Are all pellets created equal?

[Eric Hammer]

cookingpellets.com is my choice...

 

[texomakid]

I too use Cookingpellets but this weekend I tried the Apple Mash and I'll tell ya I was disappointed with the lack of smoke in general and little to no smoke flavor. I've also tried the Black Cherry and that's a very unique smoke but I got smoke from them and I got a light smoke flavor. As most know that use Cookingpellets the Hickory & the Perfect Mix are great pellets. I love the aroma of the Perfect mix in my cooker.

My next brand to try will be Lumberjack but I've still got a lot of cooking pellets left to burn since I bought the 15 sack discounted offer. Still have a bag of Sweet Maple I haven't tried yet. They're next in the hopper!

 

[dubob]

Brand new here today. Just got a Camp Chef Woodwind SG w/ Sear Box 10 days ago and have used it twice. Plan to do my first baby back ribs this weekend. Which brings me to pellets. There are several brands out there in the local stores and I checked prices at several. Most are in the $15 to $20 range for 20 lb bags locally and about the same through Amazon Prime. However, I found Pit Boss pellets at my local Wally World at $8.88 per 20 lb bag. I saw this thread and read through it and there are several brands mentioned, but nothing at all about Pit Boss. So whats the story with Pit Boss? At that price, why would I want to buy any other brand? What say all y'all?

 

[mike243]

They are ok,burnt a bag when I bought my PB, I'd go for hickory, I don't think there are any bad pellets even though I shy away from the ones that add oils to get flavored pellets. The pit boss competition is pretty decent too ,everybody's tastes are different so don't take every thing to heart what you read about pellets or pellet smokers,try them all and decide what flavors you like the best

 

[Bigtank]

All pellets are not created equal. My favorite is Smoke Ring pellets they are 100% of the wood they say the are. No Fillers!

 

[retfr8flyr]

I have been very happy with LumberJack Pellets and don't plan to try any others.

 

[sweetride95]

I have been very happy with LumberJack Pellets and don't plan to try any others.

My local Rural King has Lumber Jack back in stock for $9.99/20#. Great pellets for a great price.
I might have to Amazon a bag of the char hickory pellets though.

 

[dubob]

All pellets are not created equal. My favorite is Smoke Ring pellets they are 100% of the wood they say the are. No Fillers! View attachment 389336

Unfortunately, nearest dealer (only dealer in Utah) is 40 miles away.

 

[dubob]

My local Rural King has Lumber Jack back in stock for $9.99/20#. Great pellets for a great price.
I might have to Amazon a bag of the char hickory pellets though.

There are several businesses listed within 20 miles of my home for this product. None are big box stores and none are open just yet. Will call a couple next hour after they open for prices. The LJ website indicates that they also do not use fillers in the Competition Blend; just 100% Hickory, Maple, and Cherry - split 1/3 for each. I may have to at least try one bag of the Competition Blend. All the reviews I've read are positive with this brand.

 

[daveomak]

These are heating pellets..... North Idaho Premium...

 

[dubob]

These are heating pellets..... North Idaho Premium...

View attachment 389418 View attachment 389419 View attachment 389420

??? Sorry Sir (and no disrespect intended), but I don't see the relevance of a heating stove/furnace pellet on a pellet grill cooking thread. Did I miss something?

 

[dubob]

Just called one of my local vendors for LJ pellets and they have the Competition Blend in stock at $12.99 for 20#.

 

[retfr8flyr]

There are several businesses listed within 20 miles of my home for this product. None are big box stores and none are open just yet. Will call a couple next hour after they open for prices. The LJ website indicates that they also do not use fillers in the Competition Blend; just 100% Hickory, Maple, and Cherry - split 1/3 for each. I may have to at least try one bag of the Competition Blend. All the reviews I've read are positive with this brand.

My favorites are the Comp blend and 100% Hickory. I also like a blend of 50/50 Hickory and Cheery that I made. I haven't tried the Mesquite yet but have read good things about it.

 

[daveomak]

??? Sorry Sir (and no disrespect intended), but I don't see the relevance of a heating stove/furnace pellet on a pellet grill cooking thread. Did I miss something?

Some folks use heating pellets to cook with on their pellet grills..

 

[dubob]

Some folks use heating pellets to cook with on their pellet grills..

Being new to the pellet grill fraternity, that would never have occurred to me. I don't know anything about those pellets, but would assume they are made to produce heat and not smoke. I know a few people that use pellet heating devices and they don't smoke much at all. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[WaterRat]

Brand new here today. Just got a Camp Chef Woodwind SG w/ Sear Box 10 days ago and have used it twice. Plan to do my first baby back ribs this weekend. Which brings me to pellets. There are several brands out there in the local stores and I checked prices at several. Most are in the $15 to $20 range for 20 lb bags locally and about the same through Amazon Prime. However, I found Pit Boss pellets at my local Wally World at $8.88 per 20 lb bag. I saw this thread and read through it and there are several brands mentioned, but nothing at all about Pit Boss. So whats the story with Pit Boss? At that price, why would I want to buy any other brand? What say all y'all?

I use the Pit Boss pellets all the time as I can get them locally at WallyWorld or Lowes in #40 bags. The competition blend is Hickory/maple/cherry. I find minimal dust in the bags and the ash in the cup after a cook seems very reasonable. The flavor is mild as you would expect from that mix. I'd like to try the LJ but can't get them locally.

 

[bregent]

I don't know anything about those pellets, but would assume they are made to produce heat and not smoke. I know a few people that use pellet heating devices and they don't smoke much at all. Thank you for the clarification.

BBQ pellets and heating pellets are virtually identical, it all depends on what woods are used. Wood stoves don't produce much smoke because that's how they are designed, not because of the pellets.

 

[schlotz]

Isn't there a concern for what type of wood and how its processed for stoves vs food smokers? Thought I read somewhere that the requirements for stoves is not that restrictive, i.e. maybe pressure treated lumber scraps etc...

 

[Rmartinez2]

Brand new here today. Just got a Camp Chef Woodwind SG w/ Sear Box 10 days ago and have used it twice. Plan to do my first baby back ribs this weekend. Which brings me to pellets. There are several brands out there in the local stores and I checked prices at several. Most are in the $15 to $20 range for 20 lb bags locally and about the same through Amazon Prime. However, I found Pit Boss pellets at my local Wally World at $8.88 per 20 lb bag. I saw this thread and read through it and there are several brands mentioned, but nothing at all about Pit Boss. So whats the story with Pit Boss? At that price, why would I want to buy any other brand? What say all y'all?

So far all i've used is pit boss branded pellets mainly because i have a pitboss grill and that was all that was at lowes. I also went to walmart and saw the $8.88 so picked up a fruit blend and some hickory. I seem to get a very decent amount of smoke flavor thus far on all 3 (competition blend, hickory and fruit blend). I will say though that in looking at the label you will see that it says that the pellets may not be 100% of what its branded as. I think its worded to some effect of they are processed in the same plant as other pellets and therefore may contain other woods. I do think however they are 100% wood meaning no glue or anything like that from what i could tell.

 

[WaterRat]

I will say though that in looking at the label you will see that it says that the pellets may not be 100% of what its branded as. I think its worded to some effect of they are processed in the same plant as other pellets and therefore may contain other woods. I do think however they are 100% wood meaning no glue or anything like that from what i could tell.

All their pellets are a blend of wood. Usually maple or alder is used as the mild/neutral wood with the apple/cherry/hickory, etc. as the "flavor" component. They used to show the blends on their website but it looks like that page is being redone right now. So no, their apple pellets are not 100% apple wood but they are 100% good hardwood. Lots of the pellet companies do his but some don't.