The Bar Towel

I broke my thermometer last week.

I'm having no luck in T.O. I've tried a couple restaurant supply places, wine places, the place in St. Lawrence.

I'm looking for your standard, long glass thermometer. Or can I get away with a candy thermometer (I think it's too short)?

yeah, i had no luck around the GTA when i've looked in the past. candy thermometers don't cover the right range (geared for higher temps) and aren't as accurate or responsive. might work in a pinch, but i'd expect you could be off by a few degrees in either direction - a pretty big difference if you're doing all-grain brewing.

after going through a few of the lab style glass thermometers and having trouble finding replacements, i talked to the folks at niagara tradition they suggested a dial thermometer that they carry. about $12, covers the useful range for brewing, very fast reaction time, very accurate (2 degree resolution) and damn near indestructible. i wish i'd found one of these 3 or 4 glass thermometers ago...

anyway, they've got two dial thermometers listed on their website, but neither has pictures. i think the one i have is more like a 1.5" dial with a 12" or so long probe, so i don't think it's the one listed as 2" dial. betting if you stopped in they'd be able to help you out, just call to make sure they have one in stock.

also, if you can't get there, i don't think they usually ship to canada but you might be able to convince them to mail a thermometer over... should be small + light + almost impossible for the post office to break.

I really like digital probe thermometers since you can put it right into the mash tun. Problem is finding one that has a probe you can get wet. Normal cooking thermometers have non-watertight probes and will quickly give false readings.

Maybe more than whats required but Omega supplies some nice units we use at work, this is a lower scale one (accuracy ±1°C) for $93 CAD.

http://www.omega.ca/shop/pptsc.asp?ref=HH11B&Nav=teml04

mjohnston wrote:I really like digital probe thermometers since you can put it right into the mash tun. Problem is finding one that has a probe you can get wet. Normal cooking thermometers have non-watertight probes and will quickly give false readings.

i've used two of those, hated 'em both. the first wasn't waterproof and stopped working over a while. the other was waterproof ("dishwasher safe" even). problem is that it's soooo slow to respond and only has +/- 2 degree accuracy.

the one i suggested from NT can also be stuck in the mash or when heating water (handy lid with a hole in it). it's 100% sealed, so no need to worry about leaking, accurate to +/- 0.5 degree (or was it 0.25?), and very responsive. hehe, i feel like the sales guy. but really, after two probes and at least a half dozen broken glass thermometers, i wish i'd found this ages ago.

I'll throw in another vote for the dial thermometer. I can't remember where I got it... either a cooking supply place or maybe linen's & things (which isn't any help as they're gone).

I liked the digital probe, but I ruined one by getting it wet, then my wife ruined another just with steam!

I broke my damn dial thermometer about 6 months ago, had it for a good 2 years or so, and worked like a champ. The dial just went "limp."

So I'm stuck with a digital probe for now. Got it at Crappy Tire for about $10. I've calibrated it with other folks' thermometers and it's fairly accurate, but I'll order a new dial thermometer with my next bulk mailorder purchase.