I used a meat thermometer for my latest brew

[RichBrewer]

Yesterday I fired up my cooker and started heating the water for my Fat Tire Colne. Everything was proceeding quite well until I discovered that my thermometer was broken. I was about ready to stop the brew but then it occurred to me that we have one of those digital meat thermometers that has a probe on the end of a long wire. I decided to give it a try and I was quite surprised at how well it worked.

Of course I don't know how accurate it is but I calculated the dough in temperature with ProMash (170 degrees) and I hit my rest temp (153 degrees) right on the nose.

Before, I used one of those floating thermometers which required me to remove the lid to check temp. It was really nice being able to see the temp any time I wanted. Another thing I liked about it was the quick response. It is much faster than the one I had been using.
One thing I did find out is that even though I used 180 degree sparge water, the mash itself dropped into the 140s at the end of the sparge. In the past I always took the floating thermometer out of the mash before sparging so I had no idea what the temp was during sparging. I'm not too worried about it because I get fairly good efficiency. I just found it interesting that all this time I thought that the mash stayed at 165 to 170 degrees through the entire sparge.

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

Yeah, those work pretty well. Don't get the part where the wire goes into the probe wet though, it'll throw off the readings. If that does happen, hold it near (but not in) your burner flame and it'll dry out and work again.

 

[RichBrewer]

Yeah, those work pretty well. Don't get the part where the wire goes into the probe wet though, it'll throw off the readings. If that does happen, hold it near (but not in) your burner flame and it'll dry out and work again.

You know, I tried to be careful and not submerge the wire but one time it did get into the mash. I will have to be sure it didn't hurt it.
Thanks.

 

[uglygoat]

i used swmbo candy thermometer... she uses when she melts chocolate etc.... it clips onto the side of the pot. i have a thermo from the turkey frier, but it had fallen behind the shelf, and i didn't feel like moving a bunch of stuff. worked like a charm... shhhhhhhhh

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

I stick the probe in the oven when it gets wet. It usually reads way way way off when it gets wet.

Haven't tried holding it near the flame though. I'm guessing you do so with some pliers or tongs (and hopefully not while wearing thongs)?

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

I stick the probe in the oven when it gets wet. It usually reads way way way off when it gets wet.

Haven't tried holding it near the flame though. I'm guessing you do so with some pliers or tongs (and hopefully not while wearing thongs)?

I know the oven method works too, but I never have time for that in the middle of a brew, the burner is almost instant.

I hold it there with insulated gloves, this way you won't heat it too much because you have to get your hand out of there before any damage takes place!

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

I know the oven method works too, but I never have time for that in the middle of a brew, the burner is almost instant.

I hold it there with insulated gloves, this way you won't heat it too much because you have to get your hand out of there before any damage takes place!

I don't know why I hadn't thought of doing this before. Possibly because I have 2 thermoters on hand. One is a remote meat thermoter with the probe like yours and the other is a digital with the probe and readout as one unit, and is more accurate, down to 1/10 of a deg.

I'm going to zip tie a length of shrink wrap on to it to keep water out of the probe, just seem to be procrastinating so far.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

But a can of Plasti-Dip ($3 or 4) & coat the first 2 feet or so of the wire. Works like a charm, & holds up to temp too.

 

[Two Dog's Brewing]

OK

What is SWMBO??


I know it has no beer value but I had to ask

 

[homebrewer_99]

OK - What is SWMBO?? - I know it has no beer value but I had to ask

Man, where have you been? No beer value???

She
Who
Must
Be
Obeyed!!

Got it!!

 

[Two Dog's Brewing]

It all makes perfect since. I usually have a different name for her but that one may keep me out of trouble.

Thanks

 

[homebrewer_99]

It all makes perfect since. I usually have a different name for her but that one may keep me out of trouble.

Thanks

No problem...we men have to stick together...