Pellet Grill/Smokers, anyone own one? Thoughts on them?

Arkysmokin

I currently own a XLBE but I'm looking for an addition to the family. I'm looking at the Pellet Grill/Smokers because of the ease of use. My wife would be able to start grilling/smoking foods. The BGE is a little intimidating to her. Just curious if there are any of you that have used one and what your thoughts on them are. 

tjv

it's your oven outside.....turn on, set temperature and cook in 25.  easy clean out.

we sell the Louisiana Grills, lg series.  Couple reasons why:
- no stack so it does not look like a big grill when covered, significant others like that  
- has heavy porcelain coated grids,
- has the slider plate for grilling over the pot.  
- electronic controls.  
- 14 ga. construction.

t

Arkysmokin

@tjv Funny, I had a friend send me the link to a Louisana Grills Champion. Looked good and at a decent price.

maso

@bosco0633, if he's still lurking around, can give you some good comments.  I've been eyeing the yoder 640 and that new timberline 1300 (I think bosco has that one). 

Arkysmokin

Ya, I was hung up on the Yoder but after looking at the Louisiana Grills it got me thinking.

oldmandawg

I know nothing......  but a friend has a Rec Tec and loves it fwiw.

lkapigian

I am sure the Louisana Grills Champion works well, I saw the in Costco and was not that impressed with the quality as it appeared in the store

hondabbq

I was torn between the LG and GMG. I opted for the GMG Jim Bowie.

CanDid

Why spend upwards of $600 for a new contraption, on top of having to buy & store pellets, when you can purchase a Flame Boss, Auber or similar that will perform much better? A blower regulates pit temp while their apps track the pit & meat temp right on your phone.

cookingdude555

@candid , I don't think an egg with a blower attachment is the same as a pellet grill/smoker. Eggs aren't for everyone. I have several eggs, but if I mention selling the gasser my wife would kill me. Nothing is easier than pushing a button and its ready to go. 

CanDid

@cookingdude555, That is true. If it is for the wife and she requests it, then I digress.

pgprescott

Memphis is in a league of their own in both performance and price. The new Traeger timberline is a very good unit as well with insulated cook chamber, wifi, Big hopper, and rear exhaust in lieu of a stack. The MAK and Yoder are solid as well. I am sure there are many others depending on your wants and needs. This category is where the Grill grates really shine as an accessory IMO. Look at me spending your accessories money too! Lol!

johnkitchens

I have been thinking about a Rec Tec. I have heard good things. Plus they make them near here. 

scdaf

Have had a GMG Jim Bowie since 2010 and use it every week, at least.  Unbeatable for reverse sear steaks, as it will hold 150 degrees in any but really hot weather, giving the meat a lot of time in smoke.  It sits on my covered front  porch and we're in real snow country, so it's the only burner getting used for about 4 months of the year.

It can be below zero and starting the fire is an indoor push of the remote and another button push to select temp.  Generally ready to add food in less than 20 minutes under these conditions and that  is my first step outdoors.  

I have many different outdoor cookers and each of them has uses and each gets used on a regular basis and I enjoy using every one.

cookingdude555

CanDid said:

@cookingdude555, That is true. If it is for the wife and she requests it, then I digress.

Just realized that was your first post.  Didn't mean to jump on you.  Welcome to the group.  Keep posting.

StillH2OEgger

johnkitchens said:

I have been thinking about a Rec Tec. I have heard good things. Plus they make them near here. 

I have no personal experience, but I have also heard good things about Rec Tec.

Toxarch

I've tried a couple of Traegers and the food was good. Easy to use as well. It's like setting the oven to heat up. If it was just you using it, get a blower unit. If the egg scares the wife, the pellet smoker would be great for her. Several friends have them.

A buddy has a new small Traeger and it keeps having serious flame-up and overheating. It even made a loud bang a couple of times and had smoke coming out the hopper. Couldn't leave it unattended or the temp would skyrocket. I guess he's figured out the problems cause he takes it camping and posts pics of it working. 

Arkysmokin

Thank you all for the information. I do own a blower for the XL, Flameboss 200 and I love it. This purchase would be more for my wife than me.

SSQUAL612

A close friend has a Yoder & swears by it & he previously owned a Traeger which is not even close as far as quality.  He's also had a great experience with Yoder customer support after the sale & it's Made in USA.   He called CS on the weekend & the President was taking calls.  

Arkysmokin

@SSQUAL612 I think that is the route I'm going to take. Thanks for the information and WOW on the President taking calls.

smokeyj

I wanted a Yoder or Rec Tec but wasn't if I be happy with a pellet grill. So I got lower end brand and I have been real happy with my Camp Chef. Some walmarts have the Camp Chef Se for $169 on clearance. Check Brickseek.com.

bosco0633

maso said:

@bosco0633, if he's still lurking around, can give you some good comments.  I've been eyeing the yoder 640 and that new timberline 1300 (I think bosco has that one). 

I'm still here!!

I came into a Traeger Pro 34 last year after cooking with ceramics for the past 5 years.  I have to say it was a beautiful addition.  

So much so, I upgraded to the timberline 1300 series.  

I couldnt be happier with mine and find that it to be a great addition to my Kamado's.  

It fits thet monday to friday void where i where I wouldn't have time to get the lump going.  Having two boys in rep sorts, eats up our time.  But now I just click a switch and I'm up and running in no time.  

Its like having a wood flavoured gasser, an overall convection oven feel to cooking.  

I love it for jerky 165 all day long, I enjoy cooking without charcoal taste on some foods.  It's great for baking and excels in low and slow.  

It can hit 500, but still I wouldn't do pizza or get that nice dark sear on steaks. 

I have said it before...

the kamado is the Swiss Army knife of BBQ.  It does everything well, but there are other cookers that do things a bit better or more efficiently.  

Having this grill has opened my eyes to what else is out there and has allowed me to up my game with respect to cooking.  

My my wife loves it as she can finally cook again. 

I would never own just a Pellet smoker as I would be limited, however, having the right tool for the job has become my focus.  

My next tool tool will likely be a dedicated pizza oven

TexasTigerFan

Arkysmokin said:

I currently own a XLBE but I'm looking for an addition to the family. I'm looking at the Pellet Grill/Smokers because of the ease of use. My wife would be able to start grilling/smoking foods. The BGE is a little intimidating to her. Just curious if there are any of you that have used one and what your thoughts on them are. 

I have a Louisiana Grills CS 570.  Bought it close to a year ago.  Love it.  Still overall like the flavor of the BGE better so I use both.  But the pellet grills are incredibly easy to use.  Basically a smoker oven outside.  

GregW

I have a Cookshack FEC 120. It's really too big for home use. I bought it because my large egg was always short on capacity for a large group of guest.

I will say it can cook (1) 10 # butt or 15 with ease. It cooks the same regardless of cooking load.

I really like the consistency and it is always producing the good thin blue smoke, it never makes the white acrid smoke.

Given my positive experiencene with Cookshack I would recommend either the Cookshack PG 500 or the PG 1000 for backyard use. 

The Memphis grills, from what I've read, are an excellent choice also.

Canugghead

Couldn't agree more with @bosco0633 . Pulled the trigger on a Traeger PRO 34 recently...   


First cook...

The Cen-Tex Smoker

Arkysmokin said:

Thank you all for the information. I do own a blower for the XL, Flameboss 200 and I love it. This purchase would be more for my wife than me.

If your wife wants "her own" grill then by all
means, run, don't walk, to get her the best one you can afford. I would be in the truck right now. 

Arkysmokin

Thank you all for the information

SSQUAL612

Please update once you purchase.  

westernbbq

A friend has one, unsure of brand but results off it are always good....I'd go with tjv reccomendation

YukonRon

My experience with pellet smokers was a Traeger, which I believe was during a time they were made overseas. (In China?)
I think the quality, during that run, suffered greatly. I think that is why I never developed the curiosity to consider a pellet smoker.
I live in an extremely humid area, and it remains so year round. That seemed to be a problem for the Traeger I am referring to.
The issues that appeared to be the most frustrating, to my neighbor which owned the Traeger,  was corrosion and the pellets getting clogged in the feeder frequently.
I would repair our neighbors Traeger seemingly almost every time he used it, until he got fed up, and bought a BGE (His wife actually bought it for him).
They have since moved, and the Traeger was sold eventually for almost nothing.
I may be mistaken, but, I believe them to be made domestically these days and the quality has apparently returned, certainly based on the comments made in this forum on recent purchases.
I own eggs. I do not see the need for a savings of 15 - 45 minutes. I think I can cook pretty fast with my MM or the XL, using Rockwood.
Light the lump, prep the food, then cook. Done.
Two glasses of wine in the duration. Works out pretty ok.
I see them at Costco a few times a year. I might actually listen next time.

CtTOPGUN

 I am very close to pulling the trigger on a Camp Chef Woodwind pellet grill with 900* propane sear box attachment. A set it and forget it wood fired convection oven to supplement my LBGE, gasser and griddles is something I have convinced myself I "need". It is chock full of neat tricks like pellet dump and burn pot auto cleanout. If anyone has any real world feedback on this model I would love to hear it.