ThermoWorks RFX Meat Probe Assessment

When roasting meat, monitoring the interior temperature is vital to completely cooked outcomes. And we’ve executed total opinions of meat thermometers, with wonderful picks that’ll steer you true. 

However I’ve a secret: I’m the queen of tangled probes. Irrespective of how arduous 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 rooster’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 Wi-fi 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 rooster, 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 tub 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 package, 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 tub 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 check, I used it to trace the temperature of a butterflied roast rooster. 
• Smoked Pork Shoulder Take a look at: I wished to see simply how robust 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 regularly 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 Discovered

Setup Was Simple 

Each time I’ve attached a wi-fi thermometer to an app, I count on to troubleshoot. However establishing 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 facet 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 stored the Gateway inside close to my WiFi router. Briefly, 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 in 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 tub and sous vide tub at 135°F. I cross-checked this utilizing a Thermapen ONE instant-read thermometer. 

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

The one draw back to the RFX probe (should 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 tub. 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 usually superfluous, liable to crashing, or so advanced 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 concern that the sign dropped. I additionally favored that I may simply join every probe to the app, label it with a special colour (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 data and options. Generally, I simply wished to press “finish” and be executed with it, moderately than save the bajillion mishap periods 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 good choice should 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 need accuracy and management when cooking, this can be a improbable probe thermometer. 

Professionals

The RFX probe system was simple to arrange and use, and let me regulate my meals 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 lower 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, identical to on the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm, our favourite wired probe thermometer, and simply monitor meals temperatures from afar. 

Cons 

If you happen to’re planning on utilizing the probe system to smoke a chunk of meat for hours on finish, be certain 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, despite the fact that I would charged them in a single day. (ThermoWorks did attain out and say that making certain the probe is inserted to the minimal immersion line will assist with battery life).

I 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
• Acknowledged probe battery life: As much as 52 hours with 10-minute cost (80%); 65+ hours with 20-minute cost
• Acknowledged 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 let you set an alarm, so that you’re alerted if 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 gear at America’s Take a look at Kitchen and he or she’s executed stints as a bartender and prep prepare dinner, too. 
• For this evaluation, Grace checked the accuracy of the RFX Wi-fi ProbeThermometer by utilizing it to take the temperature of an ice tub and sous vide tub, and in addition used it to watch the temperatures of roast rooster and smoked pork shoulder. After testing, she used it to trace temperatures when baking meatloaf and smoking a Thanksgiving turkey.