If you frequently read my blog, you already know I am a big fan of BBQ and grilled food. And as usual, I am glad to share some useful grilling tools to make your BBQ parties even tastier and easier. Today, the topic is the best pellet smoker grills for 2021.
I like the charcoal grilling most due to its unmistakable smokey flavor. However, on a busy day, I highly recommend a pellet smoker instead. I just need to prepare the marinated food, set a desired temperature and time. Then, the pellet grill does the rest for me.
Check these 12 best pellet smokers to know more about pellet grills’ benefits.
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Our Pick of the Best Pellet Smokers - Comprehensive Reviews
Why do we love this pellet smoker? Let's see.
Firstly, it provides the ultimate design. Once you start using pellets as your primary fuel, there won't be any further need for charcoal or gas. The unit will provide the ultimate cooking or grilling experience, and you can easily adjust it to your needs.
Moreover, the Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO grill offers supreme versatility. How so? Well, the unit has a 6-in-1 one design; therefore, you can choose among juicy, braise, roast, bake, smoke, low and slow, hot and fast grilling, and cooking options, and prepare the food according to your preferences.
Additionally, you will observe a temperature control device - the digital pro controller with advanced grilling options. Thus, the Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO unit will keep the temperature at a plus or minus 15 degrees to guarantee precise and accurate grilling—no more over or undercooked food and constant hassle.
The construction and material include robust and durable steel with a powder-coated finish for the most extended lifespan, more excessive and vigorous use, and better working conditions. Therefore, the unit will last for an extended period and serve you longer. In addition, nothing will destroy it quickly.
Due to the porcelain-coated cast-iron grates, the food will preserve the best quality, full taste, and flavor, and the cleanup process will be effortless.
And, the massive cooking surface with 884 square inches will easily accommodate vast piles of food at once for more servings and dishes. Awesome, right?
- Easy to use
- Easy to assemble
- Temperature control
- Ignition system flaws
The following pellet smoker will wow you due to the versatility options. Namely, the unit includes the premium wood-fired flavor, no matter whether you use it to barbecue, braise, roast, bake, grill, or smoke. Thus, it will preserve the food's quality, taste, and full flavor, without any obstacles.
Additionally, the Camp Chef PG24MZG unit is excellent as you can toggle the grill temperature with the push of a button or use the meat probe to check the internal temperature. Due to the digital control, you could easily follow the temperature and regulate it as you like.
Furthermore, the device is pretty helpful as you will see the ten smoke settings for all your needs. These are connected with the Gen 2 PID controller for more convenient use and moderation. However, these are not WiFi-compatible.
You won't have to bother about the cleaning process, and the Camp Chef PG24MZG grill has a pull-out lever for the most convenient and most accessible cleaning performance and progress. Thus, you can quickly remove and clean the ashes, and you don't have to wrestle much with the vacuum.
Finally, you could find the assembly instructions on the Camp Chef website, so you could install and place everything at once. Thus, you don't need to spend too much time on the setup process and fully enjoy the grilling process.
So, what do you say? Do you like the pellet smoker? If you do, hurry and obtain it now - it won't let you down!
- Easy to use
- Easy to assemble
- Temperature control
- Affordable
- Minor performance flaws
Next off, we present you with the ultimate pellet smoker!
As you might notice, the Traeger Grills Ranger unit is impressive as it has cast-iron cooking grates and grills for supreme cooking and grilling experience. Therefore, the food's quality, juiciness, full taste, and flavor will remain intact, and you can serve the best quality food whenever you like.
Of course, due to the versatility options, you can prepare all meals and dishes at once, including burgers, chicken, steaks, eggs, and many other food types that you like. Thus, you will have a wide variety of flavors and options to choose among and find the best solution for your needs.
You must remember that the Traeger Grills Ranger unit includes an advanced grilling logic device for the most accurate and precise temperature performance and control. Therefore, you could easily adjust, moderate and regulate the cooking or grilling process without unnecessary complications and hassle. Everything will be perfect.
Additionally, you will find a cooking timer that lets you know when it's time to move the food from the grill to avoid burns and keep the food's quality. The same device also tells you if it's time to check or sauce the food.
The dimensions measure 20 x 21 x 13 inches, and the unit works with the 120V of the power source, achieving a maximum temperature of 450 F degrees. Thus, the team will be powerful, capable, and ready for instant use once you install all components.
- Temperature control
- Even heat output and distribution
- Durable
- Sturdy
- Serious design issues
What's so special about the following pellet smoker? Hmm, read below.
You can connect the system technology with your home WiFi system and install the Traeger app to control the unit, regardless of your position. Moreover, the Alexa system technology allows you to regulate and moderate the grilling process via your voice effortlessly. So, forget the hassle and burn the food! Your food will remain quality and tasty.
Due to the 6-in-1 design, the Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 pellet smoker is perfect for various versatility options, and you can select the best process to satisfy your cooking or grilling needs.
What is more, you could roast, bake, braise, grill low and slow, hot and fast, smoke, etc., as you regulate the process. And thanks to the porcelain grill grates, the cleanup system will be an effortless one and the best for maintenance.
Being a best-seller grill, the unit has an upgraded and updated D2 drivetrain quick starting process, with the pro 780 specifications put out better quality smoke and heat up faster. Therefore, the ignition system is a flawless one, and you can regulate it as you wish.
Thanks to the enormous cooking surface of 780 square inches, the Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 grill is a perfect accommodation for a massive pile of meat at once, including burgers, fish, chicken, vegetables, seafood, etc., for your demands.
In addition, the built-in meat probe will permit you to cook your favorite food effortlessly.
- Easy to use
- Easy to install
- Temperature control
- Durable
- The insufficient warranty period and customer support
- Serious design flaws
If you search for the best pellet smoker brands, I bet you’ve come across Camp Chef couples of times, which is famous for the products’ quality and versatility. This SmokePro DLX is no exception.
The legs and smoking body are crafted with high-quality metal and decent enamel-coated finish. The smoker is durable as long as you keep it covered in harsh weather conditions. To be specific, put the smoker under a roof or in a garage.
This SmokePro DLX supports a wide range of temperatures, from 160 to 500 degrees F. Not to mention; the heat-up time is super-fast. It means this smoker can do all types of cooking for you, whether it is smoking, barbecuing, or baking.
More excitingly, there is a bunch of features to make the grilling fun and easy. For example, the smoker has a built-in digital thermometer probe to measure the temperature of the meat while cooking.
The power failure restart is another plus. It restarts itself if the power is cut off in the middle of cooking. Besides, LED readout displays the dual temperature clearly for your easy control.
The drawback of this Camp Chef pellet smoker is its small construction. Moreover, the harsh weather like rain or snow can ruin the smoker.
- Wide temperature range
- Easy-to-use construction
- Innovative additional features
- Great pellet flavors
- Small grilling space
- Vulnerable under harsh weather conditions
Overall, this Camp Chef pellet smoker is a brilliant choice at the price range. Not only is the tool user-friendly, but it is also built with innovative features. But remember to keep your grill under a safe roof.
There are more and more pellet smokers introduced with new bells and whistles features. However, they are often expensive.
If you just want a smoker with essential functions at an affordable price, take this Z Grills ZPG-700D smoker.
The cooking temperature is between 180°F to 450°F. Moreover, there is fan-forced convection, which adjusts the heat flexibly for baking, grilling, smoking, roasting, or braising barbecue or cornbread.
The 513 sq. inch rack surface is large to fit all in one place. Thoughtfully, a handy spigot holder is added to the bottom to collect hot grease. This small feature keeps your cooking area clean and safe.
More importantly, the Z Grills smoker is very user-friendly. Turn on the digital controller and set the desired temperature. Then, the Z Grills convection-based heat does the rest.
Though the price is surprisingly affordable, the material is durable stainless steel, along with patio cover. You can expect the pellet smoker to last for a long time. If you still hesitate, the manufacturer allows a 30-day return and a 3-year warranty.
Hopper design is what I want to complain about. When you are grilling, the pellets do not pour into the chamber as they should. As a result, the smoker sometimes runs out of fuel while in use.
- Affordable price
- Standard temperature range
- Large cooking area
- Easy operation and control
- Poor hopper design
- Lack of advanced technology
All in all, this is among the best pellet smoker grills for your budget. The feature list is not too exciting but basic. More importantly, it is easy to use.
It makes sense that this Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett is the best-seller on the market. The smoker is lightweight, functional, and budget-friendly.
Coming with a 12” x 18” cooking surface, this pellet smoker is larger than most portable counterparts while smaller than many other stationary grills. There are two foldable legs to place the smoker on a flat surface such as the car’s trunk. Hence, you can quickly take the smoker out with you for camping activities.
That the tool is integrated with Wifi technology makes its fan club big. Accordingly, you can keep track of everything and control your smoker right from your phone.
The supportive app works as remote temperature control in which you can set times and temps accurately. You will be notified when they are reached.
Even better, there is a built-in safety feature to prevent fire by itself. You can go out with confidence while still keeping an eye on your pellet smoker at home.
You will also like the open flame technology. By using a dual piece grease tray, the smoker solves all searing problems. As a result, you can directly grill at high heat and with open flame when the hoop is open.
Though it is lightweight and portable, the small size is not functional for big-sized families.
- Lightweight and portable construction
- Advanced wifi connectivity and safety features
- Open flame technology
- Wallet-friendly cost
- Small size which results in limited grilling space
The compact design, smart features, and affordable price give the Green Mountain Davy Crockett a place in this best pellet smoker reviews.
When thinking of the best pellet smoker, don't skip this one! We love it since it's a pretty helpful tool for grilling and cooking, as it offers a consistent cooking process.
Namely, the product offers the best versatility, convenient for all food types, and retains the food's taste, juiciness and flavor. Therefore, it will be suitable and easy to prepare various dishes for your needs and serve vast piles of food at once. Thus, it saves your energy and time.
Moreover, the ASMOKE unit is fantastic for the 8-in-1 design system. As you will observe, the pellet smoker allows both direct and indirect grilling processes.
Since there are two tiers of the porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grids, the product also includes 256 square inches of the grilling surface. Thus, it's perfect for BBQ parties, campings, car travel, and more adventures.
Due to the intelligent system technology, you can moderate the progress, select all options from low and slow to the hot and fast cooking process, and regulate the temperature between 180 and 500 F degrees. Moreover, the automatic digital color LED temperature controller will allow you to follow the grilling time and see when the food is ready to be served.
As the design offers all the benefits, the ASMOKE pellet smoker is safe and secure, with the air duct system and omission of potentially dangerous accidents and severe injuries. In addition, the heat is even and uniform and saves up to 20% of fuel, reaching 500F degrees instantly.
- Easy to use
- Temperature control
- Design
- Quality
- Minor performance issues
The following Z GRILLS ZPG-450A pellet smoker will wow you due to the 8in-1 design system. Thus, it will offer you various possibilities to roast, bake, braise, grill, smoke, sera, barbecue, or char-grill as you like.
Don't worry about the food quality - it will retain the juiciness, flavor, and taste you want to achieve when grilling on the smoker.
Moreover, the temperature control device will allow you the most convenient cooking process, as you can regulate it and follow it according to your needs. Thus, there's no need to babysit.
Of course, the PID system technology will allow you to distribute the heat evenly and uniformly and keep it consistent for better cooking or grilling results. So again, the food won't lose any of the qualities necessary for the most delicious meals.
When speaking about the temperature, you need to know that the smoker includes a wide range of temperature options, from 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and 8-in-1 versatility to choose among the best options.
Naturally, you will see that the unit is perfect for a smaller household. The Z GRILLS ZPG-450A grill offers 452 square inches of cooking surface, so it provides the possibility to put a massive pile of food on the surface at once.
Additionally, the unit is durable and sturdy thanks to the stainless steel construction with a powder-coated finish for maximum lifespan, better warranty period, and top results. It will remain intact over the years and won't lose any of its qualities.
- Even heat and temperature
- Durable
- Design
- Quality issues
Our next pellet smoker is ideal for its cooking area. As you might see, the surface includes 440 square inches of the total cooking area; therefore, you can place substantial food piles on the grill instantly.
Another big plus is the collapsible design. This is crucial as you can fold the grill's legs and make it compact and portable for various outdoor adventures, and adjust it to your needs. Also, you will find the rolling wheels for more easy moving around and better flexible options, moderation, and operation.
Furthermore, the PIT BOSS PB440TGR1 unit provides direct flame cooking thanks to the innovative and upgraded frame broiler design technology. Thus, your food will be cooked instantly, and you can place various food types to finish the cooking process easily and quickly. Don't worry - your food will be perfect and full of flavor and taste.
The maximum hopper capacity measures 5 pounds, so it won't take too much of the fuel, power, and energy to cook everything decently. You can be confident.
According to the temperature control device, you can select from 180 to 550 F degrees of the temperature range for your needs, and the dial-in system will let you know when it's time to remove the food that's been cooked for excellent results.
As the system is an automatic one and a rear exhaust one, the PIT BOSS PB440TGR1 unit will automatically start and shut off after you use it, so there won't be any issues regarding that part. Don't worry; your cooking will be perfect.
- Durable
- Temperature control
- Even heat
- Lid problems
Pit Boss 700FB is the next pellet smoker on the list, which is designed to win in preparing every meal from smoking ribs, baking pizza, grilling vegetables, to searing a steak.
Such versatility is thanks to the flexible temperature range (from 180 to 500 degrees F) and additional cooking rack space.
The most outstanding feature when it comes to this pellet smoker is the flame broiler. It is helpful with the searing.
Many traditional pellet smokers fail to sear steaks and hamburgers because of their indirect heat. Meanwhile, this Pit Boss adds a flame from the lower chamber so that you can get direct heat like that of a charcoal grill. The fan-forced air and ignition even enhance the convection heat, as well as the flavorful smoke.
You can master in cooking steaks and other sear stuff then.
And, as its name suggests, the Pit Boss 700FB smoker supports a huge grilling space of 700 sq. Inches. It is roomy enough to fit several racks of ribs, chicken, and a full brisket. In case you want to grill more, you can take out the top shelf for more open space.
All seem to be good. However, there is still one drawback. The two wheels are not flexible enough to handle the pellet smoker at will.
- Heavy-duty, thick gauge steel components
- Wide range of temperature
- Direct flame broiler for searing things
- Ample grilling space and movable top rack
- Hard-to-transport wheels
- Minimal warranty
This Pit Boss 700 is genuinely the right choice if you consider its efficient features, heat-resistant cast iron cooking surface, and smart flame broiler. Moreover, the drawback is insignificant.
Though Cuisinart is a newcomer to this industry, they will be popular soon with this CPG-4000 pellet smoker. At its price category, the device is far beyond my expectations.
Take the construction, for example.
Firstly, this Cuisinart CPG-4000 smoker is made of stainless steel materials. It can withstand extreme heat during your cooking. More importantly, there is even a weather-resistant cover included with the smoker on purchase so that you can bring it along for outdoor parties.
The transportation is effortless thanks to the stable handle and all-terrain wheels. You can fold the leg to position the smoker on a deck or into the storage space when not in use.
The cooking performance is also good - the 450 sq. inch cooking area and 15-pound hopper capacity make the smoker versatile and useful. Grilling, smoking, braising, baking, barbecuing, or roasting - do whatever you want with this product.
All to do is to turn the unit on and set a temperature. The built-in electric ignition and automated internal auger are in place to provide the proper heat and pellet consumption.
However, the water chip tray is truly shallow. Even when I fill the tray, it only lasts for 30 minutes. As a result, some smoking dishes do not get hot enough.
- Durable construction which stands for heat and weather
- Adjustable legs to transport everywhere quickly
- Built-in electric ignition and automated internal auger
- Shallow water chip pan
- Tricky installation
The water chip pan is a significant drawback when it comes to this pellet smoker. However, it is worth the trade-off for the low price and other features, as long as you do not smoke too much food.
How to Choose a Pellet Smoker Grill?
As I always advise, “knowing before buying,” you should first refer to a complete buying guide every time you are thinking of ordering something online.
And here come several factors to take into account to get the best pellet smoker for your demands and your budget.
1. Materials
The best pellet smokers should be made of stainless steel materials.
Check components from inside out, for example, the exterior, fire pot, grates, drip pan, and flame deflector. The materials must also be durable under superheat while still maintaining the temperature and pellet consumption, especially in the cold weather.
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2. Construction and Sizes
As it can be seen from the reviews above, pellet smokers come in different designs to optimize grilling purposes, as well as the storage room. Whichever you choose, make sure the grilling space is large enough to grill many things at a go. It saves time and pellets.
In case your smoker has various racks, check whether they are removable. Sometimes you must take some out to roast or to make more room for big slices of meat or BBQ stuff.
Moreover, the pellet smoker should also be portable. It might be fixed in place for daily use, but what if you want to take it out occasionally for outdoor parties? It is better if there are wheels to transport the pellet smoker here and there at will.
3. Temperature Range
Pellet smokers mostly produce a standard range between 180 degrees F and 500 degrees F. Some premium smokers even heat up to 600 degrees F. Hence; you can cook various types of dishes such as pizzas, ribs, and pork butts quickly.
A good pellet smoker should also support the slow food mode. This is helpful to leave your grill at low temperature for hours while sleeping or working.
4. User-friendliness
Believe it or not, learning how to operate the pellet smoker takes only 15 minutes.
Once you turn on the smoker, the pellets are ready to feed on the hopper into the cooking chamber. The machine ignites the pellets and heats the chamber. Fans are in place to spread air, heat, and smoke throughout the grilling area.
Besides standard operations, pellet smokers now have many add-on features to meet up with different purposes of users. However, they should not be complicated. Smokers must be easy to control and customize.
5. Additional Features
As I have mentioned, pellet grills are often equipped with lots of bells and whistles. Extra features mean additional cost. Hence, you must consider carefully.
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FAQs
What is a pellet smoker?
It's an outdoor cooker that combines various kitchen ovens, gas grills, and charcoal smokers. As it uses wood pellets as the primary fuel, the unit is perfect for braising, grilling, baking, smoking, etc.
It has an automatic PID electronic control panel to maintain the temperature even and uniform heat.
Is a pellet smoker worth it?
Yes, it is. However, it has some drawbacks. It's best and ideal for the low and slow cooking process, as you don't have to babysit the progress and can do something else.
However, they cost more than gas grills and aren't as available as the gas models. But, they provide better smokers, unlike regular grills.
What smoker is better than Traeger?
Well, Traeger is good; however, you might opt for Pit Boss, Z Grills, or Green Mountain as the representative competitors.
The Traeger is made in China, so they have minor quality issues, unlike their competitors.
Who makes the best vertical pellet smoker?
Pit Boss makes the best vertical pellet smokers, and you can find various models either on their official sites or on Amazon. They have the best ratings, prices, and other qualities, so look for them and see what they are.
How do you cook ribs in a pellet smoker?
Follow this procedure:
Conclusion
I have introduced you to 12 best pellet smoker grills on the market and a complete buying guide so that you can buy the most suitable for your demands. Can you make a final choice?
With me, that's the fantastic Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker due to the best advantages and benefits it offers to users. So if you like it, purchase it, and inform us back about the achievements.
- Never use gas or charcoal again: cooking with wood just tastes better. Traeger created the original wood-pellet grill as the ultimate way to achieve wood-fired taste
- Versatile barbecue cooking: hot and fast, or low and slow, the Traeger Pro Series 34 pellet grill offers 6-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food to juicy perfection
- Precision temperature control: The Digital Pro Controller rocks Advanced Grilling Logic, which maintains a +/- 15 degree F temperature control to precision grilling. 450 °F Max Temp
- Sturdy and durable: powerful Steel construction and durable powder coat finish, Easy to clean porcelain grill grates and all-terrain wheels
- Large cooking capacity: 884 sq. In. Cooking capacity that can accommodate 8 chickens, 7 racks of ribs or 40 burgers