When your meat is ready to refrigerate, it might be wise to keep a watch on the temperature and humidity for the period the meat is in progress.
I use a humidity/thermomometer from ThermoWorks.
Model RT817E

I find this one is very accurate and has C/F settings.
Price is about $35.00. It has a long sensor cord, about 5 ft. I highly recommend it.
"Char-Woody"

Great idea, C~W. I have just ordered one and the price is actually $39 and the cheapest mailing method was 7.66 for a total of $46.66. I figure even when I don't have a chunk-o-cow aging I can use it outside to measure the high Illinois humidity so I can complain with accuracy!

I use an extra one I bought for a cigar humidor at the local smoke shop. I paid $11.99.

The thing I like most about it, is the "min/max" feature - you know - it tells you the min/max temp/humidity.


You can find them on eBay and likely at any local shop that sells cigars. Probably not as nice as the Thermoworks unit though, and it runs on batteries. But I haven't needed to change them in months - for what it's worth.

Today I received the model RT817E thermometer/hygrometer that Char-Woody suggested. It came with a 10 foot sensor wire and I wondered whether I needed the wire or could just place the unit in the frig. So I emailed ThermoWorks for advice. You know what? My phone rang in 3 minutes and the gentleman answered my questions but more importantly explained the reasoning for using the sensor wire. The unit itself only has a range of 32 to 122°, but using the wire the range is -58° to 158°. What a great service!

RRP wrote:
Today I received the model RT817E thermometer/hygrometer that Char-Woody suggested. It came with a 10 foot sensor wire and I wondered whether I needed the wire or could just place the unit in the frig. So I emailed ThermoWorks for advice. You know what? My phone rang in 3 minutes and the gentleman answered my questions but more importantly explained the reasoning for using the sensor wire. The unit itself only has a range of 32 to 122°, but using the wire the range is -58° to 158°. What a great service!

Wow - I have always heard they had great customer service - that's just awesome!

They do have great service..they are the same company that makes the Thermopen. Highly accurate as well.
Good luck with all your drybagging results. I am well pleased.
"Char-Woody"

After further testing plus a discussion with Charlie at ThermoWorks I wanted to share this information. In order to read the relative humidity inside the refrig it is necessary to place the unit inside the refrig as the sensor on the probe wire only reads the temp, but the base instrument itself reads and calculates the relative humidity. For whatever it's worth in a 10 hour test I conducted this weekend without opening the door my RH ranged from 25% to 83%.

And I will confirm the same.. RRP has been very alert to pick up on this one. I will bet his high humidity reading was at the time of entry to the fridge for high end.
So use this model as RRP has suggested. It does work quite well.
"Char-Woody"

Excellent, and I need to update my own here. RRP is on to a wrinkle I overlooked.
Tell us how yours performs for both humidity and temps. In the fridge full time or do you use it for temporary checks.??

Char-Woody wrote:
Excellent, and I need to update my own here. RRP is on to a wrinkle I overlooked.
Tell us how yours performs for both humidity and temps. In the fridge full time or do you use it for temporary checks.??


Was that directed at me CW? I wasn't sure if it was or not.