Troubleshooting Thanksgiving problem

Iggystooge · November 2016

So I decided to do the turkey on the egg this year for the first time. Read some recipes, watched some youtube videos. Started the egg, added the placesetter, had the temp around 300 degrees set. Added the turkey on the roasting rack. Temp went way down, below 100. Okay I said, cold turkey, it will come back up. Waited two hours and it still was below 200 degrees. Opened the lid, checked the thigh temp, it was over 200 degrees. Obviously, took the bird off, it was okay, not great. Anyway, any ideas what may have happened here? I seem to have to buy a new thermostat every year, is that normal? I calibrate it, but it seems to get wacky. Just confused. Any advice is helpful.

theyolksonyou · November 2016

Your thermo was touching the bird would be my guess.

marysvilleegger · November 2016

Temp gauge probe stuck in bird when u shut the lid?

Iggystooge · November 2016

Duh, never even occurred to me. The turkey was filling the cavity. Thanks!

theyolksonyou · November 2016

You can take the spring off the back and move it to the outside. Or use a socket or, or, or to hold it off. Also, just throw that spring away when you're done more trouble than it's worth. Makes a good spacer for a drip pan.

JohnInCarolina · November 2016

Most of us do not rely on the dome thermo alone I would guess.

Iggystooge · November 2016

I was going to buy a probe but the BGE store was closing, so I did not want to keep the guy. I will get one this weekend! Thanks for all of the comments.

bud812 · November 2016

Mine did the same thing but I had pulled the thermo out already. Mine has been out in the rain for a few weeks & it started to sweat out that nice brown goo & it was running down the stem of the thermo giving me a reading of 200* below what the temp actual temp was.

JustineCaseyFeldown · November 2016

JohnInCarolina said:

Most of us do not rely on the dome thermo alone I would guess.

I think for most of us, you could throw away the dome thermometer and there would be zero complication.

lousubcap · November 2016

I guess it all depends on any other indication(s) you have available. Drove a car for 20+ years relying on a tach and traffic flow-speedo was dead. But if that's all you've got then you guys are clearly much more proficient than I am. I am ready to acquire the no thermo knowledge base in the event it dies mid-cook.

Iggystooge · November 2016

While I'm at it, what do most people use for a thermometer? Sorry if this is something frequently asked, don't come here as often as I should.

SloppyJoe · November 2016

Buy an electric probe that sets at grate level.

JustineCaseyFeldown · November 2016

Dome temp is the reference BGE temp.

td66snrf · November 2016

Try a Maverick then you can keep an eye on the grill temp and food temp at the same time from inside the house.

SaintJohnsEgger · November 2016

JustineCaseyFeldown said:

JohnInCarolina said:

Most of us do not rely on the dome thermo alone I would guess.

I think for most of us, you could throw away the dome thermometer and there would be zero complication.

It wouldn't bother me much. I have used Maverick probes way before I got an egg.Now I also use the FlameBoss 200 probes.

My meat probe goes in when the meat goes on the grill.

My Thanksgiving turkey was cooked to the proper temp and tasted fine. But it was tuff. It was one of those free range no gmo no everything birds from Whole Foods. Not sure if that was the problem or what.

JustineCaseyFeldown · November 2016

SaintJohnsEgger said:

It wouldn't bother me much. I have used Maverick probes way before I got an egg.Now I also use the FlameBoss 200 probes.

My meat probe goes in when the meat goes on the grill.

My Thanksgiving turkey was cooked to the proper temp and tasted fine. But it was tuff. It was one of those free range no gmo no everything birds from Whole Foods. Not sure if that was the problem or what.

i'm talking no thermometer feedback at all.

i would bet most of us could light a fire, set vents for 250, and come back in a half hour or so, stick in the dome thermometer (or other), and be within range of the target.

The_Stache · November 2016

SaintJohnsEgger said:

My Thanksgiving turkey was cooked to the proper temp and tasted fine. But it was tuff. It was one of those free range no gmo no everything birds from Whole Foods. Not sure if that was the problem or what.

Brined?

pool_fun · December 2016

I use the dome thermometer as a gauge only and just rough at that. Depend on a probe to know when its done.

Troubleshooting Thanksgiving problem

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