I am in the market for a new thermometer for brewing and I have been looking at infrared thermometer guns. Does anyone have any suggestion for accurate quick temperature readings? Anyone use or have used a thermometer gun? Suggestions for purchase?
I highly suggest a Thermapen. Looks like they still have their open box sale: http://www.thermoworks.com/products/thermapen/splashproof_thermapen_open_box_sale_july_2013.html
+1. They’re awesome.
The problem with the infrared thermometers is that you only get the surface temp. That’s fine for some things, but not for taking a mash temp, for example.
infrared thermometers aren’t reliable on shiny or reflective surfaces like wort
+273
IR thermometers give different teadings depending on the surface. There are corrections but get a Thermopen.
I have a Taylor thermometer that is almost as fast add a thermapen, water resistant, and less $$. It also has an infrared reader which is nice for reading carboy temps through the glass.
I have this one. I use it for checking my temp when chilling my wort or starter, sometimes for checking the temp of a fermenting carboy. It is fairly accurate within a couple degrees. But as Denny point out pretty much useless for mash etc. For under $20 it has come in handy.
Absolutely!
Actually IR thermometers see the color of the infrared “light” being emitted by the object that they are pointed at. The light is being emitted from the surface of the target. In the case of shiny objects the IR thermometer may see reflected light more clearly than emitted. In situations where there is a swirling target (looking through a cloud of steam) IR thermometers are inaccurate to the point of being irrelevant.
They are very accurate, and helpful, when working around newly emplaced lava.
People sure talk a lot about the thermopen…i just dont know if I can stand to pay 90 + for a thermometer. I mean its a thermometer…
Exactly. That’s why I bought the “6-second read time” version from Thermoworks: http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/rt600c.html
$19.00 and it actually reads in 3-4 seconds. I’m not sure why everyone doesn’t own this model. I’ve had it for over a year and love it.
This thing is dishwasher safe, the more expensive Thermapen is only “splash proof”. I’ve dropped mine in the mash, grabbed it out after putting on the Blichmann gloves, rinsed it off and it was working the entire time.
I have this one:
Only $10 and it reads within about 6-8 seconds. Only place I use it is mash and SG samples. So I can’t justify spending much more. Especially since I have thermometers on my HLT, BK, and O2 injection after chiller.