After more than five plus years with different pellet grills and smokers, I decided to create a list of things to consider to help others decide on which pellet grill or pellet smoker will best suit their meat eating needs. However, I’m not going to recommend a certain brand or model. Instead, I’m going to highlight and suggest important aspects, features and benefits of modern pellet grills that I think are important. Features that have benefited me or features I wish I had.
Pellet grills and smokers have their beginnings in pellet stoves stemming from the 1973 oil crises. Demand for affordable heating led to the development of wood pellets. Joe Traeger created the Traeger pellet grill in 1985. Pellet smokers and grills have come a long way since then, when Traeger was the one and only manufacturer. Today there are so many makes and models with various features or limitations to choose from. This checklist will help you to decide on the right pellet smoker or pellet smoker grill combo for you and your family.
I remember when my dad got a small electric smoker back in the late 70s or early 80s. It was an aluminum Little Chief smoker that looked more like a toy than anything. He smoked some beef for jerky and maybe some salmon. It was good stuff, but I think he only used it twice and that was it. It would be some 30 years later before I would give meat smoking a try.
I started pretty much the same way. I picked up a cheap electric smoker and practiced a few times with hit-n-miss results. My biggest problem was patience. Meat smoking takes time. Then I discovered a 1-day BBQ school in Phoenix, AZ and signed up. It was there I was introduced to wood pellet grills and smokers. I learned a lot from that day long event but the biggest thing I walked away with was a desire to get a wood pellet smoker grill of my own. They used Traeger models, so that’s what I looked for. It would be my Christmas present several months later.
I used that Traeger many times to for grilled steaks, smoked pork shoulders, brisket, salmon, veggies and even a whole turkey. It was a great model to cut my teeth on. But after nearly 4 years, it developed some problems and I started looking for a replacement. It was during that search that I realized how many other manufacturers there were out there with so many different styles, sizes, and features. I was blown away! And with all the different model choices, and different price points along the way, I can see how choosing the right model can be overwhelming and confusing. That’s why I made this list and I hope it helps you to decide. You can also watch my video that goes over this checklist.
1. Do You Need A Grill or a Smoker or a Combo?
This is an important first question and let me explain why. Some people already have a grill they like to use. It could be gas, charcoal, backyard fire pit, infrared, whatever. If that’s the case, do you really need another grill? Maybe what you really want is a smoker. And if that’s the case, I recommend keeping your current grill and getting a vertical smoker.
By design, vertical smokers are better smokers than typical horizontally designed smoker grills. That’s my opinion, but my wife agrees. The smokes goes straight up to where the meat is with less opportunity to go around the meat and out the chimney.
If you want a grill or want a better grill then what you have, then a pellet smoker grill is a great way to go. You’ll get convenient dry wood heat with unique flavoring specific to whatever wood you choose like hickory, pecan, mesquite, apple, etc. Plus you’ll have the option to smoke meat as well as grill.
2. What Features Are Important to You?
Here are a list of features that can enhance your grilling and smoking experience. Think about each one and decide for yourself which are most important to you if at all:
- Direct Flame – this a unique feature that’s only available on relatively few models like the Pit Boss Austin XL. I will tell you that I use it far less than I thought I would, but it’s still nice to have.
- Big Hopper for long smokes – A small hopper will require more frequent refills. Most pellet smoker grills have 20lbs or larger hoppers which are great.
- Folding Shelf – These are very nice to have right in front where you open the grill. It makes loading and unloading meat much easier.
- WiFi – This can be quite helpful, but it’s also an easy add-on item if it isn’t built in. Here’s an example an Amazon.
- Cover – Pellet smokers and grills are an investment to me and a cover is cheap protection against the elements or the neighbor kids.
- Color – what color or color combos do you like?
- Glass View in Hopper – It’s nice to see at a glance and at distances what the pellet level is in your hopper without opening the lid all the time.
3. The Best Size of Pellet Smoker Grill?
I recommend thinking about how you’ll use your pellet grill. Is it mainly for one or two people or frequent crowds? If you envision BBQs for three or less, then you won’t need a big pellet grill. You’ll be heating up a lot of empty space when a smaller unit will be more efficient.
But if you can see yourself at the helm of big family gatherings, holiday parties, and Thank God We Live In America Freedom Fests with eighteen of your closest carnivore friends, then bigger will be better and you might need a grill with multiple shelves. You might also consider doing what I’ve done: I have a smoker grill and a vertical smoker. It’s the best of both worlds especially if you want different meats that are smoked and grilled all done at the same time.
4. Is The Pellet Smoker Grill American Made?
If you love to see Made in the USA and want to support American manufacturers, then you need to know that not all smoker grills are made in the USA. I’ve compiled a list of manufacturers that do make their grills here for you: Made In the USA
5. Weight Restrictions.
Some pellet smoker grills are quite heavy and not that easy to maneuver around. Check the weight of the fully assembled unit with a hopper full of pellets and make sure it won’t be a problem like on an apartment balcony or rickety deck. A frail person might not be able to wrangle a heavy, fully loaded grill around very easily either.
6. What Kind of Warranty Does It Come With?
This is a big deal and something that would impact my purchase decision today. Here’s why: Pellet smokers and grills have moving parts, electronic circuit boards, involve high heat, and are likely to be out in the elements. There are several opportunities for things to go wrong. I’ve had issues with all of my pellet grills and smokers. Not usually big deals, but things can happen. The flame could go out and the unit might shut off mid way through a long smoke. The firebox could overfill and flame up scorching everything. Grease fires are not uncommon but usually related to keeping your unit clean. The bottom line is, know what your warranty is, what it covers, and how long it lasts.
Pit Boss offers a 5-year warranty on their grills and smokers which is about the best warranty in the business at the time of this post. I strongly recommend checking reviews, looking for comments about customer service, how well manufacturers honor their warranties, availability of parts, and even YouTube videos on how to replace things. No matter who makes your smoker grill, you will probably need to contact customer service at least once during the life of your unit.
7. How Much Should I Spend On A Pellet Smoker or Grill?
Prices for pellet smokers and grills are all over the place and it’s tough to just look at numbers and say, “Yeah, that’s a steal!” or “Way too much. Don’t do it!” It really depends on what features you want, how important a name might be to you, where it’s made and how big and pretty you want it to be.
This is what I will say: Don’t let $50 or even $100 keep you from getting the pellet grill or smoker you really want! This is a long term investment in great grilling and smoking experiences. You don’t want that irritating reminder that you should have gotten that smoker with the neat bull horns or direct flame grilling or whatever you really wanted. It’s far better to get that ONE you really like and ENJOY it for years and years.
For me, I started with a Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite. I don’t think they make that model anymore, but it was perfect for me just starting out. Later, I upgraded to a much larger Pit Boss Austin XL. This is a great looking smoker grill with direct flame grilling, and the window in the hopper. The downside is that it’s bigger than we need most of the time, it doesn’t have a shelf (although I bought an add-on shelf that you can see here).
Later, I got a Pit Boss Series-3 Copperhead Vertical Smoker. It’s the perfect size for us and I love the big door for loading and unloading. Vertical is the way to go for low and slow smoking.
Some of the best meats I’ve ever had in my life came off of my grills or out of my smokers. I can make cheap chuck eye steak taste as wonderful as a $25 ribeye from a big name steakhouse. The same goes for pulled pork or brisket. There’s just no comparison. Wood pellet grilling and smoking is the most convenient way to grill and smoke and I’m so very grateful for both of my pellet units.
Do your own homework, decide on which features are must-haves, and bring it home or have it delivered. You’ll be glad you did!