High elevation can throw off your brisket cook, unless you know how to adjust. At a competition 4,500 feet above sea level, champion pitmaster Christie Vanover leaned on instinct, science and ThermoWorks’ new Bluetooth upgrade for the Wireless RFX to land a top brisket score.
Table of Contents
Vanover the head cook for Team Grils Can Grill, recently put the new Bluetooth-only mode of the ThermoWorks RFX wireless thermometer to the test during a high-elevation BBQ competition and it didn’t disappoint.
“I’ve tested several wireless meat thermometers, and they’ve all had issues with connectivity in real-world barbecue environments,” said Vanover. “But ThermoWorks got this one right.”
Grilling Without Wi-Fi? No Problem
During a recent competition in Blackfoot, Idaho, at a remote airport with no reliable internet, Vanover leaned on the RFX’s new Bluetooth-only mode to monitor her cook. The feature eliminates the need for Wi-Fi or hotspots, which are notoriously unreliable in competition settings.
“Now I can finally use a wireless thermometer at a barbecue competition,” Vanover said. “The Bluetooth-only setting worked perfectly. As long as I stayed within close range of the Gateway, I had consistent, accurate readings.”
She noted that while Bluetooth has a shorter range than Wi-Fi, it’s plenty effective at a 10×20-foot cook site.
Custom Turn-in Boxes and Ice Cream Sandwiches
The Idaho contest featured 33 teams and some standout hospitality.
“As soon as we got there, the organizers, Steve and Stacy, had custom turn-in box carriers waiting for us with our team names embossed,” said Vanover. “They even brought us donuts in the morning and delivered ice cream sandwiches after turn-ins. I felt like royalty.”
Vanover placed third in chicken and eighth in brisket, crediting her performance in part to the RFX’s accuracy – even at high elevation, where water boils at just 204F degrees.
RFX Setup: Easy as Toggling Bluetooth
There are two ways to set up the Bluetooth. Open up the ThermoWorks app, tap Gateway under your devices. Then, tap on the gear icon. It’s in the bottom right corner. Toggle the Wi-Fi off and then tap the connect button under the Bluetooth section.
Once it’s connected, the Bluetooth icon will turn blue and then the light on your Gateway will no longer be blue.
Option two, which is what Vanover did in Idaho, is for when you’re out of range and can’t connect to your Wi-Fi at all.
Power on your RFX gateway and open up the app. Then, wait for the Bluetooth icon to turn blue in the app. When you’re in Bluetooth mode, the light on your gateway is going to turn red.
“When you take your probe out of the charger, then it should start to register the ambient temperature right away on your devices. That’s how you’ll know the Bluetooth works,” said Vanover.
The mode is available at no extra cost and doesn’t compromise the RFX’s precision.
Looking Ahead
Vanover’s next cook will take place in Salt Lake City at the Blaze of 47 competition in late July. With elevations affecting cook times, she plans to lean heavily on her ThermoWorks gear.
“I’ve got an article on GirlsCanGrill.com all about cooking at elevation,” she said. “Trust your tools. Trust your feel. And don’t let the numbers get in your head.”
Listen to Episode 1-22: RFX Meat: Thermoworks unveils its first wireless meat thermometer
