ThermoWorks RFX Meat Probe Evaluate

When roasting meat, monitoring the inner temperature is essential to completely cooked outcomes. And we’ve carried out whole evaluations of meat thermometers, with glorious picks that’ll steer you true. 

However I’ve a secret: I’m the queen of tangled probes. Regardless of how exhausting I attempt to be neat and orderly, my probe thermometer’s line at all times finally ends up kinked or intertwined with different ones. 

So when the hen’s able to roast and I’ve to spend 10 minutes detangling probes, properly, let’s simply say it ain’t a reasonably image. Enter the most recent probe thermometer from ThermoWorks: The RFX Wireless Meat Probe Thermometer. Wi-fi, they are saying? Rely me in. I examined the probe by utilizing it to trace the temperature of smoked pork shoulder and roast hen, to see if it was quick, correct, and, most significantly, didn’t drop a sign mid-cook. 

The Checks

• Ice Tub Take a look at: I used the RFX meat probe to take the temperature of an ice bathtub to look at its accuracy, cross-checking the water temperature with an instant-read thermometer. I additionally did this with the accompanying wired probe that got here with the equipment, too. 
• Sous Vide Water Tub Take a look at: To additional examine the accuracy and response time, I used the RFX meat probe to take the temperature of a sous vide water bathtub set to 135°F. I cross-checked the water temperature with the Thermapen ONE. 
• Roast Hen Take a look at: To provide the probe a real-world take a look at, I used it to trace the temperature of a butterflied roast hen. 
• Smoked Pork Shoulder Take a look at: I wished to see simply how sturdy the probe’s sign was, so I used it to trace the temperatures of a smoked pork shoulder. Whereas I used to be smoking it, I incessantly got here inside and used the app to regulate the pork’s standing. 
• Set Up and Use Checks: All through my assessments, I examined how simple the meat probe was to arrange, what the app was like, if the thermometer was simple to make use of, and whether or not it dropped a sign. 

What We Realized

Setup Was Simple 

Each time I’ve connected a wi-fi thermometer to an app, I count on to troubleshoot. However organising the RFX Gateway (which hooks as much as your WiFi and ensures a steady reference to the probe) and probes couldn’t have been simpler. I simply related the Gateway to my WiFi and easily tapped a probe in opposition to the aspect of the Gateway. It instantly popped up on the app, and I used to be able to get cooking. 

The Thermometer’s Vary Was Spectacular

I’ve used wi-fi/app-compatible thermometers earlier than, specifically, the one constructed into my Traeger smoker, and so they almost at all times drop the sign. Each. Single. Time. The identical goes with the Ooni Koda 2 Max pizza oven I examined: I moved a couple of ft away and it disconnected. Not so with the RFX—it didn’t drop a sign, even after I went inside. I may nonetheless simply regulate the temperature of my pork shoulder, watching because it slowly climbed as much as 205°F. This labored so long as I saved the Gateway inside close to my WiFi router. In brief, the Gateway acts as, properly, a gateway, amplifying the sign so it stays in contact with the probe. 

The one time I misplaced the sign was when my husband kindly, however misguidedly, lined the probe with foil when he wrapped the pork shoulder within the smoker. The sign went kaput however was reinstated after I snuck out, unwrapped, rewrapped, and caught the probe by way of the foil. 

The Thermometer Was Correct

To check the accuracy of the RFX probes, I used them to take the temperature of an ice water bathtub and sous vide bathtub at 135°F. I cross-checked this utilizing a Thermapen ONE instant-read thermometer. 

The temperatures had been almost equivalent, save for a couple of decimal factors displayed on the RFX (which is principally a non-issue, because the Thermapen ONE doesn’t present decimals). The RFX probes had been completely correct. 

The one draw back to the RFX probe (in the event you may even name it that) is that it’s slower to register temperatures than the aptly named instant-read thermometer. It took about 22 seconds to climb to 135°F from room temperature after I caught it within the sous vide bathtub. Nevertheless, probe thermometers aren’t recognized for his or her lightning-fast speeds and are as a substitute valued for his or her long-term temperature monitoring and insights, so this was hardly a flaw. 

The App Was Helpful, If a Little Tough to Navigate 

Through the years I’ve spent testing kitchen gear, I’ve discovered many apps that declare to make interacting with units higher, frankly, stink. They’re typically superfluous, vulnerable to crashing, or so complicated that I simply ditch them completely. So, I admit I used to be skeptical when it got here to the ThermoWorks app, which is the one option to interface with the probe and Gateway to get temperature readings. (Placing all of 1’s eggs in a single basket and all that). However the app labored surprisingly properly. A part of this was as a result of the probe’s connectivity was strong, so I may open the app with out worry that the sign dropped. I additionally favored that I may simply join every probe to the app, label it with a distinct coloration (matching the corresponding coloured bands I slipped onto the probes), and regulate temperatures even after I wasn’t close to no matter was cooking.  

The one draw back to the app was that there was a number of info and options. Generally, I simply wished to press “finish” and be carried out with it, reasonably than save the bajillion mishap classes I made after I was nonetheless determining how the system labored. Remembering the place to faucet to alter the names of the probes (e.g. “probe 1” and “probe 2”) was additionally an train in reminiscence and took some navigation to seek out. 

The Verdict 

The ThermoWorks RFX meat probe system is a superb possibility in the event you dislike detangling wires and like utilizing apps. Simply stick the probe into no matter you’re roasting/smoking/baking and you’ll see real-time temperature readings on the app. The RFX Gateway and probes have good battery life and the sign energy is healthier than different wi-fi thermometers I’ve used. If you’d like accuracy and management when cooking, it is a implausible probe thermometer. 

Professionals

The RFX probe system was simple to arrange and use, and let me regulate my food by checking the app on my telephone. As somebody who has used a number of WiFi/Bluetooth thermometer units, I can really say that that is the one one I’ve tried that doesn’t minimize out or disconnect after I transfer away from the probe. I favored that utilizing it was so simple as turning the RFX Gateway on, connecting the probe, and sticking it into no matter I used to be cooking. I may then set a excessive and low temp, similar to on the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm, our favourite wired probe thermometer, and simply monitor meals temperatures from afar. 

Cons 

Should you’re planning on utilizing the probe system to smoke a bit of meat for hours on finish, be sure the Gateway and probes are absolutely charged beforehand. It’s a bummer if one dies mid-cook, which occurred to me a couple of instances post-testing, despite the fact that I might charged them in a single day. I additionally misplaced the sign when my husband wrapped aluminum foil across the probe within the pork shoulder. Nevertheless, this was remedied by eradicating the probe and sticking it by way of the foil’s exterior. Lastly, it’s not as zippy quick because the Thermapen ONE, however because it’s a probe thermometer that tracks temperatures over time, this wasn’t an enormous deal. It’s additionally fairly expensive. 

Key Specs

• What’s included: RFX Gateway (receiver), RFX meat probe (wi-fi probe), Professional-Sequence Air Probe (ambient temperature), grate clip, charging block, energy adapter, USB cable, and probe rings
• Temperature measuring vary: 14°F to 212°F
• Temperature working vary: 0°F to 1000°F
• Variety of probes: 1 wi-fi probe and 1 wired ambient probe
• Said probe battery life: As much as 52 hours with 10-minute cost (80%); 65+ hours with 20-minute cost
• Said Gateway battery life: 24 hours
• Guarantee: 2 years

FAQs

What’s a probe thermometer good for?

Probe thermometers are nice for monitoring temperatures over time. Many mean you can set an alarm, so that you’re alerted while you’ve hit your goal temperature. 

Why We’re the Consultants 

• Grace Kelly is an editor at Severe Eats, the place she’s been reviewing gear for almost three years. 
• Previous to this, she reviewed cooking tools at America’s Take a look at Kitchen and he or she’s carried out stints as a bartender and prep cook dinner, too. 
• For this evaluate, Grace checked the accuracy of the RFX Wi-fi ProbeThermometer by utilizing it to take the temperature of an ice bathtub and sous vide bathtub, and likewise used it to watch the temperatures of roast hen and smoked pork shoulder. After testing, she used it to trace temperatures when baking meatloaf and smoking a Thanksgiving turkey.