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Message
re: Best first-time pellet grill
Posted on 2/10/22 at 9:05 am to tigerbelly
Posted on 2/10/22 at 9:05 am to tigerbelly
After using a few I highly recommend one that has an external ash pot cleanout. Makes life easier. It is a good practice to clean it out before every cook to save you from having problems such as burn back and flame outs. I would also buy a small shop vac if you don't already have one. You will need it to clean the ash out of the grill.
I have a Pit Boss 1600. After almost a year of heavy use I have had zero problems. I am extremely happy with it. It is not exactly entry level though. I just got sick of researching and I loved the size of the PB1600 so I bought it. The reviews were all very positive for it.
I researched for two years before buying. They all seem to be pretty good as the market is so competitive. Pit Boss is known for being the best value and having a reliable auger system. Traeger Grills are known for being high priced and made of thin cheap materials, but they do have good controls.
There are loads of pellet grill enthusiasts on you tube that have a great deal of reviews. After you find a grill you are interested in I would see if there is a review on youtube. Here are a couple: Tom Horsman Dead Broke BBQ
Z Grills, Gorilla Grills, RecTec, and Green Mountain Grills all make very good grills as well. There are so many options for these things it is overwhelming.
Lastly, make darn sure you study the temperature ranges for each grill. Some are more geared towards actual smoking and say go from 150 to 450 degrees while others range from 200-600 degrees.
I have a Pit Boss 1600. After almost a year of heavy use I have had zero problems. I am extremely happy with it. It is not exactly entry level though. I just got sick of researching and I loved the size of the PB1600 so I bought it. The reviews were all very positive for it.
I researched for two years before buying. They all seem to be pretty good as the market is so competitive. Pit Boss is known for being the best value and having a reliable auger system. Traeger Grills are known for being high priced and made of thin cheap materials, but they do have good controls.
There are loads of pellet grill enthusiasts on you tube that have a great deal of reviews. After you find a grill you are interested in I would see if there is a review on youtube. Here are a couple: Tom Horsman Dead Broke BBQ
Z Grills, Gorilla Grills, RecTec, and Green Mountain Grills all make very good grills as well. There are so many options for these things it is overwhelming.
Lastly, make darn sure you study the temperature ranges for each grill. Some are more geared towards actual smoking and say go from 150 to 450 degrees while others range from 200-600 degrees.
0
Posted on 2/10/22 at 1:10 pm to AlxTgr
quote:
If you're dead set on pellet, ignore the rest(I kinda hate when people do this) but if not, look into the gravity feed charcoal units. You can add wood chips to the hopper and get lots of smoke. Love my Masterbuilt 800. I do not even use my reverse offset any more.
That looks like a really cool option, but I don't know how they keep the rest of the charcoal from lighting like a chimney. The video on their website doesn't really answer that question.
Posted on 2/10/22 at 1:38 pm to Thorny
quote:I've used mine many, many time. That has never happened. When the cook is over, there's two metal pieces that slide into slots that cut off air both ways. I always have charcoal left over.
but I don't know how they keep the rest of the charcoal from lighting like a chimney.
Posted on 2/10/22 at 2:35 pm to AlxTgr
I guess I would have to see one in action.
Posted on 2/10/22 at 5:02 pm to tigerbelly
Another Recteq Bullseye owner here. It’s great for starting out to test the waters without having to make too much of an investment if that’s a concern. It smokes pretty good and is the only one I have seen that has the ability to get up to 750 degrees. Most others top out at 500. I can fit a whole brisket or 3 racks of spare ribs at a time. More if I were to get a rack and turn the ribs on their sides.
Posted on 2/11/22 at 9:28 am to tigerbelly
Z grill off Amazon. Cooks great. Hopper is a little finicky so you have to keep an eye to make sure you don’t rat hole the pellets.
This post was edited on 2/11/22 at 9:29 am
Posted on 2/11/22 at 10:43 am to tigerbelly
Not a pellet grill but I got a Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560. Uses lump/briquette charcoal and can use wood chunks for smoking. You can go as low as 150 and as high as 700 so you can do everything from smoke to sear.
Posted on 2/11/22 at 11:37 am to upgrayedd
quote:
Masterbuilt Gravity Series
How are these holding up?
Posted on 2/11/22 at 11:45 am to Saskwatch
quote:
How are these holding up?
I've had mine for a year and a half and the only issue I've had with it is recently one of the lid sensors keeps telling me it's open. Doesn't really affect the function but I can't see the temp reading. I need to email MB to find a solution.
I have seen some insert kits for the hopper and the combustion chamber to prolong the life of it, but I haven't felt the need to get it yet. Mine is under a covered patio so that might help with things as well.
Posted on 2/11/22 at 12:04 pm to upgrayedd
Thanks for feedback. I've been skeptical as the other masterbuilt item I owned (propane smoker) did not last very long.
Posted on 2/12/22 at 5:23 am to tigerlaw
quote:
I recently went with a Camp Chef and it's fantastic. If I had more money to spend, I would've gone with a Recteq due to build quality.
Your CC is just as good as any RT. RT grills are Chinese just like all of the commodity grills. Unless you're doing Yoder, Mak, Pitts and Spitts etc then they're all the same. Smoke on.
Posted on 2/12/22 at 5:48 am to Saskwatch
quote:I bought an aftermarket plate for the top of the hopper, but other than that, mine is going strong.
How are these holding up?
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