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

Hans61

Canugghead said:

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


First cook...

so you just grill with your eggs now and use the pellet as the smoker?

Hans61

killer smoke ring

pgprescott

Canugghead said:

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


First cook...

Couple great rubs right there! Meateor looks great too!

Canugghead

@Hans61 Not necessarily. I'm still trying different things on the new toy. Chicken and rib are easier and more consistent on the Traeger, very different texture and smoke profile (not sure how to describe it), crispy skin is a no-brainer. I also often find leftover chicken from the egg too smokey the next day.  
However, each grill has its place ... for example I tried smoking salmon low n slow in the Traeger on the weekend, usually done in the egg for at least 8-10 hours. After first couple of hours in the Traeger the top was getting dry and hard while the middle/bottom was still soggy, must be the excessive dry air from the fan... had to transfer to egg and complete the cook. 
Each cooker has its pros and cons, they coexist nicely.
Re the brisket... in spite of the smoke ring it didn't taste as smokey as egg-cooked brisket though.

Canugghead

@pgprescott  Thanks, love the rubs.

Dredger

@CtTOPGUN, just ordered the Camp Chef Woodwind with sear box and a few accessories. Will report back when it arrives. Been looking at pellet grills for awhile. Have several Camp Chef products and really like them.

Dredger

The Camp Chef Woodwind arrived yesterday. Got it assembled and will do a cook today and report back.

CtTOPGUN

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Dredger

I give it two thumbs up. This thing weighs in at about 200 lbs and is very sturdy. Assembly wasn't bad at all. It came with a bag of Camp Chef Competition Blend pellets that are very good. It really is set it and forget it. Very easy cook. I'll start a separate thread documenting the cook. Chose meatloaf for a point of comparison to an egg cook.
 

CtTOPGUN

 Thanks! I think I really like the idea of a wood fired convection cooker that can run overnight reliably. My Egg sits on a wooden deck and unattended cooks would scare me.

Dredger

I agree @CtTOPGUN. There is enough room where the built in food probe goes through the side wall to run a Maverick food probe. The best of both worlds. Their food probe is nice, but you have to actually go out and press a button to switch from grill temp to meat temp. Now we can't have that can we?

henapple

This is an egg forum. No other vessels. 

Cajun1029

Buddy has 3 BGEs and recently bought a rectec. They are made here in Augusta so he got a great deal on a used one.  He says the cooks don't compare when he has done the same thing on both, he takes his BGE any day 

unoriginalusername

After using a friends green mountain I am pulling the trigger on a yoder ys640 with the two piece heat diffuser in the fall for very similar reasons. My wife wants a gas grill for set it and forget ease of operation week days when I am at work but I can't bring myself to step backwards flavor wise for the same money as a pellet smoker.  

SSQUAL612

unoriginalusername said:

After using a friends green mountain I am pulling the trigger on a yoder ys640 with the two piece heat diffuser in the fall for very similar reasons. My wife wants a gas grill for set it and forget ease of operation week days when I am at work but I can't bring myself to step backwards flavor wise for the same money as a pellet smoker.  

A good friend of mine has a Yoder and nothing, but good things to say about the quality and customer support.  I will be looking at them once I relocate.

Arkysmokin

UPDATE: Still haven't bought a Pellet Grill/Smoker. However, it will be happening when I get my bonus in September. I was torn between a Yoder ys480 or the Pitts and Spitts. I'm going with the Yoder as its a little cheaper.

lousubcap

Thanks for the update.  Now, that is closing the loop. 

Optiontrader

I bought a Yoder YS 640 about a year ago after cutting my pellet teeth on a Traeger.  Great machine, an absolute beast, very heavy weight.  I use it for large cooks.  It is easy to use and convenient as all you have to do is dump the pellets, set the temp and cook.  I will say that if you like a heavy smoke flavor pellet smokers in general are not conducive to a  heavy smoke flavor but the quality of pellet does make a difference in that regard.  Still love the Egg, but the Yoder is a nice addition to the stable.

Matt86m

When you get it be sure to calibrate the units thermostat. Use a temp probe and compare it to the grill with it set at 225*.

Saw a pic recently (cant remember where) with a pellet grill set at 225 and Thermo temp probe was reading over 250. Not a huge swing but something to keep in mind.

I have an XL, a small Weber Q, a Santa Maria grill and just got a cast iron Lodge hibachi and I am looking to add a pellet of some sort. 

baychilla

Were I to go the pellet route it'd be with a Mak.  Supposed to put out the best smoke flavor of any of the pellet burners; allegedly best controller and made in the jungles of Oregon.

Killit_and_Grillit

@baychilla I have been looking at the MAKs as well. Made here and veteran operated. 

My biggest draw to the Traeger was the amount of space it had. That’s been my only setback with the MAK. They want an extra $1k for the 2 star and it’s just slightly larger than the 1 star. 

baychilla

My recollection is that the 1 and 2 star now have the same amount of space on the lower grid.  The space difference between the two is a little bit of the upper grid due to the 1 star having a straight rather hood rather than the curve of the 2 star.

Still the idea of turn on, set program and sleep seems nice some days (so long as you don't use their WiFi - that seems to be a common sticking point).

Arkysmokin

I pulled the trigger and got a Pitts and Spitts 1250. So that's 1250sqin of additional cooking space to go along with my XL

HeavyG

Looks like a solid unit. Hope you enjoy many a meal from that.

Also, bonus points for the follow up to this thread! Too often I'll see one of these older threads and am left hanging as to the outcome.

lousubcap

Arkysmokin said:

I pulled the trigger and got a Pitts and Spitts 1250. So that's 1250sqin of additional cooking space to go along with my XL

@Arkysmokin Great score and as noted by @HeavyG the feedback is much appreciated.  Too infrequent , even on same day "fire in the hole" requests. Any new cooking rig  is a learning and fun process.  Above all, have fun!

lkapigian

Never heard if them till now, looks like a solid beast. Love the SS