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grilling visible smoke

A Review of the Smoke Hollow 26142e: What You Need to Know

People have used smoke as a method of preserving and flavoring food for thousands of years. With no knowledge of chemical preservation or freezer technology, our ancestors discovered, probably by chance, that food exposed to smoke tasted better and lasted longer. Today, refined cooking appliances such as the Smoke Hollow 26142E continue to offer an ideal solution for smoking food.

The smoker packs some impressive features and lets you cook different dishes simultaneously or separately. An in-depth review of the Smoke Hollow 26142E may be all it takes for you to realize that you need to add it to your cooking appliances collection.

Comparison Table

What to Consider When Buying the Ideal Smoker

Choosing the right smoker is key to ensuring that you enjoy cooking convenience and all the benefits of smoking food. There are many products on the market today, and that can end up creating some confusion in selection. However, with some basic information, you will be able to sift through the options and settle on the most ideal.

Type of smoker

There are different types of smokers, including electric, charcoal, and gas smokers. Understanding some of the advantages of the different types of smokers can help ensure you make the right choice.

Electric smokers are easy to ignite and operate, while charcoal smokers often take a longer time to cook food and may require undivided attention with regards to regulating airflow and heat output. Gas smokers are also convenient but are generally an expensive option when compared to electric or charcoal smokers.

Controls

Different dishes require specific cooking conditions, which is why you should think about the type of controls a smoker has. Integrated controls should be easy to adjust so that you can get the ideal temperature outputs.

High-end smokers sometimes feature smart temperature probes that let you monitor conditions on your laptop or smartphone.

Design

It is always a good idea to pick a smoker that features heavy-duty construction. This often promotes durability and lets it withstand rugged use. Compact smokers are recommendable for outdoor cooking because they are easy to transport.

Pricing

The amount of money you pay for the product you need should be another issue to keep in mind. High-end smokers usually have additional features that may include wheels, covers, and extra space for food prep. However, you can still get impressive smokers at a relatively cheap rate.

Benefits of Smoking Food

meat bratwurst sausage

Image via: Pixabay

Smoking different types of foods can have a variety of benefits with a few being preservation, killing certain germs, and enhancing the appeal of food.

Food Preservation

grilling from the tablegrill

Image via: Pixabay

Smoking foods such as fish and meat helps prolong their shelf life. With the right handling, such food can last for up to four days in a refrigerator or three months in a freezer.

Managing bacteria

Scientist pathologist

Image via: Pixabay

Many bacteria often attach to food and may cause harm to human health. Smoking food helps kill some of those bacteria and slows down the growth of others.

Enhancing Food Appeal

food salmon teriyaki fish eat

Image via: Pixabay

When certain foods go through a smoking process, they become more appetizing. Some examples of such foods include meat and sausages. Smoking also enhances smell and flavor.

Softens Food

Another advantage of smoking food is that it makes it tender enough for people to consume easily.

How We Reviewed the Smoke Hollow 26142E

Image via: Amazon

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The Smoke Hollow 26142E is an electric appliance that utilizes 110-volts of power and comes across as one of the most impressive smokers in the market today. It has innovative features that simplify operation and a compact design for portability. A closer look at this smoker should help you appreciate why it is an exceptional appliance to add to your collection

What You Need to Know About the Smoke Hollow 26142E

The Smoke Hollow 26142E comes with two chrome-plated cooking grids to accommodate any food under preparation. The racks can adjust to variable heights for convenience and optimal results.

Integrated side handles make it possible for you to quickly move this smoker from one point to another, while a cool-touch spring wire door handle with a latch system makes for convenient access and safety when opening or closing the cooking chamber.

Another feature of the Smoke Hollow 26142E is a removable, porcelain-coated water pan that collects any fluids that drip during food preparation. The water pan simplifies cleaning after food preparation. Additionally, this smoker comes with a porcelain-coated chip tray for convenience.

Capacity

spare ribs grill bbq barbecue

Image via: Pixabay

The Smoke Hollow 26142E has an overall 1.3 cubic foot capacity, which is enough to prepare food for an entire family. You can divide the cooking chamber with the two available grids to organize food according to type, or remove one rack to accommodate bulk foods.

Design and Construction

controls

Image via: Pixabay

This particular smoker features heavy-duty construction, which helps enhance longevity even with frequent use. The robust, fully-welded steel cabinet can withstand heat and other elements that may otherwise cause damage.

Side handles help simplify mobility while a full-length door helps trap heat within the cabinet and guards food against getting into contact with germs during preparation. The Smoke Hollow 26142E has four legs and a compact design for convenient placement and storage. It also features a long power cord on the side for quick connectivity to a power outlet.

Customer Rating

This smoker is available on Amazon with a customer rating of 3.7 out of 5.0 stars. Users who like it say its quite easy to set up and operate. They also claim that it is durable and can easily cook large meals. Users who give it a low rating say that the Smoke Hollow 26142E has a faulty temperature control system and that it develops rust in specific parts.

A Comparison of the Smoke Hollow 26142E With Other Smokers on the Market

While the Smoke Hollow 26142E boasts of functional parts and sturdy construction, it is not necessarily the only smoker that can produce good cooking results. A look at other electric smokers on the market should help bring things into perspective.

Some of the best alternatives available include Masterbuilt 20071117 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker, Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker, Southern Country Smokers 2 in 1 Electric Water Smoker, and Bradley Smoker BTDS76P 990216 Bradley Digital 4 Rack Smoker.

Masterbuilt 20071117 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker

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This is another electric smoker you can use as a beginner or pro. It features robust steel construction which helps it withstand rugged use. It is compact in design, making it easy to position indoors or outdoors and has four legs for convenient placement.

The Masterbuilt 20071117 30-inch Digital Electric Smoker has digital panel controls for smooth operation and monitoring. An integrated thermostat temperature control lets you get the ideal settings depending on the results you want to achieve, while a fully-insulated smoker body ensures food doesn’t lose flavor through evaporation.

This product has a patented, side wood chip loading system that allows you to add chips without opening the smoker door. While the Smoke Hollow 26142E has two grids, this particular smoker comes with four chrome-coated smoking racks to organize food. Additionally, it has an adjustable air damper for smoke control.

Users on Amazon give this smoker a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. Those who love it claim that it is sturdy and withstands frequent use. Consumers with a different opinion say it works well as an oven but falls short of producing excellent results when smoking. There are also some who claim it has multiple manufacturing defects.

Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker

Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker
  • 544 Square inches of cooking space spread across three chrome-plated cooking grates
  • Double-wall insulated construction with dual exhaust ports.Wash cooking grate with warm soapy water, rinse and dry...
  • Door-mounted temperature gauge, and dual latches to keep door sealed shut

The Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is a smoker that also has a compact design for convenient storage and portability. It features sturdy steel construction to help enhance durability and has four legs for easy positioning. This smoker has a 1200-watt heating element for quick food preparation.

A door-mounted temperature gauge lets you monitor cooking conditions, while dual latches help keep the door sealed. This smoker offers up to 544 square inches of cooking area, which is enough to prepare large meals. It comes with three chrome-plated cooking grates to hold food.

Double-wall insulated construction helps trap heat within the cooking chamber, while dual-exhaust ports help control smoke and airflow. This smoker also comes with a large-capacity wood chip box that allows for prolonged smoking without the need for frequent refilling.

An aluminized steel water pan keeps meat or other dishes moist and juicy, while a removable drip tray ensures easy cleaning after food preparation. This particular smoker has an impressive Amazon rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars.

Users who like it say it is easy to set up and withstands the test of time. Individuals with a different opinion claim the heat output is not accurate and that it has poor quality construction.

Southern Country Smokers 2 in 1 Electric Water Smoker

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The Southern Country Smokers 2 in 1 Electric Water Smoker is a versatile alternative to the Smoke Hollow 26142. It features 351 square inches of cooking space, which is enough to accommodate large meals.

The smoker comes with two chrome-plated cooking grids to help organize food, a built-in temperature gauge for monitoring, and a 1500-watt heating element for heat production. It features a chimney-like design that makes it compact enough to fit in small spaces.

Its three legs let you position it on different surfaces, while the heat-resistant wooden side and hood handles ensure safety when moving. Sliding access doors on the sides simplify adding water and chips. The smoker comes with an extra-large 5.5-quart water pan to optimize the slow cooking process.

This product has a 3.3 out of 5.0-star rating on Amazon. Users who love this product say it’s easy to assemble and transport. They also say it is relatively easy to operate. Some users say it does not retain heat, making it less than ideal for cooking.

Bradley Smoker BTDS76P 990216 Bradley Digital 4 Rack Smoker

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This smoker features robust power epoxy steel construction to ensure durability. It comes with four cooking racks to organize different dishes and has a digital control panel for smooth operation. Its four short legs make it possible to position it on most surfaces, while the compact design takes up little space in storage.

This particular smoker has a rating of 3.6 out of 5.0 stars on Amazon. Users who like it say quality construction makes it an excellent option for those who want something for long term use. Individuals that dislike this smoker claim it develops numerous problems after some time of use.

Enjoy Cooking Convenience With the Smoke Hollow 26142E

The Smoke Hollow 26142E is a versatile smoker that lets you prepare your favorite dishes conveniently. It is quite easy to operate and makes light work of the cleaning process. Its compact design ensures you don’t have to worry about storage space.

It’s worth noting that this appliance features premium material construction, which makes it withstand rugged use. The Smoke Hollow 26142E does not require any special maintenance work. Instead, all you have to do is follow the instructions for use and wipe it clean with a wet piece of cloth after cooking.

Do you have any fun recipes to prepare on the Smoke Hollow 26142E or want to share your experience with smoked food? Go ahead and let us know in the comment section.

burgers on a grilll camp chef pg24

The Best Portable Pellet Grill Options Available

Forget propane. Today's most popular tailgate barbecue is the portable pellet grill.

Seriously.

People's tastes are shifting away from gas and over to the rich flavors of pellets and smoke. And that's a good thing! There's something wonderful about meat infused with smoke. A portable pellet grill provides that awesome flavor in a convenient, easy-to-transport package.

Of course, there are dozens of ways to barbecue your food. There are charcoal, gas, and woodchips. When I go camping, I usually just slap a light grill over the campfire and cook all my food on that.

One time I even discovered bacon-wrapped marshmallows. It's true! Believe it or not, they were as delicious as they sound.

That said, we here at Electric Smoke Center don't condone wasting bacon, or marshmallows, in such a callous manner. Which is why when we heard that pellet grills were gaining in popularity across the barbecuing world, we were instantly intrigued. But what is a pellet grill?

Check it out.

The Best Portable Pellet Grills: Comparison Table

What Is A Pellet Grill?

Picture your standard smoker. It's a drum-shaped metal barbecue with a hopper offset to the side or rear. In a similar fashion, a pellet grill has a hopper box which vents into the main cooking chamber.

That's because, at its heart, a pellet grill is a smoker. It uses heat and smoke from the pellets to cook the food. Think of it as a giant oven. That is, except for a portable pellet grill.

A portable pellet grill is a scaled-down version of a regular pellet smoker grill. It may be smaller and able to set up on a tailgate. Other versions are larger and include folding legs or wheels.

No matter how they manage it, a portable pellet grill is able to get around easily. And because it's a pellet grill and not a gas grill, there's no need to carry propane canisters with you.

The Best Portable Pellet Grill Options You Can Buy Today

Because there aren't that many grills to choose from, you would think that finding the perfect grill for you would be easy, right? If only that were true.

At the end of the day, the portable pellet grill that appeals to you will depend a lot on style, price, size, and any extra bells and whistles. Everyone is different.

For that reason, we didn't list these in any particular order. We'll let you find the perfect grill for you!


Camp Chef Pursuit 20 Portable Pellet Grill Smoker

Camp Chef 20' Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill, PPG20, Black, Stainless,...

First up is the Camp Chef Pursuit 20 portable pellet grill smoker. This is one of those portable grills which are nice and big. Sturdy plastic wheels and folding legs provide the portability you need to stash the grill in your trunk easily. 

But get this: it comes with a whopping 2,100 cubic inches of grilling space. You get a 500 square-inch grill, two meat probes, and a 10-pound wood pellet hopper. You'll especially love the easy ash clean out trapdoor.

One thing you'll notice is that the Camp Chef Pursuit 20 is on the pricier end of the spectrum. Expect to pay premium price. Of course, you get what you pay for. In this case, you get an awesome portable pellet grill. You also get a great three-year warranty.

On Amazon, customers gave it a whopping 4.8 out of 5 stars. This was the highest-rated portable pellet grill we found. 

PROS

  • Everyone raved about how easy it is to cook with this machine. It holds up to transportation well, and people said it was sturdy and spacious.

CONS

  • The only complaint was that it can be challenging to find the right temperature to cook.

PRICE

$$$

warranty

3 years

rating

where to buy


Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill

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What do mountains and Davy Crockett have in common? Why, cooking meat, of course! With the Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill, you get a tiny and portable pellet grill you can take anywhere. 

This little barbecue is perfect if you live in an apartment or you do a lot of camping. It's 29-inches by 14-inches by 20-inches. Picture a steel lunch box with folding legs, and a big black wood pellet hopper slung on the side.

We love this portable pellet grill thanks to its digital "Sense-Mate" thermal sensor so that we can keep track of the internal temperature. You'll pay premium prices for this tiny but powerful pellet grill. In addition, you get a great 3-year warranty.

Also, customers on Amazon gave it a respectable 4.1 out of 5 stars. Almost everyone said that the Davy Crockett grill has excellent temperature controls. That thermal monitor is a real fan favorite. People also loved that this is an ultra-portable pellet grill.

Some people complained that it had the inferior build quality, and several people had their units malfunction. Thankfully Green Mountain Grills has excellent customer service and an even better warranty.

PROS

  • Has excellent customer service and an even better warranty.

CONS

  • Some people complained that it had the inferior build quality, and several people had their units malfunction.

PRICE

$$$

warranty

3 years

rating

where to buy

No products found.


Traeger Scout Portable Tabletop Wood Pellet Grill

15' PTG+ Portable Electric Grill

Next up is the 3-year warranty portable tabletop wood pellet grill. Traeger is the original pellet grill inventor and producer. And while you might think that they're unhappy that they no longer enjoy patent protection, you would be wrong.

With all the new manufacturers entering the market, pellet grills have exploded in popularity, and Traeger enjoys great sales thanks to it.

But let's get back to the Traeger Scout. This little steel box resembles a safe more than a barbecue. It's designed to sit right on the table, with four little metal legs under the body.

The pellet hopper is built right into the body, so you get a uniform box. It comes with a meat probe and digital temperature control that allows you to control the cooking process.

This thing is only 13-inches high and 21-inches wide. That makes the Traeger Scout the smallest portable pellet grill we reviewed. Expect to pay premium prices for it. And like most of the grills we chose, it comes with a 3-year warranty.

Customers on the bbqguys.com website gave it 5 out of 5 stars. They loved that it is small and versatile. While it cooks food just fine, it seems to be the combination of size and function that customers loved.

PROS

  • Small and versatile
  • Premium functionality

CONS

  • Not the most affordable option

PRICE

$$$

warranty

3 years

rating

where to buy


Pit Boss Portable Pellet Grill

Pit Boss Portable Tailgate/Camp With Foldable Legs Pellet Grill, Tan...

Fourth on our list is the 5-year warranty Portable Pellet Grill. With 340 square-inches of cooking space, folding legs, a 5-pound hopper, and an additional flame broiler, it's perfect. It hits that sweet spot between portability and amazing function. 

We also loved the stylish bronze look. It has a digital control panel with an internal temperature monitor. That means you can keep a good watch on how your food is cooking. A rear-exhaust convection system keeps hot air flowing around inside. Neat!

You'll pay premium prices for this versatile barbecue. But it gets better. That's because the Pit Boss grill comes with a fantastic 5-year warranty!

Then, at the Walmart website, customers gave the Pit Boss a healthy 4.1 out of 5 stars.  They raved about how well it smokes food. One person even said that they would never go back to another barbecue. 

PROS

  • Customers said it was very portable and tucked away nicely with the legs folded.
  • Smokes food well.

CONS

  • Quite a few people had issues with the unit breaking or falling apart, and customer service wasn't very helpful in providing a quick fix.

PRICE

$$$

warranty

5 years

rating

where to buy


Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2022 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ...

Finally, we have Z Grills ZPG-450A wood pellet grill and smoker. With a name like the ZPG-450A, you know this is a serious piece of equipment. One look at it and you get the impression that you're dealing with a full-powered smoker and not a portable pellet grill. 

That's because it has 450 square-inches of cooking space inside a metal drum, with a massive 15-pound hopper on the side. A chimney stack rises above the entire unit. Also, you can reach temperatures of over 450-degrees, making this the hottest grill we included. As we said, this is a serious machine.

In addition, expect to pay premium price for the ZPG-450A, depending on the options you choose to go with it. It comes with a 3-year warranty. Also, on Amazon, customers gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

PROS

  • Almost every single customers raved about the quality of the food that comes out of this thing. They said it was the best smoker they had used. The fact that the legs fold up and it becomes portable was just the icing on the cake. 

CONS

  • Several people complained of mechanical malfunctions, which the warranty was able to cover.

PRICE

$$$

warranty

3 years

rating

where to buy


All About Pellet Grills

little girl grilling sausages

Image via Freepik

Imagine this: the mouth-watering aroma of chopped wood and the ease of gas. Except that you don't need to chop wood and you don't need gas. Does that sound too good to be true?

Don't worry, because it exists today in the form of wood pellets. These are basically little pellets made of wood and pulp materials. Because they're dry, they burn really easy. And a pellet grill is like a drum or traditional smoker with a chamber attached for the pellets.

But there's more.

The original pellet grill patent belonged to Traeger, but since the patent expired in 2009, the floodgates opened. According to the Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, pellet grills are fast becoming the most popular barbecue on the market. There are good reasons for this.

How Does It Work?

By now you're probably wondering if a portable pellet grill is a barbecue or a smoker? The truth is that a pellet grill is a smoker. It uses compounded wood pellets to create hot smoke instead of wood chips. But it gets better.

You see, pellet grills are super-easy to use. Inside the pellet hopper is a metallic rod. This is an electric heating element, which glows bright red when you turn it on. That ignites the wood pellets.

You can then set the temperature you want with digital controls, and the rod will control how hot the pellets burn. Then the pellets will burn, glowing red or even white depending on the temperature.

Next, a fan blows the heat and smoke from the hopper into the cook box. Metal plates under the grill heat up, providing ambient heat which cooks your food.

At any rate, you never get the choking, polluting smoke of charcoal or need to fight with pressurized gas canisters. Just load the pellets, turn it on, and forget about it.

Are They Healthy?

Is using a portable pellet grill healthy? What's inside those wood pellets?

The first thing you need to know is that pellet grills use special food-grade wooden pellets. You can't just throw any wood pellets in there. That said, those wooden pellets are as safe as any other type of grilling combustible.

You see, those food-grade wood pellets consist of sawdust pressed tightly together into pellet form. Some may contain flavored vegetable oils for extra seasoning. They are as safe as charcoal or propane. However, there's always an element of risk when grilling.

Carcinogens in food burning on a grill may heighten the risk of cancer, but if you've ever wolfed down a Whopper and fries, grilled food is the least of your worries.

portable barbeque grill

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels

How Much Do They Cost?

By now you think that you might check out one of these newfangled portable pellet grill contraptions. Why not?

You can pick up a portable pellet grill for affordable prices. Most places that sell barbecues carry them, including Home Depot and Amazon.

How We Reviewed

Make no mistake about it; there aren't many pellet grill manufacturers out there. We expect to see more enter the market now that they're not held back by patents. But for right now, you're looking at only a handful of pellet grills.

So we checked out the ones that we do know about, and read up on each of them. Then we checked out customer reviews, to see what real people had to say.

There were three that we dropped from our list, simply because they had overwhelmingly poor reviews. That left us with a list of the best portable pellet grill options you can buy.

It's Grill Season!

grilling meat

The cool thing about owning a portable pellet grill is that when grilling season arrives, you can go anywhere. You're not stuck to your backyard. Surprise your friends and bring your grill to their home. Everybody will appreciate delicious smoked meat.

The only thing you need with a portable pellet grill is a power outlet, some wood pellets, and some delicious food to cook up. So what are you waiting for? It's grill season!

What kind of grill do you use? Let us know in the comment section below!

Masterbuilt 20070311 40-Inch Top Controller Electric Smoker with Window and RF Controller

The Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker: It’s High Tech Slow Cooking

There are over six different types of smokers that we recognize on the market, and no, we are not talking about tobacco smokers or vapers. We are referring to smokers that create flavor-filled, tasty barbecue! With so many models to choose from, the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker pushed it’s a way to the top of the ranks.

You can purchase a wood smoker, charcoal smoker, gas smoker, and even a pellet smoker. And you may wonder why reviewers are saying that this electric smoker is the best. Maybe it is, perhaps it isn’t.

But what is a Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker?

What Is the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker?

There are many things to consider when purchasing a smoker, including how it cooks the food, the cost, and even the fuel type. Electric smokers are more comfortable to use, and some models have high tech controls that allow you to monitor the food until it’s ready quickly.

But some electric smokers are notorious for losing flavor. So how does the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker break that stigma?

Masterbuilt began to craft products in 1973, and since then, they’ve wanted to provide an excellent experience for customers to create awesome barbecue.

With their Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker, they brought something fun to try for tech-savvy, barbecue lovers. The electric smoker cut down on operational time but kept the quality of cooking in a new way for consumers to smoke their dishes.

Design

Like any other appliance, users connect the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker into a power source with the plug and turn on the ignition. Then, the cook fills the aluminum plate under the grill grates with water and their herbs of choice. Semi-deep aluminum trays hold the flavor and moisture that will integrate with the food.

With any product, there are possibilities for improvements; and the electric smoker has one essential addition. The wood chip loader is usually a cylinder-shaped pullout near the bottom of the unit. With the wood chip loader, users can fill up on flavored wood chips that will add an extra touch.

Lastly, the residue tray holds importance, and some cooks will line this with aluminum foil for better usage. This tray also helps enhance the flavoring atmosphere of the box. The more you utilize good residue, the more your food rests in that goodness.

What’s inside

In the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker, there are several grates to load on the pieces of food. Over time, the coated morsels will begin to smoke when the grill closes and the lock secures. Once everything is in place, the food is left alone, and users don’t need to mess with it.

For each unit, the temperature ranges from 100 degrees to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. The built-in vents adjust temperatures while cooking, so consumers aren’t entirely hands-on during cook time. Think of it as the more substantial, smokier, similar version of the crock pot; both machines cook food on their own.

Nonetheless, make sure the food inside is in the proper position before you close the door. You can control how much air comes out of the smoker, and some recipes call for more or less smoke. The smoker has a gauge, so set it and ensure no food comes out poorly done.

Top Designs and What Separates Them

While the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker has a notable reputation, there are a few models from which to choose. Each model may serve a purpose that best suits a specific need. These models are both 40-inches and highly rated.

Currently, the Masterbuilt 20070512 is unavailable for purchase. According to Masterbuilt, the model eventually discontinued due to uneven heating problems. The other Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smokers display no immediate issues and are excellent quality overall.

For the other models, there are things to pay attention to concerning the different styles and features. Each one caters to cooking preferences and must-have features, and people who love their smoked barbecue distinguish which fits them best.

Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker with Window & Remote

If you are looking for a smoker that covers your general needs, this Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker gets the job done. The Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker with Window & Remote is a great size for house parties and large families. This smoker has simple requirements and essentially one task: to fill the wood tray.

Specs and features

On the exterior of the model, this Masterbuilt Digital Electric has a handle and secured wheels for mobility. On the front, the stainless steel door frames a large window. Who doesn’t want to look at their food while it’s cooking?

Inside this smoker, it has 975 square inches of cooking space and 4 chrome-coated removable racks. You can take out the water pan or drip pan to prep before cooking. While cooking, the Masterbuilt’s patented wood chip loading system allows users to continue adding chips without disrupting the process and opening the door.

Of course, the top air damper creates a controlled environment for the smoke while cooking too. However, the remote frequency controller wins people over with the ability to set temperature and time, switch the interior light on and off, and even switch the power of the smoker itself; all from 100 feet away. When all is said and done, the greasy pan mounted in the rear makes the aftermath of cooking easy to clean.

Reviews

The team at Masterbuilt surely felt proud to lead the charge and develop a patented remote control electric smoker. With this convenience, people could pay attention to other activities and conversations instead of continually monitoring the time for their food. Also, the uncomplicated process makes it easy for anyone to start barbecuing.

However, some found frustration using their Masterbuilt 40 electric smoker after some time. One found that the internal thermostat connection fried off after three years of usage. Despite frequent upkeep and care, some customers had unfortunate outcomes after using their Masterbuilt electric smoker.

Despite the critical reviews, 64 percent of customers rated the Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker with Window & Remote 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. The smoker has an overall Amazon rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Many reports include photos of the mouth-watering barbecue creations that their smokers produced. Overall, the majority of cooks found this Masterbuilt 40 electric smoker accurate in temperature and easy to operate.

Masterbuilt 40-Inch Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker

An electric smoker that connects to a smart device seems super futuristic and out of our reach. Nonetheless, the Masterbuilt 40-Inch Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker makes it a reality and grabs our attention. This model confidently comes with the bells, whistles, and extra pizazz for people who want to go all out.

Specs and features

This high tech, smart Masterbuilt also includes a built-in meat thermometer and consistent cooking up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. The exterior looks are similar to the other electric smoker model, which consists of the large stainless steel door and window. The built-in wheels and handles make moving the Masterbuilt 40 electric smoker less complicated.

On the inside, the same 4 chrome-coated racks are sitting and ready for up to 100 pounds of deliciousness. The Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker still includes the remote that controls the power, temperature, time, light, and monitors.

The flashy and impressive Bluetooth technology seems to impress and bring the wow factor. When in range, a smartphone or tablet can control your electric smoker. The role of hosting and barbecuing definitely seems less complicated with this Masterbuilt 40 electric smoker model.

Reviews

Some consumers might find relief with Bluetooth capabilities, but some might discover usage more complicated. Sometimes, connectivity and range do not work the same for everyone, and these features face a variety of differing factors. Regardless, this electric smoker has a pretty consistent rating.

Reviewers who gave this item a low rating predominantly critiqued the construction of the overall machine. The common thread dealt with a faulty smoker, dysfunctioning application for the smart device, or ambiguous instructions. Many customers gave feedback for tweaks that could improve the product.

The smoker has an Amazon rating of 3.9 out of 5.0 stars.

About 50 percent gave the Masterbuilt 40-Inch Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker 5.0 out of 5.0 stars, and 1 customer could not see how one could do any better than this smoker. Many of these buyers feel that the smoker does everything it says that it does. These happy barbecuers think that their cooking process became more accessible than ever.

Pricing Overall for the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker

For new barbecues and smokers, getting into the cooking game will cost you around $355 to $445, not including shipping and tax. Many home improvement and general stores sell the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. However, you can order online and get it directly from Amazon or Masterbuilt’s website itself.

Does the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker Cook the Competition?

Electric smokers provide a relaxed approach for people who want tasty food with minimal effort. Electric smokers are great for beginner barbecuers too. There are simple steps in setting the right temperature and upkeep for each product.

However, there are different factors for each product that help us gauge how each electric smoker measures up. Since users don’t worry about fuel with these smokers, there are other things to consider when browsing through the market.

How we reviewed these electric smokers

When shopping for the right electric smoker, we considered the price, features, and quality of each product. These three options provide smokers that are comparable in size, usage, and controls.

Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker

This electric smoker is related to the initial two smokers and offers some significant elements. The Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker offers a smaller version of the other models. If you are looking for a no-fuss electric smoker, this option may fit your needs well.

Like the other Masterbuilt electric smokers, this option also includes power controls, temperature controls, and time controls. However, there’s a digital panel that houses these features. The integrated thermostat temperature control system carries over to this smoker too.

Overall, this model carries the same pan and wood chip accessories that the other units contain. If you do not want fancy additions and a simple aesthetic, this smoker wins 4.0 out of 5.0 stars for users on Amazon. Customers can purchase this Masterbuilt from $95 to $190, before taxes and shipping.

6-Rack Bradley Digital Smoker

With four to six racks, this electric smoker can hold more goodies inside. The 6-Rack Bradley Digital Smoker includes many of the same digital technology on a bit more significant scale, size-wise. The temperature, time, and smoke have easy-to-use controls.

Looking inside the 6-Rack Bradley Digital Smoker, polished stainless steel with four to six removable racks sit nice and ready for smoking. The ash catcher makes cleanup fast and straightforward. For the outside, a powder epoxy steel covers the body of the unit.

Comparably, users have gotten temperatures up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Although, certain temperatures go well with certain foods. The Bradley Digital Smoker is available for $360 to $600, and customers rate this smoker 3.5 out of 5.0 stars on Amazon.

Smoke Hollow ES230B Digital Electric Smoker

This simple, black box still packs a punch of flavor for smoking food. The Smoke Hollow ES230B Digital Electric Smoker provides a 30 to a 36-inch electric smoker. Shoppers can purchase this in black or stainless steel, and they offer a digital version of their electric smoker as well.

For the specifications of this choice, you’ll also find a digital panel that controls the power, temperature, and time. This 800-watt heating element gives even, consistent smoking with an adjustable air damper to control smoke. This option also provides the same pan accessories and removable water bowl for moisture and flavor.

The Smoke Hollow ES230B provides one of the more cost-efficient options, but it doesn’t sacrifice on quality. Customers still get bang for their buck with this electric smoker, and they rate it 4.0 out of 5.0 stars on Amazon. It’s available for purchase from $90 to $230, depending on the chosen model.

Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker Pros and Cons

Throughout this Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker review, there are details and reports of what consumers feel. Here are the highlights:

Pros

  • Convenient wood chip loading system
  • Digital time and temperature controls
  • Removable racks, water pan, drip pan, and grease pan for easy cleaning.
  • Handle and wheels provide mobility
  • Window and internal light to display items cooking
  • Integrated thermostat for temperature control
  • Smoke control with the top air damper
  • Good reviews for first-time users

Cons

  • Some reviews reported poor construction quality
  • The range of the remote control and Bluetooth capabilities are limited

Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker: Our Hot Take

With the technology available to us, smoking our foods with ease is right at our fingertips. We have a variety of different options to choose from depending on what we need for our gatherings and table settings. With the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker, there are options for every person’s barbecuing style.

If people want something more advanced, then they may find excitement in using the remote and Bluetooth features. Regardless, foodies will find good endings after cooking with the Masterbuilt 40 Electric Smoker. This electric smoker changes how we do flavorful dishes.

Could you use this smoker to create your favorite barbecue dish? Tell us about your latest cookout in the comments!

Green Mountain Grills

Green Mountain Grills Reviews And Buying Guide

We are going to be going into all of the nitty gritty details on Green Mountain Grills. Let’s answer all the questions and reservations you have about purchasing a grill from the company. We will be taking a look at whether these are worth your money for how quality of a product they are, as well as the specifics of having a pellet grill as well.

In addition to those qualities, we will also be reviewing their price range and how it compares to other grills similar in quality, the aesthetics of the products, and their customer service. To assist in this, we will also be researching a lot of customer reviews to see what the general thoughts on these grills are.

What is Green Mountain Grills? 

gmg

Green Mountain Grills is a company that began about ten years ago. The founder of the business had a competitor’s grill at his house and decided that he could make some improvements for an even better product. Thus, Green Mountain Grills was born.

They, of course, specialize in pellet grills. This simply means that instead of using charcoal or gas, they use pellets to fuel the grill and cook your meat.

This company offers high quality grills, pellets, dry rubs, and sauces both online and at thousands of brick-and-mortar stores across the United States. Their website also offers a plethora of delicious recipes, and a very helpful blog with information and tips for barbecuing.

Here’s How it Works

If you have never used a pellet grill before, here is some insight into how the ones from Green Mountain Grills actually work.

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There is a motor that turns the auger, which is feeding pellets directly into the grill’s firebox. In that firebox, there is a hot rod that is igniting the pellets automatically, and right below it, there is a combustion fan to keep it burning. There are vertical vents lining the firebox to create a circular air flow. The fan inside the Pellet Hopper maintains positive pressure, preventing any burn-back in the auger. When these two air flows collide, it creates a fantastic wood burning fire, which allows for a pure hardwood smoke flavor.

There is a heat shield that covers up the firebox, which distributes all the heat to both sides of the grill as well as pushing it up into the grill chamber. The sensor that is mounted inside of the grill will then send data to the internal computer ten times a second, then allowing the controller to adjust the air and pellet flow for the perfect temperature.

What Makes Green Mountain Grills Unique? 

The most unique aspect of these grills is obviously the fact that they use wood pellets instead of charcoal or gasoline. Their pellets are made up of 1005 kiln dried sawdust that they state “never touches the floor.” They are held together with the natural lignins in the wood, and they do have several different kinds of pellets for sale as well. The Premium Gold Blend ones are oak based and much larger than the standard sized pellets.

The benefits to using these instead of charcoal or gas include very little ash after you’re done grilling, high BTU content for long burns, and a nice, natural hardwood smoky taste in your food.

Another aspect that is pretty special (although not completely unique to this company) is their Smart Control. Now that technology is a huge part of everything we do, having a grill connected to your phone is now a possibility. Green Mountain Grills has a mobile app, allowing you to adjust the temperature and stay connected to your cooking food even if you walk away for a few minutes. With the app you are able to set timers, control both the grill and food temperatures, create different cooking profiles, and even receive alerts about your grill. You are also given the option to connect to your wifi at home to do this or use server mode to access your grill while on the go.

The products have an excellent digital controller connected to them as well. These controls offer features like a low pellet alarm, which alerts you when you need to add additional fuel. It also has a hot start mode if the power fails, a food probe for safe temperatures, temperature control that ranges from 150 degrees up to 500, and an end-of-cook fan mode to cool your grill down and exhaust most of the ash from the firebox for cleaning purposes.

Pricing

As far as pricing is concerned, this company’s different grill options are pretty comparable to other companies of similar quality. Let’s take a look at the prices for each individual grill that Green Mountain Grills offers.

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This first model is said to be the company’s bestselling grill. The Whether your choice is a Davy Crockett for traveling, a Daniel Boone for everyday usage, a Jim Bowie for a bigger gathering or the Big Pig Trailer Rig, we are sure that you won’t be disappointed. After all, Green Mountain Grills was set up by someone whose passion in life was grilling. They won’t disappoint. grill comes with a meat probe, a peaked lid for stand-up chicken/rib racks/large birds, a digital control, a convenience tray, hard rubber tires, and a venturi-style firebox. It also offers Sense-Mate (their thermal sensor) and a positive pressure hopper fan. The standard option of the grill weighs 152 pounds.

You are able to buy 3 different versions of the Daniel Boone as well, depending on your preferences. The cheapest option is the standard, black version without WiFi capabilities – this one will cost you about $$ brand new. If you want one with WiFi, the cost goes up to $$$, and it’ll cost $$$ if you want WiFi and to have it in stainless steel.

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The Jim Bowie grill, which is considerably larger than the Daniel Boone, will cost you a little bit more.

This model includes everything that comes with the Daniel Boone design, with just a little more room. The grill has 640 square inches of cooking surface, and an inside clearance of 13.5 inches. It weighs 183 pounds.

The standard black version is the black version with WiFi and the stainless steel one with WiFi can be purchased on Amazon.

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This grill is much smaller than the other two we just talked about. The Davy Crockett model is perfect for camping, tailgating, and small families to cook on. You can cook two racks of ribs or between 4-6 steaks or burgers all at once.

The Davy Crockett grill only comes in stainless steel and with Wifi.

Z GRILLS Wood Pellet Grill Smoker with Digital Controls, Cover, 700...
  • 8-IN-1 GRILL&SMOKER - Offers more versatility to smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill food with...
  • HUGE COOKING SPACE - 700 sq. in of grilling space that can accommodate 30 burgers, 6 rib racks, or 5 chickens...
  • SMART TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Automated electric feed system maintains temperature from 180ºF to 450ºF, Smart Digital...

Last but certainly not least we have the Big Pig Trailer Rig. From the name you can probably guess that this is the largest grill offered by Green Mountain Grills.

This product is for those of you that need to feed a lot of people. The grill would be perfect for huge cookout parties, catering jobs, or competitions. It can cook an entire hog, 150 steaks, 25 briskets, 65 chickens, 25 pork butts, or 200 hamburgers.

Of course, being the largest product offered, it is also the most expensive. This grill will cost you $7,999.00 brand new.

Public Perception (Other Green Mountain Grills Reviews)

Let’s take a look at what actual customers thought of Green Mountain Grills products. To make sure we have a good idea of all the good and bad aspects, we will separate the opinions into a positive and a negative section.

Positive

The first aspect that was mentioned positively in a large number of reviews was the customer service that people experienced when dealing with Green Mountain Grills. Reviews stated that if there was any sort of issue or misunderstanding, the company immediately reached out and handled whatever had happened in a quick, polite manner. Overall, those who had to talk directly to an employee of the company were very, very pleased with the outcome.


Another quality of the products that was mentioned frequently was the pricing – this refers both to the actual grills and the cost to actually use them. A lot of reviews online mentioned that it was infinitely cheaper to buy pellets for a grill than to use charcoal or gas every time they wanted to cook something. The price of the grills was also praised – a lot of customers mentioned that for the quality, the prices were much, much lower than expected.


Something else brought up quite a few times in reviews was the versatility of the grills the company offered. Customers raved about the ease of using this for a smoker, grill, oven, etc. Having the option to cook so many different kinds of meat with the space and design offered was also a huge upside as well.


Lastly, customers loved the options for using their phones to control the different features of the grill. Having the choice to set everything up and walk away, while still maintaining the perfect temperatures and features is a great quality to have in your grill.


Now let’s take a look at the critical thoughts that customers had about the company and their products.

Negative

One downside that customers mentioned was that if they bought the grill from the website or Amazon, they didn’t always show up in perfect condition. There were a few reviews complaining of dented hoods, augers not working, and other small mishaps that either had to be fixed by the customer or sent back to the company to repair.


The most common complaint found on the reviews was about connecting to the WiFi. A decent amount of customers struggled with it at first, but were able to connect after several tries. They mentioned the app simply not being able to find their grill at all. A few reviews reported that they weren’t ever able to connect the app to the grill, making that feature useless for them. Part of this could just be user error, but it is something to consider when purchasing one with WiFi capabilities.


The last negative aspect that was mentioned in several reviews was having inaccuracies with the temperature gauges. There were some reviews mentioning that there meat was extremely overdone or undercooked because the temperature they set the grill to wasn’t accurate. Now this could have just been a few faulty sensors, but it is important to keep in mind.

How it Compares

We took a look at Green Mountain Grills products against another very high quality, well-known company – Traeger.

Both companies are well respected in the world of pellet grills, and have been around for a long, long time. Looking at their products, a lot of the decision can be based on personal preference. Green Mountain Grills do offer a lot of different features, including WiFi, with most of their grills that makes them hard to pass up. If you want WiFi on a Traeger grill, you have to go with a more expensive model. The Traeger models do have more durability and mobility on their side however. Their legs provide a much better foundation for the grill than the ones that GMG has.

Overall, they both have great qualities and would both be a great choice for those that are wanting to try out pellet grills.

What We Think

If you are interested in getting involved in the world of pellet grills, this is definitely a company to keep an eye on. Their high quality products and five star customer service looks like it is definitely worth a try.

For people that grill outside regularly, camp, or just love the smoky taste of grilled meat – these products are for you. With the enhanced technology and hardwood smoky flavor, you can’t go wrong.

If you have a grill from Green Mountain Grills, what are your thoughts on them? Would you recommend them to others?

woodwind grill review

Woodwind Grill Review: Amazing Pellet Smoker You Should Have

To see if it is worth all the hype surrounding it, we will take a look at the features they offer with the Woodwind grill, the quality, design, pricing, customer reviews, and comparisons to other similar smokers. On top of that, we will look at the sizing and spacing that the grill offers, to see if it is the right fit for you and your family.

What are Woodwind Grills and How Do They Work?

Woodwind grills are a specific design of a pellet grill made by Camp Chef.

This design lights instantly and easily, offers computerized temperature control, convection heating, Smart Smoke Technology, and a patented easy way to clean out the ash.

The Smart Smoke Technology allows you to easily set the temperature, put in the meat you want to cook, and walk away from the grill while trusting it to get the job done correctly. It’s incredibly easy to use and makes cooking much more convenient.

What Makes Woodwind Grills Unique?

Camp Chef - Golden Spike Oval Dutch Oven
Camp Chef - Golden Spike Oval Dutch Oven
True Seasoned Finish cast iron; Comfort design handles; Lid can be used as a skillet/griddle
Camp Chef BBQ Sear Box Grill Accessory, Stainless Steel, Dimensions:...
Camp Chef BBQ Sear Box Grill Accessory, Stainless Steel, Dimensions:...
Propane burner for high heat, Propane tank holder included; 16,000 BTUs/Hr. stainless steel burner

Camp Chef has a patented ash clean out that makes cleaning up after your cooking session infinitely easier. If you are someone who grills and smokes frequently, you most likely spend a lot of time cleaning up afterwards. With this product, you are given the ability to simply pull a lever and clean out any ash that has remained after your grilling without taking apart the entire unit. This is a fantastic feature that is definitely not seen very often on pellet grills.

On top of that, they also have a clean out feature for the hopper as well. When your hopper is full of a specific type of pellets and you want to swap them out for a different strength or flavor, there is a small trap door you can open to empty it completely.

Another unique feature to this grill is the attached sear box. This is a cast iron work horse powered by propane, and it has incredible fire power. When up to the highest temperature it can be, the box will actually reach up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a wonderful feature that is not seen on other pellet grills at all. It almost allows you to have two grills in one.

With this feature, you are given the variety of having the wood pellet grill for smoky flavors, as well as an extremely hot and quick sear station all at once.

Other great features include the thermometer probe, the stainless kit, and the upper shelf.

The secondary shelf is great for cooking things like vegetables and hot dogs, and you are able to remove it if you are cooking a larger piece of meat. Making it removable offers a lot more versatility in what you can cook all at once.

The built-in thermometer probe allows you to check the temperature of all the meat on the grill by simply pressing a button. This is great if you don’t have an external thermometer to use, as this one is always attached. It allows for complete accuracy for your food’s temperature.

The stainless kit is also a fantastic, sleek addition to the grill. It matches the sear box well so everything fits together perfectly.

Pricing

There are a few different options for the Woodwind grills, so the prices vary as well.

Camp Chef Woodwind Classic Pellet Grill without Sear Box - Featuring...
  • SMART SMOKE TECHNOLOGY- The digital temperature control and automatic auger feed pellets into the grill to maintain the...
  • ENDLESS VERSATILITY- Grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue all your favorite foods with premium wood-fired...
  • HUGE COOKING AREA- 570 square inches of cooking surface area and a removable upper warming rack give you enough room to...

This grill gives you 570 square inches of cooking space, as well as 1,584 square inches for the jerky racks. Being the cheaper option, it does not automatically come with the sear box, although it can be added on to your order if you desire.

Every other feature we mentioned previously is included with this first option: the easy ash cleanout, the electric auto-start ignition, Smart Smoke Technology, the 18-pound pellet hopper, and many more.

This can also be purchased from other retailers online, like Amazon, as well. However, it looks to be around the same price everywhere for the most part.

Camp Chef - Golden Spike Oval Dutch Oven
  • True Seasoned Finish cast iron
  • Comfort design handles
  • Lid can be used as a skillet/griddle

The second option is a little more expensive and offers additional features as well. The sear box is added to this package, and instead of costing you extra, it only adds $200 to your cost. 

Overall, you get all the same features with each grill, but the sear box automatically comes with the second option. However, if you go with the first option and later decide that you want that feature as well, you can always purchase it separately.

Public Perception (Other Woodwind Grill Reviews)

There were a lot of positive reviews for this product, this is definitely a well-loved design. We will be separating the negative and positive reviews in order to see exactly how the broad spectrum of customers felt about the product.

Positive

One aspect of these grills that was talked about frequently in reviews was the simple fact that they were able to get up to the temperatures they needed to. A lot of reviews mentioned purchasing grills from other companies where they couldn’t get the temperature past a certain number, whereas they had no issues with Woodwind grills. This is definitely important – having a grill that is consistently the correct temperature allows you to cook a more diverse selection of different meats and foods, and it confirms that your food is safe to eat.

Another quality that was praised when it came to the Woodwind grill was the smoky flavor it gave to food. Using pellets is, of course, a huge part of that – the pure hardwood pellets fueling the fire give the meat an authentic wood taste that you wouldn’t get from charcoal or gas.


The price was something that was mentioned positively as well. While it isn’t a cheap grill, it is much more affordable than purchasing a comparable product from a company like Traeger. If you are on a budget and looking to save a few dollars on your new grill, this is definitely a great product to consider. There were many reviews talking about how they couldn’t believe they got such a high-quality product for less than they would have paid for another company’s grill.


Having a grill that basically cleans itself, for the most part, was another upside to buying a Woodwind grill. Camp Chef’s patented technology cut the grill cleaning time into half for most people using the product. This allowed them to have more time to just focus on the food or other more important things than emptying the grill of ash.


Another aspect that came up in reviews frequently was the additional perk of having a separate sear box. While it does make the product a little more expensive, most reviewers who made the choice to include that in their purchase have been very happy with it. It allows them a wonderful mix of a hardwood, smoky taste and being able to sear their meat to the perfect degree every time. This is a very unique feature that you definitely don’t get with any pellet grills besides this one.


The reviews also praised the customer service a lot as well. If they were in need of assistance assembling a product, having something replaced, issuing a complaint, or any other problem needed to be handled, their customer service was able to do the job well. Having a good department to talk to their customers has an enormous say in how the business will be perceived, so this is a great look for the company.


Assembly was also said to be very simple and straightforward. It can be very frustrating to have a product come in the mail that is difficult or impossible to assemble – that is definitely not the case with the Woodwind grill. Reviews that mentioned the assembly had a lot of good things to say about how easy it was, and if they noticed anything missing or broken their customer service was able to fix it very quickly and efficiently.


The last positive aspect we noticed a lot of mentions of in the reviews was the warranty. Camp Chef offers a 3 year extended warranty on this product, which is a lot longer than its competitors. This will give you peace of mind if you are worried about something breaking or aren’t sure how long everything will last.

Camp Chef - Golden Spike Oval Dutch Oven

Negative

Now there were a few negative aspects to be mentioned by customers as well.


The one that came up the most frequently was a common error with the temperature probe. There were a decent amount of reviews that mentioned the thermometer came to them not working at all. When they called Camp Chef’s customer service department to have it resolved, they were told it was a common issue and that a new one would be sent out. It looks like the product shorts out fairly frequently. It is definitely not a deal breaker, but it is a good point to note if you are considering buying one.


While the customer service was generally praised overall for their politeness and efficiency, there were a few complaints about them as well. For some customers, they experienced a several day timeframe of waiting for a representative to get back to them about the issues they had with their product. They don’t have a customer service department that is open all the time, so sometimes it was a lengthier wait to be helped.


Another negative that was mentioned was that the grill rattled and was difficult to move around at times. Some reviews mentioned that they either had a really hard time moving the grill to different locations, or they did not want to because they knew it would be difficult or impossible. This is definitely something important to keep in mind if you are looking for something you can move around easily and take camping.

How it Compares

All in all, this is a pretty impressive set up. Compared to other models, you are getting a lot of high- quality, awesome features without paying that bigger price.

We also really like the extended three year warranty, the different pricing options, and the easy to clean ash technology. For what you pay for this product, it has so many wonderful features to take advantage of.

Our favorite aspect overall was definitely the sear box. It is definitely the perfect addition to an already fantastic grill, giving that extra high quality feature to make your meat taste even better.

What We Think

This is definitely both a product and a company we can recommend. The features, customer service, and fantastic products are most certainly worth both your time and money.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the Woodwind grills?

smoker grill

Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Let’s See What Is Suitable For You

If you are interested in, or are an avid enthusiast of pellet grills, you have definitely heard of the companies REC TEC and Traeger.

Both companies make high quality, well-known and loved products and pellet grills. So, which one should you buy from? If you have narrowed it down to the two of these companies, how on earth do you choose?

We will be taking a detailed look at both REC TEC and Traeger to see which one is truly the superior company with the best products. Between quality of products, customer service, pricing, customer reviews, and sizing, there is a lot to consider.

What are REC TEC and Traeger?

REC TEC and Traeger are both high quality, established companies that specialize in grills that use pellets to cook meat. Let’s look at both companies separately.

REC TEC

REC TEC is a much newer company – it was established in 2011 by two friends hoping to create a better product than what they had been using to grill over the years

They started out in their garages selling their products after making many prototypes to find the perfect combination. After that they opened up their first physical store in Augusta, Georgia. Now, 7 years later they sell their products all over the United States.

Their focus is having the highest quality, especially when it comes to temperature control. They use Smart Grill Technology to ensure that the flavors and temperatures are perfect every time you use their grills.

Traeger

Traeger is a company that has been around for quite a bit longer. They were established in 1985 and have always been the most popular brand to buy pellet grills from.

This company has been around longer than any other company selling pellet grills, so they have had more time to perfect their products and design. They offer over a dozen different designs with different features, colors, shapes, and sizes.

What is Unique About Them?

Now let’s compare the unique qualities and designs of the two companies and their grills.

REC TEC

Because this company is still fairly new, they came into the pellet grill world with smart technology already in place on the first grills they began selling. Their patented technology for temperature control allows you to maintain temperatures over much longer periods of time, and you are able to adjust the temperature in 5-degree increments, Their range also goes up to 500 degrees, which is 100 degrees higher than Traeger’s highest temperature.

REC TEC offers 4 different kinds of pellet grills, the first one being their REC TEC Grills Bull (RT-700) which offers 1054 square inches of cooking space. They also have the REC TEC Grills Stampede (RT-590), the Grills Trailblazer (RT-340), and the REC TEC Wood Pellet Grill (RT-680). This is definitely an area where Traeger has the lead, considering that they have so many more options for grills than REC TEC does.

This company also offers so many customization options – which is definitely a win for them. With their grills you are able to add extra shelves, wood pellets, sauces, etc. This is one option that you don’t get when buying a Traeger grill.

As far as customer service, there have been overwhelming, multiple positive stories about REC TEC and their service. A lot of reviews have mentioned that managers in their customer service department will call them back even if it’s a weekend or holiday. The only downside we could really see when it comes to their customer service is that they do not have a dealer network yet, which could do a lot for customer convenience and satisfaction.

Traeger

When it comes to Traeger, they have the many, many years of experience to explain the quality of their technology in grills. They were even one of the first companies to include a digital temperature control in their products. Over 30 years they have been able to perfect the smart grill to come up with a design that maintains temperature perfectly. Like we mentioned before however, the only downside would be that their grills only go up to 400 degrees, while REC TEC products go up to 500.

Traeger also has an absolutely incredible range in different choices for pellet grills. They offer over 20 different products of different shapes, sizes, and materials. One of their most popular grills is their Renegade Pro Grill, which has been advertised on TV and comes with two bags of pellets, chicken rub, a chicken throne, a pizza grilling kit, and a three-year warranty. That is pretty hard to beat.

Their customer service is also considered to be one of the highest rated when it comes to grill companies. No matter what the issue is, the company is willing to fix or replace whatever happened. Having that nice three-year warranty is definitely a big help too. On top of that, Traeger products are also sold by third party vendors like Amazon, so if you need replacement parts you can look other places too.

Pricing

As far as pricing is concerned, it is really difficult to compare the two companies – since Traeger has such a large selection of products, the range will not mean as much in the comparison.

REC TEC’s products range from their cheapest pellet grill at $599.00 to $1199.00 as their most expensive option. As for Traeger, their products go from $499.00 to $1999.00, but it’s over a much wider range of different products.

Looking at the features that the two companies offer for grills around the same price, they look to be pretty comparable overall. Traeger’s Texas Elite Pellet Grill and the REC TEC Grill Stampede are both $899.00 apiece. When we compare the two, the Texas Elite does have a larger cooking space at 646 square inches (compared to the Grill Stampede’s 592), and most of the other features are pretty similar as well. However, Traeger is still the definite winner when it comes to product choices.

Public Perception (Other REC TEC and Traeger Reviews) 

Now let’s take a look at what other customers thought of the companies.

REC TEC

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The subject that comes up in most of the reviews online about REC TEC is how wonderful their customer service is. A lot of people who bought their products have mentioned having wonderful service whether they have to email, call or go see them in person. A few reviews even mentioned talking to the co-founders when big issues arose, and that they were able to fix everything without a problem. Overall this is the number one aspect that got people excited about REC TEC products.

Something else that came up frequently was the temperature control. A lot of reviewers mentioned that previous grills had inconvenient hot spots or just bad control all together. However, when they tried the REC TEC brand, they were pleasantly surprised by just how perfectly controlled it was. If they set it to a temperature it would stay there until they changed it. The only downside mentioned as far as the temperature was concerned was that the grill did, of course, heat up more if placed in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

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Reviews also frequently mentioned the pricing when talking about the products. While searching for the perfect pellet grill, they found that the prices were extremely reasonable for the same features and high quality that other companies offered at a much higher price. The money and quality balance is definitely in the customer’s favor when it comes to REC TEC grills.

As far as downsides are concerned, the only big one that we saw in reviews online were the fact that the igniter is said to go bad occasionally. When customers discovered this and had to call customer service to fix it, their fantastic team was usually able to resolve the issue quickly. They also have a very helpful video online if it needs to be fixed as well – however it is an important aspect to keep in mind if it is something you would like to avoid altogether.

Traeger

One of the most frequently mentioned features that reviewers really liked about this grill was that it would start up even in completely freezing weather. No matter what the temperature was, users were able to start up the grill, get it up to the perfect temperature, and then cook food on it without a problem.

Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker,...
  • Never use gas or charcoal again: cooking with wood just tastes better. Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as...
  • Versatile barbecue cooking: hot and fast, or low and slow, the Traeger Pro Series 34 pellet grill offers 6-in-1...
  • Precision temperature control: The Digital Pro Controller rocks Advanced Grilling Logic, which maintains a +/- 15 degree...

Another quality that customers loved was how easy the grill was to assemble after having it delivered to their home. While other grills had given them issues in the past, their Traeger grills were said to be fairly simple and straightforward, making them a convenient choice for the future as well.

Reviewers also loved how it was perfect for grilling or smoking any type of meat or food that they wanted. No matter the temperature, type of food, or weather outside, they could make what they wanted to with ease.

Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker,...

For negatives, there were a few mentioned in the reviews as well.

The first one that came up a few times from customers was temperature irregularity. This wasn’t a widespread issue, but there were a few users that complained that the temperature could not be regulated easily and that it was frequently off by 20 degrees or so. Again, this wasn’t an issue for everyone, but it is a good thing to keep in mind,

One other negative that was mentioned in a few reviews that if the product was shipped to their homes, sometimes they would come with broken wheels, legs, or other vital part of the grill. Their customer service department was, of course, able to ship out new parts right away, but they still had the inconvenient experience of having to contact them for new parts for a brand-new grill.

How They Compare: REC TEC Vs. Traeger 

After looking at all the information we could find on these two companies, there definitely is a clear winner.

Traeger, being around for 30 years, having all that to perfect their products and to expand their business much further than REC TEC, is definitely the winner. They have a far bigger selection of products for their customers, and their expertise level cannot be beat.

However, when it comes to customer service, after looking at the customer reviews, we definitely think that REC TEC has a lot going for it. There were virtually no negative reviews about any representatives from the company – every customer that had to talk to them was pleased afterwards. While Traeger is also said to have an excellent customer service department, REC TEC did win this round.

What We Think

grilling sausages

Image source: Pixabay

With time, we may see REC TEC rise to the same level as Traeger, once they have had years and years of experience. However, for a company that just started in 2011, they are doing a fantastic job for themselves.

Each company has a lot to offer, and you can’t go wrong choosing one or the other. If you have bought from one of the companies before, what was your experience like? Would you buy from them again?

traeger century 22

Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill Review – Professional-Grade Grill

​You have decided to invest in a high-quality, professional-grade grill before the summer barbecue season gets underway. A top-rated grill is a great investment for any size family because it allows you to cook food in a more energy efficient way while you get to spend more time with each other outdoors.

Now that you have decided to buy a grill, it is time to look at the different types and figure out which is best for you.

Barbecue grills are available in many different sizes and can include a host of features that make the buying process very overwhelming. There are gas, charcoal, electric, and wood-fired grills which all have their advantages and disadvantages to consider.

One of the most versatile types of grills would have to be the wood pellet grill. These professional-grade cookers are capable of slow-cooking your favorite poultry, fish, steaks, burgers and more at a consistent temperature. Most pellet grills are not capable of going above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore you can be assured that your meat will not overcook or be dried out.

The wood pellets that are used to fuel the grill and give the food its smoky flavor are made from various hardwood species. These small capsule-shaped pellets may be derived from Mesquite, Hickory, or Cherry wood varieties and will give any meat you prepare an intense flavor.

About the Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill

traeger century 22

Traeger is a popular grill manufacturing company headquartered in Oregon that specializes in creating wood pellet grills. The owner of the company invented the first pellet grill in the early 1980s and began selling them to the public by 1988. Traeger has set the bar for making high-quality professional-grade grills at a price that anyone can afford.

The Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill is a 6-in-1 cooker that can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, or barbecue all types of meat. It features a large cooking space that allows you to prepare plenty of food for a family get-together. It includes many modernized features like the Digital Elite Controller LED Display for accurately setting the internal temperature.

The Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill is capable of cooking meat either low and slow or hot and fast. And you get to enjoy delicious, consistent results every time you use it.

The Benefits of Owning a Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill

The Century 22 Grill is made by the original wood pellet grill company. You get a great value for the price and only need one unit to grill, smoke, braise, bake, or roast your favorite meats. This spacious backyard grill provides you with plenty of cooking space so that you can entertain as many guests as you please.

Top features for this grill include the dual meat thermometers that let you check the internal temperature without even lifting the lid, and the convenient grease management system that helps you keep the unit clean and prolong its use.

The Antique Barrel Design

unique barrel design

There are many things to love about this convenient and versatile grill. It features a traditional design that is reminiscent of old wood smokers, and it will make a great addition to your patio or deck regardless of your current décor. Everything from the smoke stack to the classic barrel design gives this grill an old-fashioned, antique look that grilling experts are sure to appreciate.

The barrel on this 22-inch grill does more than add aesthetic value to the product. The design which has been used for many years helps to maximize the cooking space inside giving you the option to prepare large amounts of food at once.

The New Warming Rack

There are several features that are universal all throughout the Traeger brand, while others are only offered through a specific line. The Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill includes a brand-new feature which is the removable warming rack. This rack will help keep hamburger and hot dog buns, fresh rolls, and side dishes warm while you wait for the main course to finish cooking. Now you can serve the entire meal at once without worrying about some dishes being too cold.

The Dual Probe Thermometers

The best feature that is available on most of Traeger’s higher-end grill is the dual probe meat thermometers. These built-in thermometers allow you to check the internal temperature of the grill at any time, all without lifting the lid of the grill. This helps you keep track of the heat and monitor it closely without letting any of it escape. And since there are two meat thermometers, you can check the temperature of two types of meat at once.

Heat-Controlling Technology

Inside the grill, the heat temperature is constantly controlled using Traeger’s most advanced controller to date. It keeps the cooking temperature at the desired level and it remains within +/- 15 degrees of the set temperature at all times.

Two Color Options

While it may not be a deciding factor for some customers, it’s nice to have a grill that actually looks good on your patio, deck, or in your backyard. The Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill is available in either Blue or Bronze colors, and they both feature the company’s logo stamped on the lid.

Accessories to Enjoy

There are several great accessories offered by Traeger that will work well with this and other grills from the brand. These accessories help you customize your grill and make it even more versatile than before. Some of the most popular include folding front shelves and bottom cart shelves to store your frequently used necessities.

Other favorites include a cold smoker, digital thermometers, chicken thrones, pizza kits, and extra grill racks. The brand also sells their own line of wooden pellets, rubs and other types of seasoning that you can use with your favorite recipes. Each of these accessories mentioned is all sold separately unless they are a part of Traeger’s official grill package deals.

Extras for the Serious Grill Master

The Traeger Century 22 Grill features an easy-to-use thermostat that is similar to your conventional oven. It has an auto start switch to ensure that your grill heats up every time you want to use it. There is also a bold LED display that is easy to read and allows you to monitor the cooking process.

The grill sits firmly on a sawhorse style frame that is strong and durable enough to hold it up. There is also a set of all-terrain wheels on the frame that allows you to transport the grill to tailgate parties, campsites, lakeside fishing holes, and more.

The Top Features of the Traeger Century 22 Grill

There are many exceptional features available on the Century 22 Grill by Traeger, including:

  • 572 square inches of cooking space
  • A Digital Elite Controller with LED display that allows you to maintain a precise temperature while cooking, similar to a conventional oven.
  • This grill is fueled by pure hardwood pellets.
  • It features the brand-new Traeger warming drawer that is perfect for buns or rolls.
  • The wood pellet hopper clean-out feature makes this grill low-maintenance.
  • This Century 22 grill includes an extra grill rack if needed for even more grilling capacity.
  • There is a bottom storage shelf where you can place all your necessities like seasoning and utensils.
  • The electronic auto-start ignition ensures a fast and efficient start every time you use it.
  • You have the option to grill, bake, roast, smoke, BBQ, and braise with this versatile grill. 

What Customers Love About This Grill

Traeger is an industry-leading brand for a reason. Their products receive countless 5-star reviews from satisfied customers. There are plenty of things that people love about the Century 22 grill. Here are a few excerpts from positive reviews.

Owners love that they can use the smoker all year round thanks to how well it is insulated. Even colder temperatures outdoors don’t seem to have a bad effect on the internal temperature of the grill. The pellet grill is very easy to use, even for a beginner. And it provides you with a nice, slow cook when needed, or a faster cook for those times when you’re in a hurry.

There are some who compare the Century 22 to an outdoor oven because of how precise the internal temperature can be. One reviewer mentioned that they even used the grill to prepare their turkey for Christmas dinner.

Another reviewer gave the Century 22 grill excellent reviews because you don’t have to babysit the smoker to enjoy amazing, tender and juicy meat afterward. You can set it and forget it like many of today’s modern kitchen appliances.

And if you must check the temperature just to see if it's working correctly, you can do so without disturbing the internal temperature thanks to the dual meat thermometer probes that are built in.

One review stated that the Century 22 wood pellet grill is the best Traeger product yet. They said that this product was the top of the line because it was built in a traditional manner yet is still meets today’s standards for quality and performance.

They liked that it was the only unit to come with a warmer rack and appreciated that there was a storage area at the bottom perfect for spices and tools.

Overall, there are very few complaints about this versatile wood pellet grill. Owners seem to be very pleased with the results of grilling, smoking, and roasting their favorite meats and side dishes.

Some have even mentioned that they stopped using their indoor oven for several months after they purchased their Traeger grill. Owners also appreciate the modernized extras that are included and like the old-fashioned design as well

The Disadvantages of the Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill

Century 22 Pellet Grill

There are very few things that consumers dislike about the Traeger Century 22 Grill. Aside from being one of the more expensive backyard grills on the market, most feel that it is a great investment.

The Century 22 grill is capable of taking on practically any grilling job that you have in mind. However, the grill’s maximum temperature is 450 degrees. While that heat level is sufficient for most grillers, some experts may prefer a grill that can provide them with more heat if needed.

There are several other Traeger pellet grills that are capable of reaching temperatures as high as 700 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the grill is portable thanks to the all-terrain wheels, it is not lightweight. It weighs 103 lbs. and measures 49” x 41” x 27”. Some users may need assistance moving the grill around or transporting to another location.

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage if you are hoping to buy a new Century 22 grill is that they are no longer available on the official website and can also be difficult to find from major online or offline retailers like Amazon, Target or Walmart.

While you can still find plenty of other Traeger wood pellet grills on the market, this particular model appears to have either been a limited edition or has been discontinued. Therefore, your best option for buying a Century 22 Grill is to check out local listings or auction sites such as eBay for a used grill.

Since they are a Traeger product, you can be assured that a used grill will work as expected as long as it has been cleaned and maintained well over the years.

Is the Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill the Best Choice for You?

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​​There are many reasons why you should consider buying the Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill. It is designed and manufactured by the same company that invented pellet grills more than 30 years ago. It is strong, durable, built to last, and provides you with enough space to grill up a multitude of burgers or steaks for your family and friends.

If you are looking for a dependable grill to invest in that is versatile enough to handle a variety of cooking styles, the Traeger Century 22 Wood Pellet Grill is the perfect choice for you.

Camp Chef PG24

Camp Chef PG24 Review: Style, Features, And More

Pellet grills are becoming a bigger deal every passing year – more and more companies are making them and creating new designs for units that don’t use gas or charcoal. The Camp Chef PG24 has its own design, and today we'll look at its layout.

We'll take a look at the price, unique features, customer reviews, comparisons to other grills, and more.

It is also important to keep in mind how many people this product can feed and the amount of food you can cook at once. Therefore, we'll discuss the cooking space as well.

What is the Camp Chef PG24 and How Does it Work?

The Camp Chef PG24 is a grill and smoker that provides consistent results every time you use it. The unit has a practical digital temperature readout, and a simple temperature setting system.

Because it uses wood pellets to fuel the heat rather than charcoal or gas, your food comes out with a hardwood, smoky flavor every time.

The product has a cooking area of 429 square inches, a second cooking rack with an extra 141 square inches, and a hopper capacity of 18 pounds. You can cook between 160 and 500 degrees, which is about one hundred degrees higher than a lot of competitor grills like Traeger.

Their system also includes ash cleanout for the pellet hopper, pellet purge system, grease management system, an electronic auto ignition, and a shutdown mode. We will get more into those individual features in the next section of the review.

What Makes the Camp Chef PG24 Unique?

Here are some of the key features that Camp Chef offers for this particular grill.

Camp Chef SmokePro DLX PG24 Pellet Grill With Patio Cover - Bundle...
  • Camp Chef SmokePro DLX PG24 (Full-Length Cover, $55 Value)
  • Best Value Full-Feature Pellet Grill and Smoker in the Industry 2017
  • Patented Ash Clean-out System, Pellet Purge, and Grease Management System

Ash Cleanout System

The first aspect of this model is the Ash Cleanout system. It allows you to  pull a lever to empty all of the ash from the fire box instead of having to vacuum out the grill every time you cook on it.

This is a fantastic feature to have –it is a common complaint of grill owners that their grills are incredibly difficult to clean out after using them.

Automatic Pellet Auger and Electronic Auto Start Ignition

Grilling is a much more pleasant experience when you don’t have to continually light up the unit or refill the fuel throughout the process. The company added an automatic pellet auger that fuels the fire pot with pellets automatically when needed. They also included an autostart ignition, which sets fire to the pellets when necessary. The temperature control unit directs the entire process – when more heat is needed, the automatic auger pushes more pellets into the fire pot, and the auto-ignition continuously lights them.

Large Capacity Pellet Hopper

Having a larger pellet hopper is a good idea, simply because it stops you from having to refill it multiple times while grilling or smoking.

The Camp Chef PG24 offers a massive pellet storage space in the big hopper. Once you have it loaded, you won't have to do it again for at least another session of cooking on the grill.

Digital Control System and Dual LED Temperature Readout

The design of this grill gives you  effective control over the temperature. You can set the perfect temperature no matter what you are grilling, and walk away for it to cook on its own. There's also the dual LED readout for the temperature that will help you monitor the temperature accurately. This is great if you want to keep the lid closed for a long period of time.

Durable Meat Probe 

This unit also comes with a convenient, nicely built-in meat probe for you to check the temperature inside the meat. When you stick the probe into the meat, the other end of it goes into an input socket. This allows you to check the digital LED output monitor to see the temperature inside to make sure it is cooked properly.

Portability

Camp Chef also made this design extremely durable, making it easier to transport than some of its competitors. The product has two sturdy castors for added firmness – which makes the smoker more stable and less prone to breaking if it is moved around.

Pricing

This grill is  fairly affordable, and one of the best options for a pellet grill. 

Some retailers offer similar products that will cost you a lot more, even by hundreds of dollars. REC TEC has a comparable model, and it costs $1598.00 brand new on their site. A lot of Traeger’s  models are also more than the Camp Chef PG24.

Public Perception (Other Camp Chef PG24 Reviews)

Let’s take a look at what other customers thought of this product. We will divide the positive reviews and the negative ones in order to see all the pros and cons of owning this pellet grill and smoker.

Positive


The first aspect we noticed in the customer reviews online was how pleased they were with the temperature control. A lot of the comments specifically mentioned how wonderful it was to be able to set the temperature, place the meat in the smoker, and have the ability to walk away for several hours without worrying about how the food will turn out.


Another quality that buyers really enjoyed was Camp Chef’s customer service. If there were any issues with shipping, products, or anything else, the company went out of their way to fix the problems and make them happy.


The price was also a huge upside for reviewers. Having such a high-quality product that provides the buyer with so many different features at such a low price is rare, and an exciting aspect for the customer. Those who mentioned trying bigger, more well-known brands said that they spent a lot more and got a lot less than when they tried the Camp Chef PG24.


Something else that customers raved about was how easy the product was to clean. As we talked about before, this grill offers Camp Chef’s Ash Cleanout System, which makes sure all the ash and other debris is blown out after every  grilling or smoking session. Not having to bend over and scrub out the grill or use a vacuum  is a huge plus.


Another positive mentioned is how efficiently it uses pellets. Buying wood con for your grill—while not as expensive as gas or charcoal— will  add up and cost you a decent amount over time. However, using a grill that burns them carefully will save you money and time in the long run. Customers really liked how they bought pellets less frequently with this product.


Lastly, users really loved the fact that the design came with its own very easy to use meat probe. This allowed them to easily, quickly, and safely take the temperature of the meat to make sure it is being cooked correctly.

burgers on a grilll camp chef pg24

Negative


While the reviews were overwhelmingly positive, there were a few negative things that customers noticed that we will point out.


The first downside is the warranty. A lot of designs  offer a 2 year, 3-year, or  longer warranty for their products. However, for this particular grill, it only lasts one year. Many customers complained that this simply wasn’t long enough, especially by the industry standards. It also did not allow for any issues that occurred over a longer period.


Another negative mentioned was the way the grills were shipped if ordered online. Whether customers ordered them from the company website or other online merchants, a decent amount of them complained that the products were handled badly and arrived damaged. Not all of them had serious issues, but often there was enough damage to warrant a call to customer service or a complete return altogether.


While a lot of the buyers did love the fact that Camp Chef provides a meat probe to safely measure the temperature of the meat, there were a few reviews that mentioned a need to return it after just a few months of use. Luckily, as long as it was replaced within a year, it was covered under the warranty. However, it is still an inconvenience and should be kept in mind if you plan on purchasing a grill from them.


There were also a few complaints of the grill shutting off randomly in the middle of a cooking. While there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of complaints that mentioned this, it is an important aspect to remember while buying a grill.

How it Compares

This design definitely has a lot of fantastic qualities going for it.

When it comes to getting the grill clean after a cooking session, we did not see a model that could beat the Camp Chef PG 24. Having a whole system that cleans out the ash and debris for you is a huge advantage.

Camp Chef SmokePro DLX PG24 Pellet Grill With Patio Cover - Bundle...

Quality

Price

Rating

$$$

Pricing is definitely a big upside as well. Getting so many fantastic features within the grill for such a reasonable price cannot be overstated. If you are on a budget and looking for a high-quality smoker, this is definitely one worth considering.

One aspect that doesn’t hold up when compared to other models is definitely the warranty. Like we discussed before, having only a one-year warranty for a grill like this is below the standard for the grill industry and does not allow for any long-term issues that may occur with the smoker.

The only other thing we would advise you look out for if you are considering purchasing one of these grills is having it shipped to your house. Because there were some complaints of parts coming in completely broken or bent, it is important to note if you are shopping online for this grill.

The Best Food To Put On A Pellet Grill

Sometimes you have to give dinner a little more flair. If your meals have become mundane, check out these food ideas:

Pulled Pork

There are so many ways you can turn pulled pork into a delicious meal. Place it in between two buns with a dollop of coleslaw, or put it over some chips for bbq nachos—both are crowd pleasers!

Smoked Salmon

You can never go wrong with putting salmon in the grill. You can top it with mango salsa or slather it with bbq sauce. No matter which version you choose, it’ll be delicious.

Beer Can Chicken

This is a fun recipe that’s perfect for cookouts and tailgating. It goes great with loaded baked potatoes and grilled veggies. It’s yummy.

Flatbread Pizza

You don’t generally think of pizza when you think of grilling, but smokers make awesome pizza. This option is perfect for people who aren’t big meat eaters and want to try something different. Throw on your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Final Thoughts On The Camp Chef PG24

This product and company is definitely worth your time and money. It’s affordable, a fantastic design, and has wonderful customer service to back it up if any problems arise.

If you have bought this particular grill before, what are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with the review?

Pit Boss 820 Review

Pit Boss Pellet Reviews: Grilling 101

As grilling season gears into full swing, you might be wondering what kind of grill you’ll need for your cooking endeavors this year. If so, don't worry. These Pit Boss 820 reviews will help you out.

We’ve collected together information to help you understand which kind of grill or smoker you might need, and the types of wood to use for the food you’re cooking. We’ve also pulled together a review based on real-life users of the Pit Boss 820.

What Types of Grills Are There?

Knowing the types of grills available can help you determine the type of grill that will most effectively meet your needs.

Propane or Gas Grills

Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill, Black
  • Your purchase includes One Weber Spirit II E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Grill in Black color
  • Grill dimensions: Lid Open - 57"H x 48"W x 26"D. Lid Closed - 44.5"H x 48"W x 27"D. Each cooking grate is 10.16” x...
  • Propane gas grill works with Standard 20 lb LP tank.

One of the easiest types of grills to use and clean is a propane or natural gas grill—which is great for when you're in a hurry.

Gas grills often have smoker boxes, but smoky flavor isn’t a strong feature.

Charcoal Grills

Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black
  • CHARCOAL GRILL - Barrel style BBQ Grill with heavy duty steel construction and powder coating finish, the perfect...
  • LARGE COOKING AREA - 250 square inch total cooking area delivers exceptional taste and charcoal flavor
  • BARBECUE GRILL FEATURES - Thick Cast Iron Cooking Grates, Bottom Storage Rack, Heavy-Duty Steel Construction, Side Air...

The classic grilled flavor that most of us grew up with comes from a charcoal grill and its flame broiler. Many hard-core cooks and meat smokers won’t use anything but a charcoal unit. They love the smoky flavors and deep sear marks given from it versus any other grill.

Smaller, portable charcoal models usually don’t cost as much; however, they are perfect for camping, picnics, and other outings.

Electric Grills

On the other hand, electric grills are one of the easiest to use because they don’t involve flames and has a digital control. They’re great for people who have strict housing rules. Patios or porches and decks attached to buildings often do not permit charcoal, gas, or pellet grills, but electric grills are acceptable.

Electric grills may also come in both indoor and outdoor options. Plus, they are usually stainless steel or porcelain coated, which gives them a pristine look.

The main disadvantage of an electric grill is that they really don’t offer a smoky flavor— unless you purchase one that’s specifically uses wood chunks.

Pellet Grills

Pellet grills or pellet smokers are great and offer lots of versatility. They combine the elements of a charcoal smoker, kitchen oven, and gas grill.

Pellet smokers or grills are only appropriate for open air, outdoor spaces. However, each brand will vary, but pellet grills function in a variety of ways:

  • Baking
  • Smoking
  • Grilling
  • Barbecuing
  • Char-grilling
  • Roasting
  • Braising
  • Searing

Like charcoal grills, pellet units offer some of the best flavors to your food. But, you’ll have to choose the right wood chips for the right taste, though.

Pellet grills quickly smoke food and automatically feed the pellets for you. Therefore, meaning you don’t have to pay as close attention while grilling.

Also, pellet models feature electronic controls which help you regulate the unit’s airflow, and maintain and regulate cooking temperatures. 

The fuel for pellet grills comes from a variety of wood sources, all of which give distinctive flavors to your meat and veggies. For specific suggestions on what kind of to use, see the list below.

Pellets give a cleaner burn than charcoal, which makes some  people feel safer using them for cooking. On the other hand, you must use food-grade pellets, or you could risk health problems from ingesting toxic smoke.

What is Smoking Meat?

Smoking meat is a process of flavoring and preserving meat by allowing it to be exposed to smoke. This technique dates back to prehistoric times and has been used throughout history for preserving food.

There are four basic meat smoking methods used.

Hot Smoking

hot smoking

Hot smoking is the most common process. When most people think of smoking meat, this is the process that comes to mind.

The hot smoking procedure includes an enclosed environment, such as a smokehouse or oven. When the food is placed in the smokers, the temperatures range from 126 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit.

Warm Smoking

kebab

Warm smoking is a process similar to that of hot smoking, except it takes place at a lower temperature. The temperatures are set between 77 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and it takes longer than hot smoking.

Cold Smoking

tuna barbeque

Cold smoking is the technique of preserving meat in which the meat remains raw throughout the process. Because the process does not cook the meat, it is cured beforehand.

By utilizing temperatures between 68 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the food is smoked to help give it a rich taste. Some of the different types of meat that are used in this process include salmon, scallops, steak, and beef.

After the cold smoking process, you can grill, steam, bake, or roast your food before consumption.

Liquid Smoking

grilling meat

Liquid smoking is dipping or spraying liquid to meat to replicate the taste of smoked meat flavor. 

The liquid smoke product is often added to things like barbecue sauce to add that rich, smoky taste.

A Brief History of Pellet Grills

Pellet grills were created a few decades after the advent of pellet heaters in the early 1930s. Pellet heaters became useful in the 1970s, during the shortage of oil during the crisis.

A decade after the crisis, Joe Traeger—the owner of a family-based heating business— started exploring the possibilities of using pellets for grills. In 1985, he produced his first unit and received his patent for the grill one year later.

Before You Begin Grilling and Smoking

One of the most important aspects of successfully cooking and smoking delicious food is selecting the right wood pellets.

It can get confusing, so we’ve pulled together the best types of wood to choose.

Wood Types for Cooking and Smoking Pork

  • Birch
  • Cherry
  • Pear
  • Oak
  • Citrus
  • Alder
  • Almond
  • Plum
  • Pecan
  • Apricot
  • Hickory
  • Maple
  • Peach
  • Nectarine

Woods Types for Cooking and Smoking Beef

  • Pecan
  • Walnut
  • Hickory
  • Cherry
  • Mesquite
  • Oak
  • Almond
  • Ash
  • Citrus

Char-Griller E1515 Patio Pro Charcoal Grill, Black

Wood Types for Cooking and Smoking Poultry

  • Alder
  • Apricot
  • Plum
  • Almond
  • Pear
  • Pecan
  • Maple
  • Mesquite
  • Birch
  • Cherry
  • Citrus
  • Peach
  • Nectarine

Wood Types for Cooking and Smoking Cheese

  • Walnut
  • Maple
  • Alder
  • Almond
  • Apple
  • Cherry
  • Hickory – for a harder smoke flavor Orange
  • Corn cob
  • Pecan
  • Pear
  • Peach
  • Cherry
  • Oak

Indoor Electric Grill Indoor Electric Grill

Wood Types for Cooking and Smoking Fish

  • Ash
  • Citrus
  • Alder
  • Almond
  • Peach
  • Apricot
  • Lilac
  • Nectarine
  • Mesquite
  • Oak
  • Plum

How to Cook and Smoke with Wood Pellets

1. Get Your Pellets and Hopper Ready

After you’ve gotten your pellet grill set up and seasoned, you’re ready to go.

You’ll need to open the pellet hopper, which are on the back or the side of the grill.

 Don’t forget to close the hopper lid.

2. Ready Your Grill and​​​​ Turn it On

Just like with other types of grills, you have a little bit of preparation work. Thankfully, pellet grills are easy to understand because they have electronic control panels. 

Find the cooking mode and turn it to “Cook.” 

Next, you’ll need to set the control to “Ignite,” and the press the “Start” button.

3. Make Adjustments According to the Plans

Once you see smoke coming out, close the lid.

Wait for the smoke to clear and look for the flame in the burn pot. Once you see that, your grill is ready for use.

4. Preheat Your Grill

Now that your grill is ready, you’ll need to pre-heat it according to the food you’re planning to cook. Turn the control to the “Pre-heat” mode, and let it run for about 10 to 15 minutes.

5. Use Your Recipes and Plans

Your recipes or plans will give specific instructions for the temperatures you’re going to need to set your unit for preparing your food. A basic guideline is:

  • 500-550 degrees Fahrenheit for lamb chops, steak, and hamburgers.
  • 350 degrees Fahrenheit is standard for cooking ham, pork, and chicken.
  • 310 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect for cooking turkey or doing slow cooking for  ribs.

You’ll need to flip veggies and meats throughout the process of cooking, so make you sure you keep an eye on the clock to help avoid burning one side or the other.

6. Clean that Grill

After you’ve removed all of your food, it’s important to clean the grill to both maintain its quality, prolong its life, and make your unit easier to use in future.

Turn the heat to high to burn off the food residue. If you were smoking with the grill, remember to re-set the control back to “Cook.” This should take about ten minutes.

After the grill is clean, turn off the heat and let the grill cool before using brushes or cleansers to clean up the fallen residue or ash.

What is the Pit Boss 820?

55.25' Wood Pellet Grill

The Pit Boss 820 is a pellet smoker marketed by Dansons. The Pit Boss line offers different models which include the Small 340, Medium 440 Deluxe, Large 820, and 820 Deluxe. The number in the name indicates the number of square inches of space used for cooking/smoking surface. So, the Pit Boss 820 has 820 square inches of cooking and warming space.

The Pit Boss has a 16-gauge black coated steel cast iron grate and has a secondary removable cooking rack and wire lower shelf. It also includes a handle on the left side of the grill to aid in moving the smoker across cement aprons, grassy yards, or even gravel.

What Do the Pit Boss 820 Reviews Say About the Grill?

Positive Pit Boss 820 Reviews

While the Pit Boss 820 is similar to a variety of models from Traeger, the Pit Boss models are significantly less expensive than Traegers. If you’re on a tighter budget, that’s definitely a positive worth noting. Professional reviewers have stated that it is similar to the more expensive models—so it's worth purchasing.

Some positive reviews advised that the grill is easy to use. They’re simple  that rookie grill masters feel great about their new found interest, and the Pit Boss helps to perpetuate their hobby. 

It also has a built-in safety feature that’s handy for newbies. The screen cover on the hopper helps to prevent you from burning your fingers. If you’re clumsy, that’s definitely a feature you’ll want to keep in mind as you look at pellet grills.

Negative Pit Boss 820 Reviews

One thing that reviewers noted is that the warranties for the Pit Boss are for one year, while other brands, like Traeger, are three years. 

Another downside is the electronics in the control panel make the Pit Boss require a steady electrical connection, unlike non-electric models.

One of the specific negatives about the unit is that it apparently requires a lot of pellets to keep the temperatures high enough. 

Final Thoughts On Pit Boss 820 Reviews

Overall, the Pit Boss 820 is a great model that compares with higher end models for  less money. You won’t get the top of the line, but the machine is sturdy.

This model offers a one-year warranty, safety features, and other positives that earn it our recommendation for one of the best lower-budget pellet grills.

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Bradley Smokers Original Smoker Review

www.hotsmoked.co.uk

The best thing about Electric smokers is that they operate on a simple philosophy of set it and then forget it. You do not have to spend on buying charcoal and will not be left over with ash to clean up at the end of cooking. You can simple use them to get tender and mouthwatering meal.

Bradley Smokers original smoker is a huge refrigerator sized electric smoker. It makes it easy and simple for a professional chef or even an amateur to prepare restaurant style smoked meat. If you are looking for perfection and do not compromise on quality then Bradley Smokers original smoker is the most suitable choice. The electric smoker is very easy to operate and is thermostatically temperature controlled.

Outstanding Features of Bradley Smokers Original Smoker:

Bradley is a brand with established reputation in the market for creating finest quality smokers. This refrigerator sized smoker is the best product offered by the brand.Bradley Smokers original smoker can be used either for slow cooking or for slow roasting. Let’s take a look at this highly desirable and extremely durable electric smoker’s features:

Temperature:

Temperature controls of this smoker allow controlled and consistent temperature. The electric smoker has two heaters, a 125W heater that is used for smoldering the “bisquettes” and another 500W heater that is for cooking meat. The cooking element will generate 250 degrees Fahrenheit at the maximum. It has old style dials that make temperature setting a breeze for new users.

Versatility:

You can use Bradley Smoker for slow cooking as well as roasting. You can use it to perfectly cook any type of meet. The food trays can easily hold two racks of ribs and an entire turkey as well. The refrigerator can be used to easily cook meat for a medium family feast.

Sturdy and durable:

The electric smoker has a highly attractive and sturdy exterior for perfect outdoor use along with a stainless steel interior to provide protection against rusting. It is compact even though it offers a great load capacity and is exactly a medium sized refrigerator in its size.

Perks of using Bradley Smokers Original Smoker:

  • It has a highly durable polished stainless steel interior that protects the internal parts from rust in any weather condition
  • As Bradley Digital 4-Rack Smoker, It has 4 removable racks so that a user can easily make use of the available cooking space and the removable racks allow easy cleaning
  • Temperature controls allow slow cooking and roasting through consistent temperature. So, you can use this smoker to either cook meat or slowly roast any type of meat.
  • It has large front feet to give added support and stability to the electric smoker which gives you great control over the smoker
  • The traditional dials ensure temperature setting is easy and even those who have never operated an electric smoker before can easily use it for the first time.
  • It is easy to operate
  • The design is attractive and sturdy
  • It only weighs 52 pounds which makes portability of the smoker easy.

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What Customers Are Saying ?

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Tips for using Electric Smoker:

If you do not take care of maintenance and cleaning of your electric smoker then it’s life span will decrease. Only a little care and regular cleaning will ensure you can use it even for a life time. Following simple and easy tips that I have personally benefitted from will make sure your smoker stays with you for a lifetime.

  • Always use good quality wood chips and abstain from using wood chunks
  • For getting highly scrumptious meat, make sure you leave it marinated for longer periods of time
  • Do not serve undercooked food. Make sure you taste a chunk before taking the entire meat out.
  • Clean properly and when not in use cover with an electric smoker cover
  • Make sure that when electric smoker is in use, kids are not playing around.
  • Make sure that you fix the removable racks properly before you start cooking
  • Always make sure that there is extra space left and you do not stuff a large amount of meat on the racks
  • Ensure that the smoker runs on 110-120 volt electricity

Conclusion:

An electric smoker like Bradley Smokers original smoker will always be your great companion. I have used Bradley Smokers original smoker and created wonderful memories like my daughter’s birthday when I served mouthwatering meat to the guests that they still remember. Just a little maintenance and keeping it properly will ensure that your electric smoker stays for a lifetime. If you do not have extra money then buy this one as it perfectly fits your budget as well as your needs.

Bradley Smokers original smoker can easily cater to large number of guests and makes them remember your meal forever, It makes it as easy as a pie for you to simply cook tender and juiciest meat for your family and your guests. It has temperature control system that helps you not panic about checking temperature constantly while cooking.

It does not matter whether you are a professional chef or have never cooked meat. Using this perfect electric smoker, you can easily follow a simple as well as a complex recipe. If quality is something that you can never ignore then let me assure you this is the highest quality electric smoker available in the market and will prove to be your best choice that you will never regret. Buy it and be ready to amaze your family and guests with tastiest meat.

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