Likewise, the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 23 Pellet Grill ($800 at Camp Chef) performed much better in the smoking and searing tests than in the baking. The RT-590 Wood Pellet Grill scored well in the smoking and grilling areas, with good heat control and retention. It didn’t fare as well in baking, and it ships with just a QR code for assembly instructions. The controls, app, and larger capacity cooking area and hopper make this an excellent grill for those who want to rely mainly on the former areas. Pellet grills can come with all sorts of features, from electric starters to WiFi connectivity to a seamless switch from direct flame grilling to offset smoking. More basic are features like a grease management system, an ash collector, and a hopper that opens to release pellets.
Weber launched their own range of cooking hardwood pellets to go with the SmokeFire pellet grill. They burn hotter and slower than wood chips, giving grillers more control over burger temperature. They also deliver a more consistent smoke with little ash or build-up. Depending on the cooking chamber size and the thermostat temperature, a 20-pound load of wood pellets should last anywhere from 6 to 20 hours.
Pull the burgers off the grill and preheat grill to the highest setting (500°F). When it comes to flipping the burgers, only flip once in the middle of the cook. It might be tempting to try and spread the wealth and make thinner patties if you’ve got a big barbecue to cater – but if you lose size, you’re also going to lose taste. You’re going to run into loads of simple burger seasoning recipes that are built around just salt and pepper. A little minced dried onion, garlic, and brown sugar won’t let you down either.
Z Grills also boasts durable construction with a rustproof stainless steel hood. Though the 550B lacks a dropout for easy post-grilling ash removal, it does come equipped with a removable grease catcher. With the rack space and features offered at a price well under $500, this pellet smoker from Z Grills is an excellent buy. In addition to its 560 square inches of cooking surface, it also comes equipped with a 10-pound hopper that can keep the grill burning for up to 10 hours on a single load. To get a good sear on hamburgers or steaks, you need to grill with a direct flame. It comes equipped with a “Riot” mode, which uses direct heat to grill at temperatures of up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wood pellets (made to a certain quality) have a very low percentage of fines (dust). And the high absorbency characteristics of wood pellets means the bedding needs to be changed less frequently. However, if we presume the wood pellets you have purchased had passed a premium grade test, they should also pass the snap test if they are not damp. A stated above, standard wood pellets are hydrophilic, which means they attract and absorb moisture. Amazingly, you could even leave these wood pellets out in the rain and they would be fine! They are called torrefied wood pellets, and through a process called torrefaction, the wood becomes hydrophobic.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her 6+ years of experience as a product tester, she’s reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, and more. You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling adventures with you! Well according to the pit boss user manual, unused pellets should never be stored in the bag they came in. You can perform two easy tests to check if they are still good before grilling or smoking.
Remember that rack space a pellet grill lists may include a warming rack and upper rack, as well as the main cooking surface. You can smoke meat on the go with the Traeger Tailgater 20, the best portable pellet grill we tested. It weighs just over 60 pounds, making it easy to move around, and according to our team, the collapsible, fold-up legs make moving from ground level to a truck pit boss electric smoker bed fast and easy. This solid Traeger grill brings most of the functionality of larger models to a mobile form. With digital controls and app connectivity, it reaches set points quickly (hitting its maximum temperature of 450°F less than 14 minutes) and retains heat moderately well. Despite its travel-friendly size, the Tailgater holds 12 burgers, two chickens, or three racks of ribs.
The variety of pellet grills available ranges from budget-friendly to exorbitant. The Pit Boss 820D3 pellet grill was our 2022 winner for “best bark and color”. While this grill wasn’t necessarily the winner of all the categories we tested, we felt like it was the winner of the categories that matter the most to me as an outdoor cooking enthusiast. The Pit Boss 820D3 is a part of our testing for the Best Pellet Grill of 2022 that we’ve recently published.