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Pellet smoker?

Pook

Pook

Red Skull Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2020
Member Number
1978
Messages
146
Loc
150 Mile House, BC, Canada
What should I be looking at for a pellet smoker? Need a medium sized one or a bit larger.

Would like a wood fired one but hard woods don’t really exist in my area so pellets make sense. Not sold on the wifi/app stuff but I haven’t had a beer/drink in 6 almost 7 years so being able to set it and monitor from phone while getting yard/shop work done would be great.

On that note though I work from home so I can just set myself a timer and adjust as needed.

What brands last long term? I am not opposed to spending a few dollars to get something that will last vs something I will need to replace in a few years.
 
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I think propane is better than electric. I’ve burned out electric and so has a buddy a few times.

It’s all about temperature control.
 
Z grills is a good not to expensive pellet smoker.
I had a traeger and my circuit board went out and never was ok. I ended up moving and gave it away. When I got my second pellet smoker I went z grills and have had no issues at all. Just keep it covered or out of the rain. I have the older version of this one.
Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker, 8 in 1 BBQ Grill for Outdoor Cooking, Auto Temperature Control, 697 sq in Cooking Area, 7002E https://a.co/d/aY1fg63
 
I started out with a pit boss and really liked it…until I fried the control panel and couldn’t find a replacement. So I replaced the pit boss with a traeger only because I figured it would have good parts availability.
 
Traeger are pretty much the standard. I have a Weber SmokeFire...whicih has been, ok, but I got it on store credit for an unused warranty policy and they didn't have Traeger.

Wifi is just for monitoring, it's useful to keep an eye but I don't leave any heat source like this unattended ever.
 
Like damn near everything, the more popular brands are going to have the most thumbs up and the occasional this or that went bad sooner than it should. Buddy got a Traeger a few years back. We get back to his place, assemble it, and it's bad out of the box. Wouldn't feed properly, would over fill and cause a little bang and go out. Take it back to Lowes fully assembled, replace it with the same model and he hasn't had an issue since. He uses it a few times a week during the summer. Don't know of a brand that I don't know someone that has one and I haven't heard any major complaints about any of them.

Z grills is the cheapest I would go new and I don't think they are too much farther behind some more expensive brands. Their longevity is what the question will be.

Yoders are the big dog and American made. However, unless I'm going to get into competition or had the money to spend on one just because, I'm buying something cheaper and buying more meat.

I buy a lot of store return items at auctions and I've been watching pellet grills for quite some time. Pit Boss, Traeger, Z Grills all come through at about the same rate.
 
I will also say I am happy with my RecTec. My only complaint with it would be there is no easy way to dump pellets out when you want a change in flavor. I have seen other brands that have a trap door on the pellet bin that will allow quick pellet change. On mine its either burn the last few hrs of pellets out or use a bucket vac.
 
SomeGuy said:
Traeger are pretty much the standard. I have a Weber SmokeFire...whicih has been, ok, but I got it on store credit for an unused warranty policy and they didn't have Traeger.

Wifi is just for monitoring, it's useful to keep an eye but I don't leave any heat source like this unattended ever.
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Never done an overnight cook?

I do overnights all the time, just make sure it’s not where something can catch fire.
 
nbjeeptj said:
I will also say I am happy with my RecTec. My only complaint with it would be there is no easy way to dump pellets out when you want a change in flavor. I have seen other brands that have a trap door on the pellet bin that will allow quick pellet change. On mine its either burn the last few hrs of pellets out or use a bucket vac.
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Do you notice a big difference in flavor? Haven’t ventured out too much in different wood types.
 
TOMS97ZJ said:
Never done an overnight cook?

I do overnights all the time, just make sure it’s not where something can catch fire.
Click to expand...

Wife and I take shifts for anything we need to start super early. Our pellet grill is on the deck, walk out basement underneath, not much more yard left beyond that to actually cook in that's flat...so limited options as to where we can put it, and nowhere that is non-flammable.
 
Look for handy options like the trap door for easy pellet emptying, two temp probes, wifi & blue tooth if you want them and if they will be functional. BT on my elec. smoker won't reach my back door from where it sits by the shed. Some have a flip up tray on the front, useful unless they are too short for larger dishes.
Some here say fuck Amazon, it's useful even to just check reviews on. Seem fairly accurate and has the biggest number of users, which helps drown out the useless cry babies and the over zealous buyers that don't actual use the items.
 
TOMS97ZJ said:
Do you notice a big difference in flavor? Haven’t ventured out too much in different wood types.
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Its not that noticeable on something like a pork butt, but on turkey or chicken something like straight hickory or Mesquite is too strong for me. I have found that a pellet like the RecTec competition blend is good for about anything. When I was new to the pellet grill is when I was trying out a bunch of different pellets.
 
Had my rec tec for about 7 years now. It's been very solid. I like how the hopper feeds from the back and has a shorter run to the burner pot. Ceramic ignitor.
Before that I had a green mountain. Rec tec is better, but not by leaps and bounds.
Would go with rec tec again if I were to buy tomorrow.
 
Thanks.

I been looking at the Ironwood. Dual walled seems like a good option for up here. It’s spring and snow is melting but we go from an average -10c at night to 10c during the day for the next while, and if I could use it when -10 to -20 during the winter that would be a bonus.

Not sure if I would want the XL, but we have some large family gatherings but most of the time it’s just the wife and I and the two youngest kids eating.

www.traeger.com

Traeger Ironwood XL - WiFi Pellet Grill and Smoker

$200 off for a limited time. Shop Traeger Ironwood XL Grill with WiFi connectivity, Super Smoke Mode, and endless customizations for the ultimate smoking set-up.
www.traeger.com www.traeger.com

I have a BlackStone griddle for frying stuff up as well.
 
If you live in the cold, God knows I do, you will want to get a insulator. They make a big difference in both pellet usage and even the ability to work in very cold Temps.
I don't use mine at under 20 degrees as it isn't very happy and sometimes doesn't come up to temp.
 
didnt read above. But I love my camp chef :usa:. Lives outside and still going strong. Mine is electric. I dont have the app/wifi but my buddy has it. I just use my phone
 
I have a pit boss grill/ smoker and I've had zero problems for 5 or 6 years. I use it a couple times a week. If you want more smoke flavor put a smoke tube in with the meat
FB_IMG_1679950324124.jpg
 
I like my Pit Boss, but would probably spring for a Recteq if I was going to do it again. I just did a repaint and fire cup replacement on the Pit Boss this last weekend. I estimate it has about 2-3 years left before its all rusted out. 2 years in VA took a toll on it, even with a cover. I've used it in all weather conditions without an insulator, but some folks buy welding blankets from HF.

The biggest improvement was the Thermoworks Smoke, although the Signals model is better. Overnight smokes with under/over temp alarms. The app isn't great, but it works. Thermapen is awesome too.

My buddy likes to give me shit for having an "outdoor oven" while he babysits his stick burner... meh, to each their own. The food is the same, but he makes a day of the process. I get other stuff done, or take a nap.
 
When you pick out your smoker, you’ll get the pleasure of picking out different pellets. My fave are the jack daniels whiskey barrel pellets.
 
Texas97 said:
I haven't given up on cooking and life enough yet to buy a pellet smoker.
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I got way to much other life stuff to do :laughing:

Its just not feasible to get decent wood for smoking food locally or within a few hour drive.

"Avoid wood from conifers such as pine, redwood, fir, spruce, cypress, or cedar. These trees contain high levels of sap and turpenes, which results in a funny taste and can make people sick. Cedar planks are popular for cooking salmon, but don't burn the wood for smoke."

That there pretty much rules out everything that exists in my area.
 
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