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    I need a good quality, inexpensive, & reliable meat thermometer to get me by for a little while

    Posts: 129
    edited October 2015 in EggHead Forum

    EDIT - I mean something that I can watch the temperature from outside the grill (remotely) like an I-Grill or something like that.  Sorry for not being more clear.

    I need to get myself a cheap meat thermometer / temperature probe just to get me by until I break down and buy a temp controller.  I want it to be something that I can use just to keep an eye on temps while I'm cooking (for example a meatloaf), but I want it to be able to handle the HIGH heat of a high temperature steak cook (think 2" thick ribeyes).  I would also like to be able to go buy it quick (like maybe Walmart or Home Depot) if needed.  Any suggestions?

    XL BGE Owner Since September 2015 - So expect a lot of newbie questions and please go easy on me :-)
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    • Posts: 68
      Thermopop
      XL times 2
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    • Posts: 567
      I have several cheap ones. $10-25. I test them all against each other in boiling water. The one from Lowes is the best. I think it's $9.99.
      I did just get the Lavatools Javalin Pro. It's awesome!
      Canton, GA
      LBGE, Joe Jr., 28” Blackstone
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    • Posts: 611
      Thermopop. I didn't want to drop 90 on a pen so I went with pop and I love it. By far the best the meat thermometer I've owned and it's not that expensive.
      Dyersburg, TN
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    • Posts: 33,793
      any dial meat roasting thermo will that works in an oven will work in an egg, look for a glass face if your leaving it in while cooking, i went years like that with the dial facing up so i could read it thru the daisy, maybe ten bucks. get the thermopop for the steak or any cook you need a quick reading. i would still recommend the thermapen though, for me it turned mediocre to greatness with steaks, the first one i bought seemed expensive but when it eventually broke i did not hesitate to replace it, mediocre is a ruined steak that costs too much to ruin nowadays
      fukahwee maine

      you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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    • Posts: 129
      My bad folks... Sorry.  I mean something that I can put a probe in my meat and watch the temperature from outside the grill remotely.  Like an I-Grill or something like that.    
      XL BGE Owner Since September 2015 - So expect a lot of newbie questions and please go easy on me :-)
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    • Posts: 33,793
      edited October 2015
      then it would be the maverick for me, a little funky for setting up the alarms the first few uses but its a descent unit.  these are more useful for bbq temps...... roasting temps and searing steaks i would rather have a quick handheld
      fukahwee maine

      you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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    • Posts: 3,865
      What is cheap?  A maverick will only run you $60 or so.  Other options mentioned here are good too.

      I wouldn't bother with any sort of remote thermometer when doing a high-heat good. You won't get accurate readings and you'll likely burn it up (unless you're doing a reverse sear).  Use an instant read for that.
      NOLA
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    • Posts: 10,490
      Tier1Terrier said:
      My bad folks... Sorry.  I mean something that I can put a probe in my meat and watch the temperature from outside the grill remotely.  Like an I-Grill or something like that.    
      I really like having both - a "leave in" probe style thermometer like a Maverick, as well as an instant read.  I have been through a couple of Maverick.  My food probe died while I was cooking a thanksgiving turkey and I just picked up a cheap one like this:

      http://www.walmart.com/ip/Taylor-Digital-Programmable-Thermometer/17167406

      Note that this is not a good choice for an instant read for cooking steaks because it takes a long time to read the temp.  If you are cooking a roast (or 1 big steak) indirect it will work for the indirect phase, but you can't leave it in at high heat or direct because the probe will fry.  I would strongly recommend getting a decent instant read for steaks, chops, chicken breast, etc.  

      Which came first the chicken or the egg?  I egged the chicken and then I ate his leg. 

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    • Posts: 34,707
      I would go to your dealer and see what they have (w/o the BGE label).  There are many units that come with a probe that you can leave in the BGE and a protected cable that runs to an outside monitor unit.  Cost around $30-$50.  If you go that route run the cable over a platesetter leg to eliminate exposure to direct heat from the lump.  FWIW-
      Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period.
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    • Posts: 13,836
      A high temp sear cook will fry the probe wires of a leave in thermometer. Wrong tool for that job. For roasting at moderate temps, they work great. For checking meat temps when cooking at high temps, you want a fast instant read thermo.
      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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    • Posts: 4,484
      I have this and it works ok as long as you don't get to far into the house with it, but I do most of my cooks during the day so it works for me.

      http://www.amazon.com/Ivation-Long-Range-Wireless-Thermometer/dp/B00ANCXJR6/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1443705883&sr=8-9&keywords=temperature+gauges+for+a+smoker

      Now my dealer sells this one and did a test on it was inside there store over 100' away and it stayed connected.

      http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Bluetooth-Wireless-Thermometer-Simultaneously/dp/B00THCADP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443706542&sr=8-1&keywords=maverick+et+735


      Now this is the one I want, but it is not cheep.  I thought about getting the Pit Master IQ 120, but I don't really have trouble with controlling the temp that much on long cooks.

      http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Bluetooth-Wireless-Thermometer-Simultaneously/dp/B00THCADP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443706013&sr=8-1&keywords=maverick+735

      Now  you mentioned wanting to use this on high heat cooks, how high you talking about?  Most of these say not to use over 500 degrees.  I have never used my Ivation for monitoring meatloaf or steak.  I just check the meatloaf with my ThermoPop every so often on the meatloaf and for 2" steaks at high heat it is more of a timing thing.   I hope one of these above will work for you.


      XL, WSM, Coleman Road Trip Gas Grill

      Kansas City, Mo.
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    • Posts: 129
      Thanks everyone for your input. Since the Mavs are so popular, I went with the 733 which I was able to pick up on Amazon for $69. 'll be sure to provide a range report once I've had a chance to break it in. 



      I I forgot to mention that I already have a Thermapen for those who were suggesting I have an instant read for those high temp cooks. 

      I
      XL BGE Owner Since September 2015 - So expect a lot of newbie questions and please go easy on me :-)
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