The temperature is. Whether you're grilling steaks and burgers or slow-smoking brisket, you need an accurate reading of both your grill's heat levels and the internal temperature of your food. There are tons of options, from instant-read thermometers to probe-based devices that monitor your cook at all times. Of the latter, some are wired and others wireless, and the lack of crisscrossing cables in the grilles can be a real improvement.
Wireless grill probes aren't new, but they're a big name in grill thermometers. ThermoWorks, the company behind the popular Thermapen, has finally introduced its version of wireless temperature tracking with . For the sake of supreme precision, the company takes a different approach than many of its competitors, providing both backyard and commercial grill masters with a reliable and versatile sous chef.
ThermoWorks/Engadget
The long-awaited wireless grill probe from ThermoWorks doesn't include all sensors within a single device, meaning its readings are more accurate than the competition.
- Accurate and reliable
- The starter kit is all included.
- The food tube is stylish and durable
- Bluetooth connectivity is not ready
- Various pieces to keep up to date
- The starter kit does not come with a case.
From $159 At ThermoWorks
<h2 class="caas-jump-link-heading" id="the-rfx-technology“>RFX technology
ThermoWorks' RFX series is based on sub-GHz radio frequency (RF) wireless technology rather than using Bluetooth alone. This allows for a line-of-sight range of 1,500 feet between the probe and receiver, although you'll probably want to keep the latter close to your grill just to be safe. Like the ThermoWorks above, there are magnets on the back of the charging base and probe receiver, so they easily stick to the cool side of the grill. The RF signal is strong enough to transmit constantly through the thick walls of an offset smoker or the confines of a Dutch oven, even when inside the grill.
Beyond wireless technology, ThermoWorks offers some key features that stack up well against the wireless probe competition. For example, by charging the RFX Meat Probe in its slim charging block for just 10 minutes, you'll get up to 52 hours of cooking time. The Gateway receiver provides the necessary Wi-Fi connectivity allowing you to monitor the grill remotely from anywhere. You can also connect up to 70 wireless probes at a time, making it suitable for commercial environments.
The RFX Meat is IP69K rated, making it dishwasher safe and designed for frying and sous vide cooking. The probe can also withstand temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning you can use it to precisely monitor steaks during high-temperature searing.
Lastly, RFX Gateway supports. This device turns smokers (offset, ceramic, barrel or drum) into smart grills by maintaining the desired temperature. Billows receives temperature updates from the Pro-Series air probe via the RFX receiver. It's great when you prefer to use wood or charcoal for slow cooking instead of a pellet grill and still want a somewhat hands-off workflow.
The RFX Starter Kit and Standalone Options
Since you need both RFX Meat and RFX Gateway to get started, your best initial option is to get one of the ThermoWorks packages. This package, called the RFX Starter Kit, includes the Gateway receiver and wireless probe. Also includes a Pro-Series air probe for ambient grill temperatures, a grate clip, a charger (for Gateway), and colored probe rings.
The company offers you the option to choose from packages of one, two, or four probes, saving you money compared to purchasing each item separately. They're currently $159, $239, and $349 respectively, but ThermoWorks notes that this is the “lowest introductory price,” so I expect things to get a little more expensive soon. If you In fact You must purchase RFX Meat or RFX Gateway separately (if you lose one or suffer some other culinary tragedy), the wireless probe costs $89 while the receiver costs $79. Again, those are starting prices that I anticipate will increase.
Using RFX Meat on the grill
RFX Meat is the fourth ThermoWorks product I have tried. I have used two models of Thermapen instant read thermometers, as well as . It remains a staple in my kitchen and patio, especially for checking the internal temperature of meat and fish. I am always amazed at how the company makes devices that are reliable, easy to use, and highly accurate. These three traits also apply to the RFX duo.
Like some of the competition, ThermoWorks placed multiple sensors on the probe shaft. Those four components give you a more accurate reading of your food's internal temperature to within 0.9 degrees. The company opted for the separate wired Pro-Series room temperature probe that connects to the RFX Gateway receiver to control the grill. This has a couple of benefits.
First, the separate probe moves the sensor further away from the meat, so that the initial cold spot or evaporation around larger cuts of meat does not distort its readings. Secondly, you have the freedom to move the probe since it is not connected to the main wireless device. Even if your grill has a sensor built into the cooking chamber, ThermoWorks' Pro-Series option is a good secondary sanity check because most grill companies do not place their probes at the level of the cooking grates where they are located. They find food.
The RFX system provided a consistent connection during my testing sessions, which included an all-day low and slow smoke for a pork butt and a faster three-hour cook for my Thanksgiving turkey. I didn't experience any abandonment, and in the case of that bird, I was able to keep the RFX Meat probe in place during the resting phase. This was crucial since I took the turkey off the grill at 160 degrees Fahrenheit on the breast, so I needed to make sure it reached 165 with the remaining doneness before carving.
The ThermoWorks app won't win any design awards, but it gets the job done. Frankly, I prefer reliability and ease of use over cosmetic polish any time. There are plenty of grilling apps that look better but don't work as well, and when you're trying to cook a $100 brisket, any source of uncertainty can be stressful. Like the competition, the ThermoWorks app allows you to set high and low alarms for any of the probes, and you can also choose how often the app updates your readings. This means that when you're searing a steak, you can keep track of each degree, but for longer cooks you can opt for three-degree intervals. RFX sends updates based on temperature changes, not time, so you'll want to pay attention to that.
True grill nerds will also appreciate the temperature graphs and the ability to add notes as needed. The company recently added an advanced mode that plots temperature data from the four internal RFX Meat sensors on a graph. Each line has a different color, giving you an in-depth look at changes over time throughout the session.
One of the first things I noticed about the main (Devices) screen of the app is that a carousel of the company's products and cooking tips appears by default. This discouraged me, taking up space in an area where I only wanted my valuable culinary data. Fortunately, you can hide that box and I'm sure I won't be the only one who wants to do that.
the competition
There are a few companies that make wireless grilling probes, but the brand I've spent the most time with is Meater. The Traeger-owned company has several different options, with the best Bluetooth tool for most backyard cooks previously being. It has multiple sensors for the internal temperature of the meat, as well as an environmental sensor built into the opposite end. The Meater Pro is extremely durable and can withstand both frying and browning at high temperatures. It's also dishwasher safe like the RFX Meat, which is a big plus. However, if you want built-in Wi-Fi, you'll have to splurge on the two-probe one, which costs $100 more. The Meater app also provides estimated completion times, which is nice to have, but the guesses aren't always accurate.
Summary
The ThermoWorks RFX Starter Package is a reliable and easy way to control your grill without having to be right in front of it. The devices ensure that you are cooking at the correct temperature and achieving the exact doneness you want. I like the separate wired environmental probe for the RFX gateway for its greater accuracy and it's easy enough to run the cable out of the way.
Sure, the RFX starter kit is more expensive than the Meater Pro, but ThermoWorks has already confirmed that more products will soon work with the Gateway. However, the company must make good on its promise to quickly offer an offline mode via Bluetooth, so grillers who are not within range of a Wi-Fi network can still use the RFX for cooking. But having both is a key advantage over some of the company's rivals. And no matter how you connect to it, the RFX Starter Kit is further proof why chefs and grill masters trust the precision of ThermoWorks for their culinary needs. The company simply does not fail.
