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We had a chance to get our hands on the new Thermoworks RFX MEAT Thermometer and GATEWAY unit and put it to the test. This wireless meat thermometer is a game changer when it comes to range and sleek design if you are in the market for a wireless meat thermometer probe.

Earlier this year we were invited to preview the launch of the new RFX by Thermoworks, the manufacturer of the Thermapen, ThermoPop, and Smoke Series wired thermometers.

This product was provided as a media sample, we were not compensated for this review, all opinions are our own.

What is The RFX Thermometer?

The RFX is a wireless meat thermometer system designed by Thermoworks, the manufacturers of the famed Thermapen series, that allows you to pair over 50 wireless thermometer probes to a central unit. It broadcasts the readings from those probes to an app and allows you to monitor the temperature of what you are cooking.

What makes this unique in the industry compared to Meater, it’s closest comparable competitor, is the broadcast range and the ability for the probes to monitor up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (F).

Most people would only need a couple of the probes, but it could be invaluable for larger BBQ operations.

It is comprised of two components.

• RFX MEAT Wireless Probe – The probe includes the charging dock, which will charge using a AAA battery. A 10-minute charge should last you up to 50 hours of use. A 20 minute charge should last over 60 hours.
• RFX GATEWAY – The Gateway comes with an Air Probe, colored plastic tabs, and a mounting bracket so the Air Probe can sit on the grates properly. It charges using a USB-C charger (also included).

We recommend you buy the bundle (both units) so you are ready to grill or smoke as soon as it arrives. It’s possible to buy multiple RFX MEAT probes and add them to one Gateway. You can pair multiple RFX MEAT units to one GATEWAY and you can also sync the Billows to the GATEWAY as well.

Overall Thoughts

We had a chance to use the RFX extensively smoking pork shoulder, smoked whole chicken, grilled steaks, smoked prime rib, and smoked turkey. We really appreciated the extensive range and accuracy that the RFX provided.

Not only did Thermoworks create a new class of probes over Bluetooth competitors like Meater, it did so with the same precision and attention to detail that makes other Thermoworks products best in class.

The setup was easy, using it was even easier, and the ability to take this probe up to 1,000 degrees F is a game changer.

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The Issue with Bluetooth Wireless Thermometers

Over the years new Bluetooth wireless probes came into the market with great potential to create a wireless temperature monitoring system that ditches the cords. The issue is that Bluetooth can only broadcast so far, as any of us with Bluetooth speakers can attest to as soon as we walk out of a room.

So when cooking on a connected wireless system using Bluetooth and an app, you will get moments when the unit disconnects which is exacerbated by thick grill walls (like our Yoder 1/4 inch thick metal or ceramic on our Big Green Egg) or cast iron pots. Not to mention walls in your home or business.

Thermoworks has addressed using a lower frequency radio signal that projects further and much stronger penetration through barriers that Bluetooth can’t get through.

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How It Works

Once inserted into your meat, the RFX MEAT probe uses 4 temperature sensors placed throughout the unit and broadcasts the true thermal center. It sends the radio signal received through state-of-the-art temperature probe sensors in the stick to the RFX GATEWAY using low-frequency radio waves.

The RFX GATEWAY connects to your Wi-Fi which allows it to sync with the cloud and Thermoworks App for displaying the ongoing temperature readings. If WiFi is not available then, according to Thermoworks, you will be able to connect with a direct RFX GATEWAY to smartphone Bluetooth connection. But that feature is not yet currently enabled.

Ambient Temperature Readings

For accurate ambient temperature readings, the GATEWAY also has a traditional Air Probe and one plug to measure the ambient temperature of the grill or smoker. Why didn’t it get included in the RFX MEAT probe?

Because you get a false reading of ambient temperature when you have an ambient temperature reading that sits just off the piece of meat by 20 – 30 degrees, or according to Thermoworks up to 75 degrees.

To address this, they included their wired Air Probe that connects to the GATEWAY and also broadcasts the ambient temperature of your cooking chamber.

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Pros

• Accurate. The probe design provides some of the most accurate temperature readings and technology meaning you can be sure that what you see is exactly the temperature and it’s fast.
• Design. Compared to the Meater stick, the probes are thin, so the holes created in your meat are smaller. Which for us is more desirable when cooking steaks or smaller roasts.
• Lots of range. This unit works through walls, grills, and cast iron pots. One of the downsides of the Meater is the lack of range once you have thick grill walls, cast iron pots, and even home or business walls. With the RFX, the average home or small business user will have zero issues receiving a reliable and consistent signal. If connected to WiFi, then you can see the cook on your phone from anywhere.
• Meat Probe Good To 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, up to 1,000 degrees. That means if you are roasting your steaks or spatchcocked chicken in a pizza oven you can still use the probe with no issues.
• Quick Charge. The Meat probe will charge to 80% in 10 minutes.
• Water Resistant to IP69K. It can get wet, like in the dishwasher and pressurized water. So it can handle rain, sous vide machines, or even a deep fryer. Note this is specific to the Meat probe.
• Strong Magnetic Grip. Both the Gateway and the charging dock have very strong magnetic strips that allow it to attach firmly to metal surfaces.

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Cons

• One user account per unit. You can only have one user associated with the app and the units. So if you have multiple users in the same household or business, you cannot all separately sync on your apps, you must log into the same cloud account.
• No predictive cooking technology. Meater, and other wireless probe manufacturers, have included predictive cooking technology with varied accuracy that will approximate when the cooking process will end as the cooking process happens.
• No Gateway Display. On the Gateway you can’t see the temperatures on any display unlike the Signals or Smoke X unit. You can only read them on the app. So if you are outside staring at the unit, you will only see the temp on your mobile device. Sometimes I like looking at the Smoke or Signals display for a quick read versus having to open up the phone.

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Getting Started

The unit will arrive almost ready to go. Be sure there is a battery in the RFX MEAT probe charging dock and that both the RFX MEAT and GATEWAY units are charged.

1. The first step is to make sure you have created a Thermoworks App account and are logged in. As you follow the steps in the app you need to connect the app to your WiFi first. If you already have other Thermoworks products synced and you are logged in you are good to pair.
2. Then turn on the GATEWAY and follow the prompts to synch it to your WiFi and app.
3. Then sync the RFX MEAT probe as well. You should then see both units working in sync with each other. Continue the same process for each RFX MEAT probe you have.

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How To Use The RFX

Once you have paired the GATEWAY and the MEAT probe it’s ready to use.

If using the ambient air probe, slide it into the mount and then place on the grill grate. Make sure it’s not right next to the meat otherwise you won’t get a true ambient reading. You want some space.

Insert the air probe cord into the GATEWAY and be sure the antenna is facing up for best range.

Insert the RXF MEAT probe into the meat being sure to slide in from the side and toward the center of the meat you are trying to monitor. You will see on the side a line, be sure it’s fully inserted.

Note: Thermoworks has a minimum immersion line of 3.1 inches and a max of 3.5 inches.

You should see the ambient temperature reading and the meat temperature reading broadcast to your mobile device. You can also connect with the Billows if you are using on your Kamado Grill.

You can then adjust any alarm settings on the mobile device like if smoking brisket and needing to wrap around 165 degrees.

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Using The App

When using the app, you will want to start a new session for both the GATEWAY and the RFX MEAT so you can take advantage of using the graphs and monitoring the single cooking experience. This is great to reference in their cloud storage for any future cooking planning.

You can add notes to record milestones or address which probe is monitoring which area of the meat.

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What To Use It On

• Roasts – This is great for larger roasts as mentioned like brisket, turkeys, and pork shoulders.
• Thick Steaks – If you want to measure the temperature of thick steaks, whether as a reverse sear or just grilling over direct heat, this is perfect.
• Pizza Ovens – If baking steaks, or roasting large roasts, this will work great because it can handle the 600 – 700 degree temperature that you typically would roast in a pizza oven.
• Deep Frying – If you want to monitor deep fried chicken, you can use the RFX since it can handle the heat and the submersion in the oil.
• Sous Vide – If you want to monitor the meat that is being heated up, it’s a perfect fit given the waterproof element.

We would not recommend using it on thin steaks that are quick to cook. For those I would simply use an instant read thermometer like the Thermapen One.

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Which Is Better RFX or Meater?

We feel the overall range of the RFX and the ability for the RFX MEAT probe to handle up to 1,000 degree temperatures is the real advantage over Meater. Even if the app is less interactive.

RFX (on top) compared the Meater (center), with a standard sized pencil for comparison.

Meater has the app based predictive feature during the cooking process that approximates when the food will be done, but the ambient temperature readings are not accurate and you lose a key feature when you want precise monitoring during the cooking process. The probes can only handle up to 527 degrees F, and are thicker, leaving a larger whole in your food making them less practical for monitoring steaks in something like a pizza oven or deep frying.

Overall we would reach for the RFX for that reason alone. And the same would exist for any other current wireless temperature monitoring device.

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Who Is The RFX Good For?

We feel confident that anyone wanting to reduce the number of wires in their lives, like owners of thicker smokers and Kamado Grills are a perfect match.

Owners of BBQ restaurants, or BBQ competitors, wanting to have more options for monitoring meat in several smokers.

For anyone looking for more range because of where your smoker is located compared to your home.

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Where To Buy

The RFX is available to purchase directly from Thermoworks. And be sure to take advantage of the bundle savings on the starter kit.

You can also purchase at better BBQ supply stores around the US.

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