Where to put the temp probe on a full smoker?

mdboatbum

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• Jul 9, 2015

• #1

I usually just stick the Maverick probe through a hole in the side of the pot and let it sit there. I drilled a hole just big enough for the probe about an inch and a half down from the top of the pot, so when the probe is in it sits right above the grate level several inches from the edge. This works great when I'm only smoking a few things for the wife and I. But when both grates are loaded, I feel like I'm not getting a true temp reading, as the probe will in very close proximity to the food. I've thought about drilling another hole below the top grate, but I'm not sure. Where do you guys put your temp probes?


Here is where it is now:

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• mdboatbum
• Jul 9, 2015

 

chef jimmyj

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• Jul 9, 2015

• #2

The MES I use has 4 shelves. One Butt or eight, the probe hangs below the second shelf giving a pretty much average of the 4 grate temps. I monitor the IT of the meat closest to the heat...JJ

 

mdboatbum

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• Jul 9, 2015

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Chef JimmyJ said:

The MES I use has 4 shelves. One Butt or eight, the probe hangs below the second shelf giving a pretty much average of the 4 grate temps. I monitor the IT of the meat closest to the heat...JJ

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Awesome!! Thanks JJ. I guess below the top grate is the way to go. Don't really need to drill another hole now that I think about it, I can just run the probe in and clip it to the top grate so it sticks down below it.

 

Bearcarver

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• Jul 9, 2015

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Chef JimmyJ said:

 
The MES I use has 4 shelves. One Butt or eight, the probe hangs below the second shelf giving a pretty much average of the 4 grate temps. I monitor the IT of the meat closest to the heat...JJ

Click to expand...

I put mine at the same place as JJ does.

I just run it through the top vent, drop it through the second rack, and tape the cable to the top of my smoker (electrical tape) to keep it exactly where I want it. Later when I put my probe in, I do the same thing with that. 

If I happen to be checking my heat balance, I drop one on the left & one on the right, through the second rack. Then tape all 3 cables to the top. Working Great for 5 years.

Bear

 

jcollins

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• Jul 9, 2015

• #5

I have wondered the same thing.... so the meat drippings hitting the probe wouldnt cause a big issue w/ accurate temp readings?

 

Bearcarver

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• Jul 9, 2015

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jcollins said:

 
I have wondered the same thing.... so the meat drippings hitting the probe wouldnt cause a big issue w/ accurate temp readings?

Click to expand...

I never had drippings land on my probe, because I hang them an inch or 2 to the side of any meat, but if it did the juices would be a lower temp than the air temp in the smoker. So if it landed on the probe the most it could do is lower the temp for a few seconds, if at all.

A bigger issue would be if you have the probe too close to the Meat, while the meat is still refrigerator cold.

Bear

 

jcollins

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• Jul 9, 2015

• #7

Thanks Bear