The Big Green Egg is a fantastic outdoor cooking machine. Unfortunately, it can also be a little temperamental when it comes to thermometers. If your eggs aren’t cooking properly or you’re having trouble getting your meat thermometer to read accurately, a broken thermometer could be at the heart of your problems.
Luckily, fixing your Big Green Egg thermometer should be pretty simple and is certainly something that any owner should know how to tackle if they come across any issues with their device. With the following guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know in order to get that broken thermrome back up and running in no time!
What is a Thermocouple?
A thermocouple is a temperature-sensing device that consists of two dissimilar metals that are joined together at one end. This end is usually exposed to the temperature of the food being measured, while the other end is usually immersed in a liquid metal bath.
This allows for a good electrical connection between the two metals, which then passes on information about the temperature of the food to the thermometer. The metal used to make the thermocouple is referred to as the “sender” and the metal used to create the electrical connection is called the “transducer.”
Thermocouples are used to measure temperatures in a wide range of applications. In the food industry, they are used to track the temperature of things like coffee beans. They are also used in many industrial processes like the production of steel and glass.
If you’re interested in learning more about the ins and outs of thermocouples, we’ve got a whole article on the topic that you can check out here.
How to Fix a Big Green Egg Thermometer
If your thermometer is broken, you should remove the internal components to inspect it carefully. Sometimes, a thermometer’s shaft will break off and the thermometer will continue to operate.
You can inspect the shaft and the internal components with a flashlight. If any of the components are damaged, you can use a fine-tip sharpie to mark them so you know what you need to replace. It may also be worthwhile to re-calibrate the thermometer if possible. However, if it is broken, you will need to replace it. The first step is to remove the internal components.
You will need a small screwdriver to remove the four screws that hold the thermometer case on. To remove the internal components, slide the internal door off the bottom of the thermometer. Next, remove the two screws that hold the digital sensor to the thermometer shaft.
Finally, remove the thermometer shaft from the bottom of the thermometer. If the thermometer is still working, you will also want to inspect the internal components to ensure nothing is damaged.
Don’t Forget the Battery!
As amazing as your Big Green Egg is, it is still a piece of technology. The best way to ensure that your thermometer’s batteries are holding up is to re-calibrate your thermometer when the batteries change.
You can do this by comparing the temperature of a known object like your oven or a known temperature like your freezer. It should be noted that if the thermometer is broken, you should immediately replace it with a new one.
Even though most thermometers still have warranties on them, they unfortunately do not cover breakage. If your thermometer breaks, be sure to replace it with a new one right away.
If you can wait a week or two, that is even better. However, if you can’t wait, you can use the following trick to keep your thermometer going a little longer.
Troubleshooting Tip: Why Does It Read So High?
There are a few things that you can try in order to figure out why your thermometer is reading higher than expected. First, you can use your oven to compare the temperature of your thermometer with the temperature that your oven is reading.
If you do this and your thermometer still reads higher than expected, you should try adjusting the dial on the thermometer. The next thing that you can try is to make sure that the thermometer is sitting on a flat surface.
This can help to ensure that the thermometer is not jiggling around and causing it to read higher than expected. It can also help to make sure that there is not something in the way of the thermometer. If your thermometer is reading high, you can try to move it to a new location and see if that helps.
The Final Stage: Take It Outside and Check Again
If none of these things work, you can try to re-calibrate your thermometer. However, this should be done outside with the thermometer above the ground. You can hold the thermometer against the ground and watch the temperature of the ground and compare this to a known temperature like your oven or a known object like a tree.
If you are successful, your thermometer should be accurate and ready to go outside once again. Be sure to clean your thermometer and thermoelectric device regularly to prevent buildup from sitting on the kitchen table. Your thermometer is an essential part of your outdoor cooking machine, so it’s important to keep it working properly!
The Final Word
If your thermometer is broken, you need to replace it as soon as possible. Doing so will prevent your food from being undercooked, burnt, or ruined. Thermometers are crucial to cooking delicious food, and they are especially important when using a water smoker.
If your thermometer is broken, you need to replace it right away. You can do this by removing the internal components and inspecting the internal parts to see if anything is damaged. You can also try re-calibrating your thermometer outside with the thermometer on the ground to see if that helps.
