Best Portable Pellet Smoker Green Mountain Davy Crockett Pellet Grill
Why youll love it:
A unique, bold take on pellet grilling.
For pellet grilling on the go, this is pretty much the only option out there. That alone makes the Green Mountain Davy Crockett appealing, but its performance says a lot more, with all the benefits in an incredibly compact package.
No corners cut here everything is up to par in terms of performance and construction, with a total grilling area comparable than most portable grills.The only rub here might be the price premium quality demands premium cost, and this will run you a fair bit more than your average portable grill.
What we liked
What we didnt like
- Grease Catcher: Its grease catcher is a simple bucket attached to a grease chute. This one fares even worse, as it is precariously perched on the clope of the chute and likely to slip once the bucket gets heavy enough.
Great smoked flavor doesnt have to stay home.
Whether its tailgating or camping, grilling on the go is often part of the experience. This model is also one of the best pellet grills for searing.
Why youll love it:
Bigger isnt always better.
Many people just dont have space for massive grill, or just dont want one. Having a grill you can take along on your next tailgate or camping trip is a nice bonus.
Despite its small size, this Traeger still has 572 square inches of cooking area. Thats enough for two whole chickens or 12 hamburgers.
What we liked
What we didnt like
Yoder Ys640s Review: High
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Weve admired Yoder for many years, so when Smoked BBQ Source reader Ted sent us his experience with the YS640S pellet smoker we asked if we could share his review with our readers.
Ted bought the YS640S with his own money, and the following review has been lightly edited by our team.
Disadvantages Compared To Other Types
You cant decide if pellet grills are worth it without discussing the cons! Here are some characteristics of pellet grills that dont weigh up favorably to other types of smoker.
Not Great at Grilling The biggest bugbear of most opponents to pellet grills is the fact they are called a grill, but they dont do grilling well!
Because most pellet grills are limited to between 450 and 500 F at the top end, they will never sear as well as a charcoal or gas grill. However, as you can see from the top pick in this list, manufacturers are finding solutions!
High Initial Cost to Buy You can get a perfectly good charcoal, electric smoker or gas smoker for between $200 to $400. Pellet smokers average between $500 to $2000. So the initial outlay to acquire one is far greater.
Availability of Fuel You can buy charcoal or gas refills at any convenience store, you are never far from a source. However, wood pellets used for food smoking arent so readily available.
You must make sure you keep a good stock of pellets and aim never to run out, because often the only source to buy pellets for you will be online, and mean a 24 hour or more delivery.
Dont ever run out of pellets mid-cook!
Weaker Smoke Taste Many people accustomed to smoking on charcoal grills, or offset wood burners, find the taste from pellet cookers is lacking a certainsomething. The smoke flavor not strong or deep enough.
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Why Are Pellet Grills So Expensive
The best pellet grills were able to crisp-up chicken wings without burning them when we used the highest heat setting
While some pellet grills can be found under $500, most range between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the size and features. They have more moving parts than other types of grills, and controlling the temperature is a bit more complicated than a grill that uses dials or vents. A thermostat and an onboard computer control the grills auger, fan, and ignition system.
If it doesnt come together correctly, the automated pellet delivery system will fail to deliver pellets to the fire pot, and the grill wont reach appropriate heat levels. Worse yet, the grill could turn off mid-session, or the ignited pellets can back up into the hopper, creating a fire hazard.
Modern pellet grills are also smart-capable. They have built-in probe thermometers that connect to smartphones via Bluetooth or WiFi, allowing users to monitor long-cooking items like brisket or pulled pork remotely. These apps also allow you to change the grills temperature, activate any smoke boost functions, set a timer, monitor the pellet level in the hopper, and turn the grill off. Thats convenient, but it comes at a price.
Ash And Grease Management
Cleaning up after you cook is a drag but its an incredibly important step in the process and will greatly increase the shelf life of your grill.
Any grill that has built in features to make that process as quick and easy as possible is doing something right.
A lot of the top of the line units will have built in removable ash pans, or similar features that make the cleanup process simple and efficient.
Also Check: Grill Halibut Temperature
Whats Better Weber Or Traeger
In a competition between Traeger and Weber, Traeger will almost always win. The charcoal smokers from Weber often impart a strong flavor that completely overpowers the meat, but the hardwood pellets that Traeger smokers use will impart a much more subtle flavor. Traeger also gives you the choice of smoking or grilling.
Also Check: Weber Grills Stainless Steel Vs Porcelain
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.
- Poor customer service from Traeger.
- A bit expensive compared to Z Grills models.
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How To Use A Pellet Grill
Using a pellet grill is pretty simple. For starters, you just have to plug in the electric plug and set the temperature of the grill to your preferred level. Next, you put your food on the tray and start cooking. Most pellet grills have an integrated meat probe that lets you monitor your food’s temperature from afar so you don’t have to open it up every few minutes and check if it’s ready yet instead, all you need is a pair of tongs and some patience. That’s it!
You do need to keep in mind that you want to regulate the amount of heat and smoke because this will largely affect the flavor of your food. So if you want to grill some chicken with a lot of smoke, then simply use hardwood pellets. You can also modify the number of pellets that come out by using a smoker box or opening up the hopper to make sure there are no pellets stuck inside.
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
We were never able to use the Wi-Fi function on the Traeger Pro 575 while testing. But were confident that our trouble with connecting it to our Wi-Fi network was a placement problem and not the grills failure. To connect, Traeger advises minimizing the interference between the grill and your router. At our Los Angeles office, the router was tucked away in a closet, and the connection was very much interrupted by a few walls we had no way to move the router closer to the grill or vice versa. As discussed above, when Daniela took the grill home for long-term testing, she had no trouble connecting it to her Wi-Fi network.
We didnt miss using the WiFire app, which offers detailed recipes for smoking various meats as well as the ability to monitor and control the smoker from your phone or an Alexa smart speaker, but that option could be really nice to have if you want to monitor the progress of an overnight smoke from the comfort of your bed. If you want to use the app, consider whether your Wi-Fi will reach your yard or whether you might need a Wi-Fi extender.
Its also important to note that most current Wi-Fi routers transmit over two frequencies, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, but like almost all smart-home devices, the Traeger grill connects only to the 2.4 GHz band. If youre struggling to connect the grill to the app, make sure your phone is also on the 2.4 GHz band.
Also Check: Traeger Electric Grill
Pellet Grills Vs Traditional Charcoal Grills
In this article, we compare a pellet grill with a traditional charcoal one so you can choose which is better for you depending on your needs.
This is our best pellet grill compared to others. We believe that it offers the best value for money because it’s easy to use and stable in performance. We also think that the design is really cool because it blends in perfectly with any backyard environment and provides the best value for money of any pellet grills we have tried.
This is a real pellet grill that offers you convenience and reliability at the same time. It also offers a unique design that works perfectly in any backyard environment.
We can’t stress enough how important it is to have a reliable pellet grill. You will be using the grill for cooking various types of food, and if you want to shorten the amount of time required for cooking, then you will need to get one that’s easy to use, sturdy, and live up to your expectations in performance.
Pit Boss 700fb 700 Sq Inch Pellet Grill
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The Pit Boss 700FB square inch pellet grill spoils you with an expansive cooking surface that is sure to satisfy all of your cooking needs. Designed with an innovative flame broiler you can cook your steaks and burgers to the standard that you would expect to receive in your favorite steakhouse. As you are left in complete control throughout the cooking process you can grill your meats at your desired temperature.
Constructed using porcelain-coated cast iron grids, this is a durable pellet grill that is likely to see you through many uses without any significant deterioration to the quality.
Fueled by using 100% natural wood pellets, this is a natural source that isnt reliant upon gas, propane, or charcoal, designed to reach your chosen temperature with immediacy.
Impressively, these wood pellets have been sourced from America so you can be confident in the root of your fuel.
Featuring a digitally controlled burn system, this grill is easy to operate leaving you in complete control when reaching your chosen temperature which ranges from 170 Fahrenheit to 600 Fahrenheit.
Pros
Cons
- Unfortunately, this grill begins to struggle with maintaining its temperature after a few uses.
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Read Also: How Long Do U Grill Pork Chops
Pit Boss Navigator 850
Pit Boss has a few different pellet smokers, but for our taste the Pit Boss Navigator 850 is the best they have to offer.
At 879 square inches of cooking area, youre afforded a generous amount of cooking area at a really nice price. Strictly from a cost per square inch of cooking area basis, its the best pellet smoker on the market. The navigator also comes with a whopping 27 pounds of hopper pellet capacity.
Otherwise it comes with all of the basic features youd expect, along with a 180-500°F temperature range and a dial temperature control with a LED readout.
On top of that, it comes equipped with a meat probe thermometer and a sliding diffusor plate that allows you to grill your food over direct flames.
Things We Like:
- 820 square inches of cooking area is plenty for almost any grilling task
- Open cart design with built in wheels works great for storage and transport when necessary
- Nice temperature range at 180-500°F
Things We Dont:
- Some customers have complained recently that the grills they were shipped were blatantly damaged
- Pit Boss has generally declined in quality over recent years
What Are The Best Small Pellet Grills For Camping
A small pellet grill must be portable enough so that users can take it around from one place to another. We suggest checking out ASMOKE Portable Pellet Grill as first option if you want to enjoy eating tender and delicious smoky food while camping.
Pellethead Green Mountain Grill is another option that you could consider as it features wireless connectivity with a consistent grilling and roasting interface.
Read Also: Grilling Temp For Pork Chops
Traeger Timberline Series 850
The Timberline range is the original wood-pellet grill companys most elite offering, representing Traegers most advanced grill in its 34-year history. Also offered in a larger 1300-spec, the Timberline 850 is an elite grill with heavy-duty double-walled and insulated 304 stainless steel construction backed by Traegers WiFIRE technology/connectivity that lets user control settings, monitor progress, or set cook cycles via the Traeger smartphone app. At the brain of the grill is its all-new D2 controller, which is reportedly the most cutting-edge and precise PID unit on the market. Other noteworthy standard fare on the Timberline range includes TRU convection air circulation, a brushless DC motor-controlled pellet augur, a low-pellet sensor, and a SuperSmoke setting that sets the grill to its lowest heat setting and kills the fan, letting meat bask in the natural airborne flavor.
Fuel Source: Wood Pellets
Pellet Consumption And Running Costs
Higher quality pellet grills made from thicker materials are more insulated, better sealed, and retain heat better than cheaper models made from thinner materials. This affects your ongoing running costs and often means spending more on a better grill in the first place, saves a lot of money over years of life.
So do take pellet consumption into account. Spending more on a grill that consumes fewer pellets can save a small fortune over time when it comes to pellet grilling.
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Best For Beginners: Z Grills 700d Wood Pellet Grill
Dimensions : 45 x 28 x 49 inches | Cooking Area: 694 square inches| Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds
Beginners cant go too wrong with any pellet smoker since theyre perfect for set it and forget it. The stainless-steel Z Grills Premium ZPG-700D is an especially good pick for novices with its great value, three-year warranty, and precise temperature control that will keep your food within 10 degrees of your target temp for hours and hours.
This model comes with enough cooking space for 34 burgers and a hopper capacity for a full day of cooking. It can handle anything between 180 and 450 degrees, and heavy-duty locking wheels mean you can easily move it around the backyard if needed. Electronic auto-start ignition means one button is all you need to get cooking, and a real-time LED temperature display makes everything crystal clear.
Dimensions : 42 x 30 x 49 inches | Cooking Area: 800 square inches| Hopper Capacity: 22 pounds
Searing can be the missing X factor for pellet grills. If you just love that crispy exterior that only high heat can deliver, the Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill with Sear Box is an excellent bet.
A To Z List Of Pellet Grill/smoker Brands
Back in 2007 when I first become aware of pellet grills and smokers the only brand I was really aware of was Traeger. Traeger is really where this whole concept of cooking with pellets started in the 1980s. It was a slow burner but since the 2010s is really when pellet grills and smokers started to get mainstream awareness, discussed alongside gas and charcoal grills. There are now over 30 pellet grill/smoker brands that Im aware of, and the link above goes to my A to Z list of brands article.
Now, you may already be aware of a few of the other brands such as Pit Boss, Camp Chef, Z Grills and Im sure you are aware of Weber, though you may not have known they have entered the pellet grill game. However, they are now many, many more brands to look into. Some may be what are commonly referred to as Traeger clones, but many others are offering their own unique designs and features.
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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!
