FEC 100 Temp Probe - Worth getting?

For me, unless you're doing a lot of catering, I wouldn't get it. It gives you an option to fill it and set a target temp and let the smoker go to hold. Perfect for catering, you won't have to watch it.

I just bought an FEC this past Thursday from The Charcoal Store. I really wanted the meat probe but Dave at The CS talked me out of it. He said that the FE is VERY predictable in terms of timing - it always takes +-6 hours for loin back ribs (225), +-14 hours for butts and briskets, etc.... So - I'm gonna try setting it at 225 for the allotted amount of time, then allow it to go into hold after that and see what happens.
My first experiment - loin back ribs - came out perfectly at 6:30. Perfect "pull factor" from the bone, beautiful mahogany crust, nice and juicy on the inside. Best ribs I've ever tasted ! I just HAD to pay homage to the mighty rib for my first cook on the new FE....
Fresh Bratwurst, peppers, and brisket burnt ends on there now...

When I first got mine in 2003, I liked the meat probes. Now I use a Thermopen, but not so much for the temp, but I finally learned to feel the probe slide in and I can tell if the meat is done to my liking. The only time I use a probe is for Prime Rib, and whole chicken. I like mine where you knock off the horns, wipe it's butt, and walk it past the grill. Same for my steaks. I can have the temps showing on my pc, and my Palm TX PDA, so I don't even have to get up

Freddie,

How do you have the temps showing on your PC. I see potential in that!

I had a custom controller made by Stoker for my pit. Two programmers wrote free program's to use with a Stoker. You can even map the complete cook. You can see when the fan goes on and off, and what the temps were for the whole cook. You can also change temps from any pc or smart phone, and now you can monitor your temps from a pc or smart phone on Twitter, but you can't change temp settings with Twitter. The new probes have colors built in them to see if the fire is above the set point, or below. I just sold a FEC100 with the Stoker setup. It's going to Colorado.

quote:

Originally posted by Fast Freddie/Love Shack BBQ:
I had a custom controller made by Stoker for my pit. Two programmers wrote free program's to use with a Stoker. You can even map the complete cook. You can see when the fan goes on and off, and what the temps were for the whole cook. You can also change temps from any pc or smart phone, and now you can monitor your temps from a pc or smart phone on Twitter, but you can't change temp settings with Twitter. The new probes have colors built in them to see if the fire is above the set point, or below. I just sold a FEC100 with the Stoker setup. It's going to Colorado.

Sounds like something cookshack needs to build in and offer as an add-on to those of us that own one.

A wireless-B/G/N device built-in, complete with a protocol for sending and receiving commands and a software package would be awesome.

I want one for my Cookshack!!

Yeah, right, I can see it now. Owners everywhere plotting their temps and sending in posts of their cooks wondering why it spiked at this time or that time.

Pitmasters are rolling over in their grave.

Hey, I'm a technology guy, work for a Fortune 20 Technology Company and play with the cool toys.

But not on my smoker, the FE is just fine with temp controller. I don't even use the probe to monitor temps any. Guess I'm almost old fashioned.

I do know the Type A types that need all that information, and with the guru's and stoker's you can get all the data you need.

I know Stuart pretty well, this won't be an option anytime soon.

Now, if want of you wants to design them and sell them, come on, there some Technology guys out there that can do it....