Thermometer is off

[impur]

So last brew session my friend dropped the thermometer into the MLT right after dough in. We fished it out and continued to use it thru the brew day.

Last week i decided to buy another since water got inside the other one and it might be off now. I compared the 2 during the boil last weekend and the new one is 10 degrees higher than the old. I tested a smaller meat thermometer against them, and it gave me the same reading as the old thermometer. Then i tested all 3 against a candy thermometer, which read 5 degrees lower than the new thermometer and 5 degrees higher than the other 2.

What gives? How do i get a thermometer that gives correct temps? Do i need to go digital?

 

[lschiavo]

I went through the same thing and eventually got a Thermapen.

Even cheap digitals were all over the place for me.

 

[thesanch]

+1 on the thermapen.

King Aurthur Flour always seems to have a 10% off coupon going.
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/kingarthurflour.com

Here's my original thread on the deal.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/awesome-thermapen-deal-kingarthurflour-com-155658/

 

[impur]

Thanks for the info guys!

 

[Shooter]

Thermapen is great. Used mine for the first time on my last brew, tested it in boiling water and it was spot on. I used it to calibrate all my el cheapo dial meat thermometers.

 

[SeanT]

I have a similar problem with my thermometers and really want to hit my temps. I know that the Thermapen is great, but does anyone know of anything cheaper that is also good? I've recently moved to all grain and kegging, so money is a little tight now.

How do Type K thermocouples with a mutli-meter compare?

 

[impur]

I have a similar problem with my thermometers and really want to hit my temps. I know that the Thermapen is great, but does anyone know of anything cheaper that is also good? I've recently moved to all grain and kegging, so money is a little tight now.

How do Type K thermocouples with a mutli-meter compare?

I've been doing some reading because i don't really want to spend $100 on a thermometer either, rather use that for a new mill. But it seems that a lot of ppl use the long glass lab thermometers and they are supposed to be very accurate. I saw them at my LHBS on the bottom shelf for 8 bucks i think, but i ended up going with one of the long probe types that come with turkey fryers for $15

I did read some positive reviews for the thermocouples and multi-meter if your has a temp setting.