Pellet grill recommendations?

Creekwood

Creekwood

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Apr 26, 2009
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Oakville and Georgian Bay, Ontario
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'97 330 Sundancer, Raymarine C80 suite with radar, Mercury 310 Hypalon w/8hp Yammie 2stk
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So now that we are getting ready to move into our newly built place at the lake, and I turn 60 next week, my mother has said she wants to buy me a 60th BD and house warming gift of a new grill.

So I am looking for advice on what to get. She is buying but I am not going to spend $3k of her money. I have zero experience with pellet grills, but I think I have narrowed down to a Traeger or a Weber. The first gen. Webers were not good based on reviews, but they fixed their issues it seems. I like the fact that there is an ability to sear at 600 degrees with Weber.

I dont want a monster grill, just medium/large. I want Bluetooth or wifi control and good temperature control for smoking low and slow.

So help me out with some advice and recommendations!
 
I would avoid the Chinese made Traeger and the trouble prone Weber. I have an American made Yoder Smoker. It weighs twice as much as the Traeger or Weber, which helps to keep the heat in. Especially when the weather turns colder. The Yoder can sear at 700°. The wifi control is great and the Yoder uses a high end temp controller.

https://www.yodersmokers.com/pellet/the-ys480s-pellet-grill/
 
Are you set on a pellet grill? If just looking for something to do low and slow and HOT in one device, you can't beat a Big Green Egg or a Kamado Joe, and they are stupid simple and very effective. They go from 200* to 800*+, and can smoke, grill, rotisseri and do pizza quite effectively in a pretty small footprint.

I currently have a Weber gas grill, a BGE and a Yoder offset smoker. My BGE is my go to for almost everything now to the point I'm probably going to get rid of the weber gas grill. I'm definitely a BGE fanboy lol. Once you get the hang of it, you can do low and dont need all the electronics (which are a PITA).

If set on a pellet grill I would second Yoder. Things are built like tanks (literally)!!
 
I agree with the comments on BGE. Have had one for 7-8 years. I have cooked on multiple smokers which are targeted at home market. Also with big trailer mounted competition smokers. Hands down, once you master temperature control on a big green egg, so versatile and effective. Could write volumes about how good they are.

All that said, I am seriously thinking about adding a pellet smoker in the back yard. From everyone who I have talked to, the ease of use for predictable results is fantastic. As easy as cooking in the oven. You give up the smoke ring and the ability for the high heat capability - but so much easier.

Have done some research, I keep hearing about RecTec.
 
I have a Traeger that I've had for appx 18 years. I'm really happy with it, even though a wireless option would be nice. I don't want to buy a new controller for it.
We had,(they still have it) a Green Mountain at my old work that we would use for shop feeds. It quit working well past the warranty, and their customer service sent us new parts until it worked. The last part was the whole control assembly with augur, not cheap. I swear by their customer service, which is long lost these days.
That being said, the Yoders are great grills, but they're outrageously heavy.
Pellet grills are so much easier than a BGE, just turn them on and set the temp.
 
Also a Recteq owner and big fan. I'm on my second one having started with a 400 sq in model. That was find for most things but too small for the Thanksgiving turkey I like to smoke. I now have a 700 sq in model that's perfect for us.
I looked at the Weber pellet grills and they do look impressive. But, they seem to be much pricier than Recteq. The smallest Weber is 771 sq in which is larger than the mid-size Recteq I have. FWIW, Recteqs are capable of going to 700°. I have used that capability just once. It puts a lot of load on the firebox and it took quite a while to get to temp. I found it much easier to sear on the small-ish Weber gas grill I also have or, since I sear after smoking, just throwing the meat on the stove since it's not going to pick up any more smoke flavor at that point.
 
I think pellet grills are cheating. I smoke everything with a Weber Kettle, that takes skill.

That said, I have a buddy that has sunk a shit ton of money into a Traeger grill. He also spent $3K on a combo gas/pellet grill. Last year at our condo the insurance company banned all gas and charcoal grills, but allowed pellet grills (go figure). I bought a medium sized Pit Boss for $229 from Walmart. There is nothing that came off of my buddy's Traeger or hybrid that was better than what I cooked on the Pit Boss. Temp control was fantasic. BUT, no matter how hot they say the pellet grill gets to sear, none of them can truly sear anything. A lot of the "pros" on Youtube heat a cast iron skillet in the smoker and use that to reverse sear. I never tried that. YMMV.

We bought a new condo this year where gas grills are allowed, but pellet grills are not. So I gave my Pit Boss to a neighbor in the old complex.
 
Pit Boss has my vote. Competition series has the bluetooth and wifi you seek, and an exposure section of the flame so you CAN sear a steak if desired. $500ish on sale. Since it's end of season, you should be able to find a decent sale.
I got 6 baby back racks on it last labor day (oh and some chicken quarters)

https://www.academy.com/p/pit-boss-820-competition-series-pellet-grill
PS, mine survived the eye of Ian, flipped upside down in the front yard of my RV park in Punta Gorda.
 
BlueYonder said:
I would avoid the Chinese made Traeger and the trouble prone Weber. I have an American made Yoder Smoker. It weighs twice as much as the Traeger or Weber, which helps to keep the heat in. Especially when the weather turns colder. The Yoder can sear at 700°. The wifi control is great and the Yoder uses a high end temp controller.

https://www.yodersmokers.com/pellet/the-ys480s-pellet-grill/
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Yikes. Cad$3,375 for that model here. Very few dealers here also. Looks really well built and a great warranty too though.
 
BlueYonder said:
Don't buy a pellet grill/smoker if your primary use is cooking hamburgers and steaks. That's what a charcoal or gas grill is for. I use my Yoder pellet for smoking.
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I have gas grill but not a good one. But its good for steaks and burgers. I have a Weber Summit at home that I may move up north eventually, so steaks will probably be on the grill, not the pellet grill. So mostly ribs, chicken, and briskets. I like the flexibility of a high heat for a bit for things like roasts. Hot sear then turn down and low and slow to cook.
 
So interesting that people are not keen on Traeger. I guess it’s because it’s not MIA anymore. I get it. As for Weber pellet grills, I see the first ones were pretty bad, but they made a lot of changes in Gen 2. But I think maybe still too unproven. My Weber Summit propane grill has been bullet proof, so they know how to build a grill. Hmmmm.
 
Traeger still makes a really good grill, it's just that there are so many different options anymore.
Costco sells Traegers, so that may be an option for you.
I have to disagree with not using a pellet grill for burgers and steaks, they turn out great.
I also have a weber charcoal grill, and I use it once in a while when I need extra room.
 
wyrman said:
Traeger still makes a really good grill, it's just that there are so many different options anymore.
Costco sells Traegers, so that may be an option for you.
I have to disagree with not using a pellet grill for burgers and steaks, they turn out great.
I also have a weber charcoal grill, and I use it once in a while when I need extra room.
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Yes, I did burgers and steaks on mine and they were great. Just set the temp at 350 - 400 degrees.
 
I'll probably get beat up six ways from Sunday for this, but pre-cooked frozen Costco hamburger patties on the Traeger pellet grill makes for a great, quick burger. Since I'm currently using the live-in son-in-law's Traeger, we'll be looking at a new cooker as soon as I can get the freeloaders out of the house. That RecTeq looks pretty intriquing. https://www.recteq.com/products/rt-590-wood-pellet-grill
 
Have to admit that I recently converted to a propane smoker and love it. I have an outdoor kitchen with a gas grill that I use for steaks and burgers and I used to use a charcoal vertical offset smoker for everything else. But one day the admiral dragged me to a garage sale where I found a brand new Masterbuilt smoker for $50! Had to buy it (my wife even encouraged me!)

Despite the great price, I was doubtful until I used it the first time. Very easy to use compared to the charcoal smoker and so far the food has come out great. Tried a brisket (my long time nemesis) and was actually pleased with the result.

Two weeks ago, my son left the door open in my outdoor freezer and thawed most of the meat. I was able to get the smoker filled and smoking in less than 30 minutes.

Not ready to hit the BBQ circuit but I'm happy.
 
Creekwood said:
So interesting that people are not keen on Traeger. I guess it’s because it’s not MIA anymore. I get it. As for Weber pellet grills, I see the first ones were pretty bad, but they made a lot of changes in Gen 2. But I think maybe still too unproven. My Weber Summit propane grill has been bullet proof, so they know how to build a grill. Hmmmm.
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Even with my Pit boss recommendation, that is at my RV site, and I have a big old Traeger at the main residence. My only beef with it, is it's too big for anything but group cooks with the neighbors. Does it's job though.
 
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