Choose The Best Flavor
Next, you want to pair the best pellets with the meal youre cooking on the grill. The flavor of the pellets has less to do with the actual flavor of the wood and more to do with the strength of the smoke flavor you get from burning it. You can think of pellet flavor on a scale from mild to strong mild flavors work best with delicate foods, while strong flavors work best with heartier foods.
Check out our flavor guide below.
How Does A Pellet Grill Work
The heat is generated from wood pellets that are placed in a chamber called a “pellet hopper.” Those pellets move through an auger to a fire pot, which heats the entire cooking chamber of the grill. Through a fan system, heat and smoke are dispensed throughout the grill, providing a naturally rich and woody flavor from the pellets. Though pellet grills certainly share some characteristics of your traditional grills, there are a couple of major differences that set pellet grills apart: most notably, the combination of deep flavor, versatility and efficiency.
How To Pick The Best Pellet Smoker Grill
When buying any appliance, the size of that appliance is something that you should consider first. The market is saturated with pellet smokers of all kinds of sizes that you can choose from. In order to use this feature of the smoker to narrow down your options, you need to consider the use of this smoker.
Size
If you are planning to use the smoker to prepare meals for a large crowd, then smokers of a size bigger than that of the average with a large cooking area are what you should be investing in. If you plan to take the smoker on camping trips or cook for your family, then a smaller size smokers are what you should be looking into.
Durability
In order to make a purchase of such a size, considering the durability of the smokers is a must. The best pellet smokers do not just come with a bunch of features but also with a hefty price tag. A costly purchase like this one cannot be made any now and then. Careful consideration of the durability of the smoker is not something you should be ignoring. What you should consider buying is a smoker with a stainless steel body, porcelain-enameled grates, and a pan to collect the oil. Smokers made with all these features embed are considered to be sturdy and long-lasting.
Portability
Price
Vertical and Horizontal smoker
Pellet Storage
Temperature Control
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Converting A Grill Into A Pellet Grill
One of the most dependable ways to create your very own pellet grill to prepare flavorful, smoked meat is to get a pellet smoker conversion kit and add it to an existing barbecue grill.
You can find conversion kits that are specifically manufactured for the purpose, and those that are generic which can be added to any grill.
Using a conversion kit will make the process of smoking your meat easier, as you wont need to pull the meat and remove the cooking grates to add more pellets.
Best Premium Pellet Grill
Traeger Grills Pro Series 22
Available at amazon.com
Pro Series 22 is capable of delivering delicious and smoky flavor with consistency. The best premium pellet grill comes with heavy-duty steel construction to maintain the overall sturdiness. Meanwhile, with the inclusion of dual temp. probes, users can keep track of the temperature of two different meat items at once. A drip tray is also available that would collect all the grease and mess to keep the appliance as clean as possible.
Talking of the grilling space, Pro Series 22 comes with a 572 sq. inches cooking area. That means, it can adjust 4 chickens, 5 rib racks, and 24 burgers conveniently. The extra-large 18 lbs. hopper capacity can also keep the users away from frequent refilling. Pro Series 22 offers precision grilling, thanks to the Digital Pro Controller that offers advanced grilling logic. It can grill, sear, BBQ, braise, and roast, food items including meat and veggies like a charm. Ignition is also super-easy and cherry on top is its compact size, which makes this grill a perfect option for a small family.
Pro Series 22 Key Specifications:
- Advanced Grilling logic with Digital Pro Controller.
- 572 sq. inches of space for grilling and roasting multiple items.
- 18 lbs. hopper capacity.
- Delivers tender, juicy, and delicious results.
- Offers consistent grilling with precision.
- Durable and sturdy construction with moving wheels attached.
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Best Bbq Wood Pellets For Grills/smokers In 2021
The growth in the range of pellet grills/smokers now available is pretty amazing, as I discuss in my A to Z list of pellet grill brands, with now over 30 options to choose from. Well, many of those brands also offer their own brand of pellets too. As there is such a huge range of BBQ wood pellets available, working out which flavour/wood species you should use and which pellet brand is offering the best deal can be very confusing. Therefore, Ive produced a comprehensive article on all the pellet brands/flavours you need to be aware of and their price/availability, including the new kid, charcoal pellets.
Below you will find details on over twenty brands of BBQ pellets for grills/smokers
Disclaimer: Hey! By the way any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon or other sites are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase.
Id encourage you to browse my full A to Z List of BBQ Pellet Brands, but if youre in a rush, please use the Table of Contents below to jump to a particular make to learn more about a particular brand of pellets. Alternatively, check out my opinion on the current best BBQ wood pellets deals.
- Best Pellets for Grilling/Searing: Royal Oak Charcoal Pellets
How Do Pellet Grills Work
The wood pellets are poured into a container called a hopper. The pellets are moved by a rotating auger into a fire pot that is powered by electricity. In the fire pot, a hot rod ignites the pellets, causing them to burn and produce heat and smoke. Next, the induction fan brings in air to aid in combustion. Above the fire pot, a heat baffle rests to disperse any direct heat evenly throughout the grill rather than allowing it to burn your food. A grease drip tray sits above that to catch any grease drippings and further disperse the heat. Finally, the induction fan circulates the smoke and heat from the fire pot throughout the grill chamber, cooking your food via convection-style cooking.
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Pit Boss Pellet Grill Troubleshooting
Have you ever had a problem with your Pit Boss pellet grill? Here are all you need about pit boss pellet grill troubleshooting:
- Wont start
If your frill does not turn on, you should check the power outlet to see if it works or not. If not, unplug and replug it, ensuring that the GFI circuit does not trip.
After that, shift the temp dial to Offsetting and move to Smoke function. The LCD screen must light up. Contact the manufacturer when the GFI trips.
If nothing changes, move the grates and grease tray, examine the igniters. Still, nothing happens. Replace the 5 amp fuse on the control panel.
Check the drill. If it does not feed pellets in the firebox, it needs to be replaced.
- Wont ignite
If your Pit Boss gets the igniting problem, tread carefully:
- Does not produce smoke
You might think that the whole smoker is broken and you need to replace it, but actually, it í one the problem with temp, firepot or pellets. The perfect temp is from 60 to 90 degrees F with a P4 setting.
For more smoke out, cook at the lower temp around 225F and make sure that your pellets are dry without clumping.
- Temp issues:
The temp is not high enough also because of low pellets. So you should add some more pellets and ensure they are not damp or old.
- Err code:
- LCD is blank
- Flare-ups
How To Choose The Best Wood Pellets For Your Grill
Everyone in your neighborhood knows when you have a pellet grill in the backyard. The drifting pellet smoke provides an appetizing aroma, and they cant help but notice.
If it hasnt happened already, you will without a doubt have a moment when a passing neighbor asks whether you own a smoker.
However, its one thing to smell the smoky aromas and another thing to taste them. Wood-fired smoke enhances everything you cook in a pellet grill, and your choice of wood flavors referring to the types of wood can make a big difference when combined with specific foods.
From choosing what type of wood pellets for your grill, to how quickly they burn, to proper storing methods follow these 5 tips to master the flavors you achieve with your pellet grill.
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What Is The Difference Between Pellet Grills And Charcoal Or Gas Grills
The main difference here is the type of fuel consumed. Wood pellets, charcoal briquettes, or propane. They all have have their own signature style and flavor to offer to your food and it is up to you to figure out which one you jive with. One important note pellet grills are dependent on electricity so are not a good option for mobile cooking adventures.
Is There An American Made Pellet Smoker
Blazn Grill Works The company takes a lot of pride in the fact their pellet grills are 100% made in the USA. A demonstration of the direct sear option available on Blazn Grill Works pellet grills which are all made in the USA. They offer an extensive list of accessories and customizations for their pellet grills.
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What Are The Benefits Of Using Traeger Pellets
The most obvious benefit is that they burn cleaner than traditional charcoal or wood. They also produce a lot less ash and therefore require fewer cleanings. The other key benefit of using this fuel source is that you dont have to worry about spills or flare-ups. It also has a higher BTU value than other fuels used in pellet grills. They are made out of natural hardwood and do not contain harmful substances that can cause health hazards after eating food cooked in the grills where these pellets are used as fuel.
How Do Wood Pellets Come To Be
To understand if this piece of equipment is safe for use or not, it is important to look at it from every angle. One of such angles is how they have come to be in the first place.
As you must know, wood pellets are used for many different operations, and that can be a huge factor in what production process they are made from. For the majority of wood pellets used in grills, though, sawdust is compacted into the wood pellets.
The production process is explained as follows:
- Milling The mass of wood to be used for producing the pellets are passed through a hammer mill. The mill hits and compacts the wood material into a dough-like substance which is sent out for further processing.
- Pressing The dough-like mass can be made to flow easier than normal, solid wood. That makes it possible to force it through a press with holes about 6 8 mm in diameter. This process puts the wood under so much pressure, its temperature is also increased.
- Cohesion As the temperature rises, the lignin starts becoming a plastic. The process creates a natural glue within the fibers of the wood, holding the pellets together once the wood starts cooling.
- Screening Before packaging and shipment, the pellets are separated from sawdust that might still be hanging on to them. From there, they go out to stores where you can then get them.
Also Check: Traeger Losing Heat
Bear Mountain Bbq Pellets
Based in Colorado, Bear Mountain BBQ have been producing a range of hardwood pellets for grills/smokers since 1990. Unlike some other brands, Bear Mountain BBQ confirm that the source of their hardwood raw materials is sustainably and locally sourced from within the United States. Bear Mountain BBQ produce a wide range of hardwood blends and flavours. However, it should be noted only their Oak and Alder pellets are 100% single-species products.
Bear Mountain BBQ produce a range of blended hardwood pellet flavours: Images
Bear Mountain BBQ also produce a range of blended flavour options such as their Bourbon blend for a mellow smoke flavour and their Gourmet blend for smokey/sweet flavour. They also have three other blends branded as Bold, Sweet and Savoury containing different hardwood species blends.
- Pellet Flavours: Hickory, Apple, Mesquite, Cherry, Maple, Pecan, Alder, Oak and various blends
- Bag Size: 20lbs
- Availability:, Walmart.com, Homedepot.com& Lowes.com
Best Budget: Z Grills Zpg
-
Great value for its size
-
Some temperature control issues
At around $500, this grill may not scream budget-friendly, but considering its size , it’s actually a great bargain. This unit uses convection heat distribution technology , which provides a versatile environment for grilling, baking, roasting, and searing. However, this model also has a number of upgrades.
The 7002E is unique in that it is stainless steel built, meaning it is less susceptible to corrosion. Other upgrades include a more precise temperature control and a new and improved pellet feed system. This automated electric feed system maintains the temperature of your grill for you, ranging from 180 to 450 degrees.
In terms of space, it has a large, 513-square-inch grilling area and a 187-square-inch smoking/warming rack . This grill also has a whopping 20-pound hopper , an electronic auto-start ignition, and an LED temperature readout. Many users claim this grill is super easy to use and makes maintaining temperature a piece of cake. It also comes with two wheels to move it around easily, a grill cover, and a three-year warranty.
Weight: 112 lbs.| Grilling Area: 700 sq. in. | Hopper Capacity: 20 lbs. | Temperature Range: 180-450ºF | Dimensions: 48 x 22 x 51 inches
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Can Wood Pellets Be Toxic
The answer is yes.
When pellets are made the way we have mentioned above, and just that way, you should have nothing to fear in terms of toxicity. That is what the big brands like Traeger, Pit Boss and Lumber Jack, to mention but a few, do.
In fact, they ensure any and all flavors you get from their pellets are achieved with the natural composition of the wood material they are using.
Going over to the cheap manufacturers, though, we cannot say the same thing. These people will cut corners by introducing filler materials to make up the bulk of the wooed pellets rather than using pure wood.
Some of them will go the extra mile of adding chemicals so as to produce the artificial flavors. These materials, on burning, will get into your food and can be very toxic to your health. It is, thus, recommended that you stay away from the poor manufacturers and stick with trusted brands.
Several Options Are Available To You
A large number of market place buyers and sellers come from around the world. Therefore, you are able to select from a wide range of products and services. In what ways do you benefit?
There are a variety of ways to fish. It is possible to find a wide variety of hairdryers on market place, ranging in price, model, and specifications. Decide which seller to purchase from.
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How Long Will A 20 Lb Bag Of Pellets Last
Weve estimated that a 24-inch pellet grill will burn through about 3 lbs. of pellets per hour. Keep in mind that cooler temperatures will make your grill work harder, resulting in more pellets burned. So depending on the temperature and whats on the grill for dinner tonight you can estimate how long your bag of pellets will last.
Other Wood Pellet Smoker Concerns
Besides the toxicity that can arise due to the pellet manufacturing process, there are a couple of things you should know and prepare against. The major concerns are:
- Fire Hazards To be fair, this is not an issue with wood pellets alone. Anything that can burn at all will present a fire hazard of its own.
That said, wood pellets wont start a fire on their own. When they are kept too close to sources of ignition, though, that might just be courting trouble. Know that these pellets are made to be highly flammable and would catch fire at the introduction of a spark.
It is, thus, recommended that you store them away from your main living area. A cool, dry, place never hurts anyone.
- Emissions Even when they are not in use, wood pellets emit harmful carbon monoxide gases which is harmful to health. Another concern here is that the emissions are not detectable except with the use of special equipment.
The good news is, there is a very low chance of your exposure to this risk. For signinificant carbon monoxide missions to occur, you have to store a lot of wood pellets. Like, an awful lot. Since many wood pellet grill users dont store that much around, you have less to worry about.
However, you will be safer with the assumption that your wood pellets in storage are constantly emitting CO.
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