Best Pellet Grills – 2020 Update!

So you want to buy a grill? You’ve looked online, visited several stores, listened to dozens of salespeople, and even asked your neighbor his opinion on the perfect grill. Unfortunately, buying a grill isn’t that easy even when you’ve already worked out the type of grill you’re looking for. If you’re really into grilling, you probably want to go traditional which is a charcoal grill. Unfortunately, nowadays, even charcoal grills can be split into several categories. You got the barrel grills, the kettle grills, the kamado-style grills. All good choices with their own pros and cons. Today, though, we’ll be tackling a new revolution of charcoal grills that is quickly becoming the hottest trend – the pellet grill.

Best Pellet Grills of 2020

How Pellet Grills Work

What is a pellet grill? You’ve heard of pellet stoves, right? Well, they pretty much operate the same way. In fact, that’s where it all started. Back in 1982, Traeger decided to expand their business of manufacturing pellet stoves to creating grills that used the same fuel source. The rest is history. So, how do they work? Like a pellet stove, the grill has a hopper that contains wood pellets. These pellets are around an inch long and 1/4 inch wide (diameter). They’re made of compacted sawdust and wood shavings without the additives and fillers found in charcoal briquets. As an added bonus, they come in several flavors such as oak, hickory, apple, pecan, and cherry. From the hopper, the pellets are fed into a burn pot by an auger or some other feed mechanism. The burn pot has an igniter rod that lights up once the grill is turned on and a fan blows air to stoke the fire as well as spread the heat and smoke throughout the cooking chamber. Pellet grills come with a digital controller that enables you to select the temperature you want. The temperature you set also affects the rate of feed (the amount of pellets that are burned over a period of time). The lower the temperature, the slower the rate of feed. For higher temperatures, the auger will feed pellets into the burn pot at a faster rate.

Note: You can read our pellet grill comparison series at Traeger vs Rec Tec, Traeger vs Camp Chef, Traeger vs Pit Boss, Traeger vs Green Mountain
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Pellet Grills Advantages

Personal Flavor: BBQ enthusiasts love charcoal grills because of the flavor it adds to your grilled meat. With a pellet grill, you get the added bonus of choosing the flavor you want based on the type of pellet you burn. You can burn one flavor at a time or customize your own by blending two or more.

Ease of Use: Unlike the traditional charcoal grills, pellet grills preheat within 10 to 15 minutes. In short, you get the quick startup of a gas grill but you also get the smoky flavor of a charcoal grill. And if you’re a fan of the “set-it-and-forget-it” technique, you’ll love the pellet grill. Because of the presence of the digital controller, you get the convenience of selecting your target temp and letting the grill do its thing. Also, since the smoke flavor from the pellets are very subtle, you don’t have to worry about oversmoking your meat. You also don’t have to worry about uneven cooking while you’re away from the grill because it operates like a convection oven.

Safety: With a pellet grill, there’s no longer any need to deal with hot coals – moving them around to suit your needs. Since most of the cooking done in a pellet grill is through indirect heat, you don’t have to worry about no sparks flying out. Pellet grills also come equipped with a deflector plate which is placed right below the cooking grate. This deflector grate absorbs the heat from the burn pot and keeps the grease from hitting the fire so no flare-ups at all. Lastly, the pellets are all natural – no added chemicals or fillers – so

Versatile: Like Kamado grills, pellet grills are very versatile. You can use it as a grill (obviously) or a smoker. You can also opt to roast, braise, or bake with it. The odd thing about pellets is that the hotter they get, the less smoke is produced. So if you’re baking a cake or a crème brulee, you won’t have to worry about the extra smoky flavor. Under 250 ⁰F, the smoke is plentiful but still subtle which is perfect when you like to slow cook some ribs or pork shoulder.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Pellet Grills Drawbacks

Needs electricity: The control you get with a pellet grill comes with a price – electricity. So unless you have a generator or an extremely long cord, the portability of this grill is very limited. Traditional charcoal grills (kettle, barrel) and some small gas grills, on the other hand, are extremely portable – perfect for the beach, the park, or a tailgate party in the parking lot. Also, when the power is out, your pellet grill is definitely not going to be an option for cooking your meal.

 High maintenance: It takes a lot of effort to clean and maintain a pellet grill. While other charcoal grills only require you to dump the ash tray and scrape the grate, pellet grills require you to also clean the deflector plate. As mentioned earlier, the grease and sauce that drip from the meat fall onto the deflector plate instead of the burn pot, preventing flare-ups. Not cleaning it means that it will smolder and turn into soot over time, affecting not only the flavor of your meat but also the heat transmission of the plate. Thoroughly cleaning the plate takes about 30 minutes. Also, you’ll need to make sure that you clean out the burn pot every after 10-15 hours of cooking. While pellets produce almost zero ash, it still accumulates over time. And ash build-up in the burn pot can prevent your ignitor rod from lighting up. Ash can also get scattered all over the lower part of the grill (below the deflector plate) so you might also need to run a vacuum under there from time to time.

Pellet grills have moving parts as well as electrical ones. This means that it can break down and repair or replacement become necessary. This is a drawback that the other charcoal grills don’t have.

Fuel Source: Unlike other charcoal grills, pellet grills are dependent on only one type of fuel source – wood pellets. And that means a higher cost. More on that below.

 Cost: Pellet grills are very expensive, ranging from several hundred dollars to over $4,000. In addition, the pellets aren’t really that cheap either. They burn rather quickly, especially at high temperatures. And they’re not as available as other fuel sources like charcoal and gas. Getting yours pellets shipped to where you are is an added expense. And if the pellets get wet, they disintegrate. So if you’re not careful on where you store them, your money will disintegrate along with them. What about repair or replacement when the grill breaks down? Does the manufacturer offer one, both, or none at all?

Now we get to the bottom line. Pellet grills are definitely not perfect. They’re expensive, have limited portability, and are more likely to break down compared to traditional charcoal grills. But they’re also highly versatile, cooks with great flavor, and is easy to set up as well as use. If you’re willing to make the investment, you might find that this type of charcoal grill is exactly what you’re looking for.[vc_row][vc_column]

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Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill.

Everything these days can be controlled from the palm of your hand so, why shouldn’t your grill be? This unit allows you to remotely adjust, control and monitor your grill from anywhere you may be around your home.

What we love about it:

Power in your hands, this Wi-Fi-enabled grill is definitely the high-tech innovation to enjoy from purchasing this product. Simply download the accompanying app on the web and enjoy the new way to grill. This unit is a great way to enjoy the rich and flavorful cooking that can only come from wood fed on a pellet grill. Unlike traditional coal-fired grilling, this one brings you convenience of igniting, setting up, maintaining the temp, and monitoring.

Made for remote grilling and camping, this product works just as well in your own kitchen or backyard for any day grilling. Foldable legs make it ideal for trunk storage. The addition of a handy grilled tray gives you extra space to store, stand and prep your grills however way you want, where ever it is you are grilling. Each unit is automatically supplied a Thermal Sensor that allows you to know exactly what is going on under the hood.

What we don’t like about it:

The unit does not come with wheeled based which compromises ease of mobility. Although, at 52 lbs., It is lightweight enough to be man-handled exactly on the spot where you want to prep your beautifully smoked or grilled food.

A number of customer reviews claim that the product may have safety issues it needs to resolve. These issues are particularly associated with heat control and regulation. Reported tech fails can also affect the quality of your grilling experience.

Overall, you can’t not to adore this grill for the value it brings for every penny. It delivers high quality pellet grilling that does not have to come at a very steep price. Although the manufacturer may have to consider quality control more seriously.

Z Grills ZPG-7002 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker.

The hearty and homey taste of grill cannot be paralleled but, not all grills can deliver that rich, smoked taste of barbecued meat. Your choice of griller, therefore, ultimately decides the flavor you get from your barbecue.

What we love about it:

This wood pellet grill has been receiving rave reviews about bringing out that smokey flavor while keeping your meat juicy and tastes just right. Perhaps the best deal you get for this expensive griller is its multiple function. You can grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbeque or char-grill in it. Everyday grilling just became easier.

Grilling has never been easier with two levels of racks to hold your meat. The total cooking area is 513 sq. in., with a second layer of cooking area that provides another 187 sq. in. of cooking space. This grill comes with its own heat regulation system that allows you to have a more direct and easier control over how your meats should cook. Heat is contained and flavor is locked in with a hood cover that is already part of your purchase — no need to spend separately. The tank form allows heat to be circulated more evenly.

What we don’t like about it:

Purchase comes with 3 years warranty only. Given its expensive price, you’d want to get more value. Although, there has yet to be any actual word from users and experts alike regarding how long this grill can last, you must note that the material used for the structure is a powder coated stainless steel that is made in China.

Despite including a heat control regulating system, some customers have complained about uneven temp and the difficulty of keeping the cooking at ideal temp levels. After using, this grill is relatively easy to clean but, accumulated ash can be hard to collect and clean up. The bottom storage is a great way to store additional pellets although, it will be ideal to have more working space to set meats, trays and other grilling essentials.

Overall, although this grill does not come at a cheap price compared to other grilling options available out there, it definitely delivers value for the price point, relative to other brands of pellet grills.

Camp Chef SmokePro SG Wood Pellet Grill Smoker

Inexperienced and pro grill lovers  will know that the smoked flavor of wood-fired meat simply cannot be achieved using just any type of grill. That flavor comes with a higher price tag, in the form of pellet grills.

What we love about it:

This pellet grill rises to the Camp Chef standard: “Set it and forget it”. Unlike other grills, this one boasts of delivering even temp and cooking by delivering a smarter way to feed pellets into the furnace. Monitor internal temp with an LED display that allows you to know exactly how hot it gets inside. The automatic pellet feeder option helps control how much wood is fired up, further helping regulate the heat circulating in the grilling area.

This unit is designed for big crowds with big appetites. The grill boasts of a total grilling area of 429 sq. in., plus a warming rack that has up to 382 sq. in. of space. Durable and easy-to-clean finish makes this grill easy to use on any day, in any type of weather.  This unit comes with the patented ash cleanup system developed by Camp Chef which makes cleaning even more hassle-free.

What we don’t like about it:

User and expert reviews alike highly recommend it for ease of grilling and the 100% perfectly smoked flavor of meat. Still, this is not a unique feature that only this unit can deliver. Other pellet grills absolutely deliver comparable tastes as well.

This product has received a limited number or reviews which makes it difficult to gauge customer satisfaction with this product’s grilling output relative to price. There is also no information available about how long this product lasts, although this pellet grill, like any other grill from Camp Chef, is covered by a 3-year warranty.

Overall, price point is at the higher end. Compared to other pellet grills that are at par with this unit’s size, heat capacity and grilling capacity, this one is significantly more expensive.

Z Grills ZPG-7002B Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

When you’re looking for an easier way to grill, the pellet grilling system certainly offers advantages whether you are a pro or and inexperienced griller. This unit is guaranteed to feed big appetites fast and with 100% satisfaction guarantee.

What we love about it:

With this pellet grill set on fire, you can keep entertaining your guests or, do something else. You can leave the grilling to this flame. The automatic pellet feeding system allows you to do this, along with its high capacity for holding more pellets that permits you to leave it alone for a longer period of time compared with other grills. While you’re setting up, you can also place it at your ideal temp for either one of several things this pellet grill can do: grill, barbecue, bake, roast, braise, smoke or sear.

Designed for outdoor grilling with members of your household plus a handful of guests, this unit has a total grilling space of 684 sq. in. Automatically regulated heat adjustment setting helps you make sure that you get your beautiful grill marks without burning your food, flavoring it just right with nothing but the genuine taste of meat smoked in oak wood.

This grill comes with a 30 days money back guarantee and a 3-year warranty that helps you make sure you are getting the desired value from this unit.

What we don’t like about it:

While purchase warranties and guarantees are available, too many clients have complained about poor customer support and irresponsive after sales service. A number of clients have also raised concerns over the poor heat regulation system and trouble turning the unit on after only a few uses. It seems that durability may be a problem with this unit.

Although clean up, including oil drains, make it easy to maintain the structure of this grill, users complain of difficulty in cleaning out the ashes resulting from burnt wood pellets.

Overall, this grill may be fairly priced considering the flavor and beautifully grilled meat that it can produce. However, it appears overpriced for compromised durability and poor customer service. This unit though is offered occasionally at 30% discount.

Pit Boss 71700FB Pellet Grill with Flame Broiler

Grilling will have to count as one of the most enjoyable things that you can do to shake up and level up cooking in your household. It’s also a perfect way to enjoy cookouts with some of the people closest to you, and this grill can make that fun happen.

What we love about it:

This pellet grill does not tarnish your smoked or grilled meat flavor with the hint of gas or propane smoke. Meat tastes genuinely oak. This unit has been designed to produce heat at a constant level and regulates the same by using a system that properly circulates and maintains just the right temperature accordingly with your personal preference. The automatic pellet feeder makes cooking on this grill even more low maintenance.

Built to deliver 8 types of cooking results —grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbeque or char-grill — this allows you to cook your food to perfection using a digital heat regulator panel and a built-in thermometer which allows you to know exactly how much heat is being circulated inside the covers. With 700 sq. in. of grilling space, this grill can accommodate more hungry family members ad friends.

This unit is built to last. Its structure is made of cast iron and a porcelain finish that also makes for easy, hassle-free clean ups. It comes with an oil drip bucket that makes used up oil easy to collect.

What we don’t like about it:

This grill requires additional purchase of some pellet grilling essentials that includes a chimney where excess heat can escape thus, preventing overheating or burning your food. Several customers have also complained about poor heat control and regulation capacity which makes results generally hard to predict.

Warranty is limited only to a year on specific part replacements and services. This is far from the value and coverage offered by its competitors falling within the same price range and category as this grill.

Overall, this grill will deliver the meat you want to see served at your home dining table. However, when it comes to delivering  value for money, this one is definitely more inexpensive than other brands while giving you higher capacity. However, the durability of parts may not be competitive with that offered by other, more expensive alternatives.

Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker with Patio Cover

For the taste buds that crave and love only wood-fired grill, this grill will meet that standard to the highest degree. Unfortunately not all people area accustomed to or prefer that wood-fired taste. If you’re one of the growing number of people who have developed a huge liking for this type of grill then, this grill is definitely made to serve your preference.

What we love about it:

When it comes to giving meat its smoky taste, this grill is it and it gives you more. This unit makes sure that you never run out of grilling adventures right in the comfort of your own home. With 7 ways to cook your food that you can choose from any of this grill’s 7-in-1 functions: grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, barbeque or char-grill. It offers a modest 513 sq. in. of cooking area which is more than huge enough to serve a regular household on ordinary days, and yet still good enough to accommodate a few visitors on other days.

Digital heat control system and a hooded cooking chamber add to the constant temperature circulating inside this grill. This unit automatically adjusts pellet feeding to help control the cooking temperature, depending on your settings. It is more convenient than traditional charcoal grills, and delivers multiple functionalities which are quite becoming the norm among pellet grills.

What we don’t like about it:

The internal combustion and intensity of heat is difficult to regulate. You have to be right next to it to keep monitoring and readjusting the internal temp. which defeats the purpose of pellet grilling with heat regulation controls. Although, the food does cook better than using other types of grills.

Cleanup is relatively easy although there is no available ash collection system so cleaning up after the burnt pellets could be a challenge, most especially when you need to grill several items and require a quick cleanup to help maintain your grill temp and smoky flavor.

Overall, this pellet grill delivers delicious cooked food — no doubt about it. However, with the premium price, you can only expect premium value for make and operability. Customer reviews, however, do not appear to give a thumbs up to quality of make and durability.

The Best Pellet Grill Selected by GrillZone

Deciding on which grill to spend on and will deliver the best value goes beyond the quality of the brand or unit that you are considering to purchase. It all boils down to your primary purpose for buying.

If you love grilling in camp and you are looking for a portable grill that you can tag along any other mountain peak you hike or drive then, the most appropriate grill for you will have to be the Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill. It is specifically designed for portability and ease of use in remote locations. The Wi-Fi is a tech bonus that will delight the techie but which will also deliver practical advantages to every user.

The price is unbeatable. Priced at only a third of what similar pellet grills of about the same makes and sizes cost, this grill gives you the real deal. Plus, you can easily use this any time, any day, at the convenience.

For practicality, quality, ease of use and portability, the Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill is clearly the runaway winner on this list.