I use the internal temp probe quite often, and it works very well for me. But with some cuts of meat, I prefer to place the probe in the meat outside of the grill so I can better place it. Unfortunately if you do that the plug is just slightly large enough that it won't go through the hole on the side of the kettle. Has anyone bored out this hole to accommodate passage through the hole? Will it hurt anything? We're probably talking less the a 1/16". Or can you just drape the braided over the rim, and close the lid over it.