Install a Grill Thermometer

You can easily install a grill thermometer onto your barbecue grill or meat smoker. Most outdoor cookers are equipped with thermometers, but if yours isn't, it's a simple chore to mount one.

Mounting a thermometer on a grill or smoker requires only an electric drill, the right size drill bit and an adjustable wrench. Oh yeah...and a grill thermometer!

Installing a Grill Thermometer

You probably have the tools already. If not, ask around and borrow them from somebody. You might even get lucky and find someone that'll just come over and drill the hole for you.

Pick up the grill thermometer at a hardware store. Get one that's marked off in degrees, and not "hot-medium-warm". You need better temperature control than that. The probe will be about 2 inches long, with a threaded section right under the dial. OK. Are you ready? Here's how you mount the thermometer.

1. Drill a hole through the grill or smoker lid big enough for the threaded section to pass through. Position the hole 3 to 4 inches above the grate, and 3 to 6 inches from the end of a rectangular grill. If you have a kettle grill, go 3 to 4 inches above the grate and a couple inches to one side of the lid vent.



2. Insert the thermometer stem through the hole. Remove the nut first. ;-)



3. Reattach the nut. Just snug it up. Too tight and you might damage the thermometer.

That's it. Time to do some barbecuing!



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