Which pellet smoker grill if price is not an issue?

[mschoonmaker]

I'm going to be moving into a new home in the spring, and I get to rig up an outdoor (built-in) kitchen of my own choosing. As you might expect it's "gotta look good" per the wife, but I'm only going to get to do this once!

I enjoy smoking on my little old electric Bradley but am ready to step up to pellets. I also have a need to sear (I do a lot of sous vide cooking as well). I'm open to a smoker only unit and add something like an Alfresco Sear Zone next to it as well

Been thinking Memphis Elite or MAK 3 Star or ???

Pros/cons of one over the other, or even something else??

Many thanks!

 

[bregent]

I've got an Elite and would get one again if doing a built-in. For rolling around my deck though, I'd probably go with the Pro as it's got all the room I usually need. IMO, there's no better looking grill than a Memphis. I use it mostly for low/slow and medium heat cooks (<450). I rarely use it at max - 700F. When going from low and slow to high heat, you really need to clean it in between or will get a lot of grease smoke. So for reverse sear, I smoke on the Memphis and sear on the gasser. But for searing after SV, I use the Memphis and it works great.

 

[mschoonmaker]

thanks very much - would love to hear others' opinions as well!

 

[Dcwell68]

I have a yoder ys 640 and it's a beast. Cooks almost too easy for me, really miss messing with my Humphreys battle box. I'm probably gonna list my pellet smoker in the classified ads

 

[chef jimmyj]

Memphis hands down! Well built, reliable, great reviews, just WAY beyond the average wallet...JJ

 

[Rings Я Us]

One with 800 + square inches of main grilling surface.
✔
Louisiana Grills 800or 900 maybe.

Oh.. money no problem? lol

Memphis yeah..
OR a
Cookshack pg1000

But a Kalamazoo Gravity Fed free standing cabinet smoker would be cool.

 

[lothar1974]

Memphis Elite all the way, oh wait I have one already :) I love mine, plenty of room, stable temps, grilling, and built like a tank.

 

[pmillen]

I've cooked on a Cookshack Fast Eddy PG500 since December 2010. I've been seriously reading about all pellet pits since 2009. I think the top three pellet pits are (any order is probably suitable)–

• Memphis Elite or Pro
• PG500 or 1000 (1000 is insulated)
• MAC 3-Star, 2-Star

Any one will probably sit on a low shelf as a built-in. Talk with a dealer. See if you can cook on a demonstrator model before buying. If one isn't available have the dealer contact a few owners and ask if you can smoke something on their pit. (I'd invite you over some Saturday.) Try to not buy one blind.

 

[mschoonmaker]

Many thanks for your thoughts. The Memphis products have my wife's vote (based upon looks only!), I think I'd prefer a MAK 2 star, and while it seems they CAN be built in, there's no clearly defined path for doing so.

 

[mossymo]

Have had a Yoder YS640 for almost 7 years and have been very happy with it. Decided to get a second pellet grill and on Monday ordered a Blaz'n Grid Iron.

 

[miniedmo]

Rec-tec RT-680 great pellet grill for the price!!

 

[mschoonmaker]

Thanks, but it doesn't appear to have a built-in option.