Wood pellet smokers and grills are a little different than the typical grills you see lined up in front of a big box store. I own a horizontal smoker grill and a vertical smoker and I’m offering some advice to anyone interested in either before they make a purchase. I’ve included a video in this post as well.
Before buying a pellet smoker grill just know that they are a little more complex than the average gas or charcoal grill. But the little extra attention required will yield some of the most delicious meats and veggies you’ll ever have. Pellet smoker grills are absolutely worth it!
I remember the first time I saw a pellet smoker grill in action. It was at an all-day BBQ School in Phoenix, Arizona. Yes, a BBQ School and I learned more useful information that day than I did during most of my years of college.
The instructor was a competition pitmaster and he gave us many helpful tips on how to prepare, smoke and serve great meat dishes. Anyway, the pellet smoker on duty that day was a serious looking black Traeger with lots of grill space. It had a side mounted pellet box that was full of hickory wood pellets for the long smoking time ahead.
My grilling experience up till then was either with propane or charcoal briquettes and my smokers were the cheap electric units with small containers holding water-soaked wood chips. This Traeger was a smoker grill combo and after that day, I wanted one. If you’re ready for one too, allow me to help you get the right one for your situation.
Should You Get A Pellet Smoker or a Pellet Smoker Grill Combo?
Wood pellet smokers and grills offer the most convenient way to smoke meats because temperature is controlled and the wood is automatically fed into the fire. Just add to the hopper as needed. Vertical or horizontal wood pellet smokers and grills are almost “set it and forget it” easy. Almost.
I have a vertical smoker and a horizontal smoker grill and I can tell you they have their differences. To help you decide between the two, think about how you plan to use it.
- The smoker grill combo is the best way to have a smoker and a grill in a single unit. That may be a big deal if space is important and/or if you see yourself using both equally. Most units heat indirectly, but others, like the Pit Boss Austin
XL have a slider plate to allow for direct flame heating and meat searing. - A vertical smoker is a better smoker in my opinion. They also tend to be lighter and more maneuverable, but they are not a grill. You probably won’t be barbequing burgers or searing steaks in it. It’s more like a roaster oven at higher temperatures.
How Will You Get Your Smoker or Grill Home?
That may seem like a silly question, but if you think you’re going to just toss one of these units into the trunk of your Honda and drive home happy, think again. More than likely you’re going to need a truck, an SUV or some other vehicle with a wide opening. I strongly suggest bringing a healthy friend to help you load and unload these metal boxes of joy because they’re heavy! Delivery weight on my Austin XL was over 300lbs and my vertical smoker was 150 – 200lbs.
Because of these delivery issues, you might seriously consider ordering online. Quite often you can get a great price on smoker or grill with delivery included. Check reviews and prices on Amazon.com here or click on the Wal-Mart banner. Read customer reviews with a grain of salt. Everyone has an opinion and most have a clear preference to certain manufacturers. Like die-hard Ford or Chevy fans. The other automaker is the devil. It’s the same things with smokers and grills
Assembly Required: Yes
Most grills and smokers require some assembly. I put my Austin XL and Copperhead Vertical Smoker together myself but it would have been much better and easier to have an extra pair of hands. The directions were straightforward but it was still 2-3 hours start to finish. Factor assembly time into your first time BBQ plans.
Where Will You Use Your Grill? Any Restrictions on Smokers?
Have you thought about the immediate surroundings of your cooking area? Meat smokers emit a lot of smoke for many hours at a time which could be a problem if you have open windows nearby or above you, HOA restrictions, or neighbors who like to complain about anything you do in your own backyard. Smoke can also discolor walls, polls, porch ceilings and so on if placed too close to them.
Got Power? Electric Outlets, Generators or Inverters for Pellet Smoker Grills
Even through pellet smokers and grills are fueled by wood pellets, they still require electricity to ignite the pellets, to power the
Wood Pellets – Not Wood Chips, Twigs or Sticks
Pellet smokers and grills are not a flex fuel device. It’s wood pellets and ONLY wood pellets. You cannot substitute twigs or wood chips from the backyard as it will jam things up. I’ve used different pellets from different pellet makers with varying results. Traeger pellets burn hotter but are less smokey. I’ve had great results with CookinPellets and Pit Boss Competition Blend pellets. Read the reviews and find what you like. There are several pellet choices on Amazon. See what’s available here. They usually come in 20lb or 40lb bags. Wherever you store your pellets, keep them dry. If they get wet they’re useless.
When it comes to what flavor (hickory, cherry, apple, etc) to buy, I don’t have an opinion because I can’t tell the difference. I don’t think I have a very discerning palate. In my opinion, you’ll get more flavor from the rubs, brines, marinades and sauces you’ll use.
Wood Smoker Fan and Augur Noise
This isn’t a big deal, but if you’re used to a quiet electric smoker or gas grill, this will be a bit noisier. Not like a vacuum cleaner or a hair dryer, but more of a constant fan noise. It becomes background white noise after a while.
Do You Need A Cover For Your Pellet Grill?
Everyone’s situation is different. I didn’t think I needed a cover but then we needed to move our smoker grill to another area that wasn’t as protected from the wind and rain. I was glad I had a cover! Another thing to keep in mind is that these grills are going to get soot and grease on them. Anyone brushing up against them will get marked. A cover not only protects the grill from the elements but it also keeps clothing stains down to a minimum. Get a cover. Need a link? Here it is.
Protect Your Flooring
No matter how hard I try to keep meat juice off the floor it just doesn’t work out. We’ve got spots on our concrete here and there. It just happens. Plan accordingly because you will get drips or spills onto your deck, porch, area rug or travertine. Drips happen most often when you’re not looking.
Cleaning Your Pellet Smoker Grill
The “guts” of a pellet smoker, and the fire box specifically, are hidden under drip plates and other protective metal parts. You might not see the ash, soot, grease and creosote building up and eventually making its way to your food. It’s important to keep it clean so about every five smokes or so, your unit should be cleaned. My vertical smoker is much easier to clean than a horizontal grill. I use a shop vac to clear out the extra ash and build up. Takes 5 to 10 minutes and you’re back in business.
What’s the Best Pellet Smoker For 2018 and Beyond?
The “Best” will forever be an opinion. What’s best for you may differ from someone else. There are so many different makes and models out there with different features. There are also many 3rd party accessories that will make any average pellet smoker simply awesome. I’ve had Traeger and Pit Boss smoker grills since about 2014 and use them frequently. My advice to you is to check the features of each along with actual customer reviews. Make sure you’re comfortable with the warranty and contact the company if you have to. Once you have your pick, pull the trigger!
The savory flavors of perfectly smoked or grilled meats and vegetables is usually far better and cheaper than what you can get at pricey restaurants. You’ll enjoy it more doing it yourself!
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