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 The Grillla Grills blog on why you should try a
pellet grill poses these questions: What if you could get that
flavor, but didn’t have to stay up all night? What if it was as easy
as pushing a button, throwing the meat on, and coming back in eight
hours? Well, that is exactly what you are able to do with a pellet
grill/smoker. Yes, there is a minor difference in flavor, but what
you gain in convenience more than makes up for it.
The convenience is one reason pellet grills have become popular.
One of the best reasons for using a pellet grill is their
efficiency. All you have to do is set it to the desired temperature,
press the button and wait. Once it has reached temp, a monitor does
all the temperature work for you. It will adjust the fan speed and
push pellets in as needed.
Pellet grills are also good because little work is required as the
meat cooks. Pitmasters say – you don't have to babysit smokers
constantly. You may want to manage the amount and intensity of
smoke, but you won’t be glued to the smoker.
Additionally, pellet grills are easy to use. Paul Hope says,
“Perhaps the biggest appeal of a pellet grill is its ability to
maintain a low, steady temperature for hours on end without the need
to make any adjustments.” A temperature probe stuck in the meat will
show when the meat reaches the required temperature.
Because pellet grills utilize technology you can connect them to
your home Wi-Fi through smartphone apps. Even if you are not
connected to your home Wi-Fi and need to run out and get something,
you can still control the grill. You can operate the grill using the
monitor on the front of the grill, but the functions found there are
available on the app too.
Unlike charcoal grills, pellet grills do not use smoke. Though
pellet grills do not use smoke, they are great for cooking chicken,
steaks, pork chops and even vegetables and giving them a smoked
flavor. They also excel at cooking food like veggies, chicken
breasts, pork chops, or just about anything that can border on
boring without a touch of smoke.
Pellet grills are versatile. They can be used for smoking, grilling,
baking and braising food and act like an outdoor oven. Food
Network’s test kitchen director Ginevra Iverson talks about the
various capabilities in the article “Pellet Grills 101: Your Guide
to Cooking on a Smoker.”
As Iverson says, “With all those capabilities, the options for what
to cook on a pellet grill are nearly endless because unlike other
grills or smokers, a pellet grill allows you to cook something low
and slow—or hotter and faster.” You can even bake a pizza or cake on
the grill or make a brisket that will cook several hours.
Because they do not use charcoal, pellet grills are often easier to
clean. The cooking surface will need to be cleaned after each use,
but the fire pot for the pellets will just need to be cleaned
occasionally. In general, these grills are easier to maintain.
The flavor from a pellet grill is notable too.
Pellet grills often give your food a rich and intense flavor that is
sweet and smoky. Wood pellets are available in a variety of flavors
that include alder, apple, cherry, hickory, maple, mesquite, oak and
pecan.
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When comparing pellet grills to other types of
grills, there are some cost savings. Most bags of wood pellets cost
about $20 and provide many hours of cooking time. In an article
about why pellet grilling is not a fad, Will Price says, “When
cooking at smoking temperatures, these grills burn about a pound
every two to three hours, which comes out to roughly $1 per hour of
cook time and 50 hours of cook time per bag.” Additionally, Price
says, “For the sake of comparison, propane gas tanks are usually $30
for a full tank and $20 for refills. You’ll typically get 20 hours
of cook time out of propane grills, even when cooking on low.
Charcoal and lump coal are even less efficient.”
If space is an issue, pellet grills can be found in a variety of
sizes, shapes and styles. Whether you live in a house or an
apartment, have a small backyard or a big backyard, you should be
able to find a pellet grill that that will work for you. There are
even portable pellet grills that can fit in the back of a truck for
your next tailgating party.
As with any type of grill, there are some downsides. For example,
although pellet grills can infuse the meat with smoke, some people
feel the flavor is not as intense as that of a charcoal or wood
smoker.
There is a way to resolve that issue, however. If you want more
smoke flavor, you can use a smoke tube that holds pellets to help
generate smoke. The tube will provide a steady flow of smoke, so you
will not have to constantly refuel.
The portability of pellet grills can be another issue. They need to
be plugged in. If you want to take a pellet grill on a camping trip,
there are portable battery power stations, portable generators or
deep cycle batteries that can provide power for the grill.
You may pay more for a pellet grill than a gas or charcoal grill,
but with all of its features, buying a pellet grill is worth it.
[Angela Reiners]
Denby, Laura. “Pellet Grills 101: Your Guide to Cooking on a
Smoker.” 27 May 2021.
www.foodnetwork.com
Grilla Grills. “Why Should I Try Pellet Smoking?” grillagrills.com
Hope, Paul. “Pellet Grills Are Hot. Here’s Why.” 30 July 2020.
www.consumerreports.org
Price, Will. “Pellet Grilling Isn’t a Fad, It’s the Future—Here’s
Why" 16 April 2021.
www.gearpatrol.com
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