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Do ya really "need" a Thermapen?

13

Comments

  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    Eggcelsior said:


    @nolaegghead

    Thermaphrodite sounds better.

    Thermaphrodite new profile name. Or band name. Lol
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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  • piney
    piney Posts: 1,478
    YES!!!
    Lenoir, N.C.
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  • Aquacop
    Aquacop Posts: 481
    Best investment I have ever made!
    LBGE 2013 Located in Savannah, Georgia
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  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 964
    edited March 2014
    yes, you do "need" a thermapen.

    The Dude: This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter Sobchak: Nihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA
    Eggs - XL, L, Small
    Gasser - Blaze 5 Burner
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  • Canugghead
    Canugghead Posts: 13,718
    edited March 2014
    I should have said I need "two", one for backup in case I break or misplace the other ;)

    With Thermapen even food from the stovetop or oven tastes better with just-right doneness.

    I also use it to flip or pick up small items like burger, sausage and meat ball.
    nolaegghead said:
    ... Professional cooks don't bust everything open or use a thermometer on everything.  They just calibrate measured internal temps with the time/cook temp/food size and shape, and they learn when stuff is done. ...
    generally true, but at a local well known, busy family owned/operated burger place, the guy slashed my burger to check doneness, ouch!  Given that this is pretty much all he cooks all day, he should be able to do it with his eyes closed  X_X
    canuckland
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  • SpartanPride
    SpartanPride Posts: 161
    I bought this cheap one at the grocery store. How would a thermapen be so much better? I've calibrated it, and it reads in a about 6-8 seconds. I don't see the need yet, but I guess I'll see how long this one lasts??
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  • cuangler
    cuangler Posts: 22
    I bought one for the egg and now my wife uses it for everything that she cooks in the oven. We haven't cooked 'to time' in forever. Best 80 bucks I've ever spent.
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  • Zmokin
    Zmokin Posts: 1,938
    edited March 2014
    Nevermind!
    Large BGE in a Sole' Gourmet Table
    Using the Black Cast Iron grill, Plate Setter,
     and a BBQ Guru temp controller.

    Medium BGE in custom modified off-road nest.
    Black Cast Iron grill, Plate Setter, and a Party-Q temp controller.

    Location: somewhere West of the Mason-Dixon Line
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  • BigWings
    BigWings Posts: 172
    cuangler said:
    I bought one for the egg and now my wife uses it for everything that she cooks in the oven. We haven't cooked 'to time' in forever. Best 80 bucks I've ever spent.
    Not "cooking to time" was a big adjustment around here.   My wife generally looks after the side dishes and there were many times she'd be pissed at me for not having things ready at the expected time.   As I get more used to things it's gotten better, and time is generally quicker because you don't need to err on the side of caution, but there are still times when I don't get it right and her rice gets sticky!

    On another note, my thermapen takes 5 or 6 seconds to register, it always has.  Is it defective?

    New Brunswick, Canada

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  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,838

    Do ya really "need" a Thermapen?

    Do ya really need a BGE???

    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
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  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    td66snrf said:

    Do ya really "need" a Thermapen?

    Do ya really need a BGE???

    Naw rather load up some charcoal with plenty of lighter fluid and use the force for guesstimate on doneness ;-)
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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  • gmac
    gmac Posts: 1,814
    Mine was bought for brewing. Now I need a second one for Egging ( or really backlit for egging in the dark.)
    Mt Elgin Ontario - just a Large.
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  • beteez
    beteez Posts: 548
    Termopop on open box less than $25 w/shipping.
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  • dweebs0r
    dweebs0r Posts: 539
    Heck no.  For that matter, do you really NEED indoor plumbing.  Nope, I'm pooping right here.
       -Jody Newell (LBGE & a 36" Blackstone griddle).
    Location:  🍺🍺  The back porch, Munford, TN.  🍺🍺
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  • Gogogordy
    Gogogordy Posts: 460
    edited March 2014
    NPHuskerFL said:
    Thanks!!! @The Cen-Tex Smoker‌ @cazzy‌ @Little Steven‌ @henapple‌ @coffeeguydenton‌ @Skiddymarker‌ @RRP‌ @SmokeyPitt‌ @Chris_Wang‌ @Mike_the_BBQ_Fanatic‌ @DMW‌ .... Yes I DO! After having to break out my Fluke meter with food probe on my last brisket (because out of 4 thermometers I could trust 0 of them). That $h!t won't happen again. SWMBO ordered me the red backlit Thermapen. Really wanted to find the Husker one that one of our forum members has but, I'm happy with the red backlit. More than anything though I'm happy to get something of quality I can trust. With my work I purchase the highest quality tools and test instruments because I believe strongly in not guessing if my diagnosis is half assed. Now I regret buying these other 4 cheap pos thermometers. Do yourself a favor and skip all the BS and get the Thermapen.

    No, I sure dont need (or want) a computerized thermo to cook in an ancient method, and achieve great results. Cooking is as much art as it is science and frankly, I lean towards the art side more than the science. All the zoot, high tech equipment in the world doesnt replace the "X" factor involved in producing great food. Example: Most chain restaurants use science and custom high tech equipment to produce their food, but I'd rather eat at the local independent place run by skilled people, with that "X" factor in play. The food generally tastes better and is more memorable at those type of places.... Certain things in life are easily over-complicated IMO and BBQ over wood is one example.
    When I'm not Eggin', I'm scootin'   Eggin' and 'cueing from Temecula Ca; an hour from San Diego, an hour and five minutes from Palm Springs, and an hour and a half from Los Angeles (yeah, right. With THAT traffic?)
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  • plumbfir01
    plumbfir01 Posts: 725
    so last  night a friend of mine wanted to do a "egg:" get together at her house. She has a small bge and i took the kjj (they have not came and got it yet) and we had 14 people over total and i was doing all the cooking. I took my kjj, rockwood, looflighter, grill gripper and thermapen. I will say that cooking 14 steaks (all varied in size from 3/4'' to almost 2'') The thermapen definitely saved my butt last night and i had all the steaks perfect as they were served to their owners. It was funny because using using someone else's egg was a total difference then my grills. I am just grateful i had the TP
    Beaufort, SC
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    "Really wanted to find the Husker one" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bzoE5dlxH2s
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 23,179
    edited March 2014
    Nm
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
    SpartanPride said:
    I bought this cheap one at the grocery store. How would a thermapen be so much better? I've calibrated it, and it reads in a about 6-8 seconds. I don't see the need yet, but I guess I'll see how long this one lasts??

    it's faster, more accurate and has a great reputation for durability. Outside of that, it's a status thing. You are always welcome to join our click. It will cost you about $100 to join.
    Dave - Austin, TX
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  • grege345
    grege345 Posts: 3,515
    plumbfir01 said:

    so last  night a friend of mine wanted to do a "egg:" get together at her house. She has a small bge and i took the kjj (they have not came and got it yet) and we had 14 people over total and i was doing all the cooking. I took my kjj, rockwood, looflighter, grill gripper and thermapen. I will say that cooking 14 steaks (all varied in size from 3/4'' to almost 2'') The thermapen definitely saved my butt last night and i had all the steaks perfect as they were served to their owners. It was funny because using using someone else's egg was a total difference then my grills. I am just grateful i had the TP

    How did the kj perform? @plumbfir01
    LBGE& SBGE———————————————•———————– Pennsylvania / poconos

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  • Miked125
    Miked125 Posts: 481
    My only wish is I got the back lit one.... it didnt exist when I got mine.
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  • KennyLee
    KennyLee Posts: 806
    Might be nice, but certainly not a necessity. 

    LBGE

    Cedar table w/granite top

    Ceramic Grillworks two-tier swing rack

    Perpetual cooler of ice-cold beer

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  • UCFFAN
    UCFFAN Posts: 38
    Holy Crap....contraversie on the Thermapen thread :)) I'm user and loves it....color me a gomerphile!
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  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

    "Really wanted to find the Husker one"



    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bzoE5dlxH2s

    :)). Well played! That is totally me @The Cen-Tex Smoker
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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  • plumbfir01
    plumbfir01 Posts: 725
    @grege345‌ it did pretty damn well! Considering it was on concrete and sparks were going 100 different ways until it got up to temp then it was fine, good even cook and outperformed the 10yo SBGE that appeared to have years of neglect but it wasn't my grill either. I know how my grills and how they cook so that may have been most of the difference.
    Beaufort, SC
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  • dfrelich
    dfrelich Posts: 104
    Miked125 said:
    My only wish is I got the back lit one.... it didnt exist when I got mine.
    FWIW… I have the backlit kind.  When I temp my meat on direct heat, the backlit does not stay lit because of strong ember or when flare shoots up.

    X-Large & Large
    Frederick County, MD
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  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    Thermapen came today. Oh wait...we missed the effing FedEx guy so it left w/ him! Dagumnit! Hopefully will they will redeliver tomorrow. Arghhh!
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    It's official I've got my Thermapen with glow in the dark silicone magnetic boot and leather wallet carrier. Hard to see but even when the boot is glowing the display will light with low ambient light. Obviously the backlit LCD may go out when ambers to the egg are glowing as it is sensitive to save battery life. Can't wait to use this bad boy!
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
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  • FatMike
    FatMike Posts: 464
    I use mine for everything...The boys hate it when I use it to check for a fever. They think it's too sharp compared to what mom uses..wimps
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    FatMike said:
    I use mine for everything...The boys hate it when I use it to check for a fever. They think it's too sharp compared to what mom uses..wimps
    Mike, you might be using it wrong.  (I know you're kidding)
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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