With the weather warming up and shifting into spring, spending more time outdoors is just around the corner! Whether you like camping, having barbecues, or hosting dinner parties, there’s no time like the present to start prepping! If you really want to impress your neighbors and serve the best food at your next outdoor gathering, you have to start thinking about the grill. The grill you use is important and there’s no beating the pellet grill, and for good reason!
There are plenty of reasons to want to hop on the pellet grill train. Whether you’re looking to become your next neighborhood grill master, or you’re curious about pellet grills, you’re in luck! Here’s everything you need to know about pellet grills to make sure you’re up to day on this new grilling technology. Follow this guide and boost your grilling skills and become the talk of your neighborhood in one fell swoop!
What are pellet grills?
Before getting into the nitty-gritty, it might be a good idea to first understand what a pellet grill is and how it works. For starters, pellet grills, also called pellet smokers, are outdoor cookers. They can suit any outdoor cooking environment or preference. Pellet grills combine elements of charcoal smokers and gas grills with the comfort and ease of use of kitchen ovens.
They’re perfect for those who have tones of grilling experience and those who have zero experience. With the addition of newer, modern pellet grills, getting into grilling has never been easier or more accessible. Whether you have a stand-alone or built-in pellet grill, there’s no better way to grill your food outside! There are thousands of models and manufacturers to choose from out there to fit anyone’s grilling taste and needs.
How do pellet grills work?
It’s one thing to know what a pellet grill is, and it’s another to know how it works. What makes pellet grills so unique and so popular is the specific way in which they work. Pellet grills use wood pellets (go figure!) as a source of burning and cooking fuel. The pellets are stored in a hopper and get fed into a cooking chamber by an auger powered by electricity. The pellets then ignite and combust, heating the cooking chamber. From here, the heat and smoke can be dispersed throughout the cooking area.
Similar to an oven, pellet grills can give you a precise internal temperature, which you can control digitally or with a dial. Many pellet grills come with an added gadget or functions such as meat probes and more specific temperature and smoke settings. With pellet grills, you can cool low and slow like an oven, with the added flavor and zest of a barbecue.
Why pellets?
Pellet grills get their name from their iconic fuel source, and it’s an important part of the way they work. Pellets are an interesting and great fuel source for a few key reasons. For starters, pellets are an all-natural fuel source typically made from ground and dried sawdust. The dust is pressurized and held together with natural lignin found in the wood, so you don’t have to worry about any toxic components in your food! Once burned, pellets produce a small amount of ash, up to 1%, which makes use and clean up a breeze!
The efficiency and ease of use of pellets as a fuel source are one of the many reasons why these grills are so popular! Not only are pellets easy and fun to use, but they also have an interesting impact on the food you grill! As with a classic smoker, the type of wood pellet you use can greatly influence the flavor profile of what you’re cooking. Today, you can find Hickory, Apple, and Pecan wood pellets to mix and match till you find the right combination!
Modern pellet grills
Not only are pellet grills a great option, to begin with, but they’re also the most diverse and modern ones. A large reason why modern pellet grills have taken the world by storm is that they make cooking outside much easier and more efficient. Many pellet grills offer new innovative features while still keeping that iconic smokey wood flavor.
With the addition of touchscreen user interfaces, personalized settings, and Wi-Fi accessibility, barbecuing has never been easier! Many modern Wi-Fi pellet grills can connect with and make use of your cell phone and make cooking outside a breeze. With the help of a simple app, you can check on your food, adjust the temperature, and save your favorite recipes. You can keep tabs on your food, set alarms, and adjust the settings so that you can set it and forget it without burning it!
Ease of use
One of the main reasons why grillers of all shapes and sizes flock to pellet grills is because they’re so easy to use! Nowadays, many people don’t have the time or energy to sit and babysit their food, especially while it grills. Grilling and smoking your food with regular grills take a lot of time and effort but with the modern built-in pellet grill, that’s a thing of the past!
Because of their design, filling and using the pellets for fuel is easy-peasy. If you’re a traditional coal or gas grill user, you’ll find the switch to pellet grills to be simple and beneficial. Once you get used to it, the sleek design, easy modern interface, and ease of use will be plain to see! Pellet grills are both easy to use, maneuver, and clean, making them the perfect fit for any beginner!
Great for experimenting
Another reason why so many people opt for pellet grills is that they make experimenting with cooking a breeze. The downside of most charcoal or gas grills is that you don’t have a lot of legroom in terms of food preparation. Unless you want uncooked food, you need to stick to your instruction manual and play by the rules with these types of grills. Because of their diverse and interchangeable settings, you can experiment with how you cook your food on your pellet grill.
With a few small changes to your settings, you can prepare your food in a variety of different ways. Depending on what kind of effect you’re going for, you can try a little slow smoking or fast searing on high heat. You can experiment with the hardwood smokey flavor or focus solely on the flavor of what you’re grilling. Whether you’re a culinary expert or a budding grill master, you’ll have plenty of room to experiment with pellet grills.
Higher capacity for cooking
The great thing about pellet grills is that they’re large and in charge and are great for large-scale cooking. With most coal and gas grills, you’re often limited with how much you can cook by how much space you have. If you have a small grill, this could spell disaster if you’re planning on hosting a larger gathering in your backyard. With a good pellet grill at your disposal, these kinds of problems are a thing of the past!
With your average built-in pellet grill, you’ll have more than enough space to accommodate any amount of cooking. Pellet grills are spacious with many cooking grates and hoppers with a large capacity. They’re the better option if you’re looking to avoid running out of fuel or waiting hours until all the food is done. If you truly want to go big with your outdoor cooking, go for a built-in pellet grill that can take the heat!
Great for outdoor kitchens
Finally, the problem with most coal grills is that they’re a nightmare to clean and are not easy on the eyes. Because of their clever design, pellet grills are easier to clean and install in any yard. Not only are pellet grills beginner-friendly and easy to use, but they’re also a great stylish addition to any backyard! With so many models and styles out there, today you can find a pellet grill that blends in seamlessly with your outdoor decor.
They’re easy to use, install, and clean, and look great! What more could you ask for from an outdoor grill? With the previous points in mind, it’s easy to see how pellet grills are great for any outdoor kitchen. As long as you take good care of your pellet grill, you’ll have no problems keeping it in your yard for summers to come!
So there you have it! With this guide in mind, you’re all caught up on all things pellet grills, whether built-in or stand-alone. With all these points in mind, it’s easy to see why pellet grills are such a popular fan favorite amongst grillers both beginner and pro! Pellet grills are diverse and easy to use and provide a variety of modern tools and gadgets. With different temperatures and hands-free monitoring, you can grill and experiment to your heart’s content!
Pellet grills are great for both beginners and pros as anyone can take a stab at them! They’re great for cooking large amounts of food in a breeze and with ease, and they’re perfect for outdoor kitchens. If you’re in the market for a new outdoor or indoor grill, consider the pellet grill as your next option! Good luck and happy grilling!