Pellet Cookers, yay or nay?

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rdberry76

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Just curious what you guys think about pellet cookers? Thinking of getting one but wanted some informed opinions on the subject.
 
I don't see the attraction you have to use proprietary fuel, and you need electricity. I can get fuel in my back yard and use a Bow drill if for lack of matches to get a cooking fire going in all my stuff. But I'm an AM radio crank up window manual door lock sort So...
 
I won't go back after having three of them.

I went from a couple WSM's and a Bubba Keg (much like a green egg) to a GMG Daniel Boon to my current setup of Cookshack FEC100 and PG500. I LOVE my pellet poppers.
 
I have had multiple cookers, and hands down the Traeger Big Al bought is the easiest. It puts out good queue, it's really easy to use, and doesn't have to be babysat. Some folks like that, some hate it. It doesn't give off a heavy smoke flavor - but that's my preference anyway.
I found I didn't have the patience for a stick burner. Love the versatility of my Big Green Egg. And the Pellet Pooper is another tool in the arsenal.
 
Here is a recent thread asking the same question...

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176132

As I posted in that thread, you're going to get a lot of comments from folks with strong opinions against pellet smokers and grills. Unfortunately a lot of them have never used one.
 
Not for me, but I will not criticize others' use of them. Plenty of food better than mine has come off of them.
 
They can be great cookers but lack good smoke flavor output at higher temps..Past 250 the smoke flavor goes down hill fast regardless of what the poopers out there say. They can be upgraded with things like Smoke Daddy smoke generators.

IMO controlling fire and smoke yourself gives much more enjoyment and satisfaction not to mention great flavor. Oh and charcoal or wood burners can't break down on you nor do they require electricity!
 
The common theme you will likely find is that it isn't the device nearly as much as it is the cook, but I personally prefer spending my BBQ time working on my recipe and other techniques rather than "tending" a fire. That said, I also feel that spending some time with a charcoal or stick burner will give you better appreciation for the overall art of the que.

This is a seriously polarized thing as Ron mentioned. There is no right or wrong answer. Do your homework and you will likely be very happy with your decision based on your wants/needs.

P.S. Check out this site if you do want to get more pellet-specific info: http://pelletheads.com/ The Brethren site is a far more in-depth BBQ site, but that one has some good info on pellet cookers only.
 
My interest in the pellet cookers comes from wanting a little more time to work on side items or not having to babysit a fire. I've got a charcoal and stick burner now and love the food that comes off it. However, I've got three little girls that need attention too so I'm wanting to free up some of the fire tending time. They love to "help" daddy cook but it's getting to be to cold to have a 6 and 3 year old outside with me. I want the efficiency but don't like gas cookers so thought pellets would be the answer. Thanks for everyone's input.
 
rdberry76 said:
My interest in the pellet cookers comes from wanting a little more time to work on side items or not having to babysit a fire. I've got a charcoal and stick burner now and love the food that comes off it. However, I've got three little girls that need attention too so I'm wanting to free up some of the fire tending time. They love to "help" daddy cook but it's getting to be to cold to have a 6 and 3 year old outside with me. I want the efficiency but don't like gas cookers so thought pellets would be the answer. Thanks for everyone's input.
Click to expand...
Build a UDS and thank me later.
 
I have both a pellet smoker and a stick burner. I use the pellet smoker for long cooks like pork butts and briskets. The stick burner is used for cooks from 5 hours to 8 hours.

I like the flexibility and that's it.

Ed
 
Less time and lack of babysitting isn't the big draw for me. I enjoy tweaking this and that.


HOWEVER, what needs to be addressed more is the massive difference in footprint needed to store and season wood, the instant availability of many "exotic" woods compared to full sized sticks locally, consistent flavor and burn over natural wood which can at times be hiding a surprise inside.


I enjoy every way of cooking. Offset, bullet type, pellet...heck I like using my old cookshack from time to time. I don't see one as lesser than the others. I can make'm all sing when I'm hittin' my marks.:decision::biggrin1::bow:
 
This is a loaded question. i have two pellet smokers, two UDS smokers and a Jambo stick burner. They all produce great food with different flavors it depends what you are looking for. The pellet smoker is my everyday smoker during the weekdays and you can smoke food, cook pizza, bake a cake and just about anything else on it. If i want true BBQ or if Im cooking at a competition then it is the Jambo and the UDS. If i was you i would buy a pellet smoker and build a UDS you will have the best of both worlds.
 
Same question-different scenerio

Which of these statements most closely fits. Answer a True or False

1. I enjoy beating my wife
2. I don't enjoy beating my wife

See- some things in the Universe have no correct answer.

I'm going to steal/score a pellet oven and a long extension cord off Craigslist-someday. But I'm not actively looking. About as high tech as I want to be in fire starting is a chimney.

But I do enjoy the discussion. Not just the OP-but everyone I would encourage you to try barrel cooking. It's awesome.
 
I'm not a pellet guy as you see in my sig,but my brother has two and that's all he uses for grilling and smoking. I really enjoy the food that comes from his cooks!! They have a flavor IMO that's different from what I cook and I like that sometimes. I recommend one if you are limited on storage space or don't have the time or patience to tend to a fire.
 
I have one. Along with my gator offset, hasty bake and old gasser I figure I have enough of the bases covered. I'm all about options. I say one more toy never hurt.
 
rdberry76 said:
My interest in the pellet cookers comes from wanting a little more time to work on side items or not having to babysit a fire. I've got a charcoal and stick burner now and love the food that comes off it. However, I've got three little girls that need attention too so I'm wanting to free up some of the fire tending time. They love to "help" daddy cook but it's getting to be to cold to have a 6 and 3 year old outside with me. I want the efficiency but don't like gas cookers so thought pellets would be the answer. Thanks for everyone's input.
Click to expand...

With your busy lifestyle, a pellet cooker is a no brainer.

I never thought I'd say that, and my pellet cooker is a Pellet Pro 22" WSM Stacker conversion and not your average pellet grill, but its taken everything I've thrown at it and gotten such great results, that pellets have found a place in my repertoire.
 
16Adams said:
Which of these statements most closely fits. Answer a True or False

1. I enjoy beating my wife
2. I don't enjoy beating my wife

See- some things in the Universe have no correct answer.

I'm going to steal/score a pellet oven and a long extension cord off Craigslist-someday. But I'm not actively looking. About as high tech as I want to be in fire starting is a chimney.

But I do enjoy the discussion. Not just the OP-but everyone I would encourage you to try barrel cooking. It's awesome.
Click to expand...
I will agree with bludawg and Adams on the "barrel" concept....very effective cookers that you don't have to baby sit. Also if you want totally set it and forget it you can hook up a automatic controller to a barrel. I can hook up a cheap controller to my mini, jumbo mini or UDS but rarely do because once you get the fire settled it doesn't take much effort.
 
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