infrared therometer

[H. Walker]

Has anyone on here ever used infrared thermometers? I was thinking it would be nice to have a thermometer in my pocket to check the temperature of the sap/syrup anywhere across the front pan and do it quickily without getting steam burns. I have a reverse flow set-up and I find sometimes when I switch from 1 side to the other I end up getting syrup in the middle first.

It wouldn't have to be 100% accurate, just something to get a variance in the different sections. My concern is would the infrared penitrate the steam to give a reading of liquid or would I just be constantly reading steam temperature??

[HanginAround]

I never tried it, but would guess it would just read the steam.

[davey]

I've tried it and all we could read was the steam temp as the light reflects off of it and back to the sensors.

[brookledge]

I would agree the laser will not give an accurate temp of the syrup because of the steam. You can get a digital thermometer that has a short section of wire that you can set up the probe in the middle of the pan and take the reading from the side. You will still have to reach into the middle of the pan though.
For me the best method is to just watch the pan. As the syrup gets close to 219 the way the bubbles pop you can tell its near syrup. After you train your eye you can pretty much tell exactly whenyou have syrup ready
Keith

[H. Walker]

Thanks Guys!! You confirmed what I was afraid of, I would end up just reading the temperature of steam.