Grilling provides an opportunity to create a lovely smoky flavor in all your favorite foods. Whether it’s some ribs, corn on the cob, or hot dogs, the joy that comes with this cooking method is hard to duplicate.
When you want to start experimenting with different flavor combinations, a traditional grill requires you to mix wood chips, change charcoal, or take other steps to create an appropriate environment. If you have a pellet grill and smoker, you can mix and match different wood options for your fuel in seconds to accomplish the same result.
That benefit is only one advantage that comes with a pellet grill. If you’re wondering if this investment is worth it, here are a few more key points to consider.
What Are the Benefits of a Pellet Grill?
A pellet grill uses wood pellets to produce heat and smoke. It uses a hopper to feed this material into the firebox to create hot cooking surfaces.
When the grill cools, a signal is sent to the hopper to feed the fire with more pellets. That makes it possible for you to set the temperature, arrange your food, close the lid, and work on other things.
1. Trap the Smoke
If you’ve ever used one of the cast-iron charcoal grills that you can buy almost anywhere, you know how hard it is to keep smoke inside. It billows out through every seam, even when the lid is closed. That is your flavor escaping!
A pellet grill provides a tighter seal that maintains more of the smoke and heat inside the unit. When your food spends enough time inside the grill, it’ll develop those tasty rings that indicate your favorite flavors have soaked into the top layer.
2. Money Savers
The cost of fuel rises and falls, making it an unpredictable expense when you want to grill with natural gas or propane. When you use pellets as the primary source of fuel for cooking your food, the results are more predictable.
Although propane is popular because portable tanks can let you grill anywhere, wood pellets have the same benefit. Pack your hopper, strap the grill to your truck, and enjoy tailgating wherever you want.
When you compare the cost of pellets to charcoal, lump charcoal, and similar products, you still receive a competitive price. Most people will save a little money when switching to this grilling technique.
3. Less Ash
The issue with charcoal, including lump charcoal, is that the material leaves ash behind on the food. It creates charring while producing a carbon-like flavor that isn’t always pleasant.
Since many people start their charcoal with an accelerant, you could be putting the fumes of that fuel into your food if you don’t allow it to burn away before grilling.
When you’re using wood pellets, you’ll have a much cleaner burn. Hardly any ash gets produced in the box while smoking and heating your meal, reducing the risk of incorporating chemicals into your meal.
With less ash to manage, there isn’t as much cleanup work to do after you’ve finished grilling. That also means you’re less likely to create lye if your grill gets wet for some reason.
4. Ease of Use
If you know how to start a fire, you can use a pellet grill without difficulty. All it takes to get started is to empty your pellet bag into the hopper, touch a few buttons, and set your temperature. A little water needs to get added to the drip pan.
Once you’ve built that grilling foundation, just choose your smoke level, cooking temperature, and how long the food needs to marinade in the flavorful environment.
Most grills will then do the heavy lifting for you. The only thing that’s left for you to do is to check on things periodically or give the items a quick flip.
You can smoke and grill foods on virtually all pellet grill models.
5. Versatility
A pellet grill might offer a great opportunity to put some steaks on to smoke for tender results, but you can do a lot more with this tool. The high temperatures and overall consistency it delivers are wonderful for searing vegetables, boiling water for pasta, or even baking a cake.
Have you ever had a smoky applewood crust for an apple pie before? It’s possible with this investment!
You can set up a pellet grill to produce a long and slow cooking time to let that brisket fall right off the bone. If you want to sear some pork chops, flash a burger to a perfect medium-rare, or enjoy some smoky artichokes, it is possible to do it all with only a few minor adjustments to the settings.
6. Ongoing Value
Pellet grills and smokers tend to cost a little more at first, but the price is for a good reason. You’re getting equipment that grills and smokes without needing any hacks or modifications to generate results.
Some of the best grills that use wood pellets for fuel have stainless steel components and solid construction techniques while offering a warranty of three years or more. If you’ve gotten used to having a grill that lasts for the summer before needing to be replaced, you’ll appreciate the ongoing value this technology offers.
You’ll receive more value with the temperature consistency these grills provide. Since they use less fuel, you can start saving some cash on the long-term costs. If you take care of your investment, it’ll eventually pay you back for the extra you spent at first.
7. Fun
Grilling should be a fun experience. Far too often, it turns into a process that focuses on staying outside to monitor the food, heat, and other elements. You’ll find that upgrading to a pellet grill takes away the headaches from the traditional grilling process.
You can still work over the heat if that’s what you love. If you want to try different flavor combinations, the pellets create more smoke options that produce some incredible results.
You’re not just investing in great food for your family and friends with a pellet grill. You’re also investing in yourself.
How Can I Benefit from Having a Pellet Grill?
A high-quality pellet grill is competitively priced with most other types available today. Although a standard charcoal grill with limited cooking space is relatively affordable, the long-term cost profile is still remarkably similar.
Wood pellets require less fuel to create more heat than propane or charcoal. You’ll have the freedom to let the food cook while you’re working on other things and enjoy the portability of this technology.
It eliminates the need to carry bulky propane tanks or manage gritty and messy charcoal bags. A pellet grill is even easier to clean once you’ve finished cooking.
If you’re looking for a new or upgraded grilling experience to enjoy this year, a pellet grill delivers some impressive benefits! Is it worth investing in this technology? For most people, the answer is a solid yes.