Yoder Pellet Smoker fuel consumption

[jakester]

I am looking to get myself a pellet smoker in the coming future. I originally thought I would get a rec tec but lately have been reading how great the Yoder YS640 is but also heard that it consumes a lot more pellets over other grills it's size. Anyone have any experience with this, if so please share your experiences.

 

[troutman]

I don't have either, mine is custom made and probably similar to the Yoder. At 225-250* cooking range I burn about a pound an hour. Going up to 300* or more that increases, of course. I personally don't think any pellet cooker is very much different from that, it depends on the size of the cooking chamber, how well insulated that chamber, heat retention (is the chamber built of 1/4" plate or 18 ga. tin) as well as cooking temperature and time. One would have to chart those side-by-side with various cookers to know for sure. Hope that helps.

 

[jakester]

I know there are people out there that have used multiple pellet smokers and I would love to hear their feedback.

 

[jakester]

1 pound an hour isn't bad at all.

 

[bregent]

Unfortunately the original source document is no longer available, but here is one page that shows a comparison of fuel consumption. The 2nd page had even more grills listed. As you can see, there can be quite a range between different makes and models: https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/pellet-consumption-performance.140175/

 

[jakester]

I was hoping someone that owns and uses a YS640 would give us the real feedback of how many pallets they go through.

 

[ross77]

I have a RecTec 680 and the consumption varies depending on outside temp. I haven’t actually calculated it but in the winter it will use quite a bit more pellets in order to maintain the temp. When I smoked a brisket for 19 hours I used just over half of 40lb bag. The 680 has a 40 lb hopper and it seemed to be less than half full.

 

[jakester]

I am planning on buying a pellet smoker in about 1-2 months and The Rec Tec RT-700 and Yoder YS640 are on the top of my list, I like the Yoder but I get the impression that it uses a lot more pellets then the rec tec which I don't like.

20-25 pounds for a 19 hour smoke in the winter isn't bad at all.

How do you like to rec tec? I am coming from a 40" electric MES and a 14.5 WSM. I can't stand the MES, very unreliable and temp differences throughout the smoker is crazy.

 

[ross77]

I was in the same boat as you. WSM and then a MES. WSM was too much work and the MES electronics failed twice. I felt that the smoke flavor from the MES was a little to acrid for my tastes.

I like the RecTec so far. It is a lighter smoke flavor so I sometimes use a smoker tube to supplement but I’m satisfied with the flavor from 100% hickory pellets 80% of the time. The ease of use and solid temperature holding ability is fantastic.

 

[jakester]

WSM is a great smoker but you do have to keep checking on it which I don't always have the time. I want a smoker that I can load up and sleep all night or be able to run out for an hour or two without having to worry about the temps.

MES last smoke I had some ribs in there and about 3 hours in the heating element stopped working so I had to finish them on the gas grill.

How long had you had your Rec Tec?

 

[ross77]

About 18 months. I had an ignitor fail but they’ve since upgraded those to ceramic and will supposedly last for many years.

No other problems.

You probabaly can’t go wrong with most of the reputable brands. If you want rock solid temps, make sure it has a PID controller.

 

[jakester]

That is the down side of pellet or electric smokers, they can fail and if they do it will mostly likely be right in the middle of a smoke. This is where a WSM is a winner, no parts to fail.

 

[ross77]

That is true but I’ve yet to have it break down in the middle of a cook.

Once the kids get older I’ll switch back to a traditional smoker.

 

[jakester]

How would you compare the flavor between the WSM and Rec Tec?

 

[ross77]

How would you compare the flavor between the WSM and Rec Tec?

The smoke is not as heavy with a pellet smoker. Of the three smokers, the WSM produced the best flavor IMO. It's hard to beat the WSM for flavor as you're cooking with charcoal and wood.

But a pellet smoker can come close with a smoke tube, I sometimes use an Amazen Pellet Tube Smoker. The new RecTec models have new heat deflectors with a built in tray they say you can put wood chips or pellets on to add smoke.

You're giving up some flavor for convenience. To me, it was worth it. No more adjusting vents or adding fuel and water. And I prefer the layout of the barrel type smokers to the WSM.

 

[ross77]

Found this on the Yoder website:

1. How many pellets are used in a long slow smoke?
   Pellet consumption ranges from 1½-pounds to 4-pounds per hour depending on the cooking temperature and environment.
   

 

[Ed Crain]

It does vary on outside temperature the most I’ve ever used is probably 30lbs in a 12hr smoke with outside temperature in the 20’s. It’s something I don’t worry too much about if it’s empty I fill it up I’ve been using competition blend I’m picking up at Walmart for now may look into a bulk buy this spring

 

[Ed Crain]

Ok jakester ambient outside temp 55 degrees 6hrs at 250 20lb hopper not quite half

 

[jakester]

Thank you Ed! Sounds like your right at about 1.5 pounds per hour.

 

[gmc2003]

I was in the same boat as you. WSM and then a MES. WSM was too much work and the MES electronics failed twice.

WSM is a great smoker but you do have to keep checking on it which I don't always have the time.

Blasphemy I say - blasphemy. May you both cook in the depth's of a smokeless hell. Just kidding, good luck Jake with finding a pellet smoker to your liking. I was lucky/unlucky as I didn't start smoking meat until my kiddo's were a little older. All sorts of time on my hands.

Chris