Pitts & Spitts Grills
One noticeable trait of Pitts & Spits is their high quality stainless steel and carbon steel construction. These grills look good and are built for use and abuse, plus they offer good heat retention.
These grills are like something youd see in a commercial kitchen but are built for competitions and people like you and me.
Texas has some of the best BBQ and also one of the best grill manufacturers. Pitts and Spitts manufactures their grills in Texas. Their designs are traditional, but these pellet grills deliver performance and quality. They also make charcoal grills using the same quality standards.
Smokin Brothers Pellet Grills And Smokers
Launched in 2008, family-run business Smokin Brothers is based in Southeast Missouri. Their drive to make pellet grills was born out of hosting many family gatherings and joining BBQ competitions.
Three years after they started, Smokin Brothers developed their very own pellet grill range. They have some interesting pellet grill designs offering traditional style pellet grills as well as premium plus models with a hopper positioned at the front. Smokin Brothers also introduced a commercial pellet grill range for business use.
The Smokin Brothers traditional BBQ grill has plenty of space for steaks and BBQ with 792 square inches cooking surface. The digital control dial also includes a cool down cycle which gives you more control over your BBQ timing.
Pros:
- Additional shelf space needs to purchased
New Pellet Grills Are Coming To Utah Just In Time For Grilling Season
Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
Utah summers are hard to beat, and they’re about to get a whole lot tastier. Recteq, Georgia’s famous wood pellet grill company, is expanding to Lehi, and this weekend is their grand opening. You’re not going to want to miss it.
Co-founded in 2009 by Ron Cundy and Ray Carnes, recteq prides itself on its top-tier pellet grills and a best-in-class customer experience. Since its inception, recteq has prioritized flavor, convenience and versatility. Through careful product planning, building long-standing supplier relationships, excellent customer service, and a direct-to-consumer pricing model, they have succeeded.
In short, Utahns should be thrilled this beloved Georgia-based company is coming to Utah.
Kicking off the summer grilling season in grand form recteq will be holding their grand opening celebration on May 28th at their new location in Lehi. There will be free BBQ samples, special grand opening sales, giveaways, exclusive Lehi merchandise and more.
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Why Would I Buy A Pellet Grill
Wood pellet smoker grills take the ease of grilling with gas, but give your food that awesome flavor of real wood. Think Crockpot of the grilling world. Slow cooking, set-it-and-forget-it controls means you can visit with guests and family and not have to worry about standing over a hot grill turning your food every few minutes. The temperature controls will keep you within degrees of your set temperature, so just dial up your desired temperature and go grab a cold beverage!
Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker
With the Gravity Series® 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker by Masterbuilt, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and so much more. Set the temperature on the digital control panel or your smart device and the DigitalFan maintains the desired cooking temperature. The GravityFed charcoal hopper holds up to 8 hours of charcoal and gravity ensures you have constant fuel to the fire. The reversible smoke + sear cast-iron grates and FoldAway warming + smoking racks add up to a total of 1050 square inches of cooking space. Master the art of charcoal grilling and smoking with Masterbuilt.
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Most Trusted Pellet Smoker Brands
As I mentioned at the start of this post, there are a few pellet smokers that lead the pack in terms of name recognition. The ones featured here are those that come most highly recommended by friends of mine on the professional BBQ circuits with KCBS and FBA. As such, if you dont see one of your favorites listed here and would like to offer up a review please contact me via any of the social media links at the top of this blogs sidebar, and well see about getting a post up.
Yoder pellet smokers maintain a very strong reputation for quality and precision. Based out of Hutchinson, KS, the company prides itself on producing a 100 percent Made in America product that is one of the sturdiest and most reliable brands of smokers available. Check out this Yoder Smokers promo video to get an idea of how they are branding themselves.
Tell me thats not one of the most killer Made In America intro videos youve ever seen! Really speaks to the mindset Yoder has regarding quality and durability, not to mention the companys pride regarding operating from the heartland of Kansas in the good old USA.
One of the first things to consider when buying a pellet smoker is the thickness of metal used . The smaller the number, the thicker the metal.
Nothing in this world cooks better and more evenly than Heat Soaked Metal, folks. Nothing!
Our Overall Rec Tec Vs Traeger Winner
We simply cant go past Rec Tecs extremely good value for money! We love that theyre consistent with their features across their range so youre still getting the same quality on their smaller grills. We love their PID temperature controller, stainless steel components, and, the fact that every detail has been thoughtfully designed.
Dont get us wrong! We do love us a Traeger. Solid, dependable, and, a house-name, theyre a great buy.
But, Rec Tec do have the edge on almost every single aspect we reviewed above. So, if youre after a quality build at a really good price, go Rec Tec. But, if youre a stickler for brands and simply cant pass up having a Traeger sitting in your backyard, you wont regret it either!
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Some History Behind Pellet Smokers
From everything Ive been able to find online, Traeger Pellet Grills appear to be the very first pellet smokers to be offered on the market. Dating back to the early 1980s, Joe Traegers company first experimented with using wood pellets as fuel for a BBQ smoker as an offshoot of the home heating furnaces he was selling locally that used pellets. As time passed, a thermostat was added to the equation, and the production BBQ smokers fueled by pellets working in set it and forget it fashion was in full force. From this point, several manufacturers of pellet grills began to pop up, with a few key names like Yoder Smokers, Mak Grills, Green Mountain Grills, and Fast Eddys Cookshack grills being among the most notable.
Lone Star Grillz Made In Conroe Texas
Another family-run business that has been making charcoal BBQs and offset smokers/sticker burners for over a decade. Lone Star Grillz have now developed their own range of pellet grills/smokers available in two sizes.
There is the 20 x 36 model and the larger 20 x 42 model, both with the same features and functionality. Below is a video running through the features of these grills.
A demonstration of the features of the Lone Star Grillz pellet BBQs
The cooking chamber designs are carried over from the off-set smokers that Lone Star Grillz have been making for many years which makes a lot of sense. The additional pellet hardware has then been added.
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A Word About The Pellet Smoker Flavor Profile
At the end of the day, the act of heating pellets and generating smoke in any pellet smoker is pretty much the same. Yes, some pellet smokers use thicker metal, have better thermostats, air flow, racks, drip flow, etc. But the ask any professional BBQ cooker who uses a pellet grill, and theyll tell you that the quality of your smoke really does come down to the pellets themselves. Heres what one very astute BBQ pro had to say over at the Pellet Smoke Ring:
Pellet cookers in general have a very mild smoke profile, they are efficient with their fuel use, and run about the cleanest fire you can get.
So if you want more of a smoke profile, cook at longer and lower temps in your pellet pit. I have found that is the best way to get a more distinct smoke profile in your food. Cook at 180190 for the first several hours. That probably has the biggest impact. Next, make sure you are using a good, quality hardwood pellet. I can tell you that you will notice a very large difference in the flavor profile between say a Traeger pellet vs. say one of Candys . Read more on PelletSmoking.com
Are you catching on that theres a bit of a favorites play going on with wood pellets? No selection of pellet grill reviews is complete without a little bias. I try to be objective here. See if you can catch on to which models I prefer!
- Cookin Pellets Racine, WI
- Bear Mountain BBQ Pellets Cascade Locks, OR
Key Things To Keep In Mind With BBQ Pellets
Is It A Smoker Or A Grill
Manufacturers market pellet cookers as both grills and smokers. Due of their versatility, these grills can do both. Depending on the manufacturer, a quality pellet grill has the bulk of the characteristics of a big offset smoker, including indirect fire cooking and low-temperature cooking.
These grills can also achieve temperatures high enough to cook hamburgers, and some can even sear steaks.
Some manufacturers offer pellet smokers designed specifically for smoking meat, which typically operate at lower temperatures and do not reach high enough temperatures to grill hamburgers or steaks.
Read More:
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Can Rec Tec Customers Contact Both Co
When customers buy a recteq grill, they are given the cell phone numbers of founders Ray Carnes and Ron Cundy.
The men or one of their employees will answer, although possibly not at 2 a.m. However, Jody Flanagan, Rec Tec operations manager, told The Augusta Chronicle shed responded to the phone at 5 a.m. to answer the phone.
They all have, she admitted Ive heard Ray talking to customers on a Super Bowl Sunday.
But customer service is the company’s strong point, regardless of whether customers are phoning the founders or making general inquiries.
Finding a grill company that can beat the company regarding customer service is hard. Again, if Jody Flanagan heard Ray talking on Super Bowl Sunday, it sets high quality standards of customer service.
It’s not often enterprises offer to let their customers directly contact both Rec Tec operations manager and owner figures.
Cheapest Mak Grills Pellet Grill/smoker One Star General
The construction of the One Star General is a combination of 16 gauge Aluminized steel for the exterior and 14 gauge 304 stainless steel for the interior components and it comes in at 160 lbs.
The construction techniques and materials found on the MAK GRILLS One Star General are far beyond that you will find on your average backyard pellet grill/smoker: Image Bigpoppasmokers.com
While as standard the One Star General does not come with direct-flame access or WiFi/App support these features can be added to the pellet grill at the point of order or at a later date.
Total Cooking Area = 858 sq.in Pellet Hopper Capacity = 20 lbsTemperature Range = 170 to 600 degreesDirect-Flame Access? = Yes Availability = Bigpoppasmokers.com
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Mak Grills Pellet Grills
Veteran-owned family business Mak Grills is based in Dallas, Oregon. Their background is in steel fabrication but after the financial crisis in 2008, they decided to turn their passion for backyard BBQ into a new product range with high-quality wood pellet grills.
Before they jumped into manufacturing pellet grills, the Mak Grills family spent over a year doing research on what pellet grill owners want, and they used this feedback to design their own range of wood pellet grills and smokers.
This is probably also the reason why they chose to set their pellet grills apart from the competition by only using premium materials. For example, they use the highest grade of stainless steel for their products. Even the lowest spec pellet grill in their range can achieve up to 600 degrees, whereas the typical budget pellet grill can manage a maximum temperature of 450-500 degrees.
Now a standard feature on pellet grills, Mak Grills were one of the first to use a wifi integration and long-lasting ceramic fire igniters in their grills.
4. Mak Grills Two Star General Pellet Grill
Pros:
- Pellet grill igniter comes with a lifetime warranty
- Easy assembly with only two leg panels
- Classic black high temperature powder coating
Cons:
- More expensive than other brands
Other Great American Companies Making Their Grills Overseas
It is important to remind you that a good pellet grill is the one that cooks well, works best for you and your budget. There are hundreds of brands, and the truth is that the majority of them build their grills overseas.
This is not necessarily a bad thing. There are excellent brands like Traeger and Pit Boss that have been offering customers high-quality, affordable products for years. Most of the grills in the list above serve a very small niche of consumers, including die-hard enthusiasts, competitors, and commercial users.
Leading brands or household brands might outsource their manufacturing, but they can also mass-produce affordable products for the masses, including the average BBQ backyard warrior.
Here is a list of other American companies that make excellent wood pellet grills, but some aspects of manufacturing are done overseas.
Traeger is the original pellet grill and the brand that started it all. Traeger grills were originally built in the US. However, after a few changes and company changes, the decision was made to manufacture the grills overseas. Still, you can expect exceptional quality and innovation from a Traeger. Their grills are packed with convenient features and advanced technology, making them a leading brand in the pellet grills market.
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Pellet Grills/smokers Made In The Usa
Below Ive put together a collection of pellet grills Im currently aware of which are still made in the USA. However, as noted with the example of Traeger and Grilla Grills below, circumstances can change.
Hence, whether all the pellet grill brands below will continue to be made in the USA in the future is obviously an unknown. If you click the brand name below the page will jump to that particular section.
As made in the US pellet grills/smokers tend to cost more than non-US made products Ive provided details on the cheapest/most affordable model from each brand.
- American Made Pellet Grills/Smokers
- Twin Eagles Made In Cerritos, California
How Pellet Smokers Work
If you live in an area where wood furnaces are used , you may also be familiar with pellet furnaces. In short, pellets compressed from sawdust and wood shavings fill a hopper and are then fed into a burn pot using an electric auger system. The auger, which is basically a long screw, delivers pellets to the burn pot based on the speed dictated by the units thermostat. As the burn pot ignites, the pellets burn. Heat then carries through the home via convection means, thus allowing air flow and a blend of warm and cool air to maintain steady, even burn temperatures. A heat exchanger separates the smoke fumes from the warm air, thereby warming the room without smoking everyone out.
Pellet smokers work in much the same way, albeit with the heat exchanger removed so that the smoke produced by the burning wood pellets bathes your food in its goodness and helps render the barbecue product youre after.
As you can see from the image of a Traeger Pellet Grill above, pellets move from a hopper via an auger to a burn pot . The rate at which the pellets are fed into the hopper is dictated by your Pellet grills thermostat. Extra fuel in the form of oxygen is blown over the burn pot to increase the burn rate and help regulate a nice, steady, and efficient burn. The lower your temp, the more smoke is created.
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The Rec Tec Beast/chuckwagon Pellet Grills
The reason Ive put the Beast/Chuckwagon under the same heading is they are essentially the same pellet grill. The Chuckwagon is just the trailer-mounted version of The Beast. These two pellet grills are made in the USA and likely made to order. They are primarily designed for the commercial catering industry. Though if you take your BBQ competitions very seriously and youre a genuine Pit Master, sure the Beast/Chuckwagon may be right up your alley.
In terms of the cooking area, the Beast/Chuckwagon doesnt appear to offer much more cooking space over the BFG. However, it features a dual pellet firepot design. Hence, for grilling/searing lots of meat at the same time, thats where the Beast/Chuckwagon will outperform the BFG.
The Beast is not intended to be used as a residential pellet grill, its more suited to commercial requirements.
Where Are Rec Tec Grills Made
CONTENTSTimothy Woods
Rec Tec is one of Traegers biggest competitors. Both offer high-end pellet smokers and similar price points, with bells and whistles you wont find in entry-level brands.
But most people know Traeger moved production to China after founder Joe Traeger sold it in 2006. Thus, we went to the experts to see if the company also moved their operations.
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