My old offset smoker didn't survive a recent move. Was thinking about getting a pellet smoker, but not sure they produce the same quality of BBQ / smoke flavor. Cooked a pork butt for pulled pork on neighbors Traeger and it was good but definitely didn't have the same level of smoke flavor. Does the pellet brand make a difference or is that what you can expect with a pellet smoker?
-
-
It's what you can expect from a pellet.
Look at what the Top Competition are using.
Pellet Envy started with a pellet and now cooks on a stick burner. -
Check out these http://pittsandspitts.com/pellet-grills/
They are similar to your typical pellet grill but very well made all custom / heavy duty material unlike Traegar and some others i have seen.Comment
-
If you want the real McCoy, go with the stickburner.Comment
-
To answer your question yes the brand or type of pellets can make a big difference. If you want extra smoke I suggest adding a smoke tube or tray...that's what I do for larger hunks of meat like pork butt & brisket. I'm not a fan of overpowering smoke flavor which a lot of people get with their stick burners just because they don't know how to control the smoke.
Sent from my SM-G950U using TapatalkComment
-
I have a GM pellet grill and an offset grill.
Since you have experience with a sticburner, I will offer my version of pros and cons of my GM grill.
Pros
1. convenience - set it and forget it mentality
2. easy to control temperature
3. most come with internal temperature probe
I'm sure there are more that others can chime in on
Cons
1. requires 2 power sources - pellets and 120v
2. hard to clean
3. I have not personally been able to produce the same bark as I can on a sticburner
4. If you leave pellets in the feed tube and it hardens due to humidity or wetness.... you
will discover the pellets harden relative to concrete
5. Not really good for high temp cooking - most settle out between 400 - 500 degreesComment
-
Ive ran at least 4 brands of pellets thru my pellet grill. Ive also made one cook with an amazen smoke tube. That said, Im convinced you cannot replace the smoke,bark etc of a wood burning pit. Period.
You need to decide if setting up a pellet grill in the morning to cook whatever you want and merely waiting for it to get done is worth missing that look. The flavor and tenderness is thereComment
-
I will echo what has been said about smoke so far. I have both. You can get good smoke off a pellet cooker. Some are better than others at smoking. I start smoking at lower temps than I would on a stickburner to give the meat more time to take on smoke. I believe the pellets make the difference. There are many forums that get into the nitty gritty on that. To me, they are just so easy to use for family use. If I'm cooking for more than the family, I burn some sticks.Comment
-
I have never used a pellet grill/smoker but have wondered if the pellets have some kind of adhesive to bind the pellet material together. Anyone know?Comment
-
They are compressed, not glued. At least the high quality brands are. I think when Traeger first started, they had an adhesive, but that changed. I may be wrong though.Comment
-
Stickburner for me. I have cooked on both and really dont like the pellets smokers.Comment
-
I felt they they must be compressed. Surely they would not want us eating smoked adhesive fumes.Originally posted by chadt1234 View PostComment
-
-
Felt the same way about my Traeger and its lack of smoke. I bought an A-maze-n pellet tube and added it to my cooking, and works great. Good constant smoke now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DL0PETC...&pd_rd_w=43NiO
There are cheaper brands available that are essentially the same product.Comment
-
Thanks for input. I came across the pellet tube and I think I'll try that on the neighbors Traeger, if still no bueno for me I'll leave the tube with neighbor and go find an offset, maybe I'll go with the reverse this time. Still, I hope the tube works bc the pellet smoker is too easy for a small BBQ.Comment
Comment