Elky Whittaker, aka The Smokin’ Elk, began barbecuing as a hobby 10 years ago. Today, he has 262k Instagram followers drooling over his creations, teaches several sold-out cooking classes a week at his BBQ school, and grills up a storm alongside other iconic barbecuers all over the world.

From mouthwatering Thai-inspired curries to masterful American-style briskets, one key thing has been instrumental to his learning: temperature. 

Smart Barbecuing 

In his content and BBQ classes, Elky demonstrates how temperature monitoring and control influence tenderness, crust, and flavour. He’s always used Thermpen instant-read meat probes and wired thermometers to do this. 

This year, he introduced wireless monitoring to his setup for the first time. Smart probes enable barbecuers to monitor their meat and pit temperatures from their phones or tablets, ensuring their cooks stay on track without lifting the lid. The probes are completely wire-free, so they don’t inhibit any cooking processes, such as rotisserie or flipping steaks. 

These devices have been on the market for a while, typically using Bluetooth technology to transmit the readings. But until the launch of RFX, a unique, radio-frequency-based setup that offers stable, long-range readings, Elky wasn’t interested. “I haven’t been able to get behind other smart probes because they’re too temperamental with the Bluetooth connectivity,” he explains. “But with RFX, I’ve had no dropouts.”

Trusted Tools

Just like for most masters of their craft, trustworthy tools enhance Elky’s BBQ experience. They make cooking easier and more enjoyable, and the results are even more delicious. RFX does just this. Built for barbecuing, it holds up against high heat and liquids, and blasts readings through thick ceramic walls. “I just love the fact that RFX is reliable. That’s the number one thing for me—reliability. I like products that do what they’re supposed to. RFX does that, and it makes cooking a lot easier.”

He tells us that his students gather round to watch the temperatures climb on the app, and cheer with excitement when the alert announces the cook is done. Once they experience the seamless tech, complete confidence, and juicy results in action, they’re sold. 

Wireless Freedom

Cooking meat on a BBQ often includes multiple steps and processes. For tomahawks, this often involves cooking them slowly over a lower heat, then searing, and finally resting. Elky used RFX to guide this process from start to finish in his BBQ Beginner’s class, even keeping the meat probe in during the rest to check when it’s time to carve. 

“It worked really well because we didn’t have to keep taking it off, checking the temperature, and putting it back on the BBQ when it wasn’t done. It just makes the whole process easier,” he explains. “Once the temperature got towards 56–57 °C, it was time to slice the steaks, and they were a perfect medium rare.”

Pit Perfection 

Pit control is essential for bringing meat up to temperature at the right pace, especially for low and slow cooks. This is a key learning at Elky’s American-style BBQ classes, where students learn how to perfect tender smoked brisket and smoky pulled pork. 

Some smart thermometer brands have integrated their pit sensor into the base of their meat probe, but Elky describes this as “a big bugbear”. 

Evaporative cooling from the meat lowers the surrounding temperature, and the meat itself absorbs heat, both of which skew the sensor's reading, making it inaccurate. 

RFX comes with a separate Pro-Series Air Probe that clips onto your grill grate. Elky explains how this combination of accuracy and freedom is invaluable: “The RFX’s pit temperatures are precise, and you don’t even know the probe is there; you’re still free to sear, flip, or cook however you like.”

Elky’s Verdict:

• Reliability wins: No dropouts give him complete confidence in RFX.
• Truly versatile: He uses it to monitor everything from brisket to steaks to rotisserie. 
• A guiding light: RFX’s temperatures prompt every stage of the cooking process, right up to resting and carving.
• The perfect pit setup: The RFX’s pit probe is accurate and inconspicuous—the ideal combination for barbecuers.

For Elky, it’s simple: great BBQ starts with total trust in your tools. And that’s why RFX has earned its place in his shack. 

The Smokin' Elk

Fire Cooking Fanatic, BBQ School owner

@thesmokinelk

"I'm Elky, also known as The Smokin' Elk. I absolutely love cooking to fire and the Thermapen helps me up my game by cooking to the perfect temperature, every time. It's the one BBQ tool I wouldn't be without!"