Grill The Perfect Meat Every Time
- jdmeyer83
- Apr 29, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 30, 2025
TL;DR: If you're serious about grilling or smoking meat and want a wireless thermometer you can truly rely on, the ThermoWorks RFX is an amazing option. With solid connectivity, a 1000°F heat tolerance, and a flexible app-controlled setup, it eliminates the guesswork and hassle of traditional thermometers. While the app isn't quite as polished as some competitors, the performance and reliability of the RFX more than make up for it.
Pro's: ~Excellent Connectivity ~Impressive 1500 Foot Range ~High 1000 Degree F Threshold ~Supports 50+ Meat Probes ~Separate And More Accurate Ambient Temperature Sensor ~Easy To Setup | Con's: ~App Lacks Guided Cooks ~Ambient Sensor Is Wired And Needs Separate Setup ~Higher Cost Compared To Some Competitors ~Probes Can Be Hard To Remove When Hot ~No Probe Cradle Battery Indicator |
With summer approaching, grilling meat remains one of the best pastimes during the season. There's nothing quite like enjoying a warm summer day by heading outside to grill burgers or steaks and having a great time with friends and family. I count myself among those who love grilling, but I haven't yet mastered the craft. This is what prompted me to purchase the product I'm reviewing today: the ThermoWorks RFX Wireless Meat Thermometer.
There are numerous meat thermometers available, ranging from instant-read handheld thermometers to wired leave-in thermometers, and the latest trend, wireless leave-in thermometers. I grew up using the handheld instant-read type, which you insert into the meat as it nears readiness to check its current temperature. However, with the advent of more advanced options, I've begun experimenting with leave-in meat thermometers. The advantage of these thermometers is that you insert them into the meat and set up the cook on your cell phone. This allows real-time monitoring throughout the cooking process, letting you know precisely when to flip the meat, remove it from the grill to rest, and when it's ready to eat. It essentially eliminates all the guesswork in grilling.
My first experience with a wireless meat thermometer was with the Meater Block. This was Meater's top-of-the-line product a couple of years ago when I bought it. It had a large charging block with four meat probes, each equipped with multiple sensors on the tip and an ambient sensor on the back. After about a year of using the Meater, I encountered connection issues during cooking. Despite the block being close to the meat and my Wi-Fi, the probes would disconnect multiple times mid-cook, making it unreliable. I then conducted further research and came across a relatively new product, the ThermoWorks RFX.
In the Box:
The ThermoWorks RFX thermometers include three main components: the individual meat probe, the RFX Gateway receiver, and a separate ambient temperature sensor. I purchased the four-probe set to ensure I always have enough meat probes when hosting family and friends. The gateway supports over 50 probes at once, which is excessive for a typical household but reassuring to know it has that capability. Along with the meat probes came the RFX Gateway and the ambient temperature sensor.
Setup:
Setting up the meat probes for the first time was incredibly simple. Upon downloading and opening the app, it prompted me to turn on my RFX gateway. The gateway acts as a wireless receiving hub that connects all the probes and sends the signal to my phone. Once in the app, I navigated to the section to add a new device, selected the gateway, and my phone found it immediately. The meat probes were just as easy to connect. You add a new device, select the meat probe, and as soon as you remove the meat probe from the charging base, it connects to the app. You can then name the meat probe and assign it a color. The color is significant because the meat probes come with individual silicone rings that help identify which probe is in which piece of meat.
The gateway and probes arrive fully charged and ready for use. The gateway is powered using the provided AC plug and USB-C cable, while the probes are charged individually in their cradle with a AA battery. When not in use, I keep the gateway charging in my kitchen to ensure it's ready when needed. The probes also stay on the cradle when not in use, ensuring they are fully charged and prepared. A drawback of the probe cradles is the lack of a battery life indicator. If the cradle's battery depletes and you haven't used the probes for a while, you might not realize it, and they could be uncharged when needed. I wish there was an indicator on the cradle or in the app to display the remaining battery life of the AA battery.
The final step before grilling is setting up the ambient temperature sensor. This is one of the significant differences between the RFX and other wireless meat thermometers like the Meater. The ambient temperature sensor is separate from the probe, plugs into the gateway, and clips onto the barbecue grates. Initially, this seemed inconvenient, but I soon realized it was easy to set up and far more accurate than having sensors on the probes themselves. Most of the time, I don't even use the ambient temperature sensor since maintaining grill temperature isn't crucial for short cooks like steaks or pork chops. However, it becomes essential for long cooks, such as brisket or pork shoulder, when smoking meat. Ensuring the ambient temperature is within a few degrees of your target is important.
Use:
I've had multiple opportunities to use the RFX meat thermometers, from chicken in the oven to cooking steaks and pork chops on my BBQ, to cooking a brisket on my Green Egg. Each experience has been excellent.
Cooking chicken in the oven is straightforward: insert the meat probe and let it cook until it reaches around 155°F. Then, remove it and let it rest until it reaches 165°F, at which point it's ready to cut.
Cooking steaks and pork chops is a bit different because you need to sear the meat first. If you've used other leave-in meat thermometers, you probably know they don't tolerate the high heat of searing meat, which typically exceeds 600°F. This likely caused issues with my Meater thermometer. However, the RFX can withstand temperatures up to 1000°F, a unique feature compared to its competitors. This means I could sear my steaks and pork chops on high heat without worrying about damaging the RFX probe.
The last thing I cooked was a brisket flat in my Green Egg. For those unfamiliar with the Green Egg, it's a charcoal grill shaped like an egg that offers excellent temperature control and heat convection, simply using an air vent on the bottom and top to regulate airflow. These grills are perfect for low-temperature slow cooking, as you can set the temperature to 225°F to 250°F, and it will burn for over 12 hours easily. This was my first time using the ambient temperature sensor along with the meat probe to monitor the cook. My brisket flat took 12 hours in the Green Egg to reach 205°F. The ThermoWorks app allows you to set alarms to alert you if the ambient temperature rises or falls beyond a certain range, ensuring you're notified if the temperature gets too high or too low, possibly indicating the charcoal has burned out. I didn't encounter these issues, but having an easy way to monitor it offered significant peace of mind.
The absolute best feature that ultimately led me to purchase this product is its connectivity. As I mentioned earlier, the Meater probes would frequently disconnect during the cook. The Meater uses Bluetooth to connect the probe to the block. In contrast, the RFX meat thermometer doesn't use Bluetooth, resulting in a significantly stronger connection. The RFX thermometers connect using a 1500-foot range wireless frequency when in line of sight. In obstructed areas, this range might reduce to 560 feet. That said, because the RFX gateway is compact and easy to maneuver, it's simple to position the gateway right next to the cooking appliance. It then uses Wi-Fi to send data to the ThermoWorks cloud, allowing you to view the cook data on your phone from anywhere. I've used the RFX meat thermometers at least 20 times since buying them, and they have never once disconnected.
A word of caution when taking the probes out of your meat: the probes can become quite hot, depending on how long the meat has rested, and they may get slightly stuck depending on the type of meat. The ends of the probes lack grip, and I discovered that using oven mitts is challenging because they also lack good grip and can be cumbersome. I've found that rubber jar opener pads, the flat circular pads used to grip jar lids, offer excellent grip and make it easy to twist and remove the probe.
App:
Although I'm not directly comparing the ThermoWorks RFX to the Meater, since I've mentioned it a few times, I will say that the Meater app is slightly superior to the ThermoWorks app. The Meater app guides you step-by-step through cooking specific meats and provides recommendations for finished temperatures based on your desired doneness. It also automatically alerts you when to remove the meat and how long to let it rest. The ThermoWorks app is more manual, offering a guide with the temperatures needed for the meat's final stages to achieve your desired temperature. You'll need to experiment with when to remove the meat from the heat to let it rest and reach the final temperature. While it took some trial and error, I've figured out the proper timing for the meats I cook.
Conclusion:
Although there's a slight learning curve in using these meat thermometers, the ThermoWorks RFX has proven to be a reliable meat thermometer for various grilling or baking tasks. Its long-range signal allows you to maintain a connection anywhere in your house, while the cloud connection and Wi-Fi let you monitor the cook from anywhere. You can connect as little as one to more than 50 meat probes to a single gateway, offering extreme versatility. The temperature threshold of 1000°F means you can sear even at the highest temperature settings without damaging the probes. These meat thermometers have made grilling meat extremely simple and have removed the guesswork. They've consistently provided perfectly cooked meat without the need for strict monitoring.
N.X.T. L.V.L. Score
N – Needs Met: 10/10
I bought the RFX to eliminate guesswork in grilling, and it’s done that flawlessly. I've used it 20+ times across oven, BBQ, and smoker scenarios with consistent results. It delivers perfectly cooked meat with minimal effort.
X-Factor: 9/10
The 1000°F probe tolerance is a huge perk, especially compared to Meater. Also, being able to monitor your cook from anywhere via Wi-Fi/cloud is amazing. The only deduction is the app lacks the “cool” guided experience some competitors offer.
T – Technology: 9/10
The tech is impressive—long-range wireless, no Bluetooth dropouts, and a scalable probe system. It’s highly engineered but easy to use. Minor point off for the app feeling more manual than some competitors.
L – Longevity: 10/10
I've used them 20+ times without a single disconnect or issue, and the build quality seems made to last. With the high heat tolerance, this thing is built to endure. It has a great design for long-term use.
V – Value: 8/10
It’s on the pricier side depending on how many probes you want, but you clearly feel it’s worth every penny due to reliability and performance. Not cheap, but justifiable. It may be overkill for casual grillers.
L – Learning Curve: 7/10
Setup is simple, but learning how to time meat removal/resting is on you. The app doesn't guide you like Meater does, so some trial and error is required. It's not hard, but takes a few cooks to dial in.
Total Score: 53/60 88% B+
Thanks for taking the time to read my deep dive into the ThermoWorks RFX! If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly as serious about great food and smart gear as I am—and I appreciate you. Whether you're just getting into grilling or you're a seasoned pitmaster looking for reliable tools, I hope this review helped you make a more informed decision. Got questions about the RFX or want to share your own grilling gear favorites? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you. And if you enjoyed this review, don’t forget to check out the rest of my product breakdowns here on Next Level Reviews. Stay fired up and keep cooking with confidence!
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