Let’s talk about pellet smokers/grills

I bought a Yoder YS640s about 3 months ago. It is now my favorite thing that I own. I think the smoke flavor is just as good as my old weber and the direct heat side gets as hot as I need it. If you want to do a lot of direct heat searing on it, you need to get the grill grates and the heat diffuser with an access door. I don't know what your price range is, but fully equipped it's going to run you at least $2k with shipping - nobody around here sells them.

My only problem with it is that it's too boring. I throw the meat on and set the temp, then I don't have an excuse to be outside nursing the temp and drinking beer.

I was tempted to get a pellet grill after I sold my Weber Summit, but I like to cook with high heat too much. Instead, I got a charcoal kettle (Weber Performer). That thing has been so much fun, and I got a temperature control unit that allows me to "set it and forget it".

Although it is not as efficient as the pellet grills and is a little more work than pellet grills, it also doesn't require an electric outlet, and is much more versatile. Two zone cooking, smoking, high temp searing, grill marks, etc, can all be achieved on the humble kettle.

There are a lot of Youtube videos comparing the kettle to the pellet smokers in cookoffs for chicken, pork butt, wings, etc, and the results are usually pretty even - you should check them out. If you want to cook something on high heat, or move your food in and out of two cooking zones, the kettle is far superior.

I'm pretty sure that after all was said and done, I probably spent $750 for the Performer, DigiQ, and Slow n Sear, but I love playing with fire and real wood on this thing. Something primal about that. There are other fine charcoal grills, as well, and the charcoal chimney makes lighting your coals a breeze.

I have a BGE and love it. I don’t like pellet grills solely because they are too easy. Grilling/smoking is a hobby and I enjoy sitting on the back porch watching a game and checking temp nonstop with a beer and cigar.

BGE does everything you are looking for and so do most pellet grills. Only issue I’ve seen with pellet grills is it’s sometimes hard to good a good sear.

I have a Traeger and a GMG and I love both of them. But if the budget was not an issue I would look at RecTec, Yoder and Memphis brands.

I would not get a Pit Boss. I had one and I know of several others that these are bad. They are cheap ($) and cheaply made for Walmart.

OP I love a pellet grill. Many posters on here stating they like to play a more active role in the smoking and grilling experience I totally understand and get it. I’m pretty busy though and at the age I am I just want something easy to smoke, grill, sear, bake or braise with and that’s the pellet grill. It’s lazy man smoking and grilling but I still get a great finished product.

I have a RecTec 700 at home. Love it and it’s built like a tank. At the camp we have a ZGrilll, I believe it’s a 700 model, and it’s an excellent pellet grill for a person on a budget. At work we have a Camp Chef with a sear box on the side. Love it for many reasons. It will drop the pellets out of the hopper to switch to another hardwood. I also like how you can dump the ashes from the bottom.

If you twist my arm the RecTec 700 is my favorite. Countless people on this board swear by Green Mountain so I’d say by the reviews on this board it’s a good pellet grill.

P.S.-The ceramic grills like a Green Egg are a proven winner but to me they are more work. I have a harder time controlling my temperature if I get it too hot early on but still the same ceramic is also a great option.

I think pellet grills are great for weeknight cooking after work. Just turn them on and add food. They do burgers and dogs fine, i think burgers on a pellet grill are fantastic, and i think really shine with chicken.

I dont love them for long smokes.

I have an older camp chef woodwind (no sear box) and I would recommend it - I have turned out some great briskets and pork shoulders with smoke rings that seem too good to be true. The pellet hopper isn't the largest but not a huge deal to refill during a long brisket smoke. I do feel like the built in temp probe is not all that accurate. I use after market ones for monitoring internal temps.

I have a few friends with a RecTec and they love them. Came close to pulling the trigger on one before going with the camp chef.

You should switch out the bread knife for better looking cuts.