Calibrating the internal temp sensor.

[esmith]

So far I've used my grill a few times, and every time I've used it the internal temp the grill registers itself at is *not* the actual temp.

The meat probe was also way off, and the ice bath helped with the low end calibration, but it was registering raw pork at 170º internal temp, which I know is wrong.

Is there any way to calibrate the internal temp sensor? I'm not exactly impressed to see I spent this much on a grill, and the temp sensors are garbage on both the grill and the meat thermometer.


Any recommendations for 3rd party thermometers?

Is there any fix for the cap of 225º to run the smoke feature? (As it stands I dial it up to smoke meat for 6 hours @225º, and instead I've got raw insides and the meat probe saying it's overcooked.)

 

[Roastlamb]

I don't believe there is a way to calibrate the temperatures on it unfortunately.

A lot of people on here use the Fireboard 2. It is a bit expensive so I started using the Weber iGrill 2 and have found it quite good at monitoring temperatures.

The other thing you should buy is a Thermapen Mk 4.

Cheers!

 

[Murphy's Law]

Look on Amazon for InkBird BBQ devices. They have some for around $50 now.

 

[GrillMeister]

The other thing you should buy is a Thermapen Mk 4.

Yep, it does not matter what grill you have, if you are serious about cooking well, then a Thermapen is in your near future. Great thermometers and super fast.

 

[Slimpicker]

I'm not exactly impressed to see I spent this much on a grill, and the temp sensors are garbage on both the grill and the meat thermometer.

Not garbage, but only useful as guidelines for adjusting your 'actual' temp for meat and grill

I Spent All This Money on My Traeger and the Meat Probe is NOT Reliable?? Unfortunately, That's Correct!!

 

[esmith]

If you spend over $1,200 on a grill, and the internal and meat probe sensors aren't up to the task, then they're garbage.

If you can't use them to cook with, what's the point? 'ballpark' temps are not good enough.
Charge $1,250 and include a real thermometer, I'd rather that than spend $1,200 and have one that doesn't work, which I discover as I'm cutting into a huge pork loin that isn't actually cooked and there's 20 people at the table.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

 

[Roastlamb]

If you spend over $1,200 on a grill, and the internal and meat probe sensors aren't up to the task, then they're garbage.

If you can't use them to cook with, what's the point? 'ballpark' temps are not good enough.
Charge $1,250 and include a real thermometer, I'd rather that than spend $1,200 and have one that doesn't work, which I discover as I'm cutting into a huge pork loin that isn't actually cooked and there's 20 people at the table.

Penny wise, pound foolish.

I felt the same as you at one point. However there is something that may make you feel better...

When you use your oven, do you have a second thermometer in there telling you what the actual temperature is? Mine sure doesn't. It just says the set temperature and I have no idea what the actual temperature is in there unless I were to have a secondary thermometer. I am sure it swings up and down and doesn't sit precisely at the set temperature, just like the Traeger.

I bet if Traeger had only the set temperature on the display and not what the actual temperature is, there would be far less people complaining about the temperature swings and how much the grill cost etc.

Its a great product that is used outside with so many variables... I love mine and I hope you get to love yours as well.

 

[magoo40]

I felt the same as you at one point. However there is something that may make you feel better...

When you use your oven, do you have a second thermometer in there telling you what the actual temperature is? Mine sure doesn't. It just says the set temperature and I have no idea what the actual temperature is in there unless I were to have a secondary thermometer. I am sure it swings up and down and doesn't sit precisely at the set temperature, just like the Traeger.

I put the Fireboard ambient probe in my oven just because I was curious, the temp in the oven was nowhere near the set temp on the dial, way hotter.

 

[esmith]

I felt the same as you at one point. However there is something that may make you feel better...

When you use your oven, do you have a second thermometer in there telling you what the actual temperature is? Mine sure doesn't. It just says the set temperature and I have no idea what the actual temperature is in there unless I were to have a secondary thermometer. I am sure it swings up and down and doesn't sit precisely at the set temperature, just like the Traeger.

I bet if Traeger had only the set temperature on the display and not what the actual temperature is, there would be far less people complaining about the temperature swings and how much the grill cost etc.

Its a great product that is used outside with so many variables... I love mine and I hope you get to love yours as well.

If I was cooking a lasagna in the oven and I pulled it out and it wasn't cooked in the middle after it had been in the oven the correct time, I probably would!

The only reason I'm even here is the temp readings are so far from accurate food is not being cooked in a timely or safe fashion. I don't mind temp swings, and I don't expect it to stay 100% on a specific degree, but if the meat thermometer says a pork shoulder is 170º internal temp, and the actual meat is raw, something is wrong.

I'll probably pick up a 3rd party thermometer, sounds like it's going to be necessary. I think I'll test out my oven though once I get it, just to satisfy my curiosity as to how accurate that thing is. I think that sensor was under $20 retail.

I did at one point replace a bad temp sensor in my oven with a new one, because the oven was having issues cooking food correctly since it had a bad sensor. It was a <$20 part on an $800 oven, and it's been years since then and food prep works fine every time now.

 

[Murphy's Law]

At a minimum I would get a Thermapen MK4. They are pricey but are pretty much the gold standard in temperature measurement for cooking, brewing, etc. (pretty much any time you need fast, accurate measurements). They are having a closeout sale on one model now.

Thermapen® ONE

Specializing in cool, unique and professional temperature tools. Super-Fast thermocouples, thermistors, infrared thermometers, data logging and more.

www.thermoworks.com

Beyond that I'd look at something like a FireBoard 2 or similar. Fireboard is very popular here but there are many options from Thermoworks (makers of the MK4), Weber, Inkbird, to name a few. These are great because it adds bluetooth and/or WiFi monitoring along with multiple probes so you can monitor both pit temp and multiple meats. Some have very good apps to record graphs, notes, etc. for each cook if you geek over that type of stuff.

The way I look at it, and this is a bad analogy but I'm going to use it anyway, is its like floor mats. I bought a $60K truck with shitty floor mats and the first thing I did even before I got home was order WeatherTech front and back because I wanted something that actually worked. Traeger probes are crappy carpet floor mats and the other tools available from 3rd party vendors are significant upgrades that are industry standard and accepted as "just the way it is".

What ever you do...from one Colorado griller to another...good luck!

 

[Slimpicker]

I agree with Murphy but even more than that...
I've been BBQing and Smoking for better than 20 years now, accessories make you a chef instead of just a backyard cook.
I've never been without probes and thermometers and gauges... they weren't always the top of the line but they have to be at least good enough so you can eat & cook meat the right way.
"The right tool for the job" has been my life for 40+ years, and it's never failed me. I don't really think Traeger ever claims, "buy this and you won't need anything else for cooking"
(please don't find that they did say that somewhere.... please)

 

[Switz]

I am very tired of brown fan blades......

Just checked the brisket temp closer to the top surface of the slap. It was still under 150 degrees after over 7.5 hours supposedly at 225 degrees inside the grill. Time in the recipe was 5 to 6 hours. My Thermoworks Signals has shown very low temperatures all day. I just ordered a Fireeboard 2 Drive so I can three different temperature measuring devices The two that agree are probably correct. Just like the US Navy had three navigation clocks to confirm accuracy.

At this point the brisket is getting cremated on the left side near the chimney and still way under cooked on the right. I wonder where the engineers were? The fire pot is in the middle. Hot air rises but then there is a fan pressurizing the oven space that forces all air to exit the left. There is not much chance the air wants to go to the right.

I have a very strong inkling the CostCo Century 885 may be history at my place by next week.

 

[John S.]

I agree with Murphy but even more than that...
I've been BBQing and Smoking for better than 20 years now, accessories make you a chef instead of just a backyard cook.
I've never been without probes and thermometers and gauges... they weren't always the top of the line but they have to be at least good enough so you can eat & cook meat the right way.
"The right tool for the job" has been my life for 40+ years, and it's never failed me. I don't really think Traeger ever claims, "buy this and you won't need anything else for cooking"
(please don't find that they did say that somewhere.... please)

And I agree here, with this hobby you get what you pay for, there are many options for accessories however these seem to stand the test of time and the company's have good CS. First you need a instant read (Thermapen Mk 4 last week was $69 and a 10% discount). An calibrated temp probe (FB2 for a Traeger is $189 w/ 6 probes, unless you need to run another unit that needs Fan Control). Grill-Grates for searing (on sale last week) , A Cover.... There are many more things that you will want or end up needing. I found you end up paying almost the same amount for accessories that you payed for the Grill. but the food is so good.....
BTW: I just bought a Cast Iron Bean Pot from Amazon, so I could cook the beans on the Smoker. Someone here on the forum noted never use the Wife's cookware on the Smoker.....

 

[Slimpicker]

ONLY $69 in Orange!!!!!

Thermapen® ONE

Specializing in cool, unique and professional temperature tools. Super-Fast thermocouples, thermistors, infrared thermometers, data logging and more.

www.thermoworks.com

 

[GrillMeister]

I've been BBQing and Smoking for better than 20 years now, accessories make you a chef instead of just a backyard cook.

That and an H-E-B seven minutes away.