Anyone have a PELLET GRILL?

[EdFNJ]

If so what is your experience? Do they generate too much smoke to be "neighbor friendly"?

I know they use much lower heat than a regular grill. That's about all I know about them.

I used to only use charcoal but down here due to closeness of the homes it generates much too much dirty smoke despite the existence of newly discovered "clean coal". :D I have a LP gas grill now and find it's nothing like charcoal and not much better than a regular oven.

[Mleeja]

If so what is your experience? Do they generate too much smoke to be "neighbor friendly"?

I know they use much lower heat than a regular grill. That's about all I know about them.

I used to only use charcoal but down here due to closeness of the homes it generates much too much dirty smoke despite the existence of newly discovered "clean coal". :D I have a LP gas grill now and find it's nothing like charcoal and not much better than a regular oven.

I’ve had a keen interest in a pellet grill for a couple of years to replace my charcoal grill. From my research, I am not impressed with this type of grill. You are just “cooking” outside rather than grilling. However, I did see at Lowe’s a pellet grill that has an option for direct flame grilling. Between pellet and gas, I would choose a good gas grill. That being said, we are fortunate to be in an area that has large yards. I can continue to use my Weber charcoal grill without smoking out any of the neighbors.

[EdFNJ]

I’ve had a keen interest in a pellet grill for a couple of years to replace my charcoal grill. From my research, I am not impressed with this type of grill. You are just “cooking” outside rather than grilling. However, I did see at Lowe’s a pellet grill that has an option for direct flame grilling. Between pellet and gas, I would choose a good gas grill. That being said, we are fortunate to be in an area that has large yards. I can continue to use my Weber charcoal grill without smoking out any of the neighbors.



Well, it seems that actually you are "slower" cooking with optionally "flavored" wood that isn't as messy as charcoal. You can also very slow cook (smoke) foods like ribs or chicken. You also have full control of grill and food temperatures that on a better models is digitally monitored for accurate temps unlike lpg or coal and can also be accurately controlled remotely by an phone app.


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[vintageogauge]

I recently tried a infrared gas grill and so far I like it. Meat comes off moist and zero flareups. I'm not a grill master by any means but made 14 8 oz. burgers for a gathering and every one of them was perfect medium and juicy. To cook that much meat and have no flareups is amazing in itself.

[DangeloInspections]

Ed,
YES...I have a pellet grill and I LOVE it. It has totally changed the way I cook. I actually gave away my Weber propane grill when I upgraded to a pellet grill.....and I will NEVER go back.

After doing a lot of research, I bought a Camp Chef Woodwind with the sear box. I used to be the guy who burned the burgers......not any more! I LOVE cooking on my Woodwind. I now cook Pulled Pork, I did a Brisket the other day that was amazing, and now also cook PERFECT Chicken wings for the first time ever, without frying.

One of the best things I've cooked is Salmon. I never cooked Salmon before, and we were having very picky friends over. They RAVED over it, it was so good tender and flaky. Baby Back ribs are also great. Even hot dogs and hamburgers are way better.

To answer your question, I think you can have the same amount of smoke with a regular grill.....and for the record, I do over 600 inspections a year in The Villages, and I have lately seen more and more pellet grills. your biggest problem will be your neighbors drooling and being jealous.....

Check out this video...it is so funny...Camp Chef Woodwind: The Secret Weapon of BBQ Perfection - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fulJLYgsfSw)

Also go to Camping Grills, Stoves, Smokers & All Things Outdoor Cooking | Camp Chef (http://www.campchef.com) to see the new upgrade to the Woodwind grill....very awesome.

Any questions, feel free to ask. Cooking on a pellet grill is SO easy...just set it and forget it. The computer does everything....I don't even look at the food until it is done...as they say, if you're lookin your not cookin.....Oh, and I buy my pellets at Rural King...they have the best at only $8.99 a bag....

Enjoy!

Frank

[Toymeister]

I had one, a Traeger. I liked it when it worked. The ignition system required frequent replacement (3 times) the temp control failed once The issue appears to be Chinese manufacturing standards. I got quite proficient at repairs, that is not something that I neither needed or wanted to learn.

[DangeloInspections]

Yup....Traeger was one of the first brands out there, and still popular....they sell them at Ace Hardware....but among most Pellet grill folks they are not known to be the best....other brands have left them in the dust with new features, etc.

Frank

[EdFNJ]

Yup....Traeger was one of the first brands out there, and still popular....they sell them at Ace Hardware....but among most Pellet grill folks they are not known to be the best....other brands have left them in the dust with new features, etc.

Frank


Thanks Frank, that's a lot of good info. The commercial was great especially the Vegan Queen because my wife is a Vegan. :)

My main concern was my neighbors. I didn't want them yelling at me for smoking them out of their lanai's! I have read these generate a lot of smoke especially when they first start up. We have a smallish 2BR home but the nearest open lanai is a good distance away in back and there are no windows in my next door neighbors house on our patio/lanai side.

Which model do you have?

Thanks,
Ed

[DangeloInspections]

I have the original Woodwind, which I got only about 2 months ago. Last month they came out with the Woodwind SG, which made some nice improvements......but not enough for me to upgrade. I really like the Camp Chef customer service.....they really bend over backwards to help with any questions, problems, etc. There are also a few very good Camp Chef FB groups that instantly hold your hand while you are learning how to cook different meats, etc.

If you do not have contiguous properties with open Lanai's, I doubt you would have any problem at all.

The best thing about the Camp Chef is their Sear Box.....great for a few reasons.....it is the best thing for reverse searing of steaks. After years of drilling, I am finally getting steak perfect.

Also, if you are say cooking a brisket for like 16 hours, and your grandchild wants a hot dog, you can cook it on the sear box, which is completely separate from the pellet part.

I have mine in my Lanai....no problems at all. My Lanai is a bit bigger than some, about 700 sq ft.....and with a roof above it. The smoke still goes out of the screened part no problem.

I have learned the secret to good grilling is to always cook to internal temperature.....it is so easy. The flavor that the different woods provide is amazing. I went from a guy who burned everything to cooking fancy stuff I never dreamed of ever cooking. And I am actually doing it well.

I cook most everything on the "high smoke" setting....you can smell it in the back yard, and if the wind is just right you can sometimes smell that someone id grilling somewhere, but it is not like smoke goes everywhere and is bothersome. It dissipates quickly and all that is left is a nice BBQ smell. No more than if anyone esle was cooking on a propane grill.

Hope that helps! Frank

[EdFNJ]

I have the original Woodwind, which I got only about 2 months ago.


-<snip>-


Hope that helps! Frank


Perfect, thanks. Our Lanai is small (table and 4 chairs just about fill it). Wonder if I could put it in the living room and open the glass doors! :D (Just kidding)

[DangeloInspections]

As you know, a lot of folks just put a few patio blocks outside the lanai and put a grill on them..I believe they are considered temporary and not subject to HOA approval.....and the Woodwind comes with a really nice all weather, thick and heavy custom made cover.

I do not know what your HOA rules are, but are you allowed to keep a grill in your garage and cook at the edge of the opening?

Frank

[EdFNJ]

As you know, a lot of folks just put a few patio blocks outside the lanai and put a grill on them..I believe they are considered temporary and not subject to HOA approval.....and the Woodwind comes with a really nice all weather, thick and heavy custom made cover.



I do not know what your HOA rules are, but are you allowed to keep a grill in your garage and cook at the edge of the opening?



Frank



We have a nice size patio next to the lanai where we have the lpg grill (it's actually ~2x the size of our lanai) so that's not a problem. Inside the lanai is nice though for weather.



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[tophcfa]

Very interesting thread, I need to do some research on these things, starting with the recommended Woodwind. We love our 24 year old webber gas grill, but it needs to be rebuilt again for the 4th time, with new burners, flavor bars, and grill plates. Each time the rebuild cost about $100, but the stove itself is bulletproof. We have a pellet stove for heat in our home up north and love heating with pellets, but never knew there was an option to cook with them also.

[BobnBev]

Very interesting thread, I need to do some research on these things, starting with the recommended Woodwind. We love our 24 year old webber gas grill, but it needs to be rebuilt again for the 4th time, with new burners, flavor bars, and grill plates. Each time the rebuild cost about $100, but the stove itself is bulletproof. We have a pellet stove for heat in our home up north and love heating with pellets, but never knew there was an option to cook with them also.

You can see and touch the Treager grill at ACE hardware. Kind of cheap and tinny, IMHO.

[karostay]

Love my Traeger almost 10 years..Heavy use replaced few parts.But what grill doesn't need maintenance ?

Love my Traeger pellet grill almost 10 years now.
Replaced a few parts but what grill doesn't need maintenance ?
10 years you'll go through 2 gas grills
Far as smoke only problem keeping neighbors out of your yard around dinner time

[DangeloInspections]

Very interesting thread, I need to do some research on these things, starting with the recommended Woodwind. We love our 24 year old webber gas grill, but it needs to be rebuilt again for the 4th time, with new burners, flavor bars, and grill plates. Each time the rebuild cost about $100, but the stove itself is bulletproof. We have a pellet stove for heat in our home up north and love heating with pellets, but never knew there was an option to cook with them also.

Just to clarify...the pellets folks use up north to heat their home are not the same pellets we use for cooking. The pellet stove pellets are FOOD GRADE, with no fillers, by products, etc. There are many brands of pellet stove pellets out there....I think the best ones for the money are the Lumberjack ones sold at Rural King for $8.95 for a 20 lb bag. They have many different flavors...

As to pellet stove brands, there are many different ones out there at all price points. Folks seem to be very loyal to their own brands. As they become more well known, you will see them more and more at the big box stores, etc....Camp Chef, Treager, Pit Boss, Yoder, RecTec are all popular brands.

Frank

[philnpat]

I bought a large Traeger several years ago on TOTV and we love it. We sold our gas grill and don't miss it at all.
Last year we purchased a Blackstone griddle. Perfect for some of the things a smoker isn;t designed for.
We smoked a 17 lb turkey last Thanksgiving and roasted a Butterball in the oven. Our guests raved over the smoked turkey over the roasted one.
Slow cooked prime rib is my favorite!
To simplify the cooking process we have a ThermoPro remote food thermometer model #tp-12. It has a probe that registers the temp and sends the temp to a remote receiver indoors. The range is excellent and the temp is true. Have had a few in the past and this one is great.