Pellet smokers?

[gizzygone]

Good morning!

I have been smoking in my MES for a couple of years now. It’s a great piece of kit, but sometimes dragging it out and getting it set up for a smoke can be a pain.

I’ve taken notice of the new Weber pellet smoker/grill, which also led me to start looking at the traeger models.

I’m curious: do those pellet grills take the place of a grill AND a smoker?Can you slow-smoke ribs and cook a steak?

The appeal would be having one that I can leave on my deck, so I can easily smoke without having to deal with carting the smoker from shed to deck whenever I want to cook!

 

[ross77]

You can cook a steak but it won't be like a direct flame grill. Grilling will also take longer to get up to temp in a pellet cooker. I use searing grates on my pellet smoker and can get sear marks but its not like throwing a steak on a gas grill for 10 minutes.

Traeger is overpriced IMO.

 

[old sarge]

I am only aware of one company that makes a pellet grill/smoker that advertises a dedicated charbroiler section and that is the Fast Eddy PG 500 and PG 1000. They are pricier that the pellet grills you are looking at as they are built in the USA and are all stainless steel. Here is a short video of the PG500:

 

[ross77]

LG makes a pellet cooker with a plate that slides to reveal direct flame.

 

[tx smoker]

I have a Rec Tec RT 700 and just love it, and yes it can take the place of a grill and a smoker. When doing steaks I like to put the grill on low heat / extreme smoke setting for 25 to 30 minutes so the steak gets a bit of a smokiness. Then take the steak off, put the sear grates on, and run the grill to 500 degrees for the finish cook and to get the sear marks. Running the extreme smoke session for a bit really adds to the flavor and you get more of the "grilled" flavor folks are talking about. Camp Chef makes a grill they call the Woodwind (there may be others) that you can get a sear box attachment for. A good friend has one of those and just loves it. The key is to do your research and find one that checks off all of your boxes. There are some really good pellet grills out there, and there are some that are well known by name but just don't have the quality that the Rec Tec, Camp Chef, and Fast Eddy have. I spent months looking, reading, and researching everything on the market before buying mine and the Rec Tec won hands down for me.

Robert

 

[TNJAKE]

My Pit Boss Austin xl has a slide on the heat shield that allows for direct flame. Sears steaks beautifully

 

[gizzygone]

I think what I’m missing here: do these pellet grills work well as smokers? Or is a dedicated smoker the way to go?

 

[mike guy]

They can work fine and steak is steak, but if we are nitpicking I still prefer to sear steaks over lump charcoal. In a kamado or even in a chimney starter with a grill grate if it’s just one.

Second place goes to the ole cast iron.

 

[mike guy]

I think what I’m missing here: do these pellet grills work well as smokers? Or is a dedicated smoker the way to go?

Despite the name a pellet grill is primarily a smoker first. They make great hands off smoking and with a few tricks you can make great bbq with them with little effort.
I personally do not feel they make the best grills, but they work if you only have space / tolerance for one grill. I will always probably split my cookers between high temp and low temp, but I definitely see the dilemma of wanting an all in one solution. I just really like charcoal flavor for steaks and fajitas, but everyone has preferences.

 

[TNJAKE]

I think what I’m missing here: do these pellet grills work well as smokers? Or is a dedicated smoker the way to go?

If you are wanting something that you can do several things on then I think pellet smokers are the way to go. Mine turns out great smoked meat.

 

[gizzygone]

Despite the name a pellet grill is primarily a smoker first. They make great hands off smoking and with a few tricks you can make great bbq with them with little effort.
I personally do not feel they make the best grills, but they work if you only have space / tolerance for one grill. I will always probably split my cookers between high temp and low temp, but I definitely see the dilemma of wanting an all in one solution. I just really like charcoal flavor for steaks and fajitas, but everyone has preferences.

Well, I’ll still have the dedicated gas grill: I’m just wondering if I can replace my upright electric smoker with a pellet grill. It seems pellet grills don’t get as low as smokers do: but I tend to cook a little warmer anyways

 

[sandyut]

I have a Rec Tec RT 700 and just love it,

I am another very happy Rec Tec Bull owner. One of the most satisfying purchases ever! Very versatile and accurate.

 

[TNJAKE]

Well, I’ll still have the dedicated gas grill: I’m just wondering if I can replace my upright electric smoker with a pellet grill. It seems pellet grills don’t get as low as smokers do: but I tend to cook a little warmer anyways

Mine goes as low as 180. I wouldnt get rid of the mes though. Nice to have something in the arsenal that you can hang meat in.

 

[mike guy]

Depends on the season but most pellet smokers can do 180-200 easy as long as it’s not hot out or in direct sun. I’m also very happy with my rt700 and I’ve only fired up my beloved offset once since getting it.

 

[gizzygone]

Do most pellet grills work in the elements too? (Rain/snow?) Or are they dry-weather only (like my electric smoker)?

 

[mike guy]

The electronics are usually protected, but I think it really depends on the brand. Not everyone will be equal here.

I smoked a turkey Thursday in the rain. No problem. I’d probably think twice about it in a full on thunderstorm. Use gfci and common sense.

They work fine in cold weather, just might use more fuel. they sell insulating jackets for cold weather, and you can also use stuff like welding blankets for insulation.

 

[sandyut]

Do most pellet grills work in the elements too? (Rain/snow?) Or are they dry-weather only (like my electric smoker)?

The RT700 does just fine. I live in SLC and its cold and snowy all winter. I bought it last nov and used it all winter before enjoying the summer smoke. I bought the cold weather blanket for the temps. all the electronics are covered too. Pellet grills/smokers will use more pellets in cold but work jsut fine (or the rec tec does anyways)

 

[TNJAKE]

Do most pellet grills work in the elements too? (Rain/snow?) Or are they dry-weather only (like my electric smoker)?

Mine does fine inthe winter but I'm in Tennessee. I have a heat wrap but have never used it yet. As far as smoking in the rain i cant answer for my pellet smoker. I have a perfect covered porch so that isnt an issue I've dealt with. I will say I dont have the rain confidence that the rec tec owners have. They are definitely manufactured better than mine.