good, bad, and UGLY weather conditions.

Ackman · 12-27-2012, 08:17 AM

What I found curious, was I have only entered one competition, but the KCBS reps when they came around for meat inspection, they specifically asked to see my Thermopen, by name...not just a thermometer. My red one is about 4 years old and has been refurbished twice ($15 a pop) my orange one is 2 years old and have not had any issues with that one.

slammmed · 12-27-2012, 11:41 AM

wow thanks for the great responses guys, i guess there is a reason they are the best and most popular.

ssv3 · 12-27-2012, 12:47 PM

And their customer service is superior. I ordered one for my bro as a Xmas gift and when it arrived I immidiately noticed it wasn't working right. I placed a call to them on the 20th of December and explained that compared to my Tpen my bro's was slow and had a delay. Before I even told them that I needed it for Xmas the guy shipped out a replacement and told me to just put to defective one in the box that the new one was coming in and send it back. The whole call to them regarding the issue took about 3 minutes total. Needless to say I rec'd the replacemnt on the 22nd of December and in time for Xmas. That's what I call service.

CYvilEng · 12-27-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Untraceable

speaking of splashproof, mine went through the washmachine. even like an idiot I open it up right away and was blown away that it turned on. quick turned it off, opened the battery cap, poured out water, left it open for a week to dry out and its working just like the day I got it.

Similar story here too. I left mine outside and it snowed 4 inches on it. I opened it to see if I ruined it and it worked. The display was a little sluggish. Still works like a champ.

Sent from my phone.

12-26-2012, 08:25 PM	#1
slammmed Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-04-12 Location: Boca Raton, Fl	Thermapen age How long has everyone had their thermapen? I am looking to bite the bullet but I'm torn between that and the greatly cheaper rt600c. The temperature range is whats making me lean towards the thermapen but the price difference is staggering. But... It'd be worth it if I know it's going to pay for itself I the long run. So, how long have you had your thermapen?

12-26-2012, 08:26 PM	#2
Offthehook is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-04-12 Location: Los Angeles, CA	I always go by look and touch, still have good results without a thermometer. __________________ Taylor-WSM 18.5 with Wifi Stoker, Kamado Smoker BBQ, and lots of charcoal. 180 club-Chicken

12-26-2012, 08:41 PM	#3
Pyle's BBQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-25-06 Location: Madrid, IA	I know I have had my first one for over 5 years. The second one for at least 3 years. The older one gets used everyday at the restaurant. The second one is the splashproof ultra fast yellow and that is the one I use. I have not had a problem with either one of them. __________________ Bryan, Team: Pyle's BBQ Yoder YS640; Good-One "Trail Boss" 60T; Weber Kettle rotisserie ring; Big A$$ Rotisserie; New Braunfels offset smoker; Weber Smokey Mountain; Backyard Bombers BBQ HJM Μολὼν λαβέ

12-26-2012, 11:49 PM	#6
rlt On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-22-10 Location: Fort Lostinthewoods, MO	I use mine on almost every cook, but I use it for baking too. I make alot of bread and it is invaluable to check water temperature before pitching yeast. It truly is a helpful tool. __________________ Large BGE & One super duper screamin' fast green thermapen. It matches my BGE...Sort of!

12-27-2012, 07:15 AM	#9
smoke-n-my-i's is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-27-07 Location: Eustis, FL	I have two thermapens. The older, super fast red one, is now going on 5 yrs. The newer one, screaming fast orange, is abt 2 yrs old. Both doing GREAT...... I recently purchased 5 of the rt600c thermometers, and IMHO, I would not recommend them for a lot of cooking.... they have a rather long skinny probe and a rather small case. I would think that if used a lot, that would be the weak point and break or come apart there. Bite the bullet and get the pen if you are serious abt a great thermometer that will hold up. Bill __________________ KCBS Member Smoke-N-My-I's Competition BBQ Team 2 Chargriller SuperPros with SFB's(retired) 2 UGLY drum smokers Weber 22 1/2" & 18 1/2" Kettle Super fast RED Thermapen Screaming fast ORANGE Thermapen KCBS Certified Table Captain KCBS Certified Judge

12-26-2012, 09:00 PM	#4
IamMadMan somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-30-11 Location: Pemberton, New Jersey	I have 2 Thermopens, one for poultry (yellow) and one for beef and pork (red). I have had them for two years without any problems of any type. I use the Thermopen rather than total reliance on twist and touch. I like to know just how close I am to target time for scheduled dinner time, this allows me to adjust the cooker to meet my time schedule. They are indispensable when cooking hundreds of pieces of chicken or 20 to 40 Pork Butts to make sure a safe temperature is reached before putting in the trays to rest. It also allows you to move items around in the cooker to balance out the hot spots. If you keep an eye out you can get a Thermopen on an Open Box Sale with full warranty. http://www.thermoworks.com/products/..._box_sale.html Everyone has their own method of checking, and bottom line is that there are differences in the same cuts of meat, so the thermometer is just a guide to assist you, except in the case of poultry. With poultry nothing leaves my cookers until proper temperatures are achieved in each piece of meat. .

12-26-2012, 09:18 PM	#5
Soybomb Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-19-11 Location: USA	My thermapen is about a year and a half old. My dad's thermapen is about 4 years old by now. It used to be mine but eventually I could no longer separate the two of them... At the end of the day I believe I use my thermapen for every cook on the grill or smoker even if its just verification and it also gets used inside for non patio cooking. It is probably my most used cooking tool. There may be a cheaper substitute option that works well but I have no regrets over the cash I've dropped on both of them.

12-27-2012, 05:01 AM	#7
slammmed Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-04-12 Location: Boca Raton, Fl	Great, thanks for the feedback. At the rate I'm dropping on thermometers that break I'm just going to order it.

12-27-2012, 06:45 AM	#8
Untraceable Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-19-11 Location: EAD	speaking of splashproof, mine went through the washmachine. even like an idiot I open it up right away and was blown away that it turned on. quick turned it off, opened the battery cap, poured out water, left it open for a week to dry out and its working just like the day I got it.

12-27-2012, 07:16 AM	#10
smoke-n-my-i's is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-27-07 Location: Eustis, FL	You will find also that the rt600c is a slower responding thermometer, not much, but it is slower, and the accuracy is NOT as good as the real deal thermopens..... __________________ KCBS Member Smoke-N-My-I's Competition BBQ Team 2 Chargriller SuperPros with SFB's(retired) 2 UGLY drum smokers Weber 22 1/2" & 18 1/2" Kettle Super fast RED Thermapen Screaming fast ORANGE Thermapen KCBS Certified Table Captain KCBS Certified Judge

12-27-2012, 07:24 AM	#11
chad somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Clearwater, FL	I've had mine for 5 or 6 years and never a problem. It's been used at home, comps, and catering in good, bad, and UGLY weather conditions. __________________ Dave Southern Brethren BBQ Competition Team "It's all about getting paid!" - Myron Mixon "I love being hated in my hometown!" - David Hair KingFisher Gator Rotisserie cooker (RIP), WSM (RIP), Stainless 5 burner with IR gas grill (RIP), Turkey Fryer, Weber JD Commemorative grill (RIP), Masterbuilt 40" insulated ELECTRIC smoker (new heating element), Pit Boss Tailgater pellet pooper.

12-27-2012, 08:17 AM	#12
Ackman Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-26-10 Location: New Canaan, CT	What I found curious, was I have only entered one competition, but the KCBS reps when they came around for meat inspection, they specifically asked to see my Thermopen, by name...not just a thermometer. My red one is about 4 years old and has been refurbished twice ($15 a pop) my orange one is 2 years old and have not had any issues with that one. __________________ Steve ----------------- Ack-Que WSM 18" CookShack SM025 Lang 36 BWS Extended Party Humphrey's Battle Box and matching Pint

12-27-2012, 11:41 AM	#13
slammmed Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-04-12 Location: Boca Raton, Fl	wow thanks for the great responses guys, i guess there is a reason they are the best and most popular.

12-27-2012, 12:47 PM	#14
ssv3 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Los Angeles Name/Nickname : Sako	And their customer service is superior. I ordered one for my bro as a Xmas gift and when it arrived I immidiately noticed it wasn't working right. I placed a call to them on the 20th of December and explained that compared to my Tpen my bro's was slow and had a delay. Before I even told them that I needed it for Xmas the guy shipped out a replacement and told me to just put to defective one in the box that the new one was coming in and send it back. The whole call to them regarding the issue took about 3 minutes total. Needless to say I rec'd the replacemnt on the 22nd of December and in time for Xmas. That's what I call service. __________________ LSG 24x30 V/O Yoder YS640 DCS 36 Gasser Blackstone Griddle Retrofit Blackstone Pizza Oven WSJ(K) WGA(P) WJJ(CU) W22(BI) W26(CL) Pit Barrer Junior Kingsford Oval (resto mod)