Pro Tips and Techniques
Expert Advice
The expert advice blog is where the ATBBQ team shares what they know — and they know a lot. Chef Tom and the crew have spent years cooking on, testing, and selling the best grills, smokers, and outdoor living equipment available. What ends up here is practical: how to set up and season a new grill, how to troubleshoot a cook that's going sideways, what to look for when you're choosing between two pellet grills, how to build an outdoor kitchen from scratch. If you cook outside or want to, this is worth bookmarking.
The expert advice blog is where the ATBBQ team shares what they know — and they know a lot. Chef Tom and the crew have spent years cooking on, testing, and selling the best grills, smokers, and outdoor living equipment available. What ends up here is practical: how to set up and season a new grill, how to troubleshoot a cook that's going sideways, what to look for when you're choosing between two pellet grills, how to build an outdoor kitchen from scratch. If you cook outside or want to, this is worth bookmarking.
Recent Posts
FAQ
1/8-Inch Steel Smoker vs. Thinner Gauge: Is It Worth It?
Quick Take A heavier-gauge steel smoker is better than a thinner-gauge grill for the way most people actually cook but...
FAQ
Best Accessories for a New Yoder Smoker: A Guide
You've got the smoker of your dreams. Now what? Here are the accessories we reach for on day one with...
FAQ
Covered Outdoor Kitchen Ventilation: What You Need
Quick Take Covered outdoor kitchen ventilation is really two separate jobs: clearing smoke overhead and preventing gas from pooling inside...
FAQ
How to Reverse Sear a Thick Steak on a Smoker
Quick Take The best way to reverse sear a thick steak is to run it low and slow at 225–250°F...
FAQ
What refrigeration options work best for an outdoor kitchen?
Not every fridge survives a Kansas summer on the patio. Here's what actually keeps beverages cold and food safe in...
FAQ
Best Smoker for Competition Chicken Thighs
Quick Take The best grill for competition chicken thighs is the Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill — it holds temperature...
FAQ
How to Choose a BBQ Knife Set for Slicing Brisket
Quick Take To slice brisket cleanly, choose a 10-to-12-inch slicing knife with a Granton (hollow) edge and a slip-resistant handle...
FAQ
How to Get Consistent Smoke Rings Every Cook
Quick Take Consistent smoke rings come from stable low-temperature heat and clean, moving smoke — not from piling on more...
FAQ
Can You Cook Steaks on a Pellet Grill? Yes—Here's How
Think pellet grills are only for low and slow? A perfectly seared steak says otherwise. Here's how to get steakhouse...
FAQ
Is a Yoder Smokers Pellet Grill Worth the Price?
Quarter-inch steel, decades of cooks, and a price tag that raises eyebrows. Here's an honest look at whether a Yoder...
FAQ
Best Pellet Grill for Searing: What Actually Works
Craving steakhouse crust from a pellet grill? Here's what really drives searing power — and why heavy-gauge steel beats flashy...
FAQ
Pellet Grills vs Gas Grills: Which Is Better for BBQ?
Gas is fast and familiar, but pellet grills bring real wood smoke to your backyard. Here's how they actually stack...
