The first 3 brews I did I used the thermometer that came with my cooker. Going by the boil point of 212 I figured that it was about 5 - 10 degs off. The gauge is small so it was hard to tell. Not to bad I guess I could deal with that. Plus I did not really think to much off it.
The 4th brew I used a digital thermometer and I felt that this was a safe way to go. Well we did a PM brew and all seemed well. Then when it came time to cool the wort it took for ever.. WAY longer then the others did. It was going on 40 minutes and the thermometer was saying that I was still at 114*.. WTF? So I quick sanitized another thermometer and checked it, 60*... Hmmm...
What a mess, the digital one was messed up and wont read under 114, the one that came with my cooker turned out to be 30* off, 30* low. So when I thought I was steeping at 150 it was really 180. I'm amazed that the beers are turning out as good as they are.
I now have a good brewing thermometer in my brew pot that I have tested and when the water boiled it read 212.
So heed my warning, test those thermometers....
The 4th brew I used a digital thermometer and I felt that this was a safe way to go. Well we did a PM brew and all seemed well. Then when it came time to cool the wort it took for ever.. WAY longer then the others did. It was going on 40 minutes and the thermometer was saying that I was still at 114*.. WTF? So I quick sanitized another thermometer and checked it, 60*... Hmmm...
What a mess, the digital one was messed up and wont read under 114, the one that came with my cooker turned out to be 30* off, 30* low. So when I thought I was steeping at 150 it was really 180. I'm amazed that the beers are turning out as good as they are.
I now have a good brewing thermometer in my brew pot that I have tested and when the water boiled it read 212.
So heed my warning, test those thermometers....