Check out our comprehensive breakdown to help you decide if a pellet grill is right for your grilling needs.
One of the first big decisions when shopping for a grill is what fuel source to go with. Charcoal and gas grills have traditionally been the most prevalent options, but as pellet grills have gained in popularity over the past decade, many people are interested in exploring why they’ve gained such a strong reputation. Here, we will explore the pros and cons of pellet grills and key features like temperature control, smoke flavor, and cooking method versatility.
What are Pellet Grills?
Pellet grills are versatile outdoor cooking devices that use compressed wood pellets to grill and smoke food. While the quality of wood pellets can vary, those produced by a quality manufacturer like BBQers Delight will burn hot and efficiently and enhance food with a smooth smoke flavor. Pellets are available in a variety of hardwood flavors, each featuring distinct flavor characteristics, such as hickory, apple, and mesquite.
Pellet grills require access to an electrical outlet, as they feature several powered components. After you load pellets into a hopper and power your pellet grill, an auger moves them from the hopper to the fire pot or burn pot. An ignition rod heats the pellets while a fan forces air across the fire pot to start ignition.
The ignition rod will shut off once the pellets are burning, and the small fire will create the heat necessary to grill, smoke, and bake foods. The grill’s fan system will provide a constant oxygen source that keeps the fire alive and circulates heat and smoke throughout the cooking chamber.
At the most basic level, pellet grills function as outdoor convection ovens that add a depth of flavor to food that can’t be achieved when cooking indoors. But more advanced models like the Yoder Smokers YS640s are also capable of over-the-flame cooking, which allows you to directly grill foods at high heat. They can also be set up for multi-zone cooking, making it possible to cook multiple dishes simultaneously — and even complete meals.
Pros of Pellet Grills
So, what is it that sets pellet grills apart from gas grills and charcoal grills? It’s how they offer both cooking convenience and flavor complexity by embodying the following characteristics:
- Convenient and Precise Temperature Control: One electrical component that makes pellet grills sing is a temperature control panel that lets you set the grill to a specific temperature. You don’t have to mess with vents or tinker with the fire to hit a desired temperature. Simply dial in a set point, and the automated control system will do the rest. A quality pellet grill will offer incremental temperature points between 150°F and at least 600°F, but take a deeper look into capabilities at the higher end of that range. Many pellet grills advertise high heat points without offering the setup options to grill food over a direct flame, limiting your ability to sear or get a nice char on food.
- Consistent Smoke Flavor: Once a pellet grill reaches the desired cooking temperature, it can gradually add fuel to keep the fire going without fundamentally changing its characteristics. Adding just a few pellets at a time also keeps smoke levels consistent, adding just the right amount of flavor to food without overwhelming the profile.
- Versatility in Cooking Styles: Quality pellet grills can smoke, roast, bake, grill, and more. The most versatile models offer accessories like cast iron griddles and wood-fired ovens, which quickly and seamlessly transform a pellet grill into an all-in-one cooking machine capable of cooking just about any recipe.
- Ease of Use: The digital controllers on pellet grills make cooking more intuitive than charcoal or gas models. Some controllers can also monitor food temperature as it cooks, providing mobile alerts or even automatically adjusting the grill temperature when food reaches a pre-determined internal temperature.
Cons of Pellet Grills
While pellet grills can be great, some attributes cause people to hesitate when considering which type of grill to invest in. These can include:
- High Heat Limitations: While they excel at low-and-slow cooking, pellet grills might not achieve the high heat needed for some types of grilling, like searing. However, pellet grill technology is constantly improving. As mentioned above, advanced models like the Yoder Smokers YS640s have proven up to the task of high-heat cooking, unlike many of their peers.
- Dependence on Electricity: Since most pellet grills rely on electric power for their mechanisms, they may not be ideal for off-the-grid grilling. Anyone considering a pellet grill should ensure they have an outlet close to where they intend to station it.
- Price: The upfront cost for pellet grills can be higher than traditional charcoal or comparable gas grills, primarily because of the technology and electrical components required to run them. Pellet grills built from construction-grade steel with welded seams will also cost a bit more, but the tradeoff is that they should come with more robust warranties and will last longer than other grills.
Pellet Grills vs. Other Grill Options
Having explored some of the pros and cons of pellet grills, let’s examine the differentiations between pellet grills and other types of grills.
- Pellet Grills vs. Charcoal Grills: Charcoal grills can be used for grilling or smoking and add rich flavor to food. People have been cooking with charcoal for centuries, making it a tried and true method for delicious cooking. However, charcoal grills lack the convenience and ease of use that pellet grills offer and require significantly more hands-on management for longer cooking sessions.
- Pellet Grills vs. Gas Grills: Gas grills are easy to use and have long been the preferred alternative to charcoal grilling. They excel at direct over-the-fire cooking but lack the versatility of pellet grills, especially for indirect cooking like baking or roasting. Pellet grills also excel over their gas counterparts regarding precise temperature control.
- Pellet Grills vs. Electric Smokers: Both pellet grills and electric smokers offer temperature precision, though the smoke quality and circulation provided by electric smokers falls well behind that of pellet grills. As a result, the flavor profile of food cooked on electric smokers tends to be thin, and they lack any kind of over-the-flame cooking capability.
Common Questions About Pellet Grills
How Do Pellet Grills Work?
Pellet grills feed compressed wood pellets from a hopper into a burn pot. Once the fire is ignited, a fan circulates oxygen to the fire and circulates the heat and smoke to cook food at a precise temperature.
Do Pellet Grills Use Wood Pellets?
Yes. Pellet grills use food-grade cooking pellets — as opposed to the heating pellets made specifically for wood stoves and are not safe for cooking or consumption — that not only serve as a heat source but also add flavor to food.
How Do I Use a Pellet Grill?
Cooking on a pellet grill requires many of the same general principles as indoor cooking or cooking on other types of grills. For an in-depth explanation of pellet grill specifics, check out our comprehensive guide on how to use a pellet grill.
Can I Smoke a Whole Brisket on a Pellet Grill?
The great thing about pellet grills is you can cook just about anything on them. And yes, Chef Tom has a tried and true process for how to smoke a whole brisket on a pellet grill.
In the end, whether or not a pellet grill is the right choice for you depends on your individual grilling needs and aspirations. Pellet grills excel in versatility and ease of use, so regardless of your current cooking experience, be assured that they are simple enough for beginners to use and versatile enough for seasoned outdoor cooks.
After considering those factors, make sure to check out ATBBQ’s selection of pellet grills and our vast library of recipes and cooking tips to get a better idea of the many different cooking options pellet grills offer.
