If you are just a beginner in smoking, then a pellet smoker can make the process of smoking much easier for you.
As compared to other kinds of smokers, a pellet smoker offers a lot of practicality. This way, you can create a masterpiece of similar quality as made by any other smoker, yet with convenience in handling the pellet smoker.
If you’ve got the time to research and the budget to purchase, it’s wise to get one of the best pellet smokers you can, right from the start. Even though your expertise in using one of these cookers may not be fully expert yet, you know you won’t outgrow whatever you purchase.
How We Chose The Best Pellet Smokers
With over 20 years of grilling and smoking experience using, reviewing, and testing pellet smokers. We have researched over 20 pellet smokers ranking each product based on its durability as well as performance to make the best possible list for our readers.
All choices were made in order not to cost too much but still provide good quality at an affordable price point without compromising either one significantly so they can enjoy their time with friends or family while cooking food outdoors!
Best Pellet Smokers At A Glance
The Top 7 Best Pellet Smokers (Reviewed)
1. Camp Chef Woodwind Wi-Fi 24 – Runner Up
If we compare the Camp Chef’s Woodwind Wi-Fi 24 with the Traeger model above, it is quite a suitable alternative. As the grill can store vast amounts of pallets as fuel, it is quite ideal for smoking for an extended period.
You can even put your meat overnight without it needing any management and care as the Wi-Fi control feature, and the prolonged smoking keeps the meal smoked. This wood pellet smoker has features that carry out all the tasks except the maximum temperature, making the searing slow.
It offers a wider temperature range than the Traeger, with a minimum temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum of 650 degrees Fahrenheit.
The other features this wood pellet grill has cover-up this disadvantage. You can switch between direct and indirect heat on the fly; this feature is known as Slide and Grill, and many other options will not have this feature. The value of this is that you can deal with higher-end cuts of meat with more careful grilling, resulting in a better final product.
The colorful display, used for setting the timer and managing the pellet grill temperature, is an undervalued feature. Most pellet smokers don’t have a bright display as they operate in black and white, making this a unique and pleasant bonus.
The PID controller display can also help manage the smoke your food gets and control the temperature. There are ten levels for managing the flavor of the smoke in your food, each different in intensity, making it very easy to manage it. It is your choice to make smoke an essential part of your food or a subtle one.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Store up to 22 pounds of wood pellets
Wi-Fi connectivity — can monitor temp and more without being next to the grill
Disposable ash feature for avoiding mess — easier and more efficient[/i2pros][i2cons]Less firepower than desired — only up to 500 degrees F
Clunky, cumbersome, slow assembly required[/i2cons][/i2pc]
2. Traeger Tailgater 20 – Best Portable Pellet Smoker
The cooking capacity in the Traeger’s Tailgater 20 is an impressive 450 total sq in. A downside about this wood pellet grill is that it could take some time to heat up and reach the desired time for cooking a meal, so it is advised to start it early, especially if you’re going to have a big gathering. Starting it before 30 – 60 minutes would make sure to heat it thoroughly and evenly.
What sets this wood pellet grill apart from others on our list is the folding legs, making it a truly portable tailgate grill. At about 70lbs, it’s heavy but not unmanageable to move from location to location. With how the legs fold you can even use it as a tabletop grill without any issues.
Another great feature is the Digital Arc control for consistent temperatures. You can also keep your food ready long-term with the “Keep Warm” mode. This is great for those long, cold tailgate mornings for sure! The lowest temp is about 165`F and the max is 500`F, making this a solid temperature range like the rest on this list.
There are additional accessories that can be purchased for this wood pellet grill, such as a front folding shelf, that will really increase the versatility and function. While it holds only 8 pounds of pellets, you’ll be happy to have the extra storage on hand for travel.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Folding legs for true tailgate portability
5-degree temperature increments
8lbs pellet storage
Digital Arc temperature control system[/i2pros][i2cons]Still fairly heavy for some users at 70lbs
Could be larger for ability to cook for more people[/i2cons][/i2pc]
3. Camp Chef SmokePro DLX – Best Versatility
Though Camp Chef’s Smoke Pro DLX is a small wood pellet grill in terms of size, it can store a whopping 18 pounds of pellets.
As compared to other pellet grills mentioned in this list, the price of this pellet grill is quite economical. The grill allows a smooth grilling experience without any difficulties. It excludes unnecessary luxury features that are expensive and not critical to a well-cooked product.
There are a lot of included features, however, that make things easier for you. It incorporates an ash-catching system at the bottom that can be easily cleaned. The pellet hopper of the pellet grill is quite huge, so a large amount of fuel can fit in, which means that you can do the fueling less frequently and only when needed. This way, maintenance tasks are minimized, allowing you to focus more on grilling.
The pellet grill allows you to monitor both the desired temperature inside the grill and that of the meat. You can set the internal temperature of pellet grills to a specific temperature. The temperature of meat can read from the built-in probes so that you can know when your meat is fully cooked and ready for consumption
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Great fuel storage — up to 18 pounds of wood pellets at one time
Ash disposal features are efficient and easy
Built-in temperature probe[/i2pros][i2cons]Very heavy grill — about 127 pounds
Getting pellets out of the hopper is a tricky task and a bit problematic, and you will surely have to take out the grates[/i2cons][/i2pc]
4. Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker – Also Budget Friendly
The Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker, 30″, Black is a countertop electric smoker with WiFi connectivity. It features a digital control panel and an LED display that allows you to monitor the temperature inside the unit. The smoker has a capacity of 16 pounds, which is enough for smoking food for two people or more depending on what they are eating.
The smoker uses wood chips to flavor the meat while it cooks. This model can be used both indoors and outdoors, making it ideal for tailgating events, camping trips, or any outdoor cookout. This is the perfect gift for newbie chefs or even an experienced chef that wants to try something different.
The digital WiFi controller allows you to control your smoker from anywhere you have internet access! You can also monitor the internal temperature with the meat probe without ever having to open up your smoker!
When it comes time to cook, this smoker has got you covered.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Cheapest Smoker on the list
Patented wood chip loading system
Thermostat control for even and consistent smoking[/i2pros][i2cons]Maximum Temperature of 275 degrees
Subpar customer support[/i2cons][/i2pc]
5. Camp Chef PG24MZG SmokePro – Best Quality Pellet Smoker
The Camp Chef SmokePro Slide Smoker with Fold Down Front Shelf Wood Pellet Grill PG24MZG is the ultimate cooking machine for outdoor chefs. The SmokePro has a large 24″ x 18″ cast iron cooking surface and features an advanced digital control system that is easy to use. This smoker offers four different wood-fired grilling modes: hot smoke, mild smoke, sear mode, and low-temperature cook mode.
The integrated meat probe measures internal food temperature so you can easily monitor your progress while your food smokes or cooks. The Camp Chef SmokePro is one of the most versatile pellet grills on the market. The slide and grill design allow you to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and barbecue.
It comes with a digital control system that makes setting the temperature easy. The new PID controller has been redesigned to include a meat probe. This feature will allow you to monitor your food as it cooks without having to open the lid which lets out all of your hard-earned heat! The Camp Chef SmokePro can also be used as a pellet smoker.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Easy assembly
Easy ashe cleanout system
Pellet hopper cleanout system[/i2pros][i2cons]Not as portable as other pellet grills on the list
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
6. Hykolity Pellet Grill & Smoker – Best High Capacity Pellet Smoker
The Hykolity pellet grill is the ultimate outdoor BBQ grill for serious barbecue enthusiasts. This 8-in-1 wood pellet smoker can do it all, from grilling to smoking, baking, roasting, and char-grilling. With two meat probes at your disposal, you can monitor the internal temperatures of both food and meat with ease.
The 23 lbs pellet hopper capacity allows for up to 24 hours of continuous smoking without having to refill the hopper constantly. It has 570 square inches of total cooking space that comes with 2 stainless steel burners and an additional warming rack for indirect heat circulation.
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Allows up to 24 hours of cooking time
8-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill
Cooking capacity: 570 Sq. In
Great price[/i2pros][i2cons]Weighs 103 pounds making it super heavy
Costs extra to have it expertly assembled[/i2cons][/i2pc]
7. Traeger Grills Ranger Portable Wood Pellet Grill – Best For Small Spaces
The Traeger Ranger portable grill with cast iron griddle is the ultimate tailgate companion. The built-in temperature gauge and timer make it easy to cook your food to perfection, while the porcelain-coated grill grates are perfect for all types of meat. This compact grill is ideal for cooking in small spaces like campgrounds or patios.
A sturdy steel frame with folding legs makes it easy to transport, while its porcelain-coated grates are durable and rustproof. This grill offers a spacious 184 square inches of cooking space (about 12 burgers) with an adjustable smoker box that can be used to add more flavor to your food. The grill heats up quickly and has wheels for easy mobility.
It can be used on its own or hooked up to a larger smoker box for smoking meats and vegetables. Its sleek design allows you to take it anywhere you’re headed this summer!
[i2pc show_title=”false” title=”Pros & Cons” show_button=”false” pros_title=”Pros” cons_title=”Cons” ][i2pros]Very portable
Easy-to-clean porcelain-coated grill grates
3 year warranty [/i2pros][i2cons]Smaller cooking space than others on the list
Not as many features[/i2cons][/i2pc]
Choosing The Best Pellet Smoker — Buying Guide
Ideal wood pellet smokers would be one that incorporates many useful features that make the process of smoking more convenient while allowing you greater control over the grill. While listing out options of most pellet smokers you should buy, you should consider the grilling and smoking options you are interested in. We recommend Camp Chef and Traeger Grills as they have some of the best Grill on the market.
Vertical pellet smokers are more suitable if you will use the grill for lighter meat or are more fond of cooking the slower cooking meats over a long time.
However, if you want a multipurpose grill that will offer you versatility in the smoking options, then the freestanding pellet grills are the better option. If you choose pellet grills based on your usage, then they will fit all the requirements in the best way.
Construction
Unlike a traditional gas or charcoal grill, pellet smokers are more complex in terms of construction. They offer a lot of features because of which their use is extremely convenient. These features are provided by the equipment inside it.
For it to function in the intended way, the grill comprises six major parts. Let’s go through each of them one by one, so we can understand what role they play in the cooking process
Fuel
Pellet grills are given this name as they use wood Pellets as their fuel. Pellets are small pieces of wood that you insert in the hopper, generally located on the grill’s side. Generally, wood pellets are made out of sawdust, which comprises pure hardwood. With high pressure and temperature, the sawdust is compressed to make pellets.
This process highly resembles the way diamonds are created.
However, different brands use different kinds of wood used, and even the process has some variations. If you take pellets from two different brands, you might notice that their appearances and sizes are different.
Flavor
There are plenty of different woods you can use for smoking, they all carry their own flavors, which is later passed onto the meat through the smoke. As a beginner, it can be a bit difficult to know the flavors that match your taste. It needs a lot of experimenting to find the best combinations that you like.
Though the taste is an abstract thing, you can’t communicate it without food. But still, we have some suggestions for you that will help you on your journey to find out the combinations that will work out for you.
Whether a flavor is light or strong is conditional according to the wood used. If you are looking for a strong, deep smoky flavor, then you should choose a wood pellet made out of mesquite or hickory as a good option. Alternatively, cherry or apple flavors are more suitable if you are looking for lighter or mild flavors.
Both apple and cherry have mild flavors, so using them ensures the original taste of meat or veggies is not overshadowed by the smoke. For delicate lighter meats or the ones having their own strong flavor, cherry and apple are the best choices.
Available Pellets: Heating and Food Grade
Another thing to remember is that within pellets, there are two kinds available- heating pellets and food-grade pellets, and both of them are different. Many people know that heating pellets are also usable for heating purposes, and even pellet grills can run on them. There are many misunderstandings in this regard.
Heating pellets can indeed act as fuel, but you shouldn’t use them for this purpose.
Be it any scenario in your wood pellet grills; you should never use heating pellets. The reason is that they are not created to be used for food. You can face severe health issues if you ignite heating pellets since they release harmful byproducts.
Therefore, while purchasing, ensure that the pellets you are buying are of the food grade type. You should ignore the suggestions of people who ask you to use heating pellets for food.
Augur
For moving the pellets within the grill, an augur is used. Pellets are introduced into the grill through the pellet hopper from where they are moved to the firepot using an augur. The pellets are burned in the firepot and the smoke and heat produced are used in preparing your meal.
Combustion Fan
The combustion fan circulates when the pellets are transferred from the pellet hopper to the grill within the grill. By circulation, the combustion fan fuels the fire and produces the heat needed for cooking.
Igniter
For starting the combustion, the fuel needs to be ignited, which is done using the igniter. The fuel when burns and produces smoke when it is transferred into the firepot. At this stage, the flame is maintained to remain strong by the air given off by the combustion fan.
The flames stay consistent with this air from the combustion fan that hovers around the igniter. It also allows you to increase the strength of heat if you want to increase the temperature.
Fire Pot
The fire pot is the metal container in a smoker where the charcoal or wood is placed to create heat and smoke. The size and shape of the fire pot can vary, but it is usually cylindrical with a round or square base. There is also usually a grate that sits above the fire pot to hold the food, and sometimes there is a perforated plate that goes between the firepot and grate to help distribute the heat evenly.
The temperature and the amount of fuel are related in a way that if one increases, the other one increases. However, on the other hand, the smoke would be produced in a greater amount when the temperature is low.
So, a balance between temperature and smoke should be maintained to be cooked in the best way.
Barrel
The cooking grates and the food while grilling stays on the barrel. The burned fuel in the firepot would produce smoke that rises and cooks your food and is removed from wood pellet grills via the vent located above. This smoke transfers the flavor of the wood onto the food.
Latest Technologies
With the increased popularity of the pellet smoker, a lot of innovation was added to them, and the result is the modern pellet smoker that incorporates newer technologies. These newer technologies are added to make the process of grilling and smoking more convenient. Various features are now incorporated, and each of them serves a different purpose.
For example, you can check the temperatures of food while they are still in pellet smokers and can even move away from your pellet smoker yet still monitor the food.
Meat Probes
Many pellet smokers now incorporate the meat probes inside the pellet smoker so you can also check the temperature of food besides the temperature inside the grill. This way, without cutting the meat to check if it is cooked, you can know that it is fully cooked and ready for eating.
Instead of opening the grill to read the temperature from the tool, you have the meat probe incorporated in the grill that allows you to read the temperature directly.
Wireless Connections
Even while you are away from the grills, you can read the temperature and other details on the phone and adjust them since many pellet smokers now come with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It can offer a lot of conveniences since you don’t have to sit beside the grill constantly.
So if you want to move away from the grill to someplace in your house or even leave the house, you can still monitor and control. In the past, people had to shun the idea of grilling if they had to go somewhere since leaving it was unsafe but not anymore.
You are notified if something goes wrong so you can immediately go back to the grill and solve it. Alternatively, if the process is going smoothly, you can stay up to date and from any place can adjust the temperature. A wireless connection is offered in two ways: blue tooth or the internet.
With Bluetooth, you need to stay in a certain diameter to be able to manage things, but with the internet, you don’t have this restriction.
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Wi-Fi
- Regardless of where you are, using Wi-Fi, you can stay connected with your grill. The condition is that both you and your grill at home should be connected to the internet. Though this feature is great, it’s still a new one, and manufacturers are still considering the limitations. Therefore even while using this feature, it’s better to check your grill from time to time.
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Bluetooth
- You can connect with your grill using Bluetooth as well, but you have to stay within a certain radius, which is not the case while using Wi-Fi. So if you are not traveling and are somewhere around the grill, it is great for you. You can monitor and manage your grill using your phone. It particularly comes in handy when you are napping or sleeping. By the time you wake up, your meal would be prepared, and if something goes wrong, you would be notified, and you can wake up to attend to the grill.
A Brief History Of Pellet Smokers
Pellet smokers didn’t just start out of nowhere. It is the modification and answer and advanced form of the pellet stove, which was used previously.
The pellet stove originally runs on oil, but the oil crisis in 1973 forced people to search for oil alternatives. It was at that time the use of wood for lighting pellet stoves was suggested and tried.
Later in the late 1970s, using the same concept, the creation of pellets using wood started in the US. The pellets were the size of small bullets that were cylindrical made by compressing sawdust.
The owners of Oregon-based heating company- Joe Traeger and an engineer from Washington who worked in Boeing aviation started to experiment with the use of pellets for lighting up stoves. In appearance, the stove they created resembled the traditional stoves, but the main difference was that they used electricity to operate.
The working mechanism was similar to the one we previously mentioned. In the firepot, the pellets were introduced using an auger. An igniter and combustion fan was used to ignite them
Traeger then created the first pellet grills in 1986. In the 20 years that followed, it remained his sole property because of the patent he signed. In this period, there was no competition for him, and he was perfecting his craft.
Traeger’s original design utilized an “LMH” temperature controller. This controller allowed you to set the temperate as high. Low and medium, and for the same reason, it was called LMH. Each category had a certain range of temperatures, and for attaining each category, a particular amount of pellets was required.
This previous method was not effective as the user could not set the temperature according to any other factor besides the one set by the user. There was no way by which the number of pellets could be adjusted. As a result, working with it meant that the user had to stay beside and manage it.
These types of controllers are referred to as non-PID controllers now. As compared to them, PID controllers are much more effective and popular. The popularity can be estimated from the fact that apart from cheap pellet gills, other devices don’t use an LMH controller.
Best Pellet Smokers — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why should you go for pellet grills rather than other types of grills?
The convenient handling is the fundamental reason why you might choose a pellet grill rather than other types of pellet grills. Since the top pellet grills generally work like ovens, handling them is very easy, and even a beginner can prepare perfect dishes. Mainly you need to set the grill at the required temperature, and the grill will do the rest of the work for you.
If you go for the best pellet grills available in the market, then the pellet grills take away the tension of tending a fire or adjusting the fuels.
What qualities does a good pellet smoker have?
Temperature control is the first and foremost thing that you should look for in a good pellet smoker. A lot of consistency can be added to your grilling experience if you have proper temperature controls. Three main categories of temperature controls can be used in pellet smokers.
First are the non-PID controls, which are old forms of temperature controls. The precision of these as compared to other temperature controllers is relatively low. They are still used, but generally, the temperature setting is in a range greater than the value you set.
From your desired temperature the actual temperature can even have a difference of about 40 degrees Fahrenheit PID controls are the second type of temperature control, and their mechanism is quite similar to the non-PID controllers. However, this kind of control is more precise than the previous one since it uses data from various sources to do some calculations.
The heat is then adjusted using these readings so that the temperature falls in the required range. PID plus controls are the last types that are the most efficient out of all temperature controllers. Generally, most of the PID plus controllers are equipped with Wi-Fi allowing you to monitor your grill even while you are away.
These help you to control the pellet smoker through your phones.
Are there any cons to using a pellet smoker?
Though many reviews skip out the disadvantages of a pellet smoker, we have got you covered. The major con is that pellet grills or pellet smokers take more time to heat up than other grills. If you go for the best ones, they can attain the high temperatures that you require.
However, if you are for cheap ones achieving a temperature above 600-degree Fahrenheit is hard.
Before buying the pellet smoker, you should consider this factor as well and should modify the cooking steps if necessary so that they are compatible with the grill you are buying.
How to operate a pellet smoker?
Though pellet smokers need wood for fuel, they need electricity to operate. So, whenever you plan to use your grill, make sure that an electricity source is available.
The pellets available are of two types, and there is a lot of wrong information related to pellets. Pellets are of heating or food-grade types. Though some people say that you can use the heating grill for cooking purposes, the reality is that you should never use them for cooking purposes.
They can pose serious health issues besides ruining the taste of your food. Ensure while purchasing and using that food-grade pellets are used. Pellet smokers are even capable of working in really cold weather, which means you can enjoy grilled food even in winter. Though they do work to keep the temperature consistent, they require more fuel.
In that scenario to save fuel expenses, it’s better to buy an insulating blanket to solve this issue.
You are free to use other pellets besides the ones made by your brand as well. The grill comes with manuals, including the needed specifications in the pellets that work well with the grill. However, it is entirely optional, and if you don’t want to research this regard or this baffles you, you can use the pellets made by your brand since they are designed mainly for the grill you are using.
Final Thoughts On Best Pellet Smoker
If you are looking for the best pellet smoker in 2022, our recommendation would be Traeger Pro 575. With all its features, it offers a lot of versatility.
The temperature control of the device is precise, and the device is equipped with various features to aid the convenience of handling it. Due to its easy handling, even beginners can use it to have a stress-free smoking and grilling process. This way, they can stay assured that even if they experiment, the resultant product would not be something that is inedible.
We think that anyone who goes for this grill wouldn’t be disappointed after using it.
