So you've heard of gas grills and charcoal grills, but what is this you keep hearing about pellet grills? What are pellets? How do these grills work? And, more importantly, is this the right grill for you?If this is the first you've heard of pellet grilling (and you're too embarrassed to ask your friends about it) we can help. Learn about the basics of a pellet grill and if it is the right cooking option for you.
1. What is a pellet grill?
A pellet grill plugs into a standard household outlet and burns hardwood sawdust that's been compressed into small, cylindrical pellets. The digital controller monitors the temperature inside the grill and automatically feeds more or fewer pellets into the burn cup to maintain the selected temperature setting. These grills have grown so popular because they offer
authentic, wood-fired flavor without the inconvenience of babysitting a smoker.
2. How does it work?
You set a temperature on the digital controller for your pellet grill to maintain. The computer will then prompt the automatic auger to feed pellets into the burn cup at the base of the grill. Inside the burn cup is a hot rod-a small rod that heats up to ignite the pellets-and the pellets begin to smoulder and smoke.Above the burn cup, a heat diffuser plate rests to disperse any direct heat evenly throughout the grill rather than allowing it to burn your food. A grease drip tray sits above that to catch any grease drippings and further disperse the heat. Finally, a blower fan circulates the smoke and heat from the burn cup throughout the grill body, cooking your food via convection-style cooking.
3. What makes a pellet grill different from a gas or charcoal grill?
Besides the obvious difference in fuel type (wood pellets vs. propane vs. charcoal), a pellet grill differs from the others in three ways: convenience, consistent flavor, and versatility. First, convenience. With a digitally monitored temperature, you don't have to stand over a grill and babysit. Instead, you can set the heat and let your grill do the rest. This cuts out the time you need for lighting and monitoring charcoal briquettes or adjusting the flames on a gas grill. It's as easy to use as your kitchen oven.Next, a pellet grill delivers the most consistent flavor of any grill. While some may prefer the signature taste of charcoal or propane grilling, these methods take quite a bit of practice to get good results. The steady performance of a pellet grill will give you great flavor every cook, whether it's your first time or your hundredth. And with
premium hardwood pellets like ours, you'll enjoy a wood-fired, smoky flavor that you can only get by grilling with real hardwood.Finally, versatility is one of the defining features of a pellet grill. With a temp range of 175° F all the way up to 500° F, you can
smoke brisket low and slow or get hot enough to bake pies or
grill burgers. And all you have to do to change your cooking method is switch the temp setting.
4. Is a pellet grill for me?
Pellet grills are the perfect solution for a backyard griller who's looking at convenience and flavor as his or her top priorities. Some people appreciate the ownership and art of standing at the grill for hours on end, carefully adjusting the briquettes or the smoke stack. If that's your idea of a perfect weekend, then a pellet grill might not be your thing.However, if you'd like to spend your time enjoying good company and eating good food rather than babysitting a temperamental grill, this is the cooker for you. A pellet grill allows you to skip the hard work of maintaining the perfect temp while still enjoying incredible wood-fired food. In short, it's the best of both worlds.Check out the secret to BBQ perfection with our brand new Woodwind pellet grill
here.
