ThermoWorks has launched the RFX Meat Mini, a shorter version of its RFX Meat wireless grilling probe designed for small cuts. The original probe's 4.7-inch length, with a minimum immersion line of 3.15 inches, made it a poor fit for items like filet mignon or individual salmon portions. The Mini addresses that gap with a maximum immersion line of 2.6 inches and a minimum of just 2.36 inches.
The Mini keeps most of the original's features, including four internal temperature sensors, an IP69K waterproof rating that makes it dishwasher safe, and the ability to withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It charges from a block powered by a AAA battery, which ThermoWorks says is good for over 175 charges.
The main trade-off is battery life. The Mini lasts up to 48 hours on a charge, compared with over 65 hours for the RFX Meat. That should be enough for the longest low-and-slow barbecue session at home, and the probe can be docked between uses. Like its larger sibling, the Mini uses a 433MHz radio frequency instead of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Radio waves resist interference from thick grill or smoker walls, and the RFX Gateway accepts a separate wired ambient probe, which helps avoid the evaporative cooling errors that affect wireless probes with ambient sensors on their tips.
The RFX Meat Mini costs $99, the same as the RFX Meat when it is not on sale. ThermoWorks is offering a 20 percent discount on the Mini when bought with the RFX Gateway or the RFX Meat Starter Kit. Because the probe uses a Sub-1GHz frequency, a Gateway is required to use it.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing