I'm looking for a pellet smoker

Wooderson · May 26

I've decided to add a pellet smoker to the mix to my outdoor cooking assembly. I'm just wondering if anyone had any input on a good brand of pellet smoker. I'm looking at around 800 sq in of cooking space. I'm not looking to feed the town or do cookoffs with this, nor do i want to break the bank. Just something to do good low and slows with. Any experience with them out here? Any favorite brands?

unoriginalusername · May 26

I would strongly encourage you to reconsider. I’ve tested so many and never found the sear, smoke quality and or fuel consumption and running costs to be worth it

I’ve tested:
Traeger ironwood
Traeger timberline
camp chef woodwind
z grills
traeger pro
Pitboss

MaskedMarvel · May 26

Well, my recommendation is the expensive one but it’s totally worth it -

I have the Yoder 640s. Tons of space in there and built to last forever. But you pay for all that steel. Mines 500 pounds.

There was a link here to the pellet grill that you can replace for free every few years. Maybe someone can find it. That way, when it rots out all you pay is shipping and a new grill comes for like $100.

Anyway. Yoder. It’s awesome.

8-D

BeanHead · May 26

I have a CampChef XXL that I really like. It has tons of space and makes low temp cooks like loads of jerky with zero fuss.

Canugghead · May 26

Lots of good info...
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1224709/ot-my-son-married-and-a-one-year-old-wants-a-pellet-grill-700-800-top-spend-inputs-welcome-ot/p1
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1228645/ot-pellet-grill/p1

Canugghead · May 26

@unoriginalusername I disagree but the Disagree button is gone. To each his own, not every cook needs searing or heavy smoke.

As for fuel consumption let's take this example, at GWN Costco a bag of 8kg lump is north of $20 vs. 40lb of pellets under $20. For low and slow my large Pro 34 uses less fuel (cost wise) than my XL Egg, and it has a much larger capacity. My little Traeger sips on pellets for small cooks.

When I was drunk with green Kool-aid I owned four Eggs, now I have just the XL. Still love my XL but every cooker has its place.

So you don't endorse any pellet cooker?

lousubcap · May 26

@Canugghead - you beat me to the thread!!!

Edit: Hard to believe that was 5 years ago-deep into Covid.
He went with the RecTec and it's still going strong.

WeberWho · May 26

I've never ran pellet grill so I can't give you any real comparisons. A family friend asked me the same question a few years ago. I did a little research and I asked the question over on the BBQ Brethren. Lots of positive comments about Grilla Grills for a pellet smoker. A little more expensive but the quality is there compared to some of the cheaper tin cans that are available.

Canugghead · May 26

@lousubcap That thread came to mind immediately. Time flew indeed, is your son still happy with his RecTec?

caliking · May 26

oh... the irony of asking for pellet pooper recs on a BGE forum

Just yanking yer chain, OP. Folks here know all sorts of things about all sorts of things, so asking here is indeed the pro move.

MaskedMarvel · May 26

My Yoder has a sear plate you remove to get flames directly. Incredibly easy, and with grill grates makes a really nice wood fired sear zone.

We use it very regularly. Last cook was Costco cheese pizza slices with our own toppings added so we could make it our own on a pizza stone. They turned out great. And EASY. Push a button and turn a knob. That’s it.

unoriginalusername · May 26

Canugghead said:

@unoriginalusername I disagree but the Disagree button is gone. To each his own, not every cook needs searing or heavy smoke.

As for fuel consumption let's take this example, at GWN Costco a bag of 8kg lump is north of $20 vs. 40lb of pellets under $20. For low and slow my large Pro 34 uses less fuel (cost wise) than my XL Egg, and it has a much larger capacity. My little Traeger sips on pellets for small cooks.

When I was drunk with green Kool-aid I owned four Eggs, now I have just the XL. Still love my XL but every cooker has its place.

So you don't endorse any pellet cooker?

A WSM with a FireBoard costs less, runs 30 hours on battery, is more waterproof and has more advanced programs like auto adjusting the temp when the brisket hits a certain point and costs way less than a quality pellet grill that gets good results like a yoder or LSG so all in all for the OP description of not spending a fortune I haven’t found one that impresses me for the trade offs in my opinion

considering the Op already has an egg I’d be more interested in adding a controller as a first step in order to not need more footprint and different accessories but if you need more space than what you have I’d do WSM and controller for it tears down and travels to comps and has all the benefits for less money

RRP · May 26

WeberWho said:

…Lots of positive comments about Grilla Grills for a pellet smoker.

I had never even heard of that brand as they also sell a ceramic grill (made for them) until a few weeks ago when a guy clear out in MA bot a gasket. And here’s the funny part - their huge new home plant is just 12 miles from
my small home town back in MO. Small world!

shtgunal3 · May 26

I have a Smokin Brothers and really like it. While I love my eggs and will never be without one, I feel the same about my pellet grills. Currently looking at a Rec-Teq Bullseye

xfire_ATX · May 26

Ive got a RecTeq Bullseye that I only use for Pizza- it makes a great pizza but SWMBO didnt like a meat cook AT ALL on it- claimed they werent done. So the Bullseye gets used once a week or so for Pizza

calracefan · May 27

Z Grills has a pretty good promotion right now, buy a grill and they will replace it every 5 years for the next 50 yrs and that is transferrable.

DoubleEgger · May 27

calracefan said:

Z Grills has a pretty good promotion right now, buy a grill and they will replace it every 5 years for the next 50 yrs and that is transferrable.

The chances that Z Grills will be around in 50 years are very close to zero.

Legume · May 27

I have a cheap pellet grill, it's ok, but goes out from time to time.

However, I once did a triple indirect with it.

Broke a wheel off when I attempted the quad.

GrateEggspectations · May 27

@Legume

That gif is both creepy and hypnotic.

xfire_ATX · May 27

Legume said:

I have a cheap pellet grill, it's ok, but goes out from time to time.

However, I once did a triple indirect with it.

Broke a wheel off when I attempted the quad.

Triple Lindy

Canugghead · May 27

@unoriginalusername, I can see you fell in love with your high school girlfriend again 😂

https://youtu.be/a0lkWc-5JU4?si=JadaiQNBDpCm-2m-

https://youtu.be/3LiruDz5sS4?si=Igs8PgGUrf_5RO5-

https://youtu.be/U97YG9eBzMQ?si=wWLsKC9wiZK6EWhE

Canugghead · May 27

Legume said:

I have a cheap pellet grill, it's ok, but goes out from time to time.

However, I once did a triple indirect with it.

Broke a wheel off when I attempted the quad.

Triple indirect is easy peasy in a pellet cooker...
Firepot shield + drip tray + foil pan

Ozzie_Isaac · May 27

I use a small Traeger I picked up from a wife selling her husbands things. Paid $75 …. funny story best told over a beer.

It works great for another protein or something when you just don’t want to mess with anything. Smoke flavors I find minimal, but then again I’m not a fan of real heavy smoke. I can get good color, but I do adjust temps during the cook based on what’s happening.

Aleo, all the Traeger’s I’ve used (mine, friends, and demo models from Ace) have hot and cool spots. Learn where those are and adjust protein placement accordingly. I kind of like it because I can cook multiple things that need temps +/- 50 deg based on where I place them. Also get different amounts of air flow in different spots. So play around and enjoy. It’s all fire and fuel.

If money be damned, I would say get a Yoder …. Or a Komodo Kamado with a pellet addition.

unoriginalusername · May 27

Canugghead said:

@unoriginalusername, I can see you fell in love with your high school girlfriend again 😂

Lol yep... it gets tossed in the back of the truck for larger tailgates / camp outs often and if you want smart control a bunch of people make kits for it that i think is probably the least expensive option albeit not an out of the box solution

unoriginalusername · May 27

Legume said:

I have a cheap pellet grill, it's ok, but goes out from time to time.

However, I once did a triple indirect with it.

Broke a wheel off when I attempted the quad.

Sweet, quad is where its at

Ozzie_Isaac · May 27

Legume said:

I have a cheap pellet grill, it's ok, but goes out from time to time.

However, I once did a triple indirect with it.

Broke a wheel off when I attempted the quad.

I get no respect!

hondabbq · June 4

Im considering the Pitboss Heritage that is now currently at Costco.

calracefan · June 4

DoubleEgger said:

calracefan said:

Z Grills has a pretty good promotion right now, buy a grill and they will replace it every 5 years for the next 50 yrs and that is transferrable.

The chances that Z Grills will be around in 50 years are very close to zero.

You may be correct but check the promo before discarding it. You can claim them early for giveaways , so it doesn’t have to be 50 years. It also doesn’t really cost anymore than just buying one why not take advantage of its? Same may have beside of BGE at one time but here we are !

xfire_ATX · June 4

hondabbq said:

Im considering the Pitboss Heritage that is now currently at Costco.

On a side note Costco here is by far the best price on Pellets...

MaskedMarvel · June 4

xfire_ATX said:

hondabbq said:

Im considering the Pitboss Heritage that is now currently at Costco.

On a side note Costco here is by far the best price on Pellets...

We use the Costco pellet as the “utility” pellet, and add the amazen smoker for whatever real smoke flavor we’re going for.

YetiBob · June 6

I have had my RecTec Bull for many years of GREAT service.

I'm looking for a pellet smoker

Comments

Categories