We need a new BBQ grill

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barbee6043

barbee 6043
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Wife does not want a gas grill. She likes the flavor of charcoal. Question is about the pellet grills. I am familiar with the pellet wood heat stoves, having been from Missouri.
Will we get the flavor we want. Are the basic models good? What is the advice of those that have them??
 
I don't have a pellet grill, but I do have a pellet smoker. It's the smallest one from Traeger. The flavor of the different pellets really comes through. It is fantastic for smoking or baking a pizza, not so good if you want to sear or char your steak/burger/whatever. So I got a small gas grill for grilling, and let the Traeger do it's smoky thing. Did a rack of ribs last night, they were great. :D
 
You can put an aluminum pan in a gas grill with hardwood chips in it to generate the smoke. That way you get the convenience of gas and the flavor of charcoal.
 
when we bought our house a few years ago, it had a natural gas hook up on the deck for a grille and there was no escaping it...i had to buy a gas grille (or an outdoor oven, as i call them)

(dont worry im going somewhere with this)

i ended up getting a blackstone 36 inch griddle that i converted to natural gas (pretty similar to rejetting a carb)
at any rate, i ended up with a griddle top and i wouldnt change it for the world
i can cook salmon on there, rice or pancakes as well as your basic grilling, hotdogs, burgers and steaks

so, my advice is whatever you get, get one with a griddle top instead of a grate
 
when we bought our house a few years ago, it had a natural gas hook up on the deck for a grille and there was no escaping it...i had to buy a gas grille (or an outdoor oven, as i call them)

(dont worry im going somewhere with this)

i ended up getting a blackstone 36 inch griddle that i converted to natural gas (pretty similar to rejetting a carb)
at any rate, i ended up with a griddle top and i wouldnt change it for the world
i can cook salmon on there, rice or pancakes as well as your basic grilling, hotdogs, burgers and steaks

so, my advice is whatever you get, get one with a griddle top instead of a grate
A griddle top can be added to any grate system grille. We have one for ours. It’s not just one or the other.
 
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Rural King has these bad boy's
 
Check out Pit Boss FB700 that you can find at Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Academy Sports and other places. A lot cheaper and Traeger and I like the Pit Boss better. I have 3 other grills and told my brother he could take his choice but he also bought Pit Boss and loves it too.I can put chicken on it and go off and forget it until meat thermometer says it is ready and not worry about it flaming up
 
Penny pincher here. I don't know what the special pellets or those discs for automatic feeders cost, are they mail order only, or what? I'll just compare the fully automatic cooker with the collision avoidance system in new cars. Nice if you can afford it. My problem is I couldn't fully depend on either of them.
I use a simple dome top smoker grill. I find 40 lbs of Kingsford charcoal on sale at Lowes, Walmart, etc... 12 bucks. I make my own wood chip packets from aluminum foil. The wood chips can be pricey. A few months ago I found Oklahoma Joes wood chips at the local flea market @ 3 bags for 5 bucks so I stocked up. What I save on the fire I can invest in the food. Never Bubba Burger here.
I smoked 2 boston butts and a slab of baby back ribs Monday. The ribs were our supper, the butts chopped for 6 more crock pot meals went into the freezer.
With dome top open I charcoal grill fresh ground sirloin burgers. I use the Yoshi grille mats to cook oriental style, shrimp, chicken, rice, or sausage w/peppers and onions, whatever.
No I can't totally "set it and forget it" but probably wouldn't if I could. Aint like I need the time to do my hair or nails. On Monday I went to it every 90 minutes to add a hand full of charcoal and my wood chip packet. Guess I could have done my hair or nails. I did make the coleslaw.
 
Thanks for input guys. I read all the comments to the wife and told her to MAKE the decision!!! lol

I admit at my stage in life, I can sit around and do the grill stuff.
Used to be, I was trying to start charcoal grill, cook enough meat to last for a week, and do all the barn chores at same time.
 
Pit boss is the closest to both a grill and smoker.
Set it and forget it and smoke whatever you're cooking or crank up the temp and slide the covers off to expose the burning pellets and cook over them like a charcoal grill.
 
Jus bought the Pit Boss FB700, totally awesome. I have a stainless steel Weber gas grille I have not used since.

The Pit Boss will go to 500 degrees, can be used as a BBQ or a smoker. My Dad has a Traeger, about 6 years old, we have cooked many great meals on this. His will not go past 375 degrees if I remember correctly, so it wont double as a grille. Pit Boss has a P setting which allows you to control the amount of smoke generated. We love it, as I said, it has replaced the Weber.

I also have a UDS charcoal smoker, love the flavor it produces. This smoker requires quite a time investment. The Pit Boss is a set and forget, very convenient. I have direct experience with Traeger, Pit Boss, and Green Mountain smokers. By far the best value and utility provided is the Pit Boss FB 700.
20190324_134701.jpg
 
when we bought our house a few years ago, it had a natural gas hook up on the deck for a grille and there was no escaping it...i had to buy a gas grille (or an outdoor oven, as i call them)

(dont worry im going somewhere with this)

i ended up getting a blackstone 36 inch griddle that i converted to natural gas (pretty similar to rejetting a carb)
at any rate, i ended up with a griddle top and i wouldnt change it for the world
i can cook salmon on there, rice or pancakes as well as your basic grilling, hotdogs, burgers and steaks

so, my advice is whatever you get, get one with a griddle top instead of a grate
We have one as well. Absolutely the best!!
 
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Got this variety last year. Very happy with it. Fire level is adjustable, vents adjustable, good sturdy construction, warming rack/extra height adjustment, cast grills. When I have it I use Cowboy Brand Briquets, good smoke. Kingsford and wood chips of choice work well also. The firebox is big enough that broken up lump charcoal works too, it's just kinda messy breakin' it up. I don't think it seals well enough to be a designated smoker, but I have a Brinkman to serve in that capacity. I still enjoy cooking on an oak fire, it's just not real practical for just me. I did get lazy and bought an electric charcoal lighter even though I have a paper burning chimney starter :lol:.
 
Pit Boss competition blend pellets are less than $15 for 40 lbs and it averages about 1 lb per hour of cooking. I have tried the other flavors of pellets but like the competition blend which is hickory, oak and maple. I have bought 5 of these grills for my kids and family and they all love them. Pellets can be bought at Wa-mart and Lowe's local to me. It is so efficient that there is probably not a pint of ash out of 40 lbs and it is fine powder that shop vac will suck right up.
 
I have this grill, with the add on smoke box.
Super convenient, gas on one side, charcoal on the other, and with the add on smoke box, makes the charcoal side into a smoker.
Fed around 20 people memorial day.
Smoked a rack of ribs, wife did hamburgers and hot dogs for the kids.
Never had to use the gas side, but it was there if we needed it.
When it burns out, I am buying another one just like it.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/char-grill...MIwLzn1YjC4gIVgrfACh1OcArqEAQYBCABEgLrxfD_BwE
 
I have a Weber with the propane starter. I like it a lot. Four minutes of propane, another four with top of the grill off, then four with the lid on and it’s good to go.
I like the propane starter. Using lighter fluid once puts about the same amount of hydro-carbons in the air as a new car would do in about four years of driving.
 
I think were are leaning toward the smaller Pit Boss, price at Academy is $250. I know the bigger one is not much more. We are not social type entertainers. Just the two of us, we will do extra meat to eat on all week. Maybe a cover is extra.
 
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