Why Choose A Wood Pellet Grill
One of themajor advantages of wood pellet grills is that you can use different woods tocreate different flavors in your foods.
The other major advantage with electric wood pellet grills is that they are very easy to use- just push a button to start so no propane tanks or refills needed. They keep consistent temperature ranges so no flare-ups or worries about over smoking or cooking your food.
All you haveto do is make sure there are wood pellets in the hopper!
The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Pellet Smoker
As weve mentioned above, most people end up choosing a pellet style smoker because of the convenience and versatility. Like an electric smoker, you get:
- Set it and forget it smoking Just make sure the hopper is full of pellets and set your desired temperature and there isnt much else you need to worry about.
- Simple temperature control Most pellet smokers let you dial in the temperature to within five degrees, and the unit does a good job of maintaining a stable temperature.
There are also a few advantages unique to cooking with a pellet smoker:
- Super fuel efficient Pellet smokers are similar to your home oven, with a super efficient convection fan, so you spend a lot less in pellets than charcoal.
- Less effort cleaning up Charcoal smokers can make a bit of a mess every time you cook. With a pellet grill you might have to clear out the firepot every now and again but its rare .
Steven Raichlen has an excellent breakdown of the various pros and cons of pellet grills that you may want to check out.
Steven Raichlen, New Kid on the Block: Pellet Grills
Pellet grills are versatile. You can barbecue, smoke, roast, grill , and even bake or braise in a pellet grill. At BBQ University, we have used them to cook everything from crisp chicken wings to braised short ribs to smoked pork chile verde and crème brulee.
Like gas grills, pellet grills preheat fast . The design discourages flare-ups.
Pellet smokers arent without their issues though. Some potential problems include:
Th Contender The Pit Boss Tailgater/r
The first of two portable pellet grills from Pit Boss the Tailgater was the brands first portable pellet grill. In my article on the best Pit Boss reviews from real owners, I included an owners review who discusses for the money, the Tailgater provides a lot of value.
One of the first portable pellet grills to come onto the market: Images PitBoss-Grills.com
Being one of the first portable pellet grills on the market, the time-based control panel fitted to the Pit Boss Tailgater is not the most advanced available. Therefore, the control panel as its not PID is only able to manage the temperature to within 25 degrees of the set temperature. However, the Tailgater does have strong features such as direct-flame access for better searing/grilling results.
- Total Cooking Area = 340 sq.in
- Weight = 79 lbs
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Power Options Portable Pellet Grills Need Electricity
Most portable pellet grills can operate using the 12-volt battery of your car but a large portable pellet grill will require a good source of power such as a house electrical outlet.
Consider how and where you will be using your portable pellet smoker if in the campsite you might have a good electric outlet near buy, but at the beach, your only power source might be your car.
Unlike charcoal grills, pellet grills do need the power to run all the grill technology in charge of all that precise temperature control we all enjoy from these pellet grills.
Best Pit Boss Pellet Grill
PIT BOSS PB0820SP
Available at amazon.com
Pit Boss is a leading manufacturer in the pellet grill industry with some innovative appliances already leading the charts. The brand new PB0820SP comes with 180°F to 500°F temperature control settings. More than that, its grilling space is quite wide with 849 sq. inches. That means its capable of meeting the requirements of a huge BBQ party without any hassle. The best Pit Boss pellet grill also features 21 lbs. hopper capacity and it tends to avoid frequent pellet refilling as well.
Easy to start, you can just press the ignition button on the grill to make it operational. Whats more impressive is that the appliance gets preheated within no time. Besides, it comes with temperature adjustment settings from 1 to 10 for smoking and grilling different food products in a single go. A small yet intuitive display is also included to let you know the current temperature of the grill. Last but not the least, you can get a variety of cooking from the Pit Boss grill including braise, roast, grill, smoke, sear, and BBQ.
PB0820SP Key Specifications:
- 840 sq. inches cooking capacity.
- Temperature control knob for proper adjustment.
- Smokes and grills without over burning the food.
- An expensive choice for homeowners.
- Limited quantity available.
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Is The Pit Boss Outlet Website Legit
Pit Boss Nation please be on the lookout for sites mimicking pitboss-grills.com and selling our grills at unrealistic discounts. They are all fraud sites that try and scam you to get your credit card information. We are NOT associated with these sites and cannot offer a refund if a purchase is made.
Build Quality Durability Suitability For Travel
Not to sound like a broken record, but this is a portable grill, so it needs to be able to stand up to the rigors of travel in the back of your truck, van, or car.
Is it made of durable materials like steel and hard plastics? Are there bits and pieces sticking out that might break off? Does it fold down conveniently? Take a good look at the photos and read the descriptions to find the answers to these questions and more.
You Might Also be Interested in
- Buying guide to the best small gas grills
- Buying guide and reviews for tabletop grills
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Cookshack Pg1000 Fast Eddy’s Pellet Grill
According to Lampe, this stainless steel grill is a cooking machine with double walled construction and insulation for heat retention as well as a quality searing burner and smoking performance. It also has the ability to cook over direct or indirect heat at up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit and a two-year limited warranty. Theres even a warming drawer to hold a pan of food while you keep cooking, he said. Fast Eddy is a long-time championship barbecue cook and pit builder so its no surprise that his grills are at the top of their class.
Ozark Grills The Razorback Wood Pellet Grill A Smoker
The Ozark wood pellet grill is made up of alloy steel which is a durable material. All of its parts are quite easy to assemble. You do not have to spend much time on putting its parts together once you get it.
With this grilling machine, you not only grill beef or chicken but also other forms of meat like fish and sausages. In fact, you can prepare club sandwiches and burgers if you have this grill.
Although it is a small-sized grilling smoker, still it is really spacious and has a lot of space which allows you to prepare multiple meals at a time. This is how your time is saved as well as your energy.
Moreover, the brand itself is quite renowned and has a good reputation. So you can definitely trust their products. Other than that, this wood pellet grill and smoker are available in bronze color. Which is quite a decent color.
Moreover, you can monitor the temperature and adjust it through the LCD screen. Everything will appear on the screen. Plus, there are multiple convenient options for the maintenance of the temperature. The company claims that you can prepare almost ten burgers at the same time because it is really spacious. However, its outer appearance may seem compact and small.
- No apparent drawback
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Th Contender Camp Chef Pursuit
A well-known pellet grill brand with their SmokePro and Woodwind models, Camp Chef also offer their own portable pellet grill the Pursuit. The latest version of the Pursuit is fitted with a Camp Chef Gen 2 controller which benefits from PID technology providing 5-degree temperature control/accuracy. However, it should be noted the Pursuit doesnt currently benefit from WiFi connectivity which is found on some versions of the Gen 2 controller.
The Camp Chef Pursuit has one of if not the largest cooking areas of any small/portable pellet grill on the market today: Images CampChef.com
Other notable features of the Pursuit include the large 10lb pellet hopper. The Camp Chef Pursuit does also have a novel and quick ash cleanout feature and the folding legs with wheels perform reasonably well. While the Pursuit is widely available in terms of price there are significant differences from outlet to outlet, so bear that in mind.
How To Choose Wood Pellets For Smoking
Youve picked your pellet grill, but before you start cooking on it or grilling with it how can you tell if the pellets are of high quality? Lets find out what we should be looking for.
A good wood pellet starts off slow and then gradually heats up to a constant temperature instead of going straight from cold to hot as a low-quality one will do.
Hard Type Wood or Soft Type Wood
Some people prefer hardwood pellets because they are stable and burn at a consistent temperature. They provide pure, thick smoke which means that the smoker will be enjoying their meal for longer than with softwood pellets where there is more ash production due to inconsistent burning temperatures.
Softwood pellets are perfect for those who want to go green. With a higher BTU, these pellets burn out faster than hardwoods and contain less lignin which is great news if youre sensitive about the environment because it means that they have fewer chemicals in them.
Hardwood is great for slow, low-temperature smoking. Softwoods are perfect if you need to cook large quantities of food quickly and efficiently.
Flavor
Which wood are you looking for? Different types of woods offer different flavors and levels of smokiness to your meats. Some can be mild, while others pack a punch! We have listed some good choices here:
Ash Content of Wood Pellets
Moisture Content of Wood Pellets
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Why Did I Choose The Green Mountain Davycrockett
Each of thegrills that I investigated had their own unique benefits.
The Traeger Tailgater met my weight requirements and has a solid reputation for being a good grill, but it lacked many features others offered.
I really loved the Rec Tec RT-340, and if the weight wasnt an issue, with everything it offered for the price , I would have chosen it.
However, the weightand features of the Davy Crockett, along with the price made it an easy choice.
So, if you are considering a pellet grill and smoker for your RV, take a look at the Davy Crockett grill and I dont think you will be disappointed!
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.
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Portable Pellet Grillsa Brief Overview
A portable pellet grill is what its name impliesa compact, easily portable version of a standard wood pellet grill. Portable pellet grills are available in different configurations, from collapsible tabletop models to light pellet grills with wheels.
Pellet grills do need an electrical power source to operate the ignition system, the digital controller, and other components. Good portable pellet grills can be easily operated through an electrical power source such as a battery pack, an aircraft battery, or a generator.
Expect these grills to be lighter, more compact, and have fewer features than their larger counterparts, but the objective of these grills is to be portable.
What Is The Best Pellet Grill
Having a pellet grill means you can enjoy delicious, tender, and smoky food all the time without making any mess.
The grills we have discussed above are all meant for different purposes and you should keep your preferences in mind before choosing a reliable option.
However, if you want to go with our recommendation, then simply choose Traeger Grills Pro Series 575. It offers a 6-in-1 cooking interface with grilling, roasting, baking, searing, braising, and BBQ. Meanwhile, the extensive 575 sq. inches grilling space makes it compatible for large parties. In the end, you can control it through your smartphone app as it offers a wireless connectivity option.
So, thats all about the top-rated pellet grills available in 2022. Give your feedback about this guide so that we can review and update it in near future.
Happy Grilling!
I’m a Chef with an unmatched selection of BBQ and grilling products. I have turned my passion for outdoor cooking into expert knowledge that will help you make the perfect meal, whether it’s at your home or mine!
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How Do You Control A Charcoal Grills Temperature
The temperature of a charcoal grill is controlled by airflow. Simply put, the more air you allow a fire to have, the more fuel it will burn.
All charcoal grills have at least two air vents an intake and exhaust. Heat is controlled by opening and closing the vents until you reach a desirable temperature for what youre cooking.
Once a charcoal fire has been started, the grills temperature will stabilize based on how much air you decide to allow in and out. A good rule of thumb is that its easier to make a small fire hot than it is to get a raging fire cool again.
Size Compactness And Ease Of Packing Away
Remember, the whole point of a portable grill is to go wherever you go. If it isnt easy to pack up and take with you, then why do you want it? Dont be fooled by manufacturers who just slap the word portable on the description and then try to sell you a massive grill that happens to have wheels and/or a handle.
Think about where you plan to take it, how you plan to get it there and choose an appropriately sized grill.
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Stuck On The Fence Ask A Grilla Grills Specialist For Help
Maybe itll be your first time purchasing a pellet smoker, or youre interested in moving up to a higher-quality brand. Whatever the reason youre searching for a new smoker, the experts at Grilla Grilla are willing to hear all your questions. We want to help you pick the best bang for your buck, and most importantly, make sure your future cookouts are a success. We love to receive some feedback once in a while too.
Th Contender Grilla Grills Chimp
Compared to the likes of Traeger, Pit Boss and Camp Chef above, Grilla Grills are a relatively new brand, Ive recently written an article on the full range of pellet grills from Grilla Grills where I discuss the Chimp along with its Grilla and Silverbac pellet grill siblings. Their portable pellet grill the Chimp has many of the same premium features of the RECTEQ RT-340, but at a lower price point.
The Chimp from Grilla Grills features several premium features at a very competitive price point: Images GrillaGrills.com
The Chimp features the Grilla Grills Alpha Connect control panel which as Ive discussed in the linked article I believe to be one of the most feature-rich PID/WiFi panels on the market today. The Chimp also features many stainless steel components along with twin-wall insulated construction not found on any of the other portable pellet grills above.
- Total Cooking Area = 460 sq.in
- Weight = 90 lbs
A comparison of the Traeger Tailgater to the Grilla Grills Chimp: Video GrillaGrills.com
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What Is The Biggest Pit Boss
Meet the Pit Boss 1100 pro series pellet grill. Our largest wood pellet grill yet. With two tiers of cast iron cooking grates, this grill offers a whopping 1100 square inches of open grilling space. Now, you can turn your patio into a fully bossing experience with the sweet smoke of 100% all-natural hardwood pellets.
What Is The Best Pellet Grill Cookbook
Having a grill or smoking cookbook at your disposal enables an easy cooking interface and ensures preparing a plethora of smoking recipes. Some of the cookbooks that we recommend to the users include:
A Meat-Smoking Manifesto: New Yorks bestseller contains thousands of easy to prepare cooking recipes. Wrote by none other than Aaron Franklin, this guide will help users start their smoking and meat cooking journey with a bang.
The Wood Pellet Smoker and Grill Cookbook: Peter Jautikis in this cookbook reveals unique grilling and smoking tips and techniques for users who want to enjoy a smoky and flavorful meal while using a pellet grill.
Project Smoke: Containing more than 100 smoking and grilling recipes, Project Smoke is what every beginner needs to get started with delicious and tender meat from scratch.
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