One of the best smoker thermometers on the market is the Maverick ET-733. This thermometer is highly rated on Amazon and gets a ton of praise from both professional and amateur pit masters.
While this smoker thermometer is quite popular, it also has its drawbacks. For example, some BBQ chefs have 
reported inaccurate temperature readings of the probes failing.
In this Maverick ET 733 review, we look at the features of the unit, its performance and what you should expect if you are looking to buy or upgrade from the older ET-732.
Maverick ET-733 Review
The Maverick ET 733 is a dual probe thermometer that enables you to simultaneously monitor the meat and pit temperature when you are standing up to 300 feet away.
The thermometer works like other dual probe thermometers on the market. The two identical probes placed inside the smoker are connected together by a transmitter.
The Maverick ET 733 comes with a number of improved features, much to the delight of grill or oven users. This 3rd generation thermometer by Maverick allows anyone to cook or grill with precision.
The smoker thermometer is quite compact and easily fits your pocket. Moreover, it works wirelessly. Therefore, you can check your smoker and pit temperature from wherever you are (up to 300 feet) when cooking outside. As the food is cooking, the receiver communicates with the transmitter and updates the temperature reading in real-time. The thermometer will sound an alarm, depending on the minutes you’ve set, when the time has elapsed.
The thermometer has 15 different meat presets (including elk & buffalo) that you can choose from. Setting up the unit is relatively straight forward; just select the probe and then choose the temperature you want. You can also set the temperature alarm to go off at a particular range. For example, if you want the alarm to go off at 300°F, you can set the receiver alarm to sound off when the temperature hits 275°F or 325°F.
At the back, the receiver has a backlight that automatically switches off after five seconds.
Features of the Maverick ET 733
- Powered by 4 AAA batteries
- Weighs around 0.7 ounces
- Has a backlight that provides visibility during the night.
- Can measure temperature in both ovens and grills
- 15 Preset temperatures for Fish, Bird, Duck, Boar, Rabbit, Buffalo, Moose, Elk, Deer, Chicken & Turkey, Pork, Lamb, Veal and Beef
- The receiver displays 32°F to 572°F
- Can measure temperature up to 300 ft range
- An audio alarm sounds off when the preset temperature is reached
- An alert sounds when you go out of range for more than one minute
- Probe wires are 3 ft long and are rated for max temperature of 716°F
What’s in the Box?
The thermometer comes with two hybrid probes, two grill clips, a receiver as well as a transmitter. Other items in the box include 4 AAA batteries and two grill clips. The clips are used to stabilize the temperature probe off the grill of the smoker.
Is the Maverick ET 733 Easy to Use?
The Maverick ET 733 sports some nice usability improvements from that its predecessor, the ET 732, lacks. These improvements make the ET 733 quite easy to use. The improvements include:
- For BBQ enthusiasts from outside US (those that don’t use the metric system), you can change the temperature setting from Fahrenheit to Celcius.
- You can set low and high temperature for your pit. When the pit temperature goes outside this range, the thermometer will sound an alarm to alert you.
- You can easily monitor the temperatures for each probe, whether it’s your own custom temperature or one of the presets that come in set in the gadget.
What to Watch Out For
Despite the improvements, there are a number of potential downsides that I saw with this thermometer. For example, changing the battery requires a screwdriver. While I did not have a problem with this, it can be inconvenient for some people. Therefore, you might want to keep a Philips screwdriver in your home repair kit.
You may also find it difficult to set the temperature if you have not used a smoker thermometer before. However, this should not really be a problem when you watch the video below. This video goes through the controls of the thermometer and how to program it:
Speed and Accuracy
When it comes to speed and accuracy, the Maverick ET 733 performs surprisingly well in boiling/freezing water test. The accuracy is even higher when it’s used to measure the pit temperature or cooking meat.
The ET 733 is not an instant-read thermometer. This is why you want to use it to measure larger cuts of meat being cooked slow.
The Maverick ET 733 has a tolerance of – or + 3-4ºF. This gadget is most accurate within the typical food doneness range.
Quality of the Thermometer
I’ve been using my Maverick 733 thermometer for 4 years now, and haven’t experienced any problems with its build. However, while lurking at smoker meat forums, I’ve come across discussions of people who’ve had issues with their thermometers.
Most of the issues are related to:
- The receiver and transmitter failing to link
- Difficulty with the ON/OFF switches
- The probes failing occasionally
Fixing the first issue is easy; simply turn on the receiver before the transmitter. This is a sureway of ensuring that the two always link.
About the temperature probes failing, you just have to take good care of them. The probes are quite delicate and this may explain why they are likely to fail. You prevent issues with the probes by ensuring they are not exposed to water at any time.
According to the manufacturer, the Maverick ET-733 is “Rain-proof”. However, I can confidently say that this gadget is definitely not waterproof. While the unit may be able to handle a few drops of rain, I’ll suggest you place the transmitter inside a clear plastic zipper seal bag if you are smoking outside and it’s likely to rain.
You also want to leave the transmitter in a place where water can not drip on the container where the wire is sticking out.
Away from the rain, the transmitter should also not be left in direct sunlight. Otherwise, it can overheat and malfunction.
Finally, you don’t want to put the unit in water. If you want to clean the temperature probes, simply wipe them down with a paper towel.
How to Use the Maverick Et-733 Thermometer
I use the Maverick ET-733 to measure my smoker temperature. This gadget really excels when used to measure the pit temperature and meat temperature during a low and slow cook.
I would, however, caution you against using the Maverick for situations where you need to quickly check the temperature. If you are buying a Maverick for measuring your steak or fish temperature, you will be disappointed. The unit has a slow response time. Therefore, your fish may be overdone by the time the unit make an accurate reading
If you need an instant read thermometer, I’d recommend you get the ThermoPro TP18.
However, if you are smoking meat or cooking other foods where the temperature changes gradually, the thermometer will shine here.
Is the Maverick Et 733 Worth It?
If you are looking for a dual probe thermometer, or have an older version like the ET-732, then the Et-733 is worth buying.
While you may take some time to learn the interface, the build quality, temperature accuracy, and large screen make the smoker thermometer worth the price.
If you have an instant read thermometer, you know how inconveniences lifting up the smoker lid every 30 minutes to check the temperature can be. In this case, the Maverick will be a lifesaver. The 15 temperature presets as well as the ability to set your own temperature make the thermometer a great buy.
Thermometer Care
The Maverick smoker thermometer is quite easy to maintain. When the thermometer is not in use, keep the batteries open so that the cell doesn’t discharge any liquid, which can spoil the whole circuit.
If you take good care of the probes, the Maverick Et-733 will serve you for multiple years. You can also get replacement probes, just in case the ones you have get spoilt.
Maverick Et-733 Review Overview
The Maverick ET 733 is one of the best grill thermometers on the market. With this gadget, you can easily the grill temperature and timings at your one click. You can choose to get the temperature measured in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.
The thermometer is powered by 4 AAA batteries and records temperature within a range of 300. An inbuilt alarm will sound off when you go out of that range for around 60 seconds.
You can set the alarm and change the temperature settings remotely. When the temperature you have set is reached, the thermometer will sound an alarm.
The Maverick Et-733 comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee. The enhancements of this thermometer make upgrading from the ET-732 a no-brainer.
