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Instant Read Thermometer

Monaarts
Monaarts Posts: 191
in EggHead Forum

Since I bought my egg a couple weeks ago I've been doing some research on instant read thermometers.  From everything I could find, the options to decide between were either the thermapen or thermopop.  I know the thermopen is a bit better...  3 second ratings vs 5-6 second ratings, +- 0.7 degree vs 2 accuracy, etc. but it is also 3x the price.  With that said, I decided to go with the Thermopop. 

I won't get it until early next week so I wanted to see if there was anyone who had used both thermapen and thermopop to tell me if I made the wrong decision?  FWIW, I will also be getting a Mavericks ET-733 for the low and slows.  Thanks!

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Comments

  • anzyegg
    anzyegg Posts: 1,104
    The Maverick will serve you we'll. I have a Thermapop and it works fine... I'll spend the extra and pick up a Thermapen later on... They do have some sales now and then two for one or out of box... So you may want to wait.
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  • Ladeback69
    Ladeback69 Posts: 4,484
    I have a ThermoPop in red and it better than any of the instant read thermometers in its price range, but I still want the Thermopen some day. It's been working great for me, but I have to wear a glove when I'm doing something over 400 direct.
    XL, WSM, Coleman Road Trip Gas Grill

    Kansas City, Mo.
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  • johnkitchens
    johnkitchens Posts: 5,234
    I have a thermapen and a maverick, and I love both of them. I think you will be fine with the thermopop.

    Louisville, GA - 2 Large BGE's
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  • blind99
    blind99 Posts: 4,974
    I just got my maverick. It's kind of a PITA to set, but it's really nice to know both the grill temp and the meat temp remotely.
    Chicago, IL - Large and Small BGE - Weber Gasser and Kettle
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  • johnkitchens
    johnkitchens Posts: 5,234
    Once you figure it out it is a piece of cake and so nice to have.

    Louisville, GA - 2 Large BGE's
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  • jhl192
    jhl192 Posts: 1,006
    I have both too. Do not lose the instructions for the Maverick. I have to re-read the programming steps every time I want to change something. It's not intuitive. Once set however, it works like a charm!
    XL BGE; Medium BGE; L BGE 
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  • Hi54putty
    Hi54putty Posts: 1,873
    I have both and I don't think the Thermapen is worth the extra cost. I can barely tell a difference in performance. You made the right call.
    XL,L,S 
    Winston-Salem, NC 
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  • anton
    anton Posts: 1,813
    I went Thermapen right off, I don't want to have egg open any longer than necessary, temp changes and flare ups occur.
     Using a MBGE,woo/w stone,livin' in  Hayward California," The Heart Of The Bay "
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  • Monaarts
    Monaarts Posts: 191
    Thanks for the input, everyone. Maybe one day I will get the ThermaPen but I'll wait until I'm cooking much more often/possible than now.
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,836
    I have a Thermapen, Mav 732, Mav 733, cheap infrared, and Thermoworks Infrared. If I could only have one it would be the Thermapen. I have used a Thermapop and I'm pretty sure I could make do with that as well.

    As to why so many. I have a problem. :D But seriously, the dual Mavs come in handy when monitoring multiple cookers/pieces of meat concurrently. Why 2 infrared? The cheap one doesn't go high enough. I think it maxes out around 750*. I wish I had realized that when I bought it.
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    @DMW - I think I have 4 or 5 IR guns.  I don't know why either.  Just happened.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,109
    Let me add that you're light years ahead of the average back yard cook if you measure temperatures. The speed and accuracy isn't as important as a general curiosity of what's happening internally in your food during the cooking process and modifying your process to extrapolate cooking times and temps and, most importantly, pull in that window when your food is done.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • stemc33
    stemc33 Posts: 3,567
    I went with the ThermoPop. Love it. I like the design of the ThermoPop better than the Thermapen. The cost of the ThermoPop vs Therapen. Occasionally, I wish it was faster, especially when cooking really hot or checking multiple items.
    Steven
    Mini Max with Woo stone combo, LBGE, iGrill 2, Plate Setter, 
    two cotton pot holders to handle PS
    Banner, Wyoming
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  • lkapigian
    lkapigian Posts: 11,627
    I don't know, I still use my finger...............I use a remote thermometer on low and slow just for monitoring, have a couple dial thermometers if I really feel the need, but I am really quite close with a push test............Guess I am old
    Visalia, Ca @lkapigian
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  • bodski
    bodski Posts: 463
    I have two locations. I have the Thermapen at home and love it. I use a Thermopop at the lake and it's a very good option. The important thing is to be able to cook to temp.

    Cincinnati

    LBGE, Weber Kettle

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  • tickbyte
    tickbyte Posts: 24
    ThermaPop you do not need to know temps any quicker for 70 bucks more. I got a purple one, best purchase ever and i alos use it for my Homebrew too!
    Large Egg.   Pflugerville, Texas  I Also brew my own beer. 
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  • Terrebandit
    Terrebandit Posts: 1,750
    lkapigian said:
    I don't know, I still use my finger...............I use a remote thermometer on low and slow just for monitoring, have a couple dial thermometers if I really feel the need, but I am really quite close with a push test............Guess I am old

    That works, but in the interest of food safety and my compulsions to be scientifically accurate and precise in my cooking, I opt for the thermometer method.
    Dave - Austin, TX
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    @Monaarts‌
    Brother as with most things, more often than not, people are more inclined to recommend what they themselves purchased versus what's really the best and/or actually needed. For what it is worth, here is my opinion on the matter. Use what you like and what produces good results for you. Up until just a few months ago, I was still using a obsolete, worn out, non brand analog thermometer. Hey the Thermopen is awesome, no question or doubt about it. But is it the only thermometer on the market that will yield accurate and good readings? Absolutely not my friend. Now that I have a Thermopen, I find it to be fast, accurate and convienant. Could I turn out quality food without it? Just as sure as the sun sets in the west my friend. Use and enjoy what tools you have and don't get caught up in the latest and greatest trap. Your Thermopop is more than sufficient for the task at hand. Enjoy and good luck brother Mon.

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • Monaarts
    Monaarts Posts: 191
    Thanks everyone!

    @SGH‌
    Unfortunately I travel about 75% of the time for work and can only cook on weekend for the most part (unless I'm home for a week). That's part of the reason I didn't jump for a super expensive thermometer - using it an average of 3-5 times a week will mean a mid-grade thermometer like the thermopop should last forever. ;-)
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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,528
    edited October 2014
    The strength of the pen over the pop is the speed when measuring multiple items - like wings. 
    Like @DMW and Nola, I have multiple thermos (8060/732/733/2XIR/Thermapen/600C) - they all come in handy, but the one used every cook is the thermapen. 
    And besides, we're eggheads - cost never enters into our decision making process, right? 
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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