Pit boss pellets question

[atomicsmoke]

Are the pit boss apple pellets 100% apple or are they blends?

Thank you

P.s. these are for amazn smoker not a pellet burning smoker.

 

[atomicsmoke]

I have also inquired with Pit boss sales. They responded quickly - the apple pellets are a blend 40% apple, 60% hickory.

 

[bregent]

I have also inquired with Pit boss sales. They responded quickly - the apple pellets are a blend 40% apple, 60% hickory.

That seems like a strange blend for Apple. I would think the Hickory will overpower any contribution from the apple. 

 

[tallbm]

 
That seems like a strange blend for Apple. I would think the Hickory will overpower any contribution from the apple. 

I guess they are going for a muted hickory flavor rather than an apple flavor.  I did some bacon to 145F with 70% apple and 30% hickory and man was it good flavor.  I could definitely taste the apple eating as is or fried very lightly/soft.

My blend was meant to be apple with a little bit of hickory to prop it up.   I don't see how a 60% hickory to 40% apple would do the same but I have not tried those proportions in a blend.

I can say the Pit Boss Competition Blend (PBCB) is 50% Maple 25% Cherry 25% Hickory from product description I managed to find online.  It is awesome once you get about 4 hours of some or if you double up the smoke burning from both ends using an AMNPS.

I love the PBCB on chicken wheIn I light the pellets at both ends.  Chicken cooks so quickly that I still get good flavor only lighting one end of the AMNPS using PBCB but getting double the smoke on the short cook is even better!

 

[atomicsmoke]

That seems like a strange blend for Apple. I would think the Hickory will overpower any contribution from the apple. 

I agree. Unfortunately that's what they offer. Don't understand the point of all these blends. Sell each wood separately, let people mix they way they like it.

 

[tallbm]

I agree. Unfortunately that's what they offer. Don't understand the point of all these blends. Sell each wood separately, let people mix they way they like it.

I think it's a cost cutting strategy.  Blend with cheaper woods for your area and get a bigger profit margin.  I could be wrong but don't think so.

Some blends make sense like competition blends, or reducing the harshness of Mesquite that some people get from using that wood.  I'm with you on blending yourself though.  I just wish I didn't have to buy in 20 or 40 pound increments.  It's cheaper to buy 20 pounds than 2-5 pounds so I have all these bags of pellets when I only need like 5 pounds of each hahaha.

Now that I have gotten my mother an electric smoker the plan is for us to buy different wood pellets and then trade half of what we have to one another to get smaller batches of each wood :)

 

[bregent]

 
I think it's a cost cutting strategy.  Blend with cheaper woods for your area and get a bigger profit margin.  I could be wrong but don't think so.

Some blends make sense like competition blends, or reducing the harshness of Mesquite that some people get from using that wood.  I'm with you on blending yourself though.  I just wish I didn't have to buy in 20 or 40 pound increments.  It's cheaper to buy 20 pounds than 2-5 pounds so I have all these bags of pellets when I only need like 5 pounds of each hahaha.

Now that I have gotten my mother an electric smoker the plan is for us to buy different wood pellets and then trade half of what we have to one another to get smaller batches of each wood :)

Sure, that's the main reason  - but typically the base wood is something more neutral like oak or alder, so the flavor wood comes through. Calling a blend Apple when it is 60% Hickory seems silly as hickory has a strong flavor that would likely overpower any contribution from the apple.

 

[tallbm]

 
Sure, that's the main reason  - but typically the base wood is something more neutral like oak or alder, so the flavor wood comes through. Calling a blend Apple when it is 60% Hickory seems silly as hickory has a strong flavor that would likely overpower any contribution from the apple.

I agree 100%.

I need to play around with some more Hickory smoking but I'm leaning towards the notion that I only like pure Hickory for bacon, smoked turkey legs, summer sausage, and things like that.  Outside of those types of smokes I imagine I will be blending my hickory at no more than 30% Hickory with some other fruit wood.

 

[travisty]

That's the same thing that BBQ'rs Delight brand pellets do. All of their Fruitwood options are typically 60% Oak, and 40% whatever fruitwood they put on the label. I agree with others that this is just a cost cutting gimmick. My experience with those pellets has been pretty good though, and you do get the fruitwood flavor shining though; however, I would prefer it if they would just sell you 100% of the wood you want even if it cost more, then you could dial it however you want to.

 

[dr k]

That's the same thing that BBQ'rs Delight brand pellets do. All of their Fruitwood options are typically 60% Oak, and 40% whatever fruitwood they put on the label. I agree with others that this is just a cost cutting gimmick. My experience with those pellets has been pretty good though, and you do get the fruitwood flavor shining though; however, I would prefer it if they would just sell you 100% of the wood you want even if it cost more, then you could dial it however you want to.

The BBQ'rs Delight 1lb. Bags of pellets are 100% wood on the bag. I think Todd sells them or did. They may say grilling pellets and show a diagram on the back on how to make a foil pouch.

Traeger pellets are blended with Oak or Alder and I use their Apple and Pecan with no complaints. I like Todd's Pitmasters Choice and all the other pellets I've bought from him. I haven't blended different pellets together yet.
-Kurt

 

[norcal q]

Old thread, but I just happened to check with Pit Boss and they said their pellets are 70% alder/oak, west coast/east coast, and 30% flavor wood.

 

[tallbm]

Old thread, but I just happened to check with Pit Boss and they said their pellets are 70% alder/oak, west coast/east coast, and 30% flavor wood.

I believe I have read/seen/heard the same thing about the Pit Boss pellets elsewhere. The one difference is likely the Pit Boss Competition Blend.
I long while back I found info on the Pit Boss Competition Blend that had it at 50-60% Maple and then even parts of Hickory and Cherry. It is a mild flavor but good flavor. I usually supplement it by going 50% Comp Blend and 50% pure Hickory and that kicks it up quite a bit.

The competition blend seems to always be available at Walmart for a good price and I use it as my inexpensive option that I can blend with or do double 2 row smokes from my AMNPS with it.

 

[WaterRat]

I believe I have read/seen/heard the same thing about the Pit Boss pellets elsewhere. The one difference is likely the Pit Boss Competition Blend.
I long while back I found info on the Pit Boss Competition Blend that had it at 50-60% Maple and then even parts of Hickory and Cherry. It is a mild flavor but good flavor. I usually supplement it by going 50% Comp Blend and 50% pure Hickory and that kicks it up quite a bit.

The competition blend seems to always be available at Walmart for a good price and I use it as my inexpensive option that I can blend with or do double 2 row smokes from my AMNPS with it.

One thing to know: The Pit Boss Competition pellets sold at Walmart are an exclusive Walmart blend (grey bag). It's hickory, maple, APPLE. As opposed to their other Comp blend hickory/maple/cherry (blue bag)- yeah, weird huh?

I use the pellets from Wallyworld all the time, no complaints, very little dust, works well on my chicken, pork, and beef. Probably not be strong enough if you want real solid hickory beef or pork. Obviously everyone has their flavor preference but these are good general use.

Btw, i just saw the blue bag (with cherry) is available at Lowes for $14.96

 

[norcal q]

I long while back I found info on the Pit Boss Competition Blend that had it at 50-60% Maple and then even parts of Hickory and Cherry. It is a mild flavor but good flavor. I usually supplement it by going 50% Comp Blend and 50% pure Hickory and that kicks it up quite a bit.

Ok...here's the weird part...from what Pit boss told me, it sounds like they're saying those percentages make up the flavor woods they're using, however those flavor woods only comprise 30% of the whole blend. The base or filler wood comprises the other 70%, which is either alder or oak.
If you are right and the Comp Blends are actually flavor wood blends only, then that's a great deal, but I don't think that's the case. I need to contact them again and get it straight.

 

[norcal q]

I just sent them an email and looked on their site as well. The Hickory reads like it's 100% Hickory, with "no fillers". I wonder if that's true cuz that's not what they said when I called them.

 

[norcal q]

Well...just got done using the Apple pellets on some pork belly. The PB turned out every bit as smoky as the hickory Lumber Jack pellets I've been using. I'm a believer.

 

[tallbm]

To my knowledge their Hickory and their Apple is like you reported. 70% filler wood and 30% wood on the label.

The competition blend I get in this area is the blue bag which is the Maple/Hickory/Cherry. Maple being the largest portion of the blend. This is on par with what WaterRat is stating. I haven't seen the grey bag for competition blend here in TX only the blue bag so it is probably a regional thing.

My solution is to buy Lumberjack which clearly states if it is 100% of the wood on the bag label or if it is a blend. Makes life simple and I get exactly what I am paying for :)

I recently learned from a member here that Dick's Sporting Goods store now carries Lumberjack! I then Atwoods does as well if you have that store anywhere near you. Finally i believe Cabela's brand of pellets is rebranded Lumberjack :)

 

[norcal q]

talcum, thanks so much for he info. I'm goin to look into the LJ, as we have a Dick's close by. That said, judging by my recent pork belly cook, I'm not sure that 100% vs fillers makes much of a difference, at least to my undiscerning pallet. I'm sure it makes a difference with respect to burn characteristics however, but I'm not concerned about that, as I clean my fire pot every other cook or after long cooks.

 

[tallbm]

talcum, thanks so much for he info. I'm goin to look into the LJ, as we have a Dick's close by. That said, judging by my recent pork belly cook, I'm not sure that 100% vs fillers makes much of a difference, at least to my undiscerning pallet. I'm sure it makes a difference with respect to burn characteristics however, but I'm not concerned about that, as I clean my fire pot every other cook or after long cooks.

Are you using a Pellet Grill/Smoker?

If that is the case then you may have other limitations to work around when it comes to smoke flavor.
I don't own or use a pellet smoker but if I did I would probably try using the cheapest pellet I could for fuel and then good pellets like Lumberjack in the A-Maze-N Pellet Tube for the real good smoke flavor.

Pellet smokers have the limitation that they burn the pellets as both their heat source and their smoke source. If they go hotter with the heat then they produce less smoke. Like with all/any smokers we gotta learn the quirks and adjust from there but the main thing is that you are producing good BBQ so go with what works! :)

 

[norcal q]

tallbm, fortunately, with the MAK, I don't have any issues with the cooker producing enough smoke. I do like the heavier smoke flavor profile that is produced by my WSM and Primo Ceramic. When I had a Trager and a GMG, I had an issue getting the smoke flavor I like and had to use the tube and other smoke generators, however with limited success. When I got the MAK, I was able to get rid of all the smoke gens. That said, I always stuck with 100% flavor wood pellets, until now.