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What does everyone use to measure the temp of their mash? I've mostly been steeping grains with extract up til now, so temp hasn't been that important. Now, though, I need to get myself an accurate thermometer, so I'm looking for suggestions. Did you get one locally or order online?

I made my own probe from an RTD and a temperature controller. Overkill, but the set-up serves many purposes. I guess the main question is what kind of money do you want to spend, and how hard are you on gear. Because if you want to go super cheap, you could just use a lab thermometer. I use one to double check my RTD every brew, and I'm sure I could get away with just using that thermometer at this stage of the game.

I have a digital that I picked up at SuperStore. I had a floating 'candy thermometer' that I picked up at a brew shop. Just recently, it fell off the deck during a brew session and now has air bubbles in it.

I have my eye on a 'cordless' digital oven thermometer at Sobeys. The probe goes inside the over (or mashtun) and the base goes outside, so you can monitor the temp with out opening the mashtun.

I'm pretty cheap for the moment, wouldn't want to spend more than ~$40.. I've been looking at the standard digital ones with the probe on the long lead (look like this, sorta.), but I had heard that they aren't very waterproof ... ever have issues with that, akr71?

CorneliusAlphonse wrote:I'm pretty cheap for the moment, wouldn't want to spend more than ~$40.. I've been looking at the standard digital ones with the probe on the long lead (look like this, sorta.), but I had heard that they aren't very waterproof ... ever have issues with that, akr71?

Mine is handheld (about 2 inches longer than a steak knife - metal probe end with a plastic handle and lcd screen) & occasionally its gotten a bit wet, but never completely immersed. No problems so far... I think I paid $15 tops, probably less - and I would guess its accuracy is directly proportional to its cost.

I miss my glass thermometer (and it was only $10 too).

I would think that if you were to seal the end of the probe with a bit of silicone or epoxy, it would be almost indestructible.

I use a $10 digital themometer from Walmart, it works like a charm.

LiverDance wrote:I use a $10 digital themometer from Walmart, it works like a charm.

Yup.

$15 digital thermometer from Cdn Tire.

LiverDance wrote:I use a $10 digital themometer from Walmart, it works like a charm.

I notice you didn't mention who paid for it.


I maybe drunk posting from Flossmoor Station in Illinois.