A To Z List Of The Best Bbq Wood Pellets
A pellet grill/smoker is only as good as the BBQ pellets you put into it. The type/quality of the BBQ wood pellets you use will impact temperature performance and smoke flavour. There are many pellet flavours including Apple, Hickory, Mapel, Oak and Walnut to name but a few. However, some brands are hardwood blended pellets whereas others are 100% single wood species.
In this article, I provide details on over 20 brands of BBQ wood pellets, their range of flavours, whether they are 100% single wood species or hardwood blended pellets, their typical price and where they are available. I also provide tips on how to get the best deal when buying BBQ wood pellets and how to test pellet quality. Finally, I discuss the new kid on the block, charcoal pellets and their special attributes compared to all other hardwood BBQ pellets.
How To Store Wood Pellets
How and where you store your pellets is key for taking care of your wood. Follow our guide below and never worry about finding crumbly dust in your bag ever again.
1. Store pellets inside a dry area free from flooding, humidity, and mold. A garage or shed works best.
2. Do not leave the pellets in the bags they come in.
3. Grab one of our trusty pellet storage bins. Our pellet lid is airtight and doesnt allow moisture to get in. You can also use a Rubbermaid tote.
- It’s weather resistant.
Is The Pellet Grill A Smoker
Yes, pellet grills offer smoking option too. Choose a low flame to enjoy wood smoked flavoured food , or go for searing hot temperature to get sear grill marks on your favourite steak.
Smoking on a pellet grill is also an easy option to prepare meals for your friends or family, while enjoying with them instead of babysitting the cooker.
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Let Your Grill Breathe
Remove the grill cover every once in a while and let your grill breathe. This is especially, important if you live in an area where there is high humidity.
Remember when car bras were popular back in the day? I had one for my Toyota Celica. When you took it off to wash it, you could see the markings of the bra, on the paint job.
While I dont think keeping a cover on a grill will eat the paint, its nice to let it breathe once in a while.
How To Store Grilling Tools 6 Diy Methods
Grilling is undoubtedly a stress-relieving habit that helps you enjoy deliciously cooked meats for years. However, one thing that concerns every BBQ enthusiast, like me, is the organization of things involved in BBQing. In particular, knowing how to store grilling tools helps us get the job done in a more professional and convenient manner.
In this guide, Ill be guiding you through the complete organization process of BBQ tools that Ive devised from my years working in the barbecue industry.
Lets get started without further ado!
Contents
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How Long Will A Bag Of Traeger Last
Youll need 1 to 3 pounds of pellets for 1 hour of cooking time. And a bag of Traeger pellets contains 20 pounds of wood pellets. So, it will last up to 20 to 60 hours of cooking time.
Be sure to fill the hopper with enough pellets before you begin grilling so that you dont run out mid-cooking. It will help ensure that youre never left without grill supplies when you need them most.
How Do You Stop Wood Pellets Going Bad
To maintain the shelf life of a wood pellet the first issue to address is moisture. Pellets typically come in plastic bags to protect them from moisture. However, what if you dont use the whole bag in one go? Some stove brands state to never use a previously opened bag of pellets in a stove. This advice is given by Clarry and their portable pellet stove.
Reseal or Tie Open Bags of Wood Pellets
Some BBQ wood pellets such as those from Traeger come in resealable bags. If the bags arent resealable you can use a cable tie or wire ties to close up the bag. Also, if there are any tears in the bags make sure to use some tape to cover up the holes.
Reusable cable zip ties are a good method to use on your opened pellet bags to protect them from moisture and from going bag: Image
Keep Wood Pellets in a Low Humidity Environment
Resealing bags is good, however, if you store them in a high humidity environment moisture could still get into the wood pellets through small gaps. Therefore, try not to store your wood pellet bags in a damp garage or shed, they may still go bad.
Be Gentle When Moving Your Wood Pellet Bags
Now, good quality wood pellets will not break apart easily when moved around. However, you dont want to be too rough. Being too rough will increase the percentage of fines/dust in the bags. Another reason to be gentle is otherwise you may tear a bag, and then there are the issues of moisture penetration.
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How Do Pellet Smokers Work
Smokers that use pellets are known as pellet smokers. Pellet smokers also work on the same principle as the pellet grills except few exceptions. The combustion chamber in smokers is far from grilling grates and an indirect heating is used to cook the food. This hot air helps in cooking, evenly distributed in overall smoker. The few dissimilarities a pellet smoker has are:
- Pellet smokers are designed for low and slow cooking. You cant achieve searing hot temperature in them as they dont have high temperature option in them. For any food requiring low and slow cooking, the smokers work great.
- Pellet smokers use indirect heating to cook the food. As no direct flame is available, so you cant grill on the pellet smokers.
Best Methods To Store Traeger Pellets Safely
Here are my 5 best recommended methods that you can use to store your Traeger wood pellets safely and securely for a long period of time.
1. Use Moisture Proof 5-Gallon Bucket
5 Gallon Bucket such as Craftsman Storage Bucketprovides better protection for your wood pellets against extreme weather changes, moisture and water.
They are airtight and can be easily used to store up to 20 pounds of wood pellets at a time.
2. Use Pellet Bucket Kit
The second best item you can use to store your Traeger wood pellets safely is the pellet bucket kit.
In this heavy duty plastic pellet bucket, you can store up to 20 pounds of pellets without any issues.
The pellets remain fresh and dry for longer period in this bucket due to its airtight and waterproof lid.
3. Use Traeger StayDry Pellet Bin
This premium quality Traeger pellet bin comes with a stackable design and airtight lid with proper lock mechanism.
You can easily store up to 22 pounds of wood pellets in this bin.
This bin keeps the pellets dry and fresh for longer duration.
4. Use Wood Pellet Dispenser
Another good item to store your wood pellets safely is a good qualityWood Pellet Dispenser.
This dispenser is made from heavy duty plastic container which can be used to store up to 20 pounds of wood pellets without any issues.
It comes with molded hand grips and handle at the top which makes the operating of the dispenser super comfortable.
5. Make Use of Pellet Storage Bag
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How Do I Get More Smoke From My Traeger
If you’re wondering how to get more smoke from your Traeger, there are several options available to you. One of the easiest ways to increase the amount of smoke coming out of your smoker is to lower the temperature. If you cook at too high a temperature, you’ll be cooking at too low a temperature. As a result, your meat will cook unevenly and you won’t get the deep flavor and aroma of smoked meat you’ve been looking for.
The first option is to use low smoking temperatures during the first hour of cooking. This will ensure that your meat gets most of the nitrogen it needs, which is essential for a great smoke ring. You can also reduce the amount of fat on your meat and the temperature of the smoker itself. By doing so, you’ll have more control over the amount of smoke your meat produces, which is important for achieving the perfect smoke ring.
You can also cook longer at a lower temperature to enhance the smoke in your food. In doing so, you will give your meat more time to absorb the flavors of the smoke. You should also cover the drip tray with aluminum foil to make cleaning easier. Another option is to add wood chips to the smoker. Finally, try adding more hardwood pellets. But remember that the longer you cook, the more smoke you’ll get.
Did you miss our previous article
Did you miss our previous article
Did you miss our previous article
Can You Put Wood Pellets On Top Of Charcoal
Yes, you can use wood pellets on top of charcoal. You can put wood chips, chunks, of wood, or wood pellets directly on top of the hot coals in a charcoal grill. The wood will smolder and produce smoke, which will flavor your food. You can also put soaked wood chips in an aluminum foil packet and place them on top of the coals.
To use wood pellets in a charcoal grill, you need to do a few things. First, make sure your charcoal grill is clean and free of any grease or residue. Second, fill the grill with charcoal and light it. Once the coals are hot, you can the wood pellets on top.
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Storing Wood Pellets Throughout The Seasons
Depending on your storage solution and the climate where you live, you may need to make slight adjustments to your storage strategy as the seasons change. Consider changes like these throughout the year to protect your wood pellets in storage:
If youre storing pellets in bulk for the season, you may want to cover your containers with a tarp to protect them a bit more. Just remember where you leave them since theyll be out of sight for a whole season.
Cooking With Wood Pellets Vs Cooking With Gas Or Charcoal
Energy efficiency is another advantage of using pellets instead of propane for cooking. A typical 20-pound bag of pellets contains as much energy as one gallon of fuel oil. Each pound of wood pellets produces about the same amount of energy as a half cubic foot of natural gas or about four pounds of charcoal. So it takes less time to preheat the grill, so you spend less time standing over the grill waiting for it to heat up.
Food is cooked using a combination of convection and conduction heating, which allows the food to cook quickly and evenly over a wide area inside the grill.
Some other advantages of cooking with pellets are that you can use different flavors of wood pellets in your grill, allowing you to cook different types of foods at one time or give your food a smoky flavor without actually smoking it. Wood pellet grills also lack flare-ups because the pellets themselves dont create flames while being burned inside the grill. They burn very efficiently and produce almost no ash residue. Pellets are made from natural wood so they will burn slower than charcoal, making them last longer too.
Compared to propane or charcoal grills, wood pellet grills can require less attention during cooking. You wont need to add charcoal or propane and you will not be able to produce the same amount of smoke as with other grill types. But there are options available that allow you to add wood chips for more flavor.
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Keep Your Wood Pellets Dry
Find a suitable place to keep your wood pellets indoors it needs to be well away from moisture in the air, so rule out sheds. Your garage will likely be okay, though if you have a large enough utility or mudroom where you can store them, thats even better. Make sure the space stays dry, and use a single-use dehumidifier if necessary if moisture raises in the room.
Damp pellets are the worst thing you can put into your grill the temperature will be thrown off and the quality of smoke will be different, too. Avoid damp pellets at all costs!
Storing Wood Pellets The Right Way
After you order and receive your Grilla Grills wood pellet bags, following these best practices:
- Pour your wood pellets into multi-gallon plastic containers with lids that seal. Many pitmasters swear by those huge tubs made for dog food. The container will keep moisture out and lock freshness in.
- Store your smoker pellets in a dry environment. Every season, consider the driest spot to keep your wood pellets, so they dont soak up moisture from the air and get squishy. Avoid your damp basement or wet shed.
- Break a wood pellet in half to test the batch before scooping a bunch into the hopper. If the pellet doesnt snap, it might not be fresh. Examine a few more pellets to see if they have soaked up too much moisture.
- Avoid storing your wood pellets in bags or other containers near a heat source. Water heaters, fireplaces, tools and even vehicles can produce enough heat or sparks to set your pellets blazing at the wrong time.
- Keep any bagged smoker pellets off the floor. Its amazing how easily water can find its way onto your floor, even in a location you would swear was always dry.
- Check out the pellets already in your grill before firing it up. Pellet grills from Grilla Grills allow you to keep the wood pellets inside the hopper for a couple of months. However, if the pellets get wet, they could lose their ability to smoke. Always perform a visual and physical examination of your pellets to make sure theyre as ready to grill as you are.
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Tips On Storing Traeger Pellets
Louisiana Grills Charcoal Blended Pellets
A premium brand of pellet grills/smokers from Danson LLC who also owns the Pit Boss brand. The Louisiana Grills charcoal pellets are stated on the bag to be a charcoal blend, however, specifics are not provided on the ratio of charcoal to hardwood.
Currently, these Louisiana Grills charcoal pellets only appear to be available through their own website: Image Louisiana-Grills.com
- Pellet Flavours: Charcoal Blend
- Availability:Louisiana-Grills.com
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Wood Pellet Storage How To Store Smoker Pellets
Pellet Smokers and grills are trending and becoming more common in home backyards and outdoor kitchens every day. Perhaps you were gifted a nice pellet smoker or pellet grill, and because you have the best friends and family in the world, they also gave you a few bags of wood pellets.
Now you are scratching your head trying to figure out a good wood pellet storage solution. How to store your smoker pellets so that they last and remain intact?
Sometimes we want to try different pellet flavors and open multiple bags while this is fun, it also means that now you have multiple opened pellet bags lying around the house. Most pellet manufacturers use natural products and ingredients without preservatives, meaning pellets can lose their flavor, shape, and effectiveness if left exposed to humidity and the elements.
In this article, I will give you a few tips on how to store your smoker or grill pellets so they last, and you can store hours of fun and be ready for the next cook.
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