Rec Tec Bull or Pit Boss Pro 1100
- Thread starter BiscuitoftheSea
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I know myself and I’d forget or get tied up entertaining guest.
I’d end up removing my ribs, jacking it up to 350, forgetting and leaving it there.
Having to go through 3 steps vs 1 step, ie just hitting the off button, in order to shut down, would seem to invite the potential for error.
Just me, but the concept of passing a destination cooking temp, and having to go back down to it, is odd.
It’s foreign to me because I’ve never deliberately passed a destination temp for any of my other cookers.
I’m used to using Kamados, Weber kettles WSMs.
You pass a destination temp in a Kamado by 100 degrees and you’ll have a heck of a time getting it down. So the overshooting your desired cooking temp by 100 degrees or more and then backing down would take some getting used to for me.
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Info for all about PitBoss Pellet Grills... The start up preheating procedures are done once. Not sure where you’re getting your info about start up procedures on pellet grills you don’t own.. SMH... Once the preheating procedures are completed.. 15-20 mins total, then You set your desired temp and put on your food in the grill. You don’t have to go back and preheat over and over again... Wow, smh... I don’t consider a 15-20 mins preheating wasting pellets... I consider preheating a simple step in getting my grill dialed in to make some great Que. Every Pellet Grill Manufacture have Start up procedures and preheating requirements for their pellet grills... Are they all the same for each manufacturer? No... and not everyone follows their owners manual advice or instructions either...
Pellet Grills with PID controllers will often times preform its start up procedures automatically, but preheating is still recommend. Pellet Grill with Non PID controllers like Pit Boss will require you to turn the grill on to the Smoke setting for 3-5 mins. and once the pellets have ignited, set the grills temp to 300*-350* degrees for 15-20 mins. to allow the grill to preheat... That’s it... Seems hard I guess for a few people... After the preheating, then you can set your grill to your desired temp, place your food in the grill and it’s all good. Perhaps Rocket Science for some.. Everyone with Pellet Grills don’t always read and follow their owners manual instructions and that’s where errors and mistakes happens with their pellet grills. It’s not hard at all and doing so will prevent mishaps and allow you to cook some great bbq.
Oh and to shows RecTec Grills are not Immune to preheating requirements either...
As per The RecTec Bulls Owners Manual page 15... Tips, Tricks, and Temps
Preheating...
It is important to allow your grill to preheat and achieve your desired cooking temperature before cooking. This allows the entire grill to heat up and quickly return to your desired temperature once your food is introduced. If you do not allow the grill to preheat, you will find that it takes a longer period of time to bring both the grill and the food to your desired cooking temperature. End Quote... Do You have to Preheat your pellet grill? No, but if your pellet grills manufacturer recommends it, it would be very wise to do so for each and every cook. I hate to have these silly frivolous debates, when it proves only that at the end of the day You’ll run your grill your way and I’ll run and operate mines my way. Both RecTec and PitBoss produces some great Pellet Grills... I never knock anyone choice in a pellet grill.. Research your choice and enjoy your investment. .02..
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
Pellet Grills with PID controllers will often times preform its start up procedures automatically, but preheating is still recommend. Pellet Grill with Non PID controllers like Pit Boss will require you to turn the grill on to the Smoke setting for 3-5 mins. and once the pellets have ignited, set the grills temp to 300*-350* degrees for 15-20 mins. to allow the grill to preheat... That’s it... Seems hard I guess for a few people... After the preheating, then you can set your grill to your desired temp, place your food in the grill and it’s all good. Perhaps Rocket Science for some.. Everyone with Pellet Grills don’t always read and follow their owners manual instructions and that’s where errors and mistakes happens with their pellet grills. It’s not hard at all and doing so will prevent mishaps and allow you to cook some great bbq.
Oh and to shows RecTec Grills are not Immune to preheating requirements either...
As per The RecTec Bulls Owners Manual page 15... Tips, Tricks, and Temps
Preheating...
It is important to allow your grill to preheat and achieve your desired cooking temperature before cooking. This allows the entire grill to heat up and quickly return to your desired temperature once your food is introduced. If you do not allow the grill to preheat, you will find that it takes a longer period of time to bring both the grill and the food to your desired cooking temperature. End Quote... Do You have to Preheat your pellet grill? No, but if your pellet grills manufacturer recommends it, it would be very wise to do so for each and every cook. I hate to have these silly frivolous debates, when it proves only that at the end of the day You’ll run your grill your way and I’ll run and operate mines my way. Both RecTec and PitBoss produces some great Pellet Grills... I never knock anyone choice in a pellet grill.. Research your choice and enjoy your investment. .02..
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
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I think I had it right the first time. A 'tip" or a "trick" is not a requirement.
"Preheating" of the sort described for a Pit Boss, is unnecessary in a Rec Tec.
I set my grill to 225° or 250°, whatever I plan on smoking or grilling at, and when it reaches that point, I put my food on and cook.
No jumping through hoops.
And more importantly, when I get ready to shut it off when I'm done cooking,......... I hit the "off" switch. Simple as that.
OK. Two questions then, once this 15-20 minute "preheating procedure" is completed.:
1. Once the grill is done "preheating" and 15-20 minutes to allow that, have passed and you can then at that point go ahead and set your "desired temperature",..... how soon after you "set your desired temperature", do you go ahead and put your food on the grill?
Do you wait until that "desired temperature" is actually reached, or dropped back to, from whatever the temperature was during the "preheating" exercise?
Or do you just go ahead and put your meat on regardless as to the grill's current actual temperature once the "desired temperature" setting has been selected from the dial?
2. Sort of and extension but more importantly, if the grill has been "preheating at 300-350* for 20 minutes, well then what is it's temperature when you initially put your food on?
In other words, if you want to cook at 225°, do you have to wait until it drops to 225° from the 300°-350° that it was running at for the "preheating" endeavor before you put your meat on?
SMH.
In the context in which that is written, they're clearly saying; "don't put your food on at 100° or something else below, or even well below, your desired cooking temperature, before your set/desired cooking temperature is reached".
They clearly state; achieve your desired cooking temperature before cooking.
But once it is reached, then go ahead.
If your "desired cooking temperature" is 225°, well then they aren't asking you to then go 125° beyond that to 350° and then go back down, if your "desired cooking temperature" is going to be 225°.
I don't see anything in that about "overshooting" your desired cooking temperature, or going up to 350°, and then turning the grill down and waiting for temps to go back down to your desired cooking temperature.
If I'm cooking at 250°, well then yeah, my Rec Tec as it sits, is not at 250° right now, so technically, yeah, I'd have to "preheat" it to 250* from it's approximately 90° that it sits at on this hot day..
But there is no need for me to take it to 350°, and then drop it back down to 250°, nor should there be.
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I've seen you write on the topic of "preheating" Pitt Boss pellet grills a few times now and a few things stand out.
"4. After a fire has started, begin to preheat your grill with the lid closed. Turn the Temperature Control Dial to 300*-350* degrees during warm weather or use the high temp setting during cold weather to allow the unit to preheat for approximately 30 minutes.
5. After preheating is complete, Your grill is ready to bbq on whatever temp you want."
Ok......what if I want to bbq at 250°?
Do I have to wait until the temp drops from that 300°-350° that you mention above before , down to 250° before I put my meat on?
Or should I put it on at 350° and start my cook at 350° and wait for the grill to drop back down to 250° while my food is on it?
Here it is again.
"...35* degrees outside... You need to preheat for at least 30 minutes... Preheat Temp should be set between 300*-350* degrees... Never preheat your grill lower then 300* degrees... "
Interesting. Wow. If I set my Rec Tec at 250°, when it hits 250°, I put my food on it.
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That’s one of the differences between Non PID Controller Pellet Grills and Pellet Grills with PID Controllers... Most PID Controllers will have the start up procedures preprogrammed and that’s great for those who prefer that. I myself prefer saving $500.00-$700.00 dollars with my Non PID PB and just have to do two simple steps... Turn grill on Smoke, wait 3-5 mins. Turn grill temp to 300* degrees wait 15-20 mins... Grills ready. And if I wanted to cook Low and Slow from the 300* preheat temp, to let’s say 200* degrees is while I’m loading the grill with food, the lid is open... While the lid is open some heat will escape from the grill and the temp will come down to the set temp that much faster.. No problems no worries. Load the grill and it’s all Good.
How long does it take an RT-680 to heat up? https://www.rectecgrills.com/faq/
Of course this depends on the weather conditions and the temperature selected. From lighting through temperatures up to 350F it should take 20-30 minutes and maximum temperatures will take 30-45 minutes. On cold or windy days preheat time may be increased by 10-15 minutes. https://www.rectecgrills.com/faq/. Perhaps Apples and Oranges, but it’s still a RecTec and it recommendations is to preheat...
Again, not all info is followed even though it’s recommended by the manufacturer... On page 16. of the RecTec’s Bulls owners manual the tip/recommendation, however it is best to comprehend is to “Always preheat your grill to your desired temp before cooking”... Oh and the shut down procedures for the PitBoss is one step.. Push the power button once to shut it down.. That’s it.
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
I know and You are correct.. I just hate when posters post bogus info in an effort to promote their agenda or whatever it is. Like I posted before, I never knock or put down any Pellet Grill Manufacture or anyones choice in a Pellet Grill. I always say do Ones research before you buy.. Nuf Said.
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
I got info from post #39 of this thread and had no reason to believe it to be incorrect, let alone “bogus”. Furthermore , the gist and general flavor of that information, at least at it’s core, still seem to not be entirely incorrect, and certainly not "bogus".
It still appears to be a fact that manual procedures are required by the owner to properly run one product, and that those same manual procedures are not required for owners of the other.
Interesting though that you bring up the Rec Tec 680. When was the last time Rec Tec offered the 680?
It’s called progress. The 680 is yesterday’s top of the line Rec Tec. The newest line of Rec Tec grills, all have PID technology.
So yes, you’re definitely talking apples and oranges.
But “preheating your grill” in Rec Tec’s literature, is clearly to be taken in the same context as “preheat your oven” if you’re planning on a DiGiorno’s pizza.
And in one regard, just like your oven, the Rec Tec requires you to do nothing more than choose a cooking temperature, set the device at that temperature, be it your oven or in this case your grill, wait for said temperature to be reached and place your food in.
Really though, the bottom line is actually outlined in your own post.
You get what you pay for. The PID controlled Rec Tecs do not require owners to go through the manual and cumbersome pre heating procedures that a cheaper grill such as the Pitt Boss requires its owners to go through.
I’ll spend extra money if I’m getting value for my dollar.
Now you’ve had every chance to clarify what you seem to be calling “bogus” information. However nothing of substance has really changed. It still stands that one has to manually go through additional steps in order to “properly” run one product in this discussion vs the other.
Though the discussion is heated at this point, no pun intended, this point is yet another to be made in the actual original post of this thread comparing the products which the original poster was comparing.
The manual procedures you’re describing for the Pitt Boss, take at least some time and effort.
Certainly more than simply selecting a temperature from an Android or iPhone, and waiting for the controlled device to hit that target temp before starting a cook.
Not to mention the built in ability to monitor and control the device remotely, and remotely monitor the temp of the food in it all included in the price of the grill.
That's going to cost money, along with any build materials, e.g. stainless steel, warranty advantages, and construction advantages as well.
The original poster can use all of this information to help make up his mind as to how valuable his time and convenience are, or might be, over the entire course of his predicted ownership of his selection, and how these two considerations align with his budget and needs.
I wish him the best.
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No doubt.
But I’d hate for you to find out later; “Wow, for just a few dollars more, I wouldn’t have to jump through hoops and go through this or that procedure before starting a cook.
I would already have built in and integrated monitoring capabilities that I’ll need to spend extra money for with another party, if I want to remotely monitor my temps. A good WiFi temperature device won’t be cheap and will eat into whatever savings I had on the grill.
I’ll not be able to adjust temperatures without going downstairs and outside, and doing them at the grill, should I want or need to. Possibly late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. If I want to jack up my temps to finish an overnight cook faster, or after a stall, I'll need to go downstairs and outside to do it.
And so on. You can get into stainless steel, and all of the other stuff described in the first post too.
But at the end of the day, any prospective buyer will have to decide what all of that is worth to them.
You can buy a car without power windows or power door locks in it too. It’ll still drive you to wherever you’d go in a car with both those options.
But there’s a lot to be said for convenience.
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I can tell you how I fire up my Rec Tec Mini, and it's never failed. I open the lid, turn it on and set to the temp I want to cook at. Once I see smoke, I close the lid and let it get up to temp. If I want to smoke at 180, that's where I set it. I don't have to preheat to a higher temp that I want to smoke at. Once done, I turn it off, remove my food and walk away. This have never failed in the several years I've had the thing.
Let me make sure I follow you.
Once you've held 300° for 15-20 minutes, if you want to smoke at 200°, you simply open the lid to put your food on, and this opening the lid let's some of that heat out to help you get down to a target temp below that 300°, say 200°?
What happens when you close the lid? Wouldn't the temp go back up?
How do you know how long you'll need to leave the grill open in order to get, say a 120° drop?
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Makes sense to me.
But I've had a chance to re read a prior post on the matter being discussed.
OK. I got that. Get it up to 350°. This appears to be regardless as to what your planned cooking/smoking temperature will be. Get it up to 350° and let it hold at that 350° for about 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes at 350°, now you can start dropping back to your desired temperature. I got that.
The question though is just how is this reduction accomplished or intended to be accomplished?
I'm seeing in another post where opening the lid helps in this endeavor. But again that to me seems odd for the manufacturer to be suggesting or even calling for such a manuever. That would be saying; "Get it up to 350°, let it hold at that for 10 minutes, and then open the lid to let some of that built up heat escape while you put your food on."
I'm wondering if the owner is supposed to turn the settings dial back down to the desired temp, after 10 minutes at 350°, and then wait for the grill to hit that desired temp on it's own. As opposed to "opening the lid" to let some of the heat escape in order to help hit the "desired temp" once 350° is hit and held for 10 minutes.
But I'm with you. I set a desired temp, and when my grill reaches that temp, I commence cooking.
If this is the correct sequence for shutting this grill down, well then it is an odd sequence indeed. That's all I have to say on that.
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Your questions and My answers from the original post...
- Once you've held 300° for 15-20 minutes, if you want to smoke at 200°, you simply open the lid to put your food on, and this opening the lid let's some of that heat out to help you get down to a target temp below that 300°, say 200°? My answer... Correct. This is not in the Owners Manual, but anyone that has bbq’d knows if you open the grills lid, the heat will escape and the grills temp will drop faster. Do you have to do it this way? No, but it works for me. I’ve also learned that you can preheat these grills at 300* as well as 350* degrees and they’ll still maintain stable temps.. The Owners Manual say 350* degrees and that’s fine. Preheating lower then 300* degrees makes it harder to maintain desired temps and more issues of wild temp swings will happen. Preheating is essential and necessary with Non PID Pellet Grills, but if preformed correctly will allow the grill to maintain solid temp control. Never take short cuts in the proper preheating requirements.
- What happens when you close the lid? Wouldn't the temp go back up? The answer is No... The Grills temp will come down to the new desired temp.
- How do you know how long you'll need to leave the grill open in order to get, say a 120° drop? My answer... If I need a quick drop in temp and normally I don’t, I would open the lid for a couple of minutes if that... If I’m cooking some spares and the grills temp is at 300* degrees and I want to cook Low and Slow on Smoke mode or 200* degrees, I would just set the grill to that desired temp, put my spares in the grill and close the lid.. The Grills temp will cycle down to the desired set temp in a few minutes depending on the weather. If it’s let say 40*-50 degrees outside, the temp will drop a little faster then if the outside temp was 95*-100* degrees. My PB Austin XL is by far the easiest grill to cook on that I’ve ever owned. I don’t have to babysit the grill and after the preheating is completed, it’s pretty much Set it and Forget it.. Well, that was until I got the SD Wood Burning HD and had to figure that one out. Now everything is all good. Once My cook is finished, all I have to do is push the power button and the grill will go into Auto Shutdown. That’s it. Also, the way I maintain my grill makes it that much more easier to set my desired temp and let it ride. Lastly, Kevin James PB shutdown posting is correct as per the Owners Manual, but it’s intended to burn off any excess food or dripping on the cooking grates... I prefer to use a wire brush and aluminum foil while the grates are hot to remove any leftovers on the grates... Push the power button once and the grill will cycle off in about 10mins on it own and my fire pot only has ashes from the cook and no leftover pellets. Super simple and easy. Not in the manual, but it works for me.
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
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kevin james
Smoking Fanatic
Wow... personally I don't find the Pit Boss start up or shut down process to be a big deal at all. But hey, if others do that's totally fine.
Just to clarify, turning the dial up to 350 to preheat and also during shut down is for the purpose of a burn off which the manual states will help prevent things such as grease fires etc. which makes sense to me.
Just to clarify, turning the dial up to 350 to preheat and also during shut down is for the purpose of a burn off which the manual states will help prevent things such as grease fires etc. which makes sense to me.
Your questions about PitBoss grills I think should be asked in its own thread and allow this thread to recover... From looking at it, this thread appears to have been high jacked and I’m sure that wasn’t intended.
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi
kevin james
Smoking Fanatic
It seems to be my post that kind of set things off coarse so I apologize for that, it was not my intent.
For what it's worth I'm just a guy who was literally in the exact same situation as the OP , going from a dead MES30 to my first pellet grill, and looking between the Rec Tec Bull 700 and the Pit Boss Pro Series 1100, so I wanted to chime in with what I ultimately decided to do and why.
I think the Rec Tec is awesome, and if money is not an issue then by all means go for it. While I would have loved to get the Rec Tec I decided I just couldn't justify it right now, maybe in a year or two. Too many big house projects to get done (floors, cabinets, counters bla bla bla).
I decided I could either wait a year or two to pull the trigger on a pellet grill and get the Bull, or i could get something cheaper right now as a temporary solution and upgrade to the Bull when I can down the road. I decided I didn't want to wait another year or two so option B sounded better and I ended up going with the Pit Boss 1100. I do not regret my decision, that's all I can say.
For what it's worth I'm just a guy who was literally in the exact same situation as the OP , going from a dead MES30 to my first pellet grill, and looking between the Rec Tec Bull 700 and the Pit Boss Pro Series 1100, so I wanted to chime in with what I ultimately decided to do and why.
I think the Rec Tec is awesome, and if money is not an issue then by all means go for it. While I would have loved to get the Rec Tec I decided I just couldn't justify it right now, maybe in a year or two. Too many big house projects to get done (floors, cabinets, counters bla bla bla).
I decided I could either wait a year or two to pull the trigger on a pellet grill and get the Bull, or i could get something cheaper right now as a temporary solution and upgrade to the Bull when I can down the road. I decided I didn't want to wait another year or two so option B sounded better and I ended up going with the Pit Boss 1100. I do not regret my decision, that's all I can say.
Though the conversation did get a little derailed, it actually wasn't irrelevant. One of the reasons I am planning on moving away from the MES 40 with maze setup is due to convenience, especially in the "startup" phase. Also, not having to drive to 350 and hold for 10-15 min would seem to save pellets over going to your desired temp. So even if it is only a minor difference, it is still a difference to consider along with the other differences that have been pointed out. So thanks again for all the feedback.
Well Kevin I’m glad that you posted it as all are here to learn.
And if the information on the manufacturer’s startup and shutdown procedures are a point of consideration for anyone else reading it, not just BiscuitoftheSea, well then it might help in their purchasing decision as well.
I use my grill 5-6 days a week. Sometimes I get home late. And so I know how important a quick start is for me. I know how important an automated shutdown is for me.
I freely admit that they may not be as important for all. Some will not find the procedures to be a point of consideration. Others will. Still as with any product, it is not unheard of for owners to develop their own shortcuts or workarounds to the manufacturer's outlined procedures.
However it would seem that it can only help if specifics like those which you gave, are included in any comparison discussion.
Were I contemplating either product, why I’d certainly want to know the information and manufacturer’s procedures on startup and shutdown that you’ve posted.
And if the information on the manufacturer’s startup and shutdown procedures are a point of consideration for anyone else reading it, not just BiscuitoftheSea, well then it might help in their purchasing decision as well.
I use my grill 5-6 days a week. Sometimes I get home late. And so I know how important a quick start is for me. I know how important an automated shutdown is for me.
I freely admit that they may not be as important for all. Some will not find the procedures to be a point of consideration. Others will. Still as with any product, it is not unheard of for owners to develop their own shortcuts or workarounds to the manufacturer's outlined procedures.
However it would seem that it can only help if specifics like those which you gave, are included in any comparison discussion.
Were I contemplating either product, why I’d certainly want to know the information and manufacturer’s procedures on startup and shutdown that you’ve posted.
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