Hello, and thank you for checking out my thread.
Here is the deal, I have never used a pellet smoker/grill, and I want one. I have an $800 gift certificate to Cabela's. That is my max budget (because my SO won't allow me to spend more), so I need the best recommendation in that budget from Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop.
I am leaning towards the Cabela's-branded 24" pellet grill that is made by Louisiana Grills because of the "searing" feature (something my SO in interested in for burgers and hot dogs, though we have a small Weber kettle with cast iron grates also that can be used for searing). I am leaning toward the 24" size because we will rarely, if ever, be cooking for more than 8-10 people, and because I have the impression that a smaller size will tend to hold temps better and perhaps use less pellets (efficiency). I don't like that it only has one temperature probe, and that there is no matching cover available for it. I am concerned about all these lower-cost pellet smokers, not just the Cabela's-branded one, because of what I have read about temperature fluctuations, auger jams, and general reliability. I have my heart set on a pellet smoker though, and am firmly limited by budget and vendor. I will be the primary (90%) user of this, and I am most interested in Santa Maria-style barbecue, Texas barbecue, and North Carolina-style barbecue, as well as possibly learning to make and smoke my own sausages and other meats. My SO is interested in continuing to be able to make burgers and hot dogs for her young nephews.
More details. We are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Outdoor temps will be between upper 40s and mid-upper 80s (Fahrenheit) throughout the year. I am moving in with my SO, and we both decided we need a new grill. I convinced her to get a pellet smoker/grill, and we have an $800 Cabala's gift card from my late father. I thought it would be nice to use this as a kind-of housewarming gift from my dad, since he can't actually be with us, and I think my dad would have liked this idea too. My SO is very thrifty, so my budget is firmly limited to the amount of the gift card. She is also unlikely to allow us to "upgrade" our grill for a long time, so I want to make a purchase that will serve us for as long as possible. I would also like to have enough left over on the gift card for a grill cover (if the model purchased doesn't come with one), and smoke tube, and any other essential accessories.
Tank you so much, in advance, for your help!
~ Jon
Here is the deal, I have never used a pellet smoker/grill, and I want one. I have an $800 gift certificate to Cabela's. That is my max budget (because my SO won't allow me to spend more), so I need the best recommendation in that budget from Cabela's or Bass Pro Shop.
I am leaning towards the Cabela's-branded 24" pellet grill that is made by Louisiana Grills because of the "searing" feature (something my SO in interested in for burgers and hot dogs, though we have a small Weber kettle with cast iron grates also that can be used for searing). I am leaning toward the 24" size because we will rarely, if ever, be cooking for more than 8-10 people, and because I have the impression that a smaller size will tend to hold temps better and perhaps use less pellets (efficiency). I don't like that it only has one temperature probe, and that there is no matching cover available for it. I am concerned about all these lower-cost pellet smokers, not just the Cabela's-branded one, because of what I have read about temperature fluctuations, auger jams, and general reliability. I have my heart set on a pellet smoker though, and am firmly limited by budget and vendor. I will be the primary (90%) user of this, and I am most interested in Santa Maria-style barbecue, Texas barbecue, and North Carolina-style barbecue, as well as possibly learning to make and smoke my own sausages and other meats. My SO is interested in continuing to be able to make burgers and hot dogs for her young nephews.
More details. We are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Outdoor temps will be between upper 40s and mid-upper 80s (Fahrenheit) throughout the year. I am moving in with my SO, and we both decided we need a new grill. I convinced her to get a pellet smoker/grill, and we have an $800 Cabala's gift card from my late father. I thought it would be nice to use this as a kind-of housewarming gift from my dad, since he can't actually be with us, and I think my dad would have liked this idea too. My SO is very thrifty, so my budget is firmly limited to the amount of the gift card. She is also unlikely to allow us to "upgrade" our grill for a long time, so I want to make a purchase that will serve us for as long as possible. I would also like to have enough left over on the gift card for a grill cover (if the model purchased doesn't come with one), and smoke tube, and any other essential accessories.
Tank you so much, in advance, for your help!
~ Jon