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.

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.

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

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. 

Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Pellet Grill

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.

Traeger Scout Portable Tabletop Wood Pellet 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.

Pit Boss Portable Pellet Grill

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. 

Z GRILLS ZPG-450A Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

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.

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.

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.

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.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels

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.

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.

Photo by Francesco Paggiaro from Pexels

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

REC TEC

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.

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.

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.

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?

​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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

​​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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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:

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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.