We’ll also run through some of the pros and cons of cooking with pellets to help you make up your own mind. On the other hand, if you purchase a cooker that has all the bells and whistles, but you never use them, you will have wasted your hard earned cash when a more basic cooker, that cost less, would likely have done the trick. This is a pellet smoker and Grill that I built from scrap metal and also a coal stoker for a furnace. A cheap cooker may save you up front, but if it starts to rust, components break down within a few short years, you don’t have a good warranty and the customer service is not up to par, you will be spending more money in the long run. For instance, you need a multipurpose smoker which you can use to perform other functions. As soon as the paint blisters and chips, your cooker will start to rust and these components will deteriorate. Smokers and pellet grills are growing in popularity, likely because a lot more people are cooking at home — and looking for other ways to up their home chef game. We promise not to spam you. Freelance food writer Donna Currie is an expert on all things food, from cookbooks to cooking gadgets. If you want the biggest brand with all the latest features, and your budget can stretch, the Traeger Pro is a great option. Pellet cookers usually have an auger or another feed mechanism that pushes the pellets into a burn pot typically about the size of a beer can ripped in half. However, if you live in a cold climate and it is freezing outside, the ability to control your cook from inside your warm home may well be an appealing feature. In the world of pellet smokers, there is a fine line between useful technology and tacky gimmicks. $16.95 $ 16. The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill sports a combined grill/smoker setup with temperature control for the best pellet grilling experience available. And remember, if you live in a colder climate, your cooker will use even more fuel to bring the smoker up to, and maintain temperature. The answer is YES! In this guide, we’ll break down the best pellet smokers available in 2020. Before you buy a pellet smoker, you need to look out for some additional features and necessary pellet smoker accessories that set one out from many. This might not be a big deal to you. Steven Raichlen, New Kid on the Block: Pellet Grills. Some pellet grills even have associated smartphone apps so you can get feeding and temperature data right into your phone. While most pellet grills have the hopper on the left, this one places it on the right. Made by Traeger, the company that invented pellet grills, this is as easy to operate as it is to move around. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill, Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill Review, Runner-Up, Best Overall: So, it will take a lot of pellets to get the cooking area up to the desired temperature. For example, a smoker which allows you to grill and bake can save space and money in your kitchen. But for a little bit extra upfront, you’ll enjoy the simplicity and versatility that is causing pellet smokers to take over patios around the country. Our portable wood pellet grills and smokers are great for tailgating, camping, or any small space. While you might not have heard of Green Mountain before (they only started selling in 2008), the company is producing grills that match and often exceed what Traeger is making. We bought the larger EX6 model which comes with 1008 square inches of grilling space. Back in 2008 if you wanted to buy a pellet smoker you could choose between Traeger and MAK. All the small pieces have unique designs helping themselves to burn more evenly. It weighs 45 pounds so it’s not flimsy, but it won’t take a whole crew to move it into place, whether it’s going to be used on the tailgate of a truck or on a table in the backyard. For portability, an electric smoker must have either wheels and handles or both of them. Here, we've gathered a list of the best inexpensive pellet grills on the market. When you can get an excellent charcoal smoker like the Weber Smokey Mountain for under $300 you may be asking yourself why would you want to buy a pellet grill? Small pellet grills with small hopper capacities may need a refill during your cook, depending on how long you wish to cook something. One word of caution – don’t confuse a cheap cooker with a cooker that is good value. So, settling for a hopper that is too small will prove to be annoying to say the least, as your cooks will fail to go the distance. In 2008 there were only two consumer pellet grill manufacturers. If you don’t think you’ll take advantage of the WiFi features, you can save some money with one of the older models, but in our opinion, the upgraded drivetrain, motor, and fan plus WiFi make the Pro series our runner up pick for best pellet grill. Considering some cooks take around 20 hours, an 18 pound hopper, for example, is going to be problematic. Camp Chef is regularly updating the App so we hope the connection issues can be resolved. To begin the comparison we must first understand what a pellet grill is and how a smoker differs from it. Get your free Smoking Times and Temperature chart: Before we can send you your free smoking chart, you need to confirm your email. You give up the nice color screen and the lid is made from powder-coated steel instead of stainless steel so it’s slightly less rugged. Remember that bigger doesn’t always mean better. Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,689 $313.69 $ 313 . ", "While most pellet grills have the hopper on the left, this one places it on the right, as some cooks might have a preference. Like an electric smoker, you get: There are also a few advantages unique to cooking with a pellet smoker: Steven Raichlen has an excellent breakdown of the various pros and cons of pellet grills that you may want to check out. "The best combination of grilling space, heat control, and easy-to-achieve flavors. Now as the founder and editor in chief of Smoked Barbecue Source I get to grill, barbecue and write about meat for a living! Bearing this in mind, let’s discuss the difference between the primary cooking area and total cooking area. This has a convenient lever-operated ash cleanout system and a grease management system for easy cleaning and maintenance, while the roller wheels make it easy to position anywhere you want it. Running through a bit of a checklist is certainly a great way to make sure you haven’t missed anything. ... Look for a combination pellet smoker and grill if you want to charbroil, smoke, bake, roast and braise, all over the same flame. review process here. Then, all that is left to do is enjoy your new cooker! Warranties vary between manufacturers, so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. It doesn’t get much more portable than this compact smoker with its suitcase-style lid latches and large handle. The Pro now comes with WiFi for remote control and monitoring of your grill. Therefore, the size of your hopper essentially dictates how long your cooks can be. It can solve your problems of space and portability if you live in a little place or have a small family. However, first, what is your best option if you’re looking for WiFi functionality in a vertical pellet smoker? You can choose the Pro with either 575 or 780 square inches of cooking space. This grill shares a lot of the same DNA as the slightly more expensive Woodwind. High quality materials will retain heat, ensure more efficient pellet consumption, and maintain temperature better in the cold weather. The Woodwind is available in two sizes. Packing a whopping 875 square inches of cooking rack surface area, and weighing 180lbs the Camp Chef SmokePro LUX is a big boy pellet grill. The legs fold and function as handles when it’s time to pack up the party and go home. Nothing else comes close in terms of features and portability at this price point. Having said that, the Green Mountain Davy Crockett has been designed to take with you. They are definitely still worth checking out and depending on your specific requirements they might be the best option for you. The Pit Boss uses a sliding plate system to allow for more direct searing which gives it a little bit more versatility, but you do give up any WiFi connectivity. As a result, there should be no temperature difference between the top rack and the bottom rack while cooking. This grill has a 578-square-inch, porcelain-coated cast-iron grate and two adjustable 328-square-inch upper racks, so there’s plenty of space to cook for the family or for a party. 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