What Is a Pellet Grill?

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Written By Timothy Allen

Whether you’ve never used a pellet grill before or you’ve been using one for years, there are a few things you should know. This article will explore the advantages and disadvantages of pellet grills and their history.

Pellet Grill

Pellet grills aka Pellet smokers are outdoor cookers that use pellets, or small pieces of wood, to generate heat. The pellets are infused with natural wood sold in a variety of flavors. This is the easiest fuel to use. The firebox burns the pellets, and the heat cooks the food on a grilling surface. Pellet grills are similar to other type of grills but have some key differences.

Pellet grills use electricity, so you’ll need access to an outlet. They use indirect heat for cooking food. The food exposes indirectly to the flames of the fire. Thus, the heat from the burning pellets cooks the food. This method is ideal for cooking delicate meats like fish and chicken and for slow-cooking foods like ribs and brisket.

Most pellet grills have a built-in thermostat that allows you to set the grill’s temperature precisely. As a result, you can cook your food exactly how you want it without worrying about flare-ups or undercooked meat.

History of Pellet Grills

Pellet grills have been around for decades, but they’ve only recently gained popularity in the United States. They began as pellet stoves in the mid-1980s. They were developed and patented by Joe Traeger. Traeger was the sole manufacturer of pellet grills for two decades due to its patent. During that time, the company remained a small family-run operation that distributed pellet grills to a limited network of retailers. Early Traeger Grills and many of the pellet grills introduced after Traeger’s patent expired featured a three-position controller with low, medium, and high heat settings. These days you can set the temperature more precisely between 150-500 degrees. These grills are an excellent option for anyone who wants the convenience of grilled food without all the hassle.

Pellet grills are very easy to use and come in various sizes to fit your needs. They are often portable and designed to be used anytime with a “set it and forget it” approach. You can find pellet grills that are small enough to fit on your balcony or larger ones that can accommodate a whole party. Companies also build them into an outdoor kitchen setup. They are easy to use and clean.

If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy grilled food, consider investing in a pellet grill. These grills offer all the flavor of traditional grilling with none of the hassles.

How Does a Pellet Grill Work?

Pellet grills work by creating heat through combustion. This heat is distributed through a fan system to cook food evenly. It also produces clean smoke. The main section of the pellet smoker includes an auger motor, a wood pellet hopper, and a combustion fan. A drip pan hangs at the bottom to catch grease drippings and ash. There is also a control panel on the unit that controls the auger motor. The control panel also allows the user to change the temperature of the fire. There is also a hopper that holds up to 20 pounds of wood pellets. Wood pellets pour into the hopper that goes down a chamber the auger moves. The auger is a tube with a metal swirl that pushes wood pellets from the hopper to the fire pot, where the pellets smolder and create smoke. This smoke is what gives your food its flavor. The auger has a speed that depends on the temperature of the fire. The higher the temperature, the faster the auger moves.

Some pellet grills even have a companion smartphone app to track temperatures. The Wi-Fi-enabled versions are beneficial when you need to cook for a long time.

Pellet grills have come a long way in the past few years. They are now easier to use and more user-friendly than their predecessors.

Advantages of Pellet Grills

Quick Start-Up

First, you have a very simple Ignition. With the simple push of a button, you power it on, set the desired temperature, and your grill is lit and ready to cook in no time, thanks to the hot rod ignition and fan-forced air.

Easy Temperature Management

The pellets are delivered from the hopper container to the firepot in the exact ratio required to reach and maintain the desired temperature. So you won’t have to tend to the fire or anything like that. The fan is doing the stoking. The auger is in charge of delivering fuel (pellets). You only need to set the temperature once. That’s all! So whether you want to grill fast or cook low and slow, a pellet grill has simple controls for whatever temperature you desire.

WIFI Connectivity

Wireless connectivity is another appealing feature these days. Most premium pellet grills on the market today have wireless connectivity that allows you to connect via a phone app. The apps are tailored to the particular brand of pellet grill you’re using. WiFire from Traeger, Smoke IT from Pit Boss, and Camp Chef Connect from Camp Chef. So, if you want to smoke a brisket overnight without constantly monitoring the fuel, an app can do it for you with alerts and other things it can send you. It keeps you informed about what’s happening outside, like the meat temperature, even when sleeping or doing other things around the house.

Consistent Heat

Pellet grills have a heat baffle that is directly over the fire pot. When combined with the force of convective air from the fan that hits the firepot, you get consistent, even heat. As a result, a pellet grill’s rear or top rack isn’t a warming rack. Because the temperatures between the racks are so close, it uses an additional cooking rack.

Little to no Flare-Ups

Another significant advantage of heat baffles is reducing flare-ups. Many companies design pellet grills for your food drippings to hit a large diffusion pan. The drippings vaporize back into your food or roll onto the grease pot or grease bucket.

Easy Smokey Flavor

Instead of requiring a learning curve of a traditional smoker for those who haven’t always smoked food, the way a pellet grill works leaves a subtle smokiness. It’s tough to over smoke your food, which is easy to do when first starting. The pellets themselves are available in every popular smoking flavor. You can combine them or create your blend. It’s straightforward and gives you access to the most popular smoke flavors. Hickory, apple, and cherry flavors are some bags of pellets you can find at your local store.

Versatile Temperature Range

The temperature range of modern pellet grills is extensive and versatile. They aren’t just smoker grills anymore. Many of them allow you to achieve temperatures ranging from 150 to 700 degrees Celsius and direct access to the flame. So, if you like a little char on your food, you can let some flame hit your burgers and hot dogs. That’s unbeatable.

Just like an oven

The final advantage is that pellet grills are highly consistent, much like a home oven. For example, your grandmother’s favorite recipe for baking may be, “Place your food in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes, pull it out, and everything is done.” Pellet grills work similarly, except that you must add flavored wood to your hopper that makes its way down to the fire. A brisket on a pellet grill will taste far superior to one in your home oven. No more waiting on coals to turn white or moving grates out of the way to add more coal. 

Disadvantages of Pellet Grills

Pellet grills have a few disadvantages when compared to other types of grills.

Price

First, pellet grills can be more expensive than other types of grills. Small, introductory pellet grills like the Pit Boss Lexington and the Traeger Pro Series 22 can run you between $300-$600. If you get a large and more top-of-the-line pellet grill, it will cost you over $1000.

Less smoke

Pellet grills generate less smoke than charcoal grills and traditional smokers. Because of that, the smoky flavor won’t be as bold.

Requires electricity 

Pellet grills require electricity to operate, so if you’re camping or tailgating, you’ll need to bring a generator. You may even want to barbecue a great distance from your house in the backyard. You will need an extension cord for this. And since the internal components of the grill are electric moving parts, they can break down, causing your whole grill to become inoperative. Electronics have this shortcoming. You can compensate for this disadvantage by purchasing from a reputable company that offers a solid warranty!

Challenging weather conditions

Some light rain and snow will make it hard and dangerous for your electric pellet grill to work in the weather. Also, letting your wood pellets get wet can cause them to swell or grow mold, which makes them useless.

Good Pellet Grill Brands

Choosing the right pellet grill can be difficult, but several good brands are on the market. These are Traeger, PitBoss, and Masterbuilt, among others.

Traeger pellet grills

Choosing a Traeger pellet grill is a great way to add an extra dimension to your cooking. They are built with quality materials and offer a variety of accessories. They are also easy to move. There are many different models out there.

The best Traeger grills offer a consistent cooking experience, no matter the weather. They also produce a smoked BBQ you’ll be proud to serve. Traeger also makes a line of sauces, rubs, and other accessories. You can also get a class to learn more about Traeger grills.

There are three main Traeger grill series: the Timberline, Ironwood, and Pro. Each has its unique features. All are easy to use and feature the Traeger name. The Ironwood series is the largest of the three, delivering an even heat sure to impress.

The Traeger wood pellet grills use the latest technology. They have a hopper, feed auger, and a hot rod to ignite the pellets. They use a small amount of electricity to power the fan.

Traeger also produces the Traeger app, which allows you to control the grill from your mobile device. The app’s features include hundreds of recipes and remote monitoring and control.

Traeger has been around for a long time. They are known for producing the best wood pellets and wood smoke flavor. They also have excellent customer service. They offer a 45-day return policy.

Masterbuilt Pellet Grills

Pellet grills have a lot to offer if you’re looking for the perfect BBQ grill or an alternative to traditional charcoal grills. They provide the smoky, authentic barbecue taste you expect and are easy to use. Some even offer direct grilling capabilities.

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 pellet grill has an innovative design that delivers incredible results and a robust flavor. The smoker holds a whopping 16 pounds of wood pellets and features a pellet hopper cleanout. It also has a temperature control panel, a front window, a grease drip tray, and two porcelain-coated warming racks.

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 800 is a force of nature. The smoker’s heat baffle directs the heat evenly, and an induction fan helps circulate the smoke and heat produced by the fire pot. Its reversible cast iron grates allow high and low-heat grilling. It has a temperature range of 450degF to 650degF.

The entry-level pellet grill is more than a foot long. It’s also bigger than you’d expect, with a 40-pound hopper and 440 square inches of cooking space. It’s also got a flame broiler, all-electric ignition, and durable wheels. It also has a nice-looking digital control panel and a lovely big door.

Pellet grills produce more heat than electric smokers and can sear without burning the meat. It also has the distinction of being the only barbecue type to provide 100% wood-smoked meats.

Pit Boss Grills

Whether you’re looking for a pellet grill for tailgates or special occasions, Pit Boss offers an array of products to suit your needs. These grills combine the elements of a standard grill and smoker. Their patented SearZone plate lets you cook with indirect or direct heat.

Pit Boss pellet grills come in three sizes. The tabletop model is compact and can grill, sear, bake, and barbeque. It’s marketed as an “8-in-1 cooker.”

The Pit Boss Austin XL is their top-selling pellet grill. It’s available at Walmart for around $500 with a larger cooking area and direct-flame access.

Pit Boss pellet grills also offer a unique flame-broiler feature. They come with a meat probe. This probe connects to a control board and lets you monitor the internal temperature of your meat. A probe can also track the progress of your food.

Camp Chef Pellet Grills

Camp Chef is a well-known outdoor cooking brand known for producing high-quality outdoor products. Camp Chef pellet grills come in various models, each with its own features and capabilities. The Woodwind Pellet Grill, for example, is a high-end model that allows you to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ while maintaining precise temperature control. It also has a sear box built to get those perfect sear marks on steaks and other meats.

The SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill, SmokePro SE Pellet Grill, and SmokePro XT Pellet Grill are other Camp Chef pellet grill models. Each of these grills has its own features and capabilities, so think about which is best for your specific cooking needs.

Overall, Camp Chef pellet grills are an excellent choice for anyone seeking a versatile outdoor cooking appliance that is simple to operate and produces delicious results.

RecTec Pellet Grills

RecTec Pellet Grills are among the market’s most popular and well-liked grills. They are well-known for their high construction quality, sturdy design, and high performance. The pellet grill has a digital control system that allows you to set the temperature, ensuring consistent results precisely. Furthermore, the pellet-based fuel is an efficient and clean-burning option that generates enough heat to cook your favorite meats and vegetables. RecTec Pellet Grills are built to last, thanks to their heavy-duty construction and stainless steel exterior. Their grills are an excellent choice for anyone looking for a dependable outdoor cooking solution.

The RT-B380 is their most popular entry-level model, and it resembles a traditional charcoal grill, such as the Weber. If you have the money, their flagship model, the RT-700, can hold 40 pounds of all-natural hardwood pellets. Furthermore, because the hopper is located at the back of the grill rather than on the side, the pellets fall into the fire pot quickly, allowing for faster start-up and temperature control. It has 702 square inches of cooking space for a large group.

Conclusion

Overall, pellet grills are a great option for those looking for an easy way to cook delicious food. They are pricey but are versatile for a variety of different foods. You just may get perfect results every time. If you’re thinking about getting a pellet grill, we hope this guide has helped you decide.

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