The Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro Digital Thermometer Review

I got the opportunity to do a review on the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer. Later in this review we will also do a side by side comparison with the popular Thermapen which should be quite interesting. I will also put both of them to the test so that we can see the performance of both of them. Before I start this review I would like to say a special thanks to Darren Keller from Maverick for providing a sample of there PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer to make this review possible.

Here's a little history and bibliography of the company that was provided to me by Maverik:

"Edward Mackin, the current Owner and President founded Maverick Industries, Inc. in 1982. Shortly thereafter Peter Chapman joined the company as the National Sales Manager. Together they form the current management and ownership of Maverick.  The company started making electric barbecue grills and gained immediate acceptance at the higher end of the retail scale.  Most of the initial customers were Department Stores and Specialty Shops.  In the 1980’s the company expanded its line to include ceramic indoor grills.  During this time the indoor grill business grew to a market of about 3 million units and Maverick was a leader in the category.  

In the late 1980’s – early 90’s the indoor grill business became saturated with many entries into the category.  Margins suffered and prices eroded and the company expanded into several small electric items including steamers, pasta makers, toasters, and other basic products while still maintaining a grill line.

In 1991 Maverick introduced the first digital cooking thermometer – the BarbBChek.  It was introduced as an instant read cooking thermometer for outdoor grilling.  The unit was an instant success and achieved widespread distribution.  It was still a minimum part of Maverick’s business but growth was steady and the product line was expanded with a model with more detailed cooking temperatures, a digital model, and a long probe model.  In a very short time the thermometer line became a major part of Maverick’s business.  

               

Also during the 1990’s the USDA embarked on a campaign to educate American consumers and cooks to use a meat thermometer to test all of the foods to make sure that they were cooked to the proper temperature.  This safety issue contributed to growth of the sales of meat thermometers.  

               

In the 1997 the first Thermometer Fork was introduced in an infomercial and became an instant success.  The product was made for all major retailers and Maverick produced the product for such companies as Williams-Sonoma, Restoration Hardware and Sharper Image.  We are holders of a design patent on this product in our version.  The product was heavily promoted, discounted and quickly the lower end of the market went through the marketing curve and within two years the product was down trending due to quality problems at the low end.  During this time Maverick’s higher quality products continued to sell well at the upper end of the pricing.

   

In 1998 Peter Chapman had the idea to make a remote cooking thermometer and developed the first unit – the ET-7.  The unit is covered by five US Utility Patents.  Again this unit met the customer need and was a real success at upper end retail.  The product has been written up in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times with favorable reviews.  The company expanded the remote thermometer line with a single probe ET-72 and a Smoker Thermometer ET-73.  The ET-73 was improved up with the introduction of the ET-732 which increase both the range and the heat resistance of the probe and wire.

Maverick is currently one of the leading producers of digital thermometers in the United States.  The company holds eleven utility patents and two design patents on thermometers.  The line has been extended to include Candy & Deep Fry Thermometers, Refrigerator/Freezer thermometers and digital oven thermometers along with a complete line of bi-metal products.

   

Maverick supplies products under the BarbBChek brand, RediChek brand, Williams-Sonoma brand, Sur La Table, Hamilton-Beach brand and Chef’s Catalog brand. In addition Maverick makes digital thermometers OEM for several resellers such as “Big Green Egg” and others.  The company has the capability of designing special product for each customer and maintaining margin requirements."

Here are the features of the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer from there website:

·       ·Commercial Grade Thermometer with NSF approval

·       · Type K Thermocouple with integral stainless precision micro tip probe

·       · Water & Dust resistant to IP44

·       · Shock resistant against multiple 3’ drops onto concrete floor

·       · High Contrast LCD with Big .5” Backlit Blue-White Digits on Black Display

·       · Temperature range: -40F (-40C) – 450F (230C)

·       · 100% Factory Calibration Certificate included guarantees performance & accuracy to NIST       standards

·       · Dimensions closed: 7.4” x 2.2” x .7”

·       · Probe length: 5”

·       · Auto Power Save after 5 minutes of inactivity

·       · Unit turns ON/OFF automatically when the probe is pivoted

·       · LCD Resolution is: .1C/.1F

·       · Low battery indicator

·       · Selectable Fahrenheit or Celsius

·       · Handy Cooking Chart on body

·       · Uses 3AAA batteries (included)

When I first look at the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer in its package I was impressed that it had rubber bumpers on it to protect it from falls. It’s also well packaged to protect it during shipping. Another thing that coughs my eye looking at it in its packaging is that it has a nice temperature chart right on the Thermometer itself. This can be very useful especially for guys like me that has tendency to keep forgetting the safe internal temp of certain food. 

 Front view of packaging

Rear view of Packaging

Quick reference Temperature chart

After opening the package I found that it came with its own calibration certificate which includes a guarantees performance and accuracy to NIST standards. It’s also calibrated to accuracy of +- 2° F. 

Calibration Certificate

What came with the Maverick PT100-BBQ Pro digital thermometer

After playing with the PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer for a few minutes it felt quite rugged, comfortable, and sturdy in my hand. You can tell the PT-100BBQ Pro thermometer was designed to be tuff and build to last with its built in rubber pads around it. You turn the unit “On” and “off” by simply folding and unfolding the stainless precision micro tip probe on the side of the unit. I love the fact that its design to withstand multiple falls of up to three feet. Which is real good to know since I drop quite a few thermometers while BBQing or working in my kitchen before and lost count on the ones that I broke this way.

The Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro folded

The Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro partially unfolded

View of one of the rubber pads.

It has a large 0.5” back lite LCD display which makes it easy to read in dark environment. I find this to be extremely useful for Grillers that love grilling at night or bright sunny days when you’re actually wearing your polarized sunglasses. The temperatures on the display are large enough and very easy to read which is very useful for folks with vision impairments or old eyes like mine. Also right underneath the Large LCD display it has a nice food temperature chart for quick reference.

Has you can see its a bright, large and clear LCD Display

This thermometer uses three AAA battery’s which are commonly found in many stores and are more readily available in everyone’s household compared to the regular watch type batteries which tends to be harder to find. The battery compartment is easily accessible by the flush tab that you slide down on the back side of the PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer which makes battery changes real easy and fast.

 Slide tab to open

Easy access battery compartment

This digital thermometer came with a nice quick release carabiner which can be handy for hanging you PT-100BBQ Pro on your belt loop when not in use.

The Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro-Temp Thermometer is water and dust resistant to IP44 and has a temperature range of -40° F to 450° F. It has a stainless precision micro tip probe which will not puncture a large hole in delicate food and has a temperature response time of 3-4 seconds. The temperature can be easily set from either Fahrenheit or Celsius via a small set point hole activated by a ball point pen or toothpick on the back of the unit. This Maverick unit is also NSF approved for professional use which means it’s a good quality thermometer. 

Picture of the thermocouple probe

 Picture of the set point hole

To change set point from C to F you can use a pointy object like a toothpick 

Here a side by side comparison for accuracy at room temperature with the Thermapen and the President Choice Meat Thermometer.

Side by side ambient temp comparison only 0.3 Degree F difference between the three

On the picture above you can also see the Maverick is quite accurate and its display is quite bright and easier to read and brighter.

Now lets compare the famous Thermapen against the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer . The maverick PT-100BBQ Pro is better protected against falls due to its rubber padding. The Battery compartment on the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro is also easier accessible and uses 3AAA batteries which is easier to acquire then the watch type battery used in the Thermapen. Also the Thermapen you need a Quarter to open the battery compartment which can be inconvenience. 

Side by side view of the rear and view of Batt Comp 

 The Thermapen you need a Quarter to open Battery Comp.

The maverick you just slide the battery compartment tab and open

The Thermapen is less bulky in size but the Maverick is surprisingly has a more comfortable grip and feels more rugged but that can be personal preference. The maverick thermocouple probe end has a longer skinny point then the Thermapen.

The skinny tip is longer on the Maverick

Ok now we will test the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer and the Thermapen for accuracy in boiling water. I am at sea level of 60 Meters so the boiling point should be around 212.5 F. You can get the sea level boiling point here: Altitude water boiling point

 As you can see only 1.4 Degrees F in difference between the two.

Pot of boiling water.

As you can see from the picture above they are both pretty accurate. I also tried with the president choice one and got a reading of 216 Degree F.

As you can see they are pretty close to each other.

Now we will do a glass full of ice with a little water to compare at the low end.

 1.7 degrees F difference between the two.

From what I have seen they are both pretty accurate Thermometer in boiling water and ice. A difference of 1.4 to 1.7 degrees F between the two won't make a difference on what your cooking on the grill. 

The Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer is definitely worth considering when choosing a thermometer for BBQing. Lots of folks out there swears that the Thermapen is the best thermometer out there. Well from what I found playing with both of them is that the Maverick is actually a better buy, more impressive, and just has good of a thermometer for accuracy. You get a easier to read LCD with the Maverick and it also comes with a built in rubber bumpers on the corner and middle section of the thermometer which provides protection against accidental drops. The Thermapen sells a protection sleeve which will set you back extra $20 or so dollars to provide protection against accidental drops. Also the maverick probe tip as a longer skinnier section which is very useful in preventing large hole in delicate foods while taking temperature readings. The maverick also features a large back lite LCD display which makes it easy to read in dark environment which the Thermapen doesn't provide. 

You can order the Maverick PT-100BBQ Pro digital thermometer here: Pro_Instant_Read_Thermometer_PT100BBQ

Company contact info:

Maverick Industries, Inc. 

94 Mayfield Avenue

Edison, New Jersey 08837.

1-800-526-0954

Tel: (732) 417-9666

Fax: (732) 417-9673

help@maverickhousewares.com

There Facebook page: MaverickIndustriesInc

Happy Grilling!