Elevate your outdoor cooking with the right equipment. Among others, one of the must-haves is a wood pellet grill. It is a multifunctional product that works as a grill and smoker, even as an oven. The best thing is that it infuses a distinct smokey and rich flavor on your food, which will also depend on the wood that you will choose.
With too many options for the best wood pellet grills, making the right choice isn’t easy. To help you out, read this guide and learn from some of our recommendations.
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Top 5 Picks for the Best Wood Pellet Grills to Buy
Here is a quick rundown of the top brands and models that should be on your list. We’ll also list down some of their most incredible features, as well as their pros and cons.
Z-Grills ZPG-7002B Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
The versatility of this wood pellet grill is one of its best assets. It has eight functions in one product. Aside from smoking, you can also use it for baking, roasting, braising, and grilling, among others. It is a great replacement to multiple kitchen appliances.
Aside from being multifunctional, we also love the pellet grill because of the advanced wood fire technology, which is responsible for maintaining accurate temperatures throughout its use. Regardless of the outside temperature, the performance of the grill is second to none.
The durable construction is one more thing that we would like to highlight. It is made of high-quality stainless steel, which protects against external damages. Plus, the grill is powder-coated, minimizing the potential to rust. This is especially important because it is often left outdoors and exposed to rain, snow, and other weather elements.
Another reason for the incredible performance is its fan-forced convection. The latter means that you can use it even as a rotisserie. It forces hot air into the unit in such a way that it can maintain the desired temperature.
Pros:
- Has eight functions in one cooking equipment
- Effectively maintains a consistent temperature
- Made using tough materials
Cons:
- Cleaning ash can be a hassle
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Redefine the way you grill and smoke with this product. It is from one of the most trusted names in the market, so we are confident of its superior performance. Among others, it stands out because of its Wi-Fi functionality. The latter means that you can control it anywhere using your smartphone. You can monitor and change the temperature or adjust the timer without being next to the wood pellet grill. It even has voice control!
The D2 Drivetrain is another well-loved feature of this grill. With the latter, you can grill fast while creating high-quality smoke. This will infuse robust flavors to whatever it is that you are smoking.
Another thing to like in this product is its superior construction. It has porcelain-cooking racks, offering a cooking area of 575 square inches. Meanwhile, the hopper can hold up to 18 pounds of pellets.
It also comes with all-terrain wheels. The latter means that you can move it easily from one place to another.
However, if there is one thing that might make you hesitant in choosing this pellet grill, it would be that it requires electricity to function. This can also compromise its portability, since you can use it only when there is a power source.
Pros:
- Has innovative Wi-Fi control
- Comes with porcelain coated racks
- All-terrain wheels allow easy movement
Cons:
- Requires electricity
Z-Grills ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Delivering eight functionalities in one product, this is a versatile cooking equipment. Smoke, grill, bake, broil, and roast, among other things. Regardless, you can be confident that the performance is second to none.
It packs many features that make it a user-friendly wood pellet grill. Among others, one of our favorites is the PID-controlled temperature. This will eliminate the guesswork on your end, providing an assurance that the heat level is right all the time.
The sturdy steel construction is another good reason to choose this wood pellet grill. The long-lasting material has powder coating, which makes it long-lasting.
Aside from being easy to operate, the clean-up is also a breeze. It has a sloped grease tray, which will direct grease on a bucket, minimizing the mess in your smoking area. Nonetheless, cleaning the hopper can be quite tricky, as it is deep and difficult to access.
Pros:
- Controlling the temperature is easy
- Made of sturdy steel
- Effortless clean-up
Cons:
- Getting unused pellets is quite difficult
Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
If you are looking for advanced grills that can deliver top-notch performance, this is one product that should be on your radar. It has a generous cooking area, making it a great option for large household. The cooking surface is 884 square inches. More so, the hopper has a capacity of up to 18 pounds.
Looking at its features, one thing that stands out is the precision temperature control. The latter makes it easy to maintain a consistent temperature. You will enjoy precision grilling without much effort.
More so, it is also commendable because of the dual meat probes. The latter eliminates the need for external thermometer. This way, you can quickly check the temperature of food so you will know if it is already cooked.
It also has several features that make it user-friendly. For instance, there is an electronic automatic ignition, so you do not need to manually fire up the grill. The all-terrain wheels are also nice, making it effortless to change the location of the grill. Plus, cleaning its porcelain grates is easy.
Pros:
- Has a generous cooking area
- Precision temperature control for consistency
- Comes with dual meat probes
Cons:
- Requires a large space
Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Wrapping up our review is one of the most expensive products in this list. The price should not be an issue, especially considering its features and performance. Among others, the cost is justifiable because of its innovative controls. You can control it using your phone through Wi-Fi functionality. Alternatively, it also has voice control.
We also like how it offers a generous cooking surface of 885 square inches. This is more than enough for nine pork butts, seven rib racks, or ten chickens. Despite the generous size, you can easily move it around because of the wheeled construction. If you won’t move it, you can lock the wheels the keep the grill stable.
Lastly, this model comes with D2 Durect Drivetrain, which has been exclusively developed by Traeger. It provides more power to the grill. The outcome is that you do not need to wait a long time before you can enjoy a savory feast.
Pros:
- Easy Wi-Fi and voice control
- Comes with a large cooking area
- Has an innovative drivetrain that improves its power
Cons:
- Expensive
Things to Consider When Shopping for the Wood Pellet Grills
To help you narrow down your choices, this section talks about some of the most important considerations.
Material
In evaluating the longevity and performance of the pellet grill, the material is one of the most important considerations. Stainless steel is the most common, which is known for being tough. Most of the time, it is powder coated, which minimizes the possibility of rust and other external damages that can speed up wear.
Cooking Capacity
How many people will you be cooking for? This is the important question to answer in determining the cooking capacity of the pellet grill. The capacity is often expressed as square inches. The larger the capacity is, the more you can cook at the same time. This is especially important if you are a large family or if you often host parties at home.
Hopper Capacity
The hopper is the part of the grill where you will be putting the pellets. With this, it is indicative of how long you can leave it unattended. You will need to refill the hopper once it is empty. The consumption will vary from one model to another. In most pellet grills, the hopper capacity ranges from 10 to 20 pounds.
Portability
Many of the wood pellet grills are heavy, especially when they are loaded. The good thing is that you do not need to lift it manually when you need to move it from one location to another. Many are equipped with wheels and handles, so moving them around is easy, even without a helping hand.
Ease of Use
Take the time to read reviews from other users and learn from their real-life experiences. Pay attention to what they are saying about ease of use. A user-friendly pellet grill is not only a breeze to operate but also effortless to clean.
Controls
Speaking of ease of use, consider the controls of the wood pellet grill. They should in in strategic positions for easy accessibility. Some are innovative and have Wi-Fi capabilities. This way, you can control the grill even at a distance using a compatible application on your smartphone or tablet.
Racks
If you want to maximize the use of available space, then you should look for a model that comes with racks. The most common is a bottom rack. You will also find models with side racks. It is better if they are foldable, so you can keep them neatly tuck when you do not need to use the racks.
Video Guide: How to Choose a Pellet Grill Smoker
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about wood pellet grills? We’ll answer some of them below.
What are the Pros and Cons of a Wood Pellet Grill?
One of the best things about a wood pellet grill is that it simplifies smoking. You do not need to maintain a stable temperature and you can leave it alone. Plus, it infuses a distinct smoky flavor to your meat. The specific flavor profile will depend on the pellets. Nonetheless, there are also some drawbacks. For instance, it can be expensive and may not reach a temperature that is as high as what you would have in a traditional grill.
How Long Does It Take for Pellets to Burn?
This will depend on many things, such as the quantity of the pellets, the brand, and its quality. In most cases, however, 1 to 1.5 pounds of pellets will burn for an hour. The higher the temperature is, the quicker the pellets will burn.
What is the Best Pellet to Use?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It depends on what is available, the flavor profile that you want, or whatever it is that you will be smoking. Apple and hickory are two of the most popular, which are considered by many to be classics. Mesquite is also a common pick, especially if you want a robust barbecue flavor.
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