Are Pellet Smokers Worth It
Pellet smoker grills are flawed but still valuable, depending on what kind of cook you are. If you want to grill the perfect steak, pork chop or carne asada, consider a charcoal or gas grill. If you’re interested in smoky ribs, pulled pork, burnt ends, chicken, turkey and really any other meat , pellet grills are worth the money, as they effectively eliminate the learning barbecuing learning curve associated with manual smokers and smoking on a charcoal grill. The convenience of Wi-Fi controls, which is present in many mid-market pellet grills, accentuates this.
Best Smoker Grill Combo Bbqs For 2022 Money
Buying a dual grill smoker combo saves money, and space in your yard, compared to buying two or more separate pieces of equipment. On these multi-purpose cookers, You can grill, smoke, roast, bake, and sear. Here we look at some of the best ones available and what you should look for when buying.
Today, were going to help you choose the best smoker grill combo to suit your precise budget, needs, and desires.
You will learn what differentiates good models from bad, what features you should look for, and what to avoid. We discuss a few of the top models available today and generally help you to make the right buying decision.
I have a ton of BBQ and smoking equipment, more than one thing for every job. This includes three kettle BBQs, two Kamado Joes, a WSM smoker, a wood-fired oven, rotisserie attachments, and much more besides. Im a bit of a BBQ nut.
However, not everybody has the obsession, space, or the budget for quite so many bits of equipment as I do. And thats why we put together this article.
A smoker grill combo is a space-saving, money-saving, dual-purpose bit of outdoor cooking equipment that can benefit many who do not wish to have two or more single-purpose bits of kit.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best BBQ Smoker Grill
Best Overall Grill Smoker Combo Kamado Joe Classic Ii Ceramic Charcoal Grill
In our opinion, Kamado ceramic grills are some of the most versatile grills on the planet.
They are great for both grilling and smoking although you may need to purchase a heat deflector accessory for smoking.
Fueled by charcoal, Kamado grills are exceptionally well insulated which means they can hold steady temperatures for many hours without you having to babysit them.
While you cant go wrong with a Big Green Egg, for the money we like the Kamado Joe Classic II .
You can choose from a few different sizes. The 18 is the sweet spot for most people although you can opt for the Big Joe if you need extra grilling area.
The 18 model gives you 406 square inches of grilling area and is capable of smoking temperatures around 225°F all the way up to searing at 750°F
Kamado Joe has included some cool innovations like the divide and conquer cooking system which lets you grill different foods at different heights.
Theres also the airlift hinge which reduces the weight of the dome by 96%. A handy feature to have with a grill this solid.
What we like:
What we dont like:
- On the expensive side You definitely pay for the construction quality and if you need to cook for a large group youll need to go for the more expensive larger option.
Its worth noting that Kamado Joe released a slightly updated Joe Classic III version in 2019 with a few improvements to the divide & conquer system and a new feature that increases smoke circulation for supposedly better barbecue taste.
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What Is A Pellet Gas Combo Grill
A pellet gas combo grill is a type of grill that uses both pellet fuel and natural gas or propane. These grills are not to be confused with other combo grills like charcoal and propane combo.
This type of grill is becoming more and more popular because it offers the best of both worlds: the convenience of a gas grill and the flavor of a charcoal grill. In this blog post, we will list the 3 best pellet gas combo grills on the market right now. We will also include a buyers guide to help you choose the right one for your needs.
When it comes to grills, there are a lot of different options to choose from. But if youre looking for a good pellet and gas combo grill, then youve come to the right place.
We did our research and looked for brands offering this level of versatility, and combining that with customer feedback, we came up with the list below.
Traeger Timberline Gen 2 Models
The latest models in the Traeger line-up are redesigned/updated models of their top-of-the-range offerings, now referred to as the Traeger Timberline Gen 2.
Do these new Traeger grills feature gas burners? Nope, so youre probably wondering why Im mentioning them in an article on combo grills. Well, the reason is, while they dont feature any gas burners they are actually a combo grill with the help of their induction hob.
Both Traeger Timberline Gen 2 models come with an induction hob mounted on the left side shelf for fast high heat searing: Images Traeger.com
If youre not sure what an induction hob is or how it works I would encourage you to read my full article on the Timberline Gen 2. However, briefly, its a hob that uses an electromagnet to heat up metal pans, specifically metal pans/skillets etc that have high iron content.
Therefore, cast iron cookware is ideal for an induction hob, provided its enamel-coated, otherwise the rough finish of raw cast iron would scratch the glass hob top to bits.
The induction cooktop addresses a previous weakness of Traeger grills which was high heat searing potential: Video Traeger.com
An induction hob can get up to 700 degrees for high heat searing twice as fast as a standard radiant heat electric hob or even a gas hob. Hence, the addition of an induction hob has created a new type of combo pellet grill/smoker.
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Advantages Of Having A Grill/smoker Combo
Versatility
First, you should understand the basic difference between grilling and smoking. When you grill food, youre cooking it quickly over high heat. Most backyard cookouts use this method for hamburgers and hot dogs. Its also suitable for hearty vegetables like eggplant.
Smoking, by contrast, involves cooking large cuts of meat very slowly using low indirect heat. The process takes several hours, sometimes lasting for the better part of a day. When you hear someone from the Southern United States talk about barbecue, this is what theyre referring to.
When you own one of these beauties, you get the best of both worlds. Not only will you be able to sear steaks and chops to perfection, you can convert the cooking chamber into a smoker for slow-cooked ribs and brisket.
Flavor
While gas grills can be fired up with the touch of a button, some busy grillers bemoan the lack of authentic wood-fired flavor. If your gas grill is outfitted with a smoker box, you dont have to sacrifice taste in favor of convenience.
Of course, not every model uses gas as its primary fuel source. Some of them are equipped to burn charcoal, and others might use wood pellets. There are even some that can run using either gas or charcoal, according to preference. For your convenience, weve broken this review into subcategories: Best Gas Grill Smoker Combo, Best Charcoal Grill Smoker Combo, Best Pellet Smoker Grill Combo, and Best Gas Charcoal Smoker Grill Combo, among others.
Efficiency
Pit Boss 700 Fb Pellet Grill
Pit Boss Classic 700
- Large 700 square inch cooking surface
Cons
- Pit Boss pellets recommended to avoid clogs
This is a great starter pellet grill considering its price, build and capabilities. Itâs super easy to use with a dial temperature control and easy-to-read display. Thanks to the slide-to-expose flame broiler, you can also grill over direct flame â in addition to the standard pellet grill smoking, grilling and barbecuing â plus, you can bake, braise, roast and sear your food on this all-in-one appliance. And with a 21-pound hopper capacity and 700 square inches of space to cook on including the second tier rack, the manufacturer claims you can make over 30 burgers at once! This grill also has porcelain-coated grates, which can make for easier cleanup.
⢠Dimensions: 24.8″ x 22″ x 43″⢠Grilling area: 700 sq. in.⢠Hopper capacity: 21 pounds
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Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Freelance food writer and cookbook author Donna Currie is an expert on all things food, from cookbooks to cooking gadgets. She’s also a product tester for The Spruce Eats and has cooked with every type of grill out there, including pellet grills.
This article was updated by Camryn Rabideau, a grilling expert and product tester for The Spruce. She’s tested several pellet grills included in this article, including the Z Grills ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill, Char-Grill Wood Pro Pellet Grill, and Oklahoma Joe’s Rider Deluxe Pellet Grill, and she interviewed Jess Pryles, a grilling expert and author of “Hardcore Carnivore,” while researching grills for this article.
What Pellet Brand Is Best
We recommend sticking to the pellets made by the manufacturer of your pellet grill. All pellets are made differently and are usually designed to work best with the specific pellet grill. You can experiment to see which brand works best for you but starting with the same brand is best.
In terms of pellet flavor, you can select from a variety of hardwood flavors to complement whatever youâre cooking. For instance, apple hardwood pairs well with chicken and veggies, but you may want to opt for oak or maple for beef.
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Are Pellet Grills Worth It
Whether or not you get value out of a pellet grill depends entirely on what you are looking for in a grill.If you primarily plan on smoking and want something easy to run, then a pellet grill is a great choice. While some pellet grills struggle to grill well, more and more manufacturers are adding grilling options, so this isnt necessarily a deal breaker any more.If you want something more hands-on and interactive, then you might find the simplicity of a pellet grill a tad boring. If that sounds like you, do yourself a favor and look into a charcoal or wood burning smoker.
Camp Chef Pg24mzg Smokepro Slide Smoker Wood Pellet Grill And Smoker Combo
With this flexible and versatile grill, you will have many ways to enjoy controlling the finish of your food and how you cook it. This grill is perfect for learning new ways how to cook your food.
- Large Temperature Gap
The first noticeable feature of this grill is the Slide And Grill feature.
You can easily control whether you want to cook directly or indirectly with the flames that the grill produces.
You can access this feature with a push of a button, and you can switch to sear meat or lower the flames to get a milder finish on the food.
This grill also has the new PID Controller from Camp Chef, which lets you select up to 10 settings when you smoke food inside the grill to get the precise temperature.
There is also a very easy setup process and assembly, so once this grill arrives at your doorstep, you can start cooking the best recipes you have in minutes with no hassle.
==> Check out the Best Deals on this Grill
There is a folding front shelf included in this grill that helps a lot when preparing food.
You can also easily fold it aside when you are cooking to not get in the way during the process.
With the help of the ash cleanout feature, you do not have to spend too much time cleaning the grill, and you can start enjoying the food that you have cooked after cleaning in a few minutes.
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Type And Power Source
In terms of types of smokers, youâre mainly looking at vertical or barrel smokers and they can be a 2-in-1 type or a grill-combo which is offset. Weâre concentrating on the latter in this guide and so weâll concentrate on that here too. The offset part just means that the smoke box, which generates the smoke is off to the side of the compartment where youâll be smoking your food. This is the way that an offset unit maintains separation in terms of heat from the meat and gives you a nice slow cook without any danger of burning or charring the food. The way to look at it is that a more direct form of cooking, which is faster, is grilling. Thatâs more like modern day BBQ, whereas the process of smoking has been around a lot longer. Hunter gatherers would have done this in a hole in the ground because it was a better way to preserve meat for longer, before refrigeration. We do it because it tastes great.
Fuel type can be charcoal, wood pellets â which are generally compressed sawdust, propane gas, or electric. Charcoal is widely considered by most sane people to be best, because it imparts an extra element of flavor that even the best gas smoker grill combo or best electric smoker grill combo just canât. Wood pellets also do this. The best wood pellet smoker grill combo Will give you great results if you put the effort in, same as the best charcoal grill smoker combo will.
Dimensions And Portability Of Grills And Smokers
That which cannot be ignored is its magnitude. Without considering your backyards dimensions, purchasing a grill-smoker combo is a waste of money.
In the case of individuals seeking a grill that can be used both indoors and outdoors, compact or midsize equipment with easy portability is recommended.
However, if you need to set it up on your patio or garden, a large-scale smoker grill combo would suffice.
The majority of small equipment can be easily moved around. Consequently, small-sized versions are the most popular choice among purchasers No matter what size you choose, it must have rollers to allow for easy movement.
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the best smoker grill combo.
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Surprising Ways To Use Wood Pellets To Make Cooking Better
To really stand out from the crowd, you will need to use these tips and tricks to make your cooking experience more exciting. They will help you get the most out of every bite, whether youre on the streets or at the grocery store. From making your own jelly, made from scratch, to making iced soups, stews, and salads, you will be able to cook with more than
Pit Boss Sportsman 820 Wood Pellet Grill
- Backed by five-0year warranty
- No Wi-Fi control
Likely the most popular budget-minded pellet grill maker, Pit Boss consistently offers grills with the space and looks of more premium pellet grills for a couple hundred dollars less. So if this medium-sized back porch pellet grill doesn’t suit your needs it’s wise to browse the company’s many other options in the pellet space.
We recommend the Sportsman 820 because it fulfills its base functions grilling and smoking extremely well for the price and size, and comes with a 5-year parts warranty that covers electrical components, ceramic parts, steel parts, wood parts and even the caster rollerblade-style wheels . This level of warranty is usually reserved for more expensive grills or differs from part to part. Electrical issues are fairly common in the pellet grilling world, so 5 years of coverage on issues related to the motor or onboard computer is a strong selling point. This specific Pit Boss model does not come with Wi-Fi control, though, so if you’re set on managing your pellet grill from your phone or another controller, consider Pit Boss’s Pro line, sold exclusively at Lowe’s.
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Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/gas Combo
When Cuisinart started to first sell pellet grills/smokers they were essentially identical to Z Grills models. However, their two latest offerings the Woodcreek and Twin Oaks appear to be unique designs, and they do have a lot going for them for the price. For instance, their 50/50 split pellet/gas combo grill is actually cheaper than the Pit Boss KC Combo.
I think its actually better than the Pit Boss in a couple of areas , but its not as good in other areas .
However, for the price the Twin Oaks could be worth considering if youre on a tight budget and youre looking for a pellet/gas combo grill with a 50/50 split of the cooking area between both fuel options.
The Cuisinart Twin Oaks Pellet/Gas Combo Grill is an even cheaper alternative to the Pit Boss KC Combo: Image
The pellet hopper on the Twin Oaks is a massive 30lbs. Now, that may sound like a good thing. But in reality, its way more than you need, as you dont want to leave pellets in the hopper for too long.
If you do its possible the pellets will absorb moisture and go bad. I also wouldnt leave this Twin Oaks combo grill outside. The thin steel construction could rust through pretty quickly once the paint finish starts to fail.
Best Smoker Grill Combos
CONTENTSTimothy Woods
Smoking and grilling are two of my favorite ways to cook food they both produce flavorful cooks, yet each has its individual highlights.
If you want the best of both worlds, its time to start looking into smoker and grill combo units. Theyre easy to use, relatively affordable, and produce great food.
On the flip side, buying the wrong smoker grill combo model can provide a big headache with leaking smoke and poor cooking.
To help you choose the best grill smoker combo, weve tested and reviewed 10 units to highlight their features and best bits. Weve also included a guide to what to look for when purchasing a new smoker grill combo.
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