Looking to start a BBQ / smoking food truck in Australia and hoping to find out from all the amazing cooks on this sub what the best brand is? They all seem to break.. thanks so much
Posted Mar 2, 2019, 7:24 AM UTC
Second on Thermoworks, Thermapen mk4 cast my vote, it’s fast,accurate and durable.
Another satisfied ThermoWorks user here...
AmazingRibs.com has an electrical engineer who tests and rates thermometers with sophisticated equiment. https://amazingribs.com/ratings-reviews/thermometers
This is a great resource! Thanks for the share.
Awesome site, thanks for the link.
The thermapen is the only thing worth buying from thermoworks.
Their probes are trash, the smoke is ok...but needs some improvements, and the signals is kinda trash.
The thermapen is probably the best probe thermometer, and my fireboard has been my favorite “base station” thermometer...which you don’t really need in a commercial setting.
Source: have used all these in a commercial setting
Couldn't agree more. CS is helpless as well....
Huh. Well that gives us something to think about, thanks for the advice.
Actually, can I ask does that mean you have to open the lid to the smoker every time you want to check the temperature? Aren’t you going to lose heat every time you do a temperature check?
With the “probe style thermometers” like a thermapen, yes. With the “base station” thermometers (Smoke, Signals, Fireboard) no.
Once you get deep into the bbq game you’ll realize that you don’t really need to check temps all that much. I usually check briskets 3-4 times in the 14 hours that they cook.
A properly built smoker will be able to heat back up in a matter of seconds. Heat loss is basically a non issue imo.
Yeah I hear ya, but would be better if you could monitor it without opening it because you then have to bring it back to temperature. We’re used to doing that, but it would be nice if you didn’t have to lose that heat.
You lose it through the chimney anyway.
Get a fireboard. 6 leave in probes, the ones it ships with are nice quality...and it can be used as a pit controller if you feel like it.
Well everyone seemed to mention ThermoWorks but not mention their actual commercial grade product for a food service setting. The ThermoWorks ThermaQ is their high end model and comes in wired, Bluetooth, and WiFi. It supports their high end probes and some kits include a handheld meter so it can do the job of a Smoke and Thermapen… If I were on the pro circuit or running a restaurant I would purchase this model. This coming from a guy who grills on his deck with a Maverick.
It has been years since I worked in hospitality however from memory in AU you had to have a food safe approved thermometer. These arn’t hard to get just go down to your local catering supply store.
Yeah just trying to find the best quality one I can. Little buggers keep breaking.
Yeh they do. Not much you can do about that in a commercial kitchen
Thermoworks makes some great ones.
Cheers I’ll check em out.
Depending on your needs, the’Signals’ or ‘Smoke’ might be a good option for you (I have a Smoke, and love it). But they also have pro-grade temp probe units... Get at least ONE Thermapen instant read....a must-have. Good on you!
Oh and check out...How to BBQ Right...channel on YouTube. Malcolm Reed is one of my favorite pit masters.
Getting to be Spring here and I’m going to have to dust off my Aussie BBQ book by Ben O’Donoghue. New mates in Sydney and Melbourne got it for me as a parting gift one trip.