Pellet grills and smokers are gaining in popularity all over the country. According to Statistica, in 2016 annual pellet grill sales were up by over 9%. That figure will continue to climb as more manufacturers roll out pellet grills and smokers with more features and conveniences like direct-flame broiling. I’ll go into more detail in the video below.
Pellet grills with flame broiler options are the best way to have it all when it comes to grilling. First, pellet grilling is the most convenient way to cook with wood. For models like the Pit Boss Austin XL, the option to flame broil is as easy as sliding a plate over to uncover the fire for direct flame grilling. You can sear steaks, burgers, hot dogs, like never before. Cast iron cooking also gets better and hotter!
Pellet grills and smokers operate differently than regular gas or charcoal grills that most of us are familiar with. No lighter fluid or gas tanks needed, but they do require electricity for the igniting rod, auger, and fan. All the heat comes from the wood pellets which are stored in a hopper attached to the grill either on the side or back. An auger slowly feeds the pellets through a short tunnel at the base of the grill into a firebox where they are ignited. A small fan accelerates the ignition process and circulates the smoky heat throughout the grill offering even convection-style heating. An angled drip plate catches the grease, keeping it away from the fire. The grease usually ends up in a bucket on the outside of the grill.
Unlike charcoal which can take 30 minutes or more to be ready for grilling, it only takes about 10-15 minutes for most wood pellet grills to go from a cold start fully pre-heated and ready to smoke or grill. Obviously a little longer for high-temperature grilling. Temperature ranges for a typical pellet grill can be as low as 150 degrees for smoking, all the way up to 600 degrees for baking, roasting or grilling.
Most pellet grills are controlled by digital thermostats on a control panel. And most have a thermometer on the lid and on the control panel. Adjusting the temperature is done by a knob or by pressing buttons.
The flame broiler option is relatively new for pellet smokers and not available on all models. On the Pit Boss Austin XL, the rounded broiler bottom under the grates has a section that can easily slide over to expose the flames under it. The grill area exposed directly to the flames is about 8 inches x 8 inches. It does not expose the whole grill surface to direct flame. The grill lid should remain open while grilling with direct flame.
The Austin XL is a pellet grill and pellet smoker combo unit. If you’d like to smoke, keep the slider plate closed and your temperature range set for low and slow smoking.
Starting and stopping a pellet grill is quite simple and usually done by turning a knob and or pressing a button or two. The operating convenience of pellet grills makes them a very attractive choice for backyard grilling or smoking.
6 Popular Pellet Grills That Can Direct-Flame Broil
- Pit Boss Austin XL
- Louisiana Grills 60800 Stainless Steel Wood Pellet Grill
- Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro Slide Smoker Wood Pellet Grill
- Cookshack PG500 Fast Eddy’s Pellet Grill
- Pit Boss Grills PB1000SC With Lower Cabinet
- Pit Boss Portable Tailgate/Camp With Foldable Legs Pellet Grill
Camp Chef and Pit Boss appear to have the most diverse group of direct-flame grills at the moment. Pit Boss offers a portable tailgate model and one end of the spectrum and a larger pellet grill with a lower cabinet.
Are Pellet Grills Good Smokers?
I have the Austin XL Pellet Grill and a Pit Boss Copperhead Vertical Smoker. They both heat with wood pellets, but their design offers different levels of smokiness. The vertical smoker offers richer, smokier flavors than the horizontal Austin XL and I believe it’s designed related. The meat tends to be in the direct line of the smoke vs the horizontal design with can allow the smoke to escape out the chimney and bypass the meat. In my experience, pellet grills are good smokers, but vertical smokers are better smokers.
The wood pellets you choose will also determine smokiness. Some wood pellets are made with filler woods and flavored oils instead of real hardwoods. Experiment with different pellets to find your favorites. Check prices, availability and shipping options on Amazon.com here.
Looking for ways to improve your grilling and smoking skills? Check out Aaron Franklin’s Masterclass on Texas-style BBQ.
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