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Camp Chef recently released the Woodwind Pro model, which includes a Smoke Box that allows you to burn wood chunks or charcoal to produce extra smoke. The Pro is also better insulated and made from higher-end components. TheGrillingDad hasteam members dedicated to researching products, analyzing customer insights, fact-checking content, and identifying each product’s standout features. The most affordable pellet grill, without considering portable models, is going to be Pit Boss or Z Grills.
This means that there are parts of your cooker that may break, and that you may not be able to fix yourself. You’ll need to take off the grill grates and remove the deflector plate. If you couldn’t be bothered doing the math, that’s 575 square inches of total cooking space. The level of technology inside a typical pellet smoker makes a gas or charcoal grill look primitive. The controller is one of the most important parts of a pellet smoker.
Best Overall Pellet Grill
In those tests, we noted that the Daniel Boone Prime produced a lot more smoke than the Traeger Pro 575, so it has its downsides but is good for folks who prefer smokier barbecue. We should note that the Daniel Boone and other Green Mountain Grill models can be purchased only from authorized brick-and-mortar retailers. We also found that the Traeger Pro 575 is fuel efficient compared with the other grills we tested. Over the course of a 12-hour cook (eight hours at 225 °F plus four at 275 °F), the Traeger ran out of pellets only at the end, when I was just about to take the meat off the grill. Smoking on what some people call self-feeding pellet smokers is pretty straightforward.
It did not perform great when trying to grill hamburgers at its highest temperature. We took 8 different pellet grills from 8 different manufacturers and ran them through 30 different tests to help you decide which pellet grill is right for you. At the time of our testing, every pellet grill in this roundup was priced at $599 or less. Between testing and editing, we're seeing inflation take a toll, and a couple prices have fluctuated up and down a bit.
Best High End Pick
Though it appeared to be possibly the most inconsistent when it comes to temperature, the finished cooks were consistently more visually stunning than the competition. These machines have taken the guesswork out of smoking and given great success to the most inexperienced barbecuer. Hopefully, this guide has helped you understand a little bit more about the pros and cons of cooking with a pellet grill, and helped you pick out the right model for your budget and needs. The combined surface area of 811 square inches is the perfect sweet spot for most people.
Experts explain how pellet grills work and what to consider before buying one. She's an expert on all things home, including kitchen appliances, grills, and other cooking gadgets. If water gets into the hopper of your pellet grill, the wood pieces will expand, clogging the hopper and auger. As such, it's important to cover your grill when not in use, especially if you're planning to keep it outdoors. You'll want to look at whether the pellet grill you're buying includes a cover, and if it doesn't, be sure to check the price of buying one separately. If you can afford the double walled chamber models, even better.
Camp Chef Woodwind 24-Inch
(You can also do that on the grill’s app.) We appreciated all the features and the addition of the Sidekick, but they add to the cost—the Woodwind Wi-Fi 24 runs $900 without the griddle. You can buy the Sidekick separately for $239.99 if you decide later that you want to add it, or get the bundle for $1,150. Even though it’s pretty basic, the Texas Elite 34 is affordable for its large size and cooking capacity compared with other Traegers. But if you want to maximize your dollar per square inch, you might want to consider the first-generation Traeger Pro 34, which typically costs $100 more than the Texas Elite.
(We avoided retailer-specific Traeger models because they’re not as widely available). From there, you get into the higher-end Ironwood and Timberline series. We liked the ability to modify the SmokePro DLX with an additional-cost sear box that attaches to the side. Although we didn’t test this accessory, we do like that it solves one of the shortcomings of pellet grills—they don’t sear. You end up with the best of both worlds—smoky meat with a dark seared crust.
With the options available on the market, you’ll need a guide on how to narrow your choices. While it all comes down to personal preference and budget, you may want to check what features you want in a smoker. However, with wood pellets, enough flame can arise to create the smoke you require. A fan located within the heating part of the pellet smoker stokes the heat. First, pellet smokers allow moisture of any kind to vaporize back into the meat inside the chamber.
Due to its large cooking area, it can accommodate 6 whole chickens and 9 racks of ribs in it simultaneously. All pellet grills have a hopper where you load wood pellets, and there are a few things you'll want to look at as you shop. Models with larger hoppers can be operated for longer periods of time without needing to be refilled, which is essential if you're planning to smoke brisket or other time-consuming recipes.
This unit is also equipped with Wi-Fi technology, allowing users to monitor and adjust their grill’s temperature from their phones. If nothing else, make sure you have an oven gasket around the chamber. The Oklahoma Joe's Rider includes a pellet storage bin that slides right in under the hopper. The Multitasker cooks evenly from front to back and side to side with no significant hot-spots. Leg holes were drilled incorrectly resulting in slanted bottom shelf; Lifesmart is sending us replacement legs, but that will be a lot of work to make that change. There's not much to argue with in this unit, and in the sub-$600 price range it performs very well against the competition.
For this reason, you’ll need a lot of elbow grease with these types of smokers. Best of all, you’ll get the same classic smoky flavors and wood-fire taste that’s characteristic of pellet grills. We begin rounding off this list of picks with a vertical wood pellet grill from Pit Boss. There are several brands that stand out and we had a look at most of them here on this page. We will keep adding more brands and reviews so you can find the best pellet grill for your family and the type of smoking and grilling. To determine the best pellet grill and figure out just how these products perform under a variety of cooking scenarios, we conduct three tests.
Compared with propane or charcoal grills, pellet grills are more prone to grease and soot buildup because the wood pellets burn at a low temperature. Your grill will perform better for years to come if you follow these tips. The grill also comes with a digital color display and is compatible with the Camp Chef Connect app. The electronic ignition helps you fire the grill up quickly, according to the brand, and you can also control your grill via Bluetooth by connecting to the companion Expert Grill app. The grill has a 4.4-star rating from over 40 reviews on Walmart. Wood pellet grills are most commonly used for cooking low and slow, but if you're looking for a model that can do traditional grilling, be sure to look at its temperature range.
The front fold-down shelf on the Oakford is kind of unique, in that when folded out, it meets the side shelf, creating a large useful place to shuffle things on and off the grill as you cook. This is a great starter pellet grill considering its price, build and capabilities. It’s super easy to use with a dial temperature control and easy-to-read display. And with a 21-pound hopper capacity and 700 square inches of space to cook on including the second tier rack, the manufacturer claims you can make over 30 burgers at once!
Steak also turned out tender and was able to achieve grill marks. The grill has a downward exhaust system located on the back instead of a traditional smokestack. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, these top models on the market deliver on smoky flavor. 304 stainless steel is the industry standard that won’t rust, and is made to be uncovered. We were impressed with the amount of stainless steel used in this build, including the fire pot, heat deflector and drip pan. It would be impractical to use this grill to cook burgers for a crowd as only a couple of the patties would have contact with the flame.
If you’re new to grilling or smoking, a pellet smoker with wireless connectivity and app integration may be worth the extra dollar. This is a sign that your pellet smoker or pellet grill is built for longer cooking sessions. The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 24 Pellet Smoker has a second-generation PID controller that allows you to select your desired temperature down to the smallest increment. With reliable wireless connectivity and app integration, this pellet grill puts you in the driver’s seat as you smoke your meat to perfection. Looking around at the Traeger and Pit Boss-dominated pellet grill market, you’re likely getting an idea of how pricey pellet smokers are. The wifi-enabled Silverton 620 pellet grill offers a slightly larger cooking area, built-in side tables, and storage cabinet.
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