Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ET732 Review

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List Price: $79.99
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Unit worked good for the first two times I used it. I was smoking a chicken and within a couple of minutes the temp went from 140 to 200 degrees same as the other review stated. I took out the probe and left it plugged it for awhile but the temp never went below 95 degrees. It seems to be the probe itself that has the problem as switching it to the barbeque side gives the same results. The probe also seems to have pulled away from the plug a bit which could have contributed to the problem. I've been very careful with this unit since day one so I'm not sure why this happened. I do notice that they have replacement probes available on the instruction sheet for an additional $12.95 but I did not feel I should have to shell out more money just after paying $79.00. Item is one of two I've ever returned to Amazon.

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I purchased the ET-732 to use on my Big Green Egg. Of course, Amazon shipped quickly and I was excited to receive the package, only to discover when I opened the product, the face plate on the transmitter was not attached, but was kinda stuck to a random spot on the front of the unit, as if it had come loose in shipping and found a resting place. The piece i am referring to is the black piece surrounding the LCD on the unit. As far as I can tell, it's cosmetic only, but it is supposed to sit flush in a recessed area on the front of the unit, and is apparently just held on (or not) with a very thin layer of adhesive. I stuck it back on and burnished it with a lint-free cloth, hoping the pressure and friction would stick it permanently. It looked good as new, so I was off and cooking as soon as the weekend rolled around.

The product performed great, and was fairly intuitive to set up. I think the instructions could be a little more helpful about probe placement and such, but I knew what I was doing. A friend of mine just purchased one and I found out he has been using the grill probe incorrectly, so that's a bad sign. There really isn't much in the way of details on how to use the grill probe clip, where to put the probe, etc. I found the clips and stands on the units to be wonderful, with the clip for the transmitter working perfectly to hang the unit on the hinge of the BGE. This puts the unit and all the probe wires completely out of sight and out of the way, with plenty of reach (and not too much slack) to get into the grill and the meat. I had no issues with range at all (though admittedly I didn't try to push it), and always had a signal inside my block home. The stand and backlight on the receiver are nice touches, perfect for the overnight smoke. The alarms are also quite loud.

Truly, I can't imagine owning a Big Green Egg without one of these. Actually, I sort of can, because I cooked a few things in the 4-5 hour range before I got this, and babysitting a grill in the Summer heat is for the birds. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I felt like I had to get up every hour or two to check on things. With this, as long as you set the alarms, you know that if it's not beeping at you, you're good to go.

I am glad that the transmitter unit is waterproof/resistant, so no worries about a little rain. In fact, the only issue I have with the product AT ALL is that, when I woke up from my first long overnight cook, I went outside to check on things, and everything was FANTASTIC...except the face plate from the transmitter was lying on the deck. :( I had been hoping that between my burnishing the plate down and a little heat from the sun and the grill (not excessive heat at all, mind you), the adhesive would get a little stickier and it would permanently stick it down. No such luck. It falls off pretty much every time I use it. The adhesive still seems tacky, and attracts a little lint. I have rinsed it lightly before to get it back nice and tacky and remove any lint, but it's just not going to happen. The plate is not meant to stay put. This cosmetic/build quality/QC issue is the one reason I had to ding the 732 a star and only rate it a 4. I have a feeling this is a design/manufacturing defect, and I would be surprised if I'm the only one with the problem. It would NOT, however, deter me from buying again or recommending to others (as I have many times).

UPDATE 1/2/2012:

I have to adjust my rating downwar to 3 stars because I feel this unit is suffering from some cost-cutting measures by Maverick. I have explained the situation in full in the reply comments below this post, but in short, the probes in this product have a bit of a bad reputation for failing easily/early, and mine died in under 6 months. The solution/workaround that is prevalent in the discussion forums is to seal the probes where the wire goes in with some kind of sealant. There are rubber gaskets in there from the factory, which, while I suppose it better than nothing, doesn't seem to be sufficient to protect the apparently super=sensitive electronics inside the probes. The probes themselves are crimped where the wire enters, and it stands to reason that having a rubber gasket and a crimp in the same location won't make for a very good seal. The look of it never inspired much confidence, but I was willing to let it slide because it worked. Well, that's until it stopped working. It seems my instincts here were right, and the comments online about the probes in this unit being prone to failure are well-founded. Whatever you do, if you still decide to buy one of these (which is GREAT in every other respect), do yourself a favors a BABY the probes. Keep them inside, on a shelf. Never touch them with water. Treat them as if they are going to break or dissolve or explode. In my experience, if you treat them only "well enough," they just might give up on you.

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Works as advertised!

Produces great Ribs, Butts, Roasts, Chicken, really any meat you care to grill.

Use it to calibrate you range oven, and understand what settings on the oven dial are the least accurate.

Carry the remote in your pocket, or place it in the stand where you can check it with a glance.

Works in every room of the house and around my property. Has never lost connection once set.

Alarms work great to alert you when to add charcoal, or let you know if the temp is running contrary to your plan.

Well made, easy to use.

If I could only have one thermometer, this is the one I would choose.

Never have to guess whether it's done. I've used it on ribs, roasts, steaks, salmon, chicken, turkey all with the same great results.

This one tool can take your cooking to the next level!

Honest reviews on Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ET732

This is the remote combo we've all been waiting for. It turns on and off easily, survives very high heat, gives accurate readings of the grill/oven as well as the meat, and has a decent range so you can keep an eye on the grill even from the other side of the house! The high/low temperature alarm is great for when I am smoking or doing sous vide so that everything stays in range. This is nearly perfect! The only annoyances I have with it are the programming of hi/low temps is tedious, and that the plastic on the back that holds the wire stands in place is pretty flimsy. I don't care much about the stand on the base since I'm mostly using the remote anyways, but changing temperatures is quite pitiful. In the 21st century i don't think it's too much to ask that we be able to adjust a digital number both up and down, rather than having to always go up and just scroll around and hope you don't overshoot. It's just poor UI design. they fixed the on/off switches, so maybe the ET735 will have better programming!

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ET732

I use paper towels lightly moistened wrapped around the first foot of the probe wire closost to the probe followed by a layer of foil. This protects it from the heat of the smoker. Also never submerge where cable and probe meet. You can clean the probe without submerging, I've been doing it this way for 10 years and I know it works. I also generally don't put the probe in until meat is almost done, further saving the probe from the fire. I generally get 3 or 4 years from a probe and I cook alot with these. I hope this helps.