Thermapen vs maverick?

krames

I need a little help. I am doing an early thanksgiving breast on the egg. My thermapen says its 130. My maverick says 162. The breast has been on at 325 for 1 hour 40 minutes and I was expecting it to finish in 2 hours at the latest. What should I trust? I have tried to test my thermapen with some pointing water. It came out at 214. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Dobie

The pen but make sure your probes are not touching a bone

krames

The probes are in the center of the breast. If I stick the thermapen in the same hole as the maverick I get a 20 degree differential.

caliking

I would believe the thermapen.

lousubcap

Nothing worse than too much info-kinda like a second speedo in the car...how fast am I going??? I would trust the thermopen but not challenge two thermos to give me the same info.  FWIW and YMMV.

Smokinpig

I would prove a different spot with both. See if the gap remains constant at a 20degree differnce. Could be a fluke.

bcsnave

DON'T be a Maverick.....just trust the PEN

Jeepster47

krames said:

The probes are in the center of the breast. If I stick the thermapen in the same hole as the maverick I get a 20 degree differential.

The Maverick probe is a much larger diameter than the Thernapen's probe.  It could be that the tip of the Thermapen (very small diameter) is not making good contact with the meat when it's stuck in the same hole as the Maverick just occupied. 

Get a glass/cup/pot of water in the 160 degree range - that's the range you want to measure anyway - and drop both probes in the water at the same time.  They should be close.  If they are close then trust the Thermapen and remember the offset for future reference. 

If they are not close, then you'll need a referee.  No other thermometer?  You can hold your hand on 140 degree surfaces, but not 150 degree surfaces.  Blend water in a thin glass until it's too hot to hold ... that should be in the 140~150 degree range.  Check your instruments against that reference ... not exact, but will point out obvious problems.

Good luck.

cactus_darrell

I have found the Thermopen reads inaccurate over a high heat source. Mine reads too low.  I over cooked some steaks due to this, I knew they were ready and the Thermopen was way off.  plated the steaks and checked again and it gave the correct reading.  Try a comparison test in hot water.  I thought my thermopen was defective maybe not.  Anyone else notice this?

krames

I ended up pulling it when the thermapen registered 160. It turned out well, but I probably could have pulled it a little earlier. Thanks for the help everyone! And Happy Thankgiving!

Skiddymarker

cactus_darrell said:

I have found the Thermopen reads inaccurate over a high heat source. Mine reads too low.  I over cooked some steaks due to this, I knew they were ready and the Thermopen was way off.  plated the steaks and checked again and it gave the correct reading.  Try a comparison test in hot water.  I thought my thermopen was defective maybe not.  Anyone else notice this?

For steaks, you have to lift the steak with tongs/pigtail whatever and insert the probe from the edge - accurate as can be. Over the fire, probe is entering at an angle and can result in a wide range of temps. 

@krames - the Mav is usually OK to get you in the ball park, the thermapen allows quick temp readings in various spots and is the one to rely on.