Discover everything you need to know about pellet grills—from how they work to tips for beginners—in this expert FAQ from All Things Barbecue.
Since opening All Things Barbecue in 2009, we’ve helped more than our fair share of people find the perfect grill to fit their needs. So, who better to come to for a comprehensive pellet grill FAQ than us? Here are the ten questions people most frequently ask us when considering a pellet grill, along with our honest answers based on our professional expertise and the countless hours of experience we’ve spent grilling memorable meals for our friends and families.
1. What Is a Pellet Grill and How Does It Work?
Pellet grills are outdoor cooking devices that utilize compressed wood pellets as their fuel source. The pellets are first loaded into a hopper, where an auger then moves them to the fire pot or burn pot. From there, an ignition rod heats the pellets, while a fan forces air across the fire pot to ignite them.
Once the pellets have created a small fire, the ignition rod shuts off, and the pellets continue to burn, producing the heat necessary for grilling, smoking, and baking foods. The grill’s fan system helps the pellets continue to burn by providing a constant oxygen source and circulating heat and smoke throughout the cooking chamber.
2. Are Pellet Grills Friendly for Beginners?
Pellet grills are great for cooks across the spectrum, including backyard beginners, professional chefs, and competition pitmasters. In comparison to gas or charcoal grills, pellet grills sit much closer to the intersection of convenience and versatility. Since temperature control is automated, you can focus more on other aspects of meal prep, entertaining, and socializing without worrying about maintaining a fire.
3. Are Pellet Grills Worth the Investment?
Well, that depends on which pellet grill you decide to purchase. Now, not all pellet grills are created equally, and as such, you’ll find them priced accordingly. At ATBBQ, we only stock high-quality pellet grills from brands like Yoder, Weber and Memphis that have earned our trust with proven performance over time. You can find cheaper pellet grills at big-box hardware stores, but you will likely find they don’t hold up as well as our preferred brands.
In all of our experience, are admittedly partial to the Yoder Smokers YS640s, which was named:
- Field & Stream’s Best Smoker of 2024
- Food & Wine’s Best Professional Grade Grill of 2024
- Wall Street Journal’s Best Luxury Grill of 2024
- Popular Mechanics’ Best Overall Pellet Grill of 2024
As with all Yoder Smokers products, it’s truly a lifetime purchase that’s worth the initial cost. From its construction-grade steel cooking chamber to its welded joints and industry-leading manufacturer’s warranty, we’ve found that it’s the grill our customers and employees most often turn to for years of service and enjoyment.
The ATBBQ Complete Guide to Pellet Griling for Beginners includes other recommended brands, as well as what to look for when purchasing a pellet grill.
4. What Types of Food Can I Cook on a Pellet Grill?
While pellet grills first gained a reputation for lower-temperature indirect cooking — think traditional barbecue dishes like pulled pork and brisket — some models from the most recent generation of pellet grills can cook just about anything if appropriately outfitted. For instance, utilizing the Yoder Smokers Wood Fired Oven, cast-iron griddle, and grill-grate inserts transforms the Yoder Smokers YS640s into an all-in-one cooking machine that can handle direct-flame grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, and more.
Scroll through our extensive library of recipes and you’ll find that ATBBQ Staff Chef Tom Jackson has a wide array of protein, veggie, pizza, dessert, side-dish, and drink recipes that can be prepared on the YS640s.
5. Can You Sear on a Pellet Grill?
Any pellet grill worth the investment should be able to go low enough for smoking (around 200 °F) and high enough for searing (above 500 °F). However, look closely at how the heat is delivered, because the temperature range isn’t the only marker of versatility. A quality pellet grill will offer a variety of ways to transfer heat to your food.
If you want searing capabilities that will give steaks and burgers that perfect crust, look for a pellet grill that offers over-the-flame grilling. Grills that achieve high temps without blocking the fire with a heat diffuser are functionally just ovens, and you’ll likely be unsatisfied with the results.
6. How Do You Control the Temperature on a Pellet Grill?
Controlling the temperature on a pellet grill is as simple as turning a dial and/or pushing a button. Pellet grills feature control systems that monitor the temperature inside the grill and instructs the auger on when to add pellets to maintain a set temperature. More advanced control-system units include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to control the grill from your phone as well as monitor grill and food temperatures.
7. What Are the Best Wood Pellets to Use?
As you shop for pellets, look for brands that employ quality-control measures like removing the bark from the wood before producing pellets and creating uniformly sized pellets that are less likely to jam the grill auger. Higher-quality pellets with these characteristics will create less ash, lower wear and tear on your smoker, and provide a better flavor profile.
When it comes to hardwood pellets, BBQr’s Delight is the brand we trust the most. Whether we’re smoking a competition brisket, grilling a steak, or baking a dessert, their pellets deliver unmatched consistency, performance, and flavor. One of the biggest reasons we stick with BBQr’s Delight is their remarkable consistency from bag to bag and flavor to flavor.
Learn more about why we grill with BBQr’s Delight pellets in our pellet product roundup.
8. How Long Do Pellets Last and How Much Should I Use?
Wood pellets are commonly sold in 20-pound bags, and pellet-smoker hoppers can typically accommodate between 10 pounds and 20 pounds of pellets. The beauty of a temperature-control system and auger combination is that they work together to determine the number of pellets needed based on your target grill temperature and the time required to grill your food. Most people just load up the hopper and then refill it when it starts to run low.
As a general rule of thumb, expect to burn through approximately 2 pounds of pellets per hour for searing and other high-heat cooking methods, or 1 pound per hour for low-and-slow cooking. However, your mileage may vary depending on weather conditions, the amount of food you are cooking, and the efficiency of your preferred pellet brand.
9. How Do You Clean and Maintain a Pellet Grill?
After each cook, use a wire brush to remove any food residue from the cooking area while the grill is still hot, and then use a brush or rag to wipe off excess grease. Once the grill has cooled, it’s usually a good idea to remove any leftover ash from the cook so that your grill lights up quickly the next time you use it. Refill the hopper with pellets and cover your grill to protect it from the elements.
You can find a more detailed walkthrough in the ATBBQ Guide to Cleaning A Pellet Smoker After the Cook, as well as guidance on more long-term maintenance tips in the ATBBQ Guide to Deep Cleaning Pellet Grills.
10. How Do I Choose the Right Pellet Grill for My Needs?
We encourage customers to focus on quality materials, versatile temperature control, efficient pellet usage, features that match your style, and a reliable warranty. Additionally, explore the online resources available from both the manufacturer and third-party sources. Check YouTube reviews and roundup reviews from quality publications, as well as online resource pages like blog articles, instructional videos, and recipes that are offered by manufacturers.
Final Thoughts: Is a Pellet Grill Right For You?
If you enjoy cooking outdoors, it’s tough to find a better option than a quality pellet grill. There are legitimate reasons people may opt for a gas grill or a charcoal grill, and we can point you in the right direction for quality options in either case. But the versatility and convenience of pellet grilling should at the very least make it a strong consideration for anyone looking to purchase a new grill.
That being said, the most important factor is to find a grill that best fits your preferences and intentions. We are always happy to serve as a resource and talk All Things Barbecue with beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike, so feel free to visit us online at www.ATBBQ.com, call us at 316-440-3950, or drop by the store where we have dozens of grills on display for you to check out in person.
Happy grilling!
