How Many Mes Owners Here?

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Which One Do You Have?

  • 40'

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 40' with window

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 40' 800 watt

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I like it a lot

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Where did you buy it?

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Sams Club

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other please list where in a post

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    2
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ET-732 works fine.

I think there's a new one too (ET-733), but I don't know anything about it yet.

Bear
I have the ET-733....it allows you to set the type of meat, a temp range, and the desired temp.  After using it a while, I find that I just set it next to me and watch the meat and grill temp, and not really bother to set all the variables and the alarms.  If you don't have one......definitely get one.  I find it to be the most valuable accessory I have.
 
the smoker temp probe clips right onto one of the racks. The meat thermometer comes with it and you'll need one of those anyway. You don't have to shell out $70, there are plenty of other options out there that work just as well but cost less. That one is just my personal preference.
 
I leave the rack that sits directly above the juice pan in the smoker and clip the temp probe to this rack in the middle left to right but back towards the back of the smoker to avoid getting juices directly onto it.  Then I just run it up to the vent where I connect it to the unit outside and as I slide racks above it that I'm using for meat in and out they simply move the lead back to the back so it's never in the way.  If I could think of a better way I'd do that but this seems to work alright for me and it's not too far from the unit's temp probe so whatever variance is more due to calibration than location within the smoker itself.
 
 
 
ET-732 works fine.

I think there's a new one too (ET-733), but I don't know anything about it yet.

Bear
I have the ET-733....it allows you to set the type of meat, a temp range, and the desired temp.  After using it a while, I find that I just set it next to me and watch the meat and grill temp, and not really bother to set all the variables and the alarms.  If you don't have one......definitely get one.  I find it to be the most valuable accessory I have.
The ET-732 has programmable parameters as well.  I set the smokers high-low temp range as well as the desired temp of the meat and then set an audible alarm to set whenever any of these is reached.

FWIW, the ET-732 can be found for cheaper since there's a new version available (733) but I personally didn't feel that any of the new features were worthy of the price tag.  For my money I'd find the better deal on the 732 that thousands have used for years with great luck and call it a day.
 
BTW:  My concern is never to get my Maverick to read a similar temp as the MES sensor reads.

My concern is to get the temp of the part of the smoker where the biggest portion of meat is.

That is why I move it to wherever  the meat is.

Also: I don't set any of the extra things on my ET-732. I just set it near me, and keep an eye on the temps now & then.

Bear
 
 
The ET-732 has programmable parameters as well.  I set the smokers high-low temp range as well as the desired temp of the meat and then set an audible alarm to set whenever any of these is reached.

FWIW, the ET-732 can be found for cheaper since there's a new version available (733) but I personally didn't feel that any of the new features were worthy of the price tag.  For my money I'd find the better deal on the 732 that thousands have used for years with great luck and call it a day.
If I were doing it again, I would probably get the 732 and save $20.  I did read somewhere that the probes on the 733 were sturdier tho....
 
 
BTW:  My concern is never to get my Maverick to read a similar temp as the MES sensor reads.

My concern is to get the temp of the part of the smoker where the biggest portion of meat is.

That is why I move it to wherever  the meat is.

Also: I don't set any of the extra things on my ET-732. I just set it near me, and keep an eye on the temps now & then.

Bear
I understand where you mean.  My placement gets it within a few inches of where the meat is and the only way to get it even closer is to have it share the rack as the meat which creates a few more logistical issues as I'm attempting to remove & replace the rack regularly.  I think my placement is a great compromise between temp of the smoker nearest the meat and being out of the way as to not create yet another thing to worry about when moving things around.  I don't need it to read exactly what the smoker reads but if you are close to that sensor as byproduct of placement it sure makes it easier to know what to set your unit's temp to get get a desired actual temp since they are notoriously off on temperature.  If the MES was calibrated from the factory to be as actual as the Maverick this would be a non-issue so I'd say not to worry about it but they aren't.  So if you can place your sensor within about the same distance you would while also remaining relatively close to the unit's sensor.... might as well.  You're not losing out on anything. 

As for adjusting the settings... I don't always.  I'm smoking CSR's right now and I have set nothing because I'm watching basketball on TV and the display is right next to me plus the readings on these aren't as mission critical.  Lots of times I will smoke overnight to get a desired completion time and in which case the alarm is imperative to make sure everything goes smoothly.  If for some reason the stalls don't take as long as they usually do I don't want me eat overcooking and getting all dry and tough.  I also don't need a flare up on the wood or some sort of drop in temp ruining my day earlier.  I don't always use the settings but when I do they're nice to have.
 
 
If I were doing it again, I would probably get the 732 and save $20.  I did read somewhere that the probes on the 733 were sturdier tho....
I wouldn't doubt that you are right. I think the probes on the 732 are their only weak point.

The second time I cleaned my 732 probes, I pulled the cable right off the probe.

My back-up ET-73 set is over 4 years old, and I'm still using the original probes.

Bear
 
Well the ribs came out pretty good. I would like them a little less tender but the wife loves when they fall off the bone. Will probably order that thermometer and give short ribs a try next.
 
Also ordered the 733. Thinking I'll run it through the vent on the left and clip it on the grate near the probe for the MES. Only thing that sucks is I guess I won't be able to just pull out the grate while cooking. I figure I will be able to learn the difference between the two probes this way. Actually I will probably very rarely use all 4 grates so I could just clip it to the top one and leave the rack in there empty while cooking.
 
I hope we are not driving off would be smokers with all the spending and fine tuning.
Our parents and grand parents turned out some fine cooking and smoked products with wood fires, iffy spring thermometers and homemade smoke ovens.

This new stuff is great but not critical to fine food.
Ted.
 
I agree Ted. If we put the time in to learn the intricacies of our existing equipment, we wouldn't need the digital stuff to fine tune. But, I do have to say, that the gadgets do make our time more efficient. It's nice to be able work on other things and have control over what our smokers are doing and a reminder timer thats its time to give it some attention. We're a product of our busy lifestyles...
 
I suppose you are right. With all the expensive improvements to ski equipment, fly rods and golf clubs .
In hindsight, we just thought we were having fun at the time.
Having said that, I still bought in to the hype.
Ted.
 
I find it interesting that everyone says a MES is convenient/easy/foolproof.  I love doing my BBQ on a charcoal smoker because that is what BBQ is all about.  Otherwise, it's set it and forget it.  That's no fun...
 
Isn't that the time to visit, have a beer or a glass of wine and poke at the meat a bit while it cooks?
Are we losing our ability to relax and socialize?
I hope we do not reach a point where we buy the smoked product and buy the wine.
These are all important tasks for us retired types.
Ted
 
I hope we are not driving off would be smokers with all the spending and fine tuning.
Our parents and grand parents turned out some fine cooking and smoked products with wood fires, iffy spring thermometers and homemade smoke ovens.

This new stuff is great but not critical to fine food.
Ted.
LOL---This is an "MES Owners" tread. Anybody that gets "driven off " by talking about fine tuning MES is on the wrong thread anyway.

There are many ways to skin a cat, and the MES is just one of them (my favorite one).

If I was younger & in better health, I'd probably go with a "Big Green Egg", like my Son has, and loves.

Bear
 
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