These pH meters are awesome and super handy to have if you make hot sauce regularly and are concerned about the pH level. A good pH meter should give a reading of 3.4 on your hot sauce to prevent the growth of bacteria. Most bacteria will grow around 6.5 to 7.5 so if you are producing an alkaline based hot sauce, you’ll want to find other ways to fight bacteria.
Poit Handheld pH Meter
I purchased this meter last year experimenting with controlling the acidity of my hot sauce but at the same time making sure that it will be safe for bottling. If you are making and bottling your own hot sauce a pH meter is a must have! Purchase here.
What I like
Very portable
I like that this unit is one piece and is very portable and easy to store. Although not many of the meters are large or cumbersome, this one is only the size of a large marker and has a clip on the backside so you can secure it to a pocket or belt.
Very easy to use
I am always eager to use a new toy before I read the instructions, but I always read them. In this case there isn’t much to know about using your meter. Instructions are short (5 steps) and easy to follow. This meter came pre calibrated and I used it within minutes of its arrival. Read here on how to use a pH meter.
Comes with a case
I didn’t see it listed anywhere the Poit meter was going to come with a case so I was very happy about that. It is a durable clear plastic case to keep the meter safe and keeps the size of the meter down.
Big digital screen
The digital screen produces large digits very easy to read. I prefer the digital screen over a needle reading with some more expensive meters or color matching with some pH papers. I didn’t have any problem reading the ¼” screen without my glasses.
Arrives fully calibrated
This meter arrives fully calibrated to begin testing immediately. Calibration of the meter is important, but I was pleased that I did not have to spend too much time setting the meter up initially. I used it shortly after I took it out of the package.
Comes with pH solution for future calibration
This meter comes three pH packets (pH 4.01, pH 6.86 and pH 9.18) to calibrate the meter in the future. Calibration is important so purchase addition pH solution if you think you will be doing a lot of testing.
Comes with batteries
Also don’t need to purchase additional batteries and are able to use the meter immediately. Some other meters require 9-volt batteries and may not be included. This meter was inexpensive enough where I will probably purchase another one once the batteries die.
Includes instructions with specifications
Every product should come with instructions and you should read them thoroughly. These instructions are short and concise, and it has a little specification section as well. If you are kind of nerdy like me, you will enjoy reading this kind of stuff. Don’t discard them after reading.
All equipment should include the specifications for the product. Learning how to read them is important for understanding what you might be looking for if you decide to purchase a more expensive or more advanced product.
Inexpensive
This meter and meter similar are very inexpensive and are definitely worth the price. Some believe that spending more money on a product makes it a higher quality. We are trying to achieve an accurate reading for the pH of our hot sauce and this meter is well within what scientific labs would require.
Accuracy of + 0.01pH
The Poit meter has an accuracy of + 0.01 and according to Westlab.com this is very accurate for research environments. See below for meters with a higher accuracy. I aim for a hot sauce to have a pH reading of 3.4 so accuracy is important to me.
Arrived in two days
Like many products on Amazon this arrived very quickly and as mentioned above was ready to use. These meters are in stock. Order a double package here.
What I don’t like
Non rechargeable batteries
No battery will last forever but I like being able to charge and re charge is a great option for any device. Batteries for this device are available but I think I would put money into the next level of meter or purchase a new meter (very inexpensive). Buy two and get a better deal.
Feels light weight
This particular product does not feel as durable and heavy as some of my other kitchen utensils. I have not dropped it or smashed it with a hammer, but I don’t think it would withstand the force of me jumping on it.
The pH level of a homemade hot sauce is important to prevent the growth of certain bacteria. Testing your sauce throughout the process is also important and these are great tools for the job. Don’t rely on your recipe…test every batch! If you make a lot of hot sauce these meters will be used over and over again. These are some top quality meters at affordable pricing.
Tom’s Top Meter Picks
Under $100
Aspera Instruments AI311 PH 60 Waterproof
This waterproof meter comes with batteries and accessories such as a case, lanyard and calibration bottles. Very portable and easy to use.
This meter is also compatible with four different probe types and uses AAA batteries included. It also comes with a professional looking kit with calibration bottles.
Dr. Meter 0.01 High Resolution pH meter
Another lightweight and portable meter well available at an affordable cost. The Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) is a nice feature but always test at room temperature.
This meter comes with a case and a probe cover like many meters do. It comes with batteries and the replacement batteries are super inexpensive. Get em here!
Under $200
Comes with a super long 39″ probe cable. Also has a large LCD display and can store up to 25 readings. Another waterproof meter!
This one uses a single 9V battery and has a low battery power indicator. Also comes with a holster…now that is cool!
Over $200
Aspera Instruments PH 700 Bench Top
This is a professional self calibrating meter designed with multiple sauce readings a day. This meter includes Advanced Auto Calibration and Auto Temperature Compensation.
This meter allows for 50 groups of data storage if you are doing multiple readings of many different sauces. The electrode holder prevents the probe from laying on a counter top and getting contaminated.
