Other Grills To Consider
This grill size is in direct competition with the Weber Smokefire EX6 that I tested a while back.
Both grills boast a large cooking area, and both carry a bit larger pellet consumption rate. I definitely favored the Black Label grates over those on the Weber s grates are not bad by any means.
Innovations and technology would definitely go to Weber . They have several innovative features including a low pellet sensor, a smoke boost mode, and cook recipe settings already built into the app. With that said, the Smokefire severely lacks a food prep area unless you purchase additional components.
Temperature consistency is very good for both of these grills. Though both have searing capability, the edge goes to the Black Label series with the direct searing mode capable of up to 1100°F. I think its fair to say that the competition between these two is fierce!
But Traeger Is A Little Stricter
According to some of their warranties the warranty is voided if you use another companys wood pellets.
Now, you might think this is a clever little legal note to force you into sticking with their wood pellets .
Still, cheaper wood pellets can be problematic and actually clog up your pellet grill with glue and other rubbish so this might actually be the reason for Traegers warranty wood pellet clause.
Since we know pit boss pellets are 100% wood, there shouldnt be an issue, but if your Traeger grill is under warranty and youre worried about it becoming void, then Id recommend avoiding using another companys wood pellets.
At least for now. Once its out of warranty though, fire up those pit boss pellets in your Traeger and youll see that it works just as well.
Pit Boss Vs Traeger Pellet Grill: The Ultimate Comparison Guide To Help You Decide Which One Should You Buy
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Wood pellets grills are a good addition to every house because they combine everything you love about a smoker and a standard grill. We will cross-reference Pit Boss vs Traeger grills and explain how they vary.
Traeger and Pit Boss are among the first companies to mass-produce wood pellet grills and are the most popular. Pellet grills are very versatile. You can smoke things like pork, chicken, sausage or sear a good steak.
Because they are so simple to use, these grills are ideal for big gatherings and everyday cooking. Consumers recognize the value of a good pellet grill and often compare the two most prominent brands in the market. In this article, we compare two of the most popular brand, the Pit Boss and Traeger brands. We will show you the main differences and their most popular grill series.
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Pit Boss 700sc Best Wood Pellet Grill
Many consumers think that the size of this pit boss grill makes it immobile. It is not true. The wheels at the bottom ensure that you can move it around without any problem.
You can lock the wheels in their place to ensure that the grill is entirely stationary. The cooking surface on offer is 700 in² which is perfect for small get-togethers and larger families. Moreover, this pit boss pellet grill consists of a side shelf which will allow you to prepare your ingredients quite easily before putting them on the grill surface.
The steel body is powder coated which helps you in using it outdoors. Moreover, the cabinet enclosure in the grill ensures that you can place the essential condiments and utensils. The heavy-duty steel components of the pellet grill reduce the maintenance considerably.
There is a digital control board which allows you to select the style of cooking which you want to incorporate. Hence, you wont have to monitor your food while cooking consistently. The heavy-duty grill ensures proper disposal of heat according to the cooking type which you select.
The Flame broiler reduces the chances of any flare-ups. Since it is powered through 100% natural wood pellets, you can get that authentic taste. You can vary the temperature between 180°F to 500°F. You can either set the temperature as per your requirement or select the cooking technique which you want to use like roasting, searing, smoking, baking.
Pros:
Which Pellet Grill Should You Buy
Traeger and Pit Boss manufacture the most popular pellet grills on the market today, but brands like Z Grills are moving up fast and sell amazing grills, including the very popular 700 series.
If you are looking for the best quality and top technology, then Traeger will deliver but if you are looking for the best value per dollar, Z Grill is a brand you should look into.
If you are in the market for an affordable pellet grill, Pit Boss offers many options. Pit Boss also offers good vertical pellet smokers, and Pit Boss makes a great portable grill too!
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What Could Be Improved
Even though this is a great grill, there are a few things that could be improved with the Pit Boss 820D3:
- Weight The grill is heavy. That could be either a pro or a con depending on how you look at it. Well built = heavy, but heavy = more difficult to move around.
- The Heat Diverter The rounded shape is not my favorite. It makes it harder to use a sheet of foil for easier cleanup. If your grill isnt perfectly level it causes the grease to build up and run over the edge into the main grill body.
What Does A Pit Boss Grill Do
Pit Boss pellets are the secret component that make their grills so popular.
As fuel for the fire, their all-natural hardwood pellets come in six flavors to give added flavor and aroma to your grill. These include: Apple, Competition Blend, Mesquite, Classic Blend, Hickory, and Fruit Blend.
But no matter what flavor you spring for, its the SearZone plate that makes it all possible. A Pit Boss invention, its designed specifically so that your grill reaches high temperatures with the pellets, while also excelling at slow cooks.
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Pit Boss 440 Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill
You have a huge choice when it comes to portable pellet grills.
We picked the 440 Deluxe, although you could just as easily go with the Sportsman Portable which comes with folding legs.
The cooking space is divided between a 340 square inch main grill, and a 100 square inches on the upper rack. Both grills are made out of porcelain coated steel.
The rack is removable which comes in handy when its time to take your meat off, just take the whole grill off.
This model includes a handy side shelf, and includes tool hooks for easy storage.
The 5lb hopper is definitely on the small side, so this isnt a good grill if you want to set up a cook and then leave for the day.
Our Overall Pit Boss Vs Traeger Winner
Both Pit Boss and Traeger are solid pellet smoker choices that you cant really go wrong with. High quality, accurate temperature control, the ability to smoke and grill, plus, decent warranties, make these two brands up there with the market leaders.
If budget is a concern, Pit Boss does stand out because its just great value for money.
But, if you can afford it, the sturdiness, extra temperature control and added WiFIRE connectivity protect the Traeger from quickly becoming outdated.
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Pit Boss 72700s Pellet Grill With Upgraded Cart
Why youll love this:
The top Pit Boss wood pellet grill that money can buy is the 72700S, which now comes with an upgraded cart.
That cart is more dependable than previous carts and comes with rugged wheels for pushing or moving the grill across any type of floor or ground and a small area for storage. Though it comes with a more standard temperature knob, it does have a digital screen that shows you the temperature you selected.
Cast-iron grids coated in porcelain sit directly over the heat for even cooking and further from the heat for warming. Youll get 700 square inches of cooking room too.
How Do I Return To Pit Boss
Unused Pit Boss items can be returned up to 60 days after your purchase. If youre not happy with your Pit Boss grill smoker combo or any other order, follow the steps below to make a successful return.
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Best Pit Boss Austin Xl Review
As I discussed at the start of this article, Pit Boss produces a huge range of pellet grills. Well, their best seller of all these models for quite a few years has been the Austin XL a larger family-sized pellet grill/smoker which is commonly found at Walmart for around $500. The Austin XL has the obvious benefits of providing a larger cooking area than the above Pit Boss pellet grills while still offering the high-temperature searing provided with direct-flame access. I think the best review of the Pit Boss Austin XL currently out there is by The Barbecue Lab.
The Barbeque Lab review of the Pit Boss Austin XL
As Dave from the Barbeque Lab notes in his review you are getting a lot of grill for around $500, however, as a result, you need to be realistic on the thickness of the steel and the build quality for this price point. As with most Pit Boss grills, assembly is required, and Dave did have some trouble with broken screws, but the parent company Danson did resolve the issue pretty quickly.
When it comes to temperature control the Austin XL is fitted with a traditional time-based algorithm control panel which does lack the temperature accuracy of PID pellet grills, such as Pit Bosss more premium products referenced below. For instance, Dave was a little disappointed that it wasnt possible to set the grill to 275 degrees, as past 250 degrees the Austin XL jumps up in 50-degree increments.
Pit Boss Grills 440 Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill
Heres another one from pit boss- 440 Deluxe Wood Pellet Grill. The main difference between this and the FB700 are the cooking space and little additions.
This unit comes with several features that are only identical to the deluxe family. For example, the beautiful black copper and black finish makes this unit more aesthetically pleasing.
Quick features
- Porcelain-coated Stainless steel material
- 5lb hopper capacity
This unit lets you do more than grilling. You can also barbeque, braise, roast, bake, sear, and Char-grill. Thats one of the features that I love about Pit Boss.
Cooking space
The 440 square inches of total cooking space can conveniently feed a family of 4-5 hungry people.
However, the main grilling area is 340 square inches, while the additional removable cooking rack takes the remaining 100 square inches.
Pit boss added a bottle opener to the pellet grill.
Set and forget cooking style
Do you hate to babysit your grill? This unit from Put boss has got your back. Simply add pellets to the hopper, choose your desired temperature, and the grill will take it over from there. Its a unique feature that works perfectly for low and slow cooks.
Digital temp control system
The temperature control feature of the Pit Boss Grills 440 Deluxe is digital. You can control the temperature, adjust the burn length, and select what kind of cooking you want to do.
Material
Convection system
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Is Z Grill A Good Brand
Outstanding value for money The combination of size, construction, updated digital control system free grill cover at this price point makes the Z grill the best value for money pellet grill on the market. Easy to clean The grease bucket collects drained grease, and if you wrap the pain its very easy to cleanout.
More Stores To Buy Pit Boss Pellet Grills
Lowes
- Pro Series Elite 1600 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series II 600 Wood Pellet Grill
- Platinum Laredo 1000 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series II 1150 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series II 600 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series Elite 1600 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series II 600 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series II 850 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series I 1100 Wood Pellet Grill
- Pro Series I 820 Wood Pellet Grill
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Is The Pit Boss A Good Smoker
Pit Boss smokers make an ideal choice for people who want high value for money without compromising the quality and operational efficiency. Everything from a wide temperature range to precise heat control and high-end construction to reliable customer care services makes Pit Boss stand out from the rest.
Traeger Lil Tex Elite 22 Pellet Grill
Why youll love it:
The Lil Tex Elite 22 Pellet Grill is a great example of the smaller wood pellet grills made by Traeger.
Its smaller size makes it suitable for an apartment balcony or a small patio, but it still gives you more than 400 square inches of cooking grates that can hold more than 20 burgers. Its hopper can hold 10 or more pounds of pellets and works with the auger to keep those pellets moving through the grill for extra smoke.
A digital thermostat increases the temperature range and lets you smoke, grill, roast, bake and BBQ inside. Traeger gives you a three-year warranty too.
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Reasons Behind The Fluctuation Of Pit Boss Pellet Grill Temperature
The pan size can also affect the temperature. If the pan size is not right, then the airflow may be hindered thus, make sure that the size is optimum and there is a minimum 1-inch gap between the edge of the pan and the grill.
Weather conditions like humidity, hot weather, wind, rain, cold weather, and sunlight can be one of the reasons why the temperature fluctuates.
Mild temperature fluctuation is normal. When pellets are delivered, the temperature goes up, and when the pallet delivery is stopped, the temperature can fluctuate slightly.
Some more general reasons are – opening the grill door too often, heavy load of food, etc.
Pit Boss Vs Traeger: Is It Worth The Premium
Two of the most popular brands in pellet smokers, two different price points and a whole heap of models to choose from! Its a lot to take in and youre totally right in wanting to make the best purchase decision for your needs. You are, after all, planning on getting A LOT of good smoking years out of this barbecue.
In this guide, we dive into the differences between Pit Boss vs Traeger pellet grills, objectively highlighting where each company shines and where theyre a bit behind.
Youll also find reviews of the most popular pellet grills from both Pit Boss and Traeger, followed by a side by side comparison so you can clearly see how these brands stack up in real life. Lets jump in!
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Pit Boss 77425 25 Gas Smoker
The sixth on the list is famous for its dual burner mechanism that enhances the desirability of this machine from Pit Boss. it also helps users in maintaining the temperature within a set range of 100 to 350 degrees. Additionally, the smoker features high-quality steel that increases the durability of the device.
Cooking Space of 676 sq. Inches
The 2.5 gas smoker provides users with a cooking space of approximately 676 square inches. In terms of cooking space, having enough doesnt come with so much weight. The overall weight of the smoker is less than 50 lbs, meaning you can quickly transport this smoker from one place to the other.
Ergonomic View Window
It is uncommon to find a smoker that offers a view window within this price tag. Indeed, it is one of the most attractive touchpoints for customers, since they can have highly specialized grills at a very reasonable price. The presence of the view window ensures effective monitoring of the inside temperature from users.
Compact Design
One of the most admirable aspects of this 2.5 smoker from Pit Boss is its compact 21.5 x 23 x 41-inch design. Having compact kitchen equipment saves users from a lot of hassles. In particular, it is nothing less than a blessing for people who are living in small apartments with tiny kitchen spaces. It also allows for easy transportation from one place to the other.
Pit Boss 820fb Grill Features
Oven Temperature Control
The Pit Boss Grill 820FBs oven temperature control thermometer allows you to have a precise temperature. It has a Dial-In Temperature Control with LED read-out for your convenience. This means that you can rely on uniform heat to make your grilling into perfection. And the use of a 100% hardwood pellets instead of charcoal or propane allows you to enjoy the amazing wood flavor with a simple use of the oven temperature control.
Perfect Size
It has over 800 sq inches of grilling space, and the temperature ranges from 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. With its versatility, you have all the reasons to cook out every meal. Inviting friends and family for supper has never been so fun and exciting with this grill. Smoke, grill, sear, saute, stir-fry, roast and bake anything as what you usually do in your indoor kitchen.
Built to Last
Its very easy to clean. It is a 20lbs hopper capacity with 100% hardwood pellets. Its engineered with heavy duty steel and solid legs making it durable and long lasting. The grills cooking surface is porcelain-coated, cast-iron main grid. Plus it has two large easy rolling wheels that allow you to move the grill easily from one place to another. It is not difficult to assemble at all. With the help of the guides and instruction manual, youll have your Pit Boss 820FB Pellet Grill standing in no much of a time.
Ease of Use
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