smokin with thermometers

[dagorich]

Can someone explain to me about using a dual probe maverick thermometer? I notice in most posts, that whoever is showing there meat on the smoker, that one of the probes is stuck in a potato,why or how come!

[richoso1]

Using the probe in a potato is one way of knowing the temp at the grate/rack you have your food is placed on. Temps can vary at different levels depending on the type smoker you're using.

[Kingudaroad]

Its better than putting the probe directly on the grate because it reads the "air" temp instead of the "metal grate" temp

[Walking Dude]

the dual probe Maverick i have has a long probe, for the meat, and a lil short stubby probe, that fits in a clip, you attach to the grill........

now some folks who doesn't have a thermo with two probes, will use two digis, with the long probes..........one in the meat, the other long one you can stick thru a piece of wood, or tater.

or when you do ribs, you don't use the meat probe........so you can stick that thru a piece of wood, or a tater..........just make sure the probe tip sticks thru the item you are using to support the probe.........

[Capt Dan]

Thats some great advice Rich, only thing I would add is..................when its time to clean them probes, try very hard not to kink the cables and NEVER emerse the coonections of the probe and cable in any liquid. It will ruin it. I just use wipes to clean mine.Just be real carefull around that connection area and try to avoid alot of water near there.

[RowdyRay]

Yep, it's the best way to tell the smoker temp at the food level. A lot of times the thermometer provided with the smoker is inaccurate, or not at the same level of the food. And temps can vary depending on the type of smoker you have. It just insures you keep the food in the desired temperature range.

[Slanted88]

? I'm thinkin since it is a form of a capillary tube. How far from the tip does the measurement begin. If so...should some should be in the tater er wood? to absorb heat ? tryin to understand heat. Other than a butt chewin!

[SMOKE FREAK]

My Maverick has the clip for the smoker probe...I clip it "under" the grates so that it is never in the way...

[Bbqgoddess]

? I'm thinkin since it is a form of a capillary tube. How far from the tip does the measurement begin. If so...should some should be in the tater er wood? to absorb heat ? tryin to understand heat. Other than a butt chewin!

Mike, I read somewhere its the first 1/4 inch of the probe that reads the temp..

[SMOKE FREAK]

Yeah I think its the tip...

[dagorich]

Thanks for the clarification, I kinda figured thats why it was done, and thanks to u for the quick response

[dagorich]

Thanks for the info,much appreciated.

[dagorich]

Thanks for the clarification

[DDave]

? I'm thinkin since it is a form of a capillary tube. How far from the tip does the measurement begin.

It's not really a capillary tube, it's just a sheath to protect the wires with a pointy end to facilitate pushing it into a hunk of meat. Towards the end of the probe where the wires are joined is where the measurement takes place.

Dave

[Fat_Head_Carl]

Thats some great advice Rich, only thing I would add is..................when its time to clean them probes, try very hard not to kink the cables and NEVER emerse the coonections of the probe and cable in any liquid. It will ruin it. I just use wipes to clean mine.Just be real carefull around that connection area and try to avoid alot of water near there.

I was recently frustruated at a thermometer that I used ONCE, that didn't work the second time I went to use it.

Treat your thermos nice...or they wont treat you nice.

(BTW - the thermo that only worked once for me...I beat it into pieces with a hammer. It was very much like therapy, but better.).