instant read thermo

[FatDaddy]

This is probably gonna sound like a stupid question. but i recently got a instant read thermo. ive never used one before and am wondering if the first temp that pops up after inserted into meat is the current temp? or do i leave in meat until it stabilizes?
the one i have is a taylor model9842n got it linens and things for like 30 bucks...

Thanks for your help..

 

[Q_Egg]

Seems like a price that should do a job! ......

..... I have two for a long time that I'm sure were less expensive and I have been trusting them for a variety of things. I recently checked them in boiling water and they were so far off I couldn't believe it. When I set them for 212*F they read ambient temps around 100*F for 'real' temp of 80*F.

I have always allowed mine to stabilize for just a few seconds before accepting the reading. Now I will likely use them for readings near 212*F (fortunately near smoking temps) and not for much else.

My next choice is probably Thermapen, but that is a heckofa price to pay!

Good luck!

 

[BBQchef33]

if its "on" when u stick it in the meat, give it a chance to stabilze. I have the nutemp insta-read, I find that if u stick it in the meat first give it a second, then turn it on, it comes on pretty close to temp.

 

[nmayeux]

if its "on" when u stick it in the meat, give it a chance to stabilze. I have the nutemp insta-read, I find that if u stick it in the meat first give it a second, then turn it on, it comes on pretty close to temp.

How does the Nu-Temp compare to the Thermopen? I want an instant read, but am a little leary of the price for some of them.

 

[FatDaddy]

i turn mine on first then stick it in, it will read say 147 then jump to like 160 or so then maybe a little higher, i recalibrated it bout half an hour ago, it was about 12 degrees off. got it reading 211.7 in boilin water, close enough.

 

[wnkt]

My Maverick thermo works well. I dont expect it to be exact immediately, but then It will be there till the meat is done so it has plenty of time to get acclimated. Im going to have to return mine to get fixed, the jack for the food probe isnt working anymore, the probe works in the smoker jack tho.

 

[qman]

Regarding "instant read" thermometers, your instruction book should tell you how many seconds you should wait for an accurate reading--usually just a few, like 5 to 10, maybe less. Digital probe units, like Mavrick, and Taylor, are not instant read, and take quite a few seconds, maybe as much as half a minute to stabalize. Thermopen, about 2 seconds.

 

[Kirk]

Digital probe units, like Mavrick, and Taylor, are not instant read, and take quite a few seconds, maybe as much as half a minute to stabalize...

I can attest to that. My Taylor is anything but "insta" read. I have a couple of $9 dial types that are quicker, but they still take 15 - 20 seconds or more to read properly.

 

[Sawdustguy]

How does the Nu-Temp compare to the Thermopen? I want an instant read, but am a little leary of the price for some of them.

Being an electrical engineer and ultra curious I gave my Thermapen to a friend that is part owner of a Calibration Laboratory. He tested the Thermapen and it is was within +/- 0.3* on a non-optimized setup. Thats close enough for me. The reason for the high accuracy and speed is that they use a copper constantine thermocouple instead of a thermister. Thermisters are notorious for drift and long settling times. Even though the Thermapen is expensive you get what you pay for. It is up to you if you want that type of accuracy and settling time (<3seconds).

 

[Bossmanbbq]

Being an electrical engineer and ultra curious I gave my Thermapen to a friend that is part owner of a Calibration Laboratory. He tested the Thermapen and it is was within +/- 0.3* on a non-optimized setup. Thats close enough for me. The reason for the high accuracy and speed is that they use a copper constantine thermocouple instead of a thermister. Thermisters are notorious for drift and long settling times. Even though the Thermapen is expensive you get what you pay for. It is up to you if you want that type of accuracy and settling time (<3seconds).

I agree with guy on this one, I love my Thermopen,and use it along with my Mavrick just to make sure. I perfer my Thermopen but like the Mavrick because it tells me the temp of the smoker and the meat at the same time.

Bossman
[email protected]

 

[kcquer]

In addition to a few digital therms I have a nice selection of quality analog leave-in and insta read therms by Acu-Rite. I didn't pay more than $10 for any of them. They're still accurate and the batteries haven't gone dead once:wink:
I'm as big a gadget freak as there is, but around the pit just isn't a very friendly place for eletronics, I've had much more reliable results with good low tech gear.

 

[Wildcat]

While we're on the subject of therms and accuracy here's something to think about. A water boling test is NOT a true test of accuracy in temp.

It depends on your altitude, if you live at sea level then water boils at 212 but as you go up in altitude you have to raise the temp to get water to boil. Denver, Co is almost a mile high which would be a totally different temp than New Orleans, La.

Here's something you can use to help find your local boling point.

http://www.biggreenegg.com/boilingPoint.htm

 

[Q_Egg]

Good info but there's a lot more ....

..... linearity may be the next key issue and ....as I indicated in my post, the linearity of my two instant-read thermos is terrible! Then there is the issue of repeatability. I can live wih almost any fixed error ... as long as it is FIXED! If it doesn't repeat then I have no clue.

 

[Sledneck]

Being an electrical engineer and ultra curious I gave my Thermapen to a friend that is part owner of a Calibration Laboratory. He tested the Thermapen and it is was within +/- 0.3* on a non-optimized setup. Thats close enough for me. The reason for the high accuracy and speed is that they use a copper constantine thermocouple instead of a thermister. Thermisters are notorious for drift and long settling times. Even though the Thermapen is expensive you get what you pay for. It is up to you if you want that type of accuracy and settling time (<3seconds).

WHAT AB64T THE F3EX CA-AC5T6R/ y 2eyb6ard 5s ty-5ng f4nny

 

[racer_81]

Nu-temps Rule.

 

[Ron_L]

WHAT AB64T THE F3EX CA-AC5T6R/ y 2eyb6ard 5s ty-5ng f4nny

Been hanging out with Phil again?

:-D

Even though it is expensive, I think my ThermaPen may be the best accessory that I have purchased. Even my wife, who was skeptical, loves it and wants a second one for the kitchen. It reads in about 2 seconds and is accurate (as far as I can tell, see Wildcat's post above). I went through two Taylor Instand Reads before I gave up and bought the ThermaPen. The Taylor that I bought had a problem with flaky switches. The folks at Taylor were great about sending me replacements, but I got frustrated.

Anyway... I use NuTemps to monitor pit and meat temp during the cook and then use the ThermaPen to check temps once I get close to the end of the cook.

 

[Q_Egg]

Geezz !! NuTemp 701+751+Ext range probe and then ....

.... a ThermaPen to boot ??? I can buy a Chargriller Outlaw to go with my BGE for that much and do some 'old time' estimating, smelling, poking, whatever ......

I know they're good, but a guy can easily go 'temp probe poor" .... I do appreciate the solid info from this Thread so I can do a bit of planning. Actually, they better be "knock yur biscotti in the dirt good" !!!

 

[Sledneck]

ceyb0ard 1s screwed

 

[Sledneck]

Num LK was on and didnt realize it

 

[thillin]

.... a ThermaPen to boot ??? I can buy a Chargriller Outlaw to go with my BGE for that much and do some 'old time' estimating, smelling, poking, whatever ......

I've got 3 NuTemps, but I wanted the ease of a smaller unit in testing for doneness indoors and outdoors. I can also use it when I decide to get into catering. Since I never really need anything at gift time, a Thermapen made a good suggestion.