Once again, it’s June, it feels like summer, and Father’s Day is almost here. If you’re racking your brain about getting something special for dear old dad, then let me help. If your father, grandfather, stepdad or a special father figure in your life likes to cook, then I’d like to offer an idea you may have missed or never heard of: A pellet smoker grill. Now before you roll your eyes because he’s already got a grill, then let me tell you right now: Pellet Grills are NOT regular grills. Stay with me and let me show you why these are worth your consideration.
Father’s Day is a special day devoted to honoring fathers, grandfathers, and step-dads all across the world. In America, Father’s Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd, and celebrated on the third Sunday of June since the early 1900s. In many European Catholic countries, Father’s Day was celebrated in March as St. Joseph’s Day for hundreds of years. It’s a time of letting the head of the house know how special they are to the family. Gift giving, spending time, doing something together are great ways of showing appreciation.
If your dad is a backyard grill master or just likes to cook in general, then having a grill that is easy to use, easy to clean, and offers genuine wood fire and flavor could be exactly what to get him. Pellet smoker grills are the most convenient way to get that wood fired grilling experience combined with the ability to smoke and low and slow temperatures.
Pellet Grills and Smokers were developed in the mid-1980s by Joe Traeger. They descended from wood pellet heaters when the price of heating oil skyrocketed and people were looking for cheaper ways to heat their houses. The pellets for grills are made from compressed hard woods and are food-grade for safe cooking. These wood pellets are loaded into a container called a Hopper, then are slowly fed into a small area for burning. It’s a highly efficient way to heat, cook, grill or smoke.
Let’s say he has a grill that he loves and doesn’t want to part with, but would like to start smoking meats and fish and other things? Then skip the pellet grill and go with a Vertical Smoker. Vertical Smokers operate the same way pellet grills do, except their design makes them superior smokers. They use the same kind of wood pellets, but are not for grilling.
Gifts For Grillers & Grill Masters
Pellet Grills are great gifts for grillers! There are several makes and models out there for the master griller who loves to wow the crowd. Pellet grills are easy to start using. There’s not much of a learning curve. Here’s a video to show you how easy they are to operate: Are Pellet Grills Easy To Use?
Why not learn from Aaron Franklin a master griller who offers a Master Class on Texas-Style BBQ?
Someone who is used to gas grilling will probably find cooking with wood pellets almost as easy and meats more flavorful. Guys who grill with charcoal will find pellet grills get up to grilling temperatures much faster and clean up is a breeze.
What Can You Cook In A Pellet Grill?
Pellet Smoker Grills are a grill, a convection oven, wood fired pizza oven, and a smoker. You can roast, grill, sear, bake, and smoke. You can put a cast iron skillet in there, pizza stone or plate, and put meats, fish, or vegetables directly onto the grill.
A pellet smoker grill is terrific for places desert locations like Arizona. When it’s hot outside, the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven. Then you’re paying to get the oven hot and paying to keep the house cool. Ouch!
Pellet grills are usually outside and use very little electricity.
Do Pellet Grills Need Electricity?
Yes, pellet grills and smokers need electricity – but not much. Electricity is needed to power the control panel, run the auger that transfers the wood pellets from the hopper to the firebox, power the fan and to heat up the metal rod that ignites the pellets for the first few minutes of operation. After the pellets are on fire, you’re only powering the control panel, fan, and auger. It’s minimal electricity usage.
A pellet smoker grill can be powered by a quiet, portable generator as well. So that means you can take your pellet grill or smoker with you into the woods camping or anywhere else you don’t have power. See the article on portable power options.
Getting Started With A Pellet Smoker Grill
Pellet Grills and smokers have become extremely popular in the last few years. They are the fastest growing segment of the BBQ grilling world, and have started making appearances in competition BBQ circles.
Part of their great appeal as far as I’m concerned is they’re convenience and ease of use. They are nearly set it and forget it simple. Plus, there are numerous How-To blogs and videos on YouTube and elsewhere to show anyone how to cook almost anything.
What Kind of Pellet Smoker Grill To Get
I’ve been grilling and smoking with pellet grills for years now. Not too long ago, I created a post with a video going over things that I would consider if I were just starting out with a pellet grill. My first recommendation is to figure out what you’re more interested in: Grilling or Smoking. I explain why in that video: What Kind of Pellet Smoker Grill to Get
Pellet Grill Accessories for Father’s Day
I have a Pit Boss Austin XL 1000 pellet smoker grill and a Pit Boss Copperhead Series 3 Vertical Smoker. So I have both bases covered and I use them both regularly, sometimes for the same cook out if we want some things grilled and some things smoked.
There are several neat gadgets out there to compliment a grill or smoker. I’ll list some of the more useful items below and you can find most of them on Amazon.com here: Pellet Grill Accessories
WiFi Thermometer
Grill Lights
Front Shelf for Austin XL
Grill Tool Set
Cooking Accessories
Wood Pellets
Grilling Gloves
Grill Cover
If that special man already has all the grills and gadgets he could want, how about complimenting his grilling space with outdoor furniture?