Who has tried a Pellet Pooper and Not Liked it. ? - Page 4

LordRiffenstein · 07-17-2018, 07:58 AM

I have a Traeger Lil Tex pro that I bought 2,5 years ago, it was my introduction into smoking.

I have had 2 problems with it:

- I always use Traeger pellets because pellets are hard to get and now that they are more easy to get, Traeger are a lot cheaper. The 1 time I did use another brand of pellets, I had an error and the fire died.

- November last year, the controller died, dealer send me a new one and I had to spend 2 hours to fix it. Has worked perfectly ever since but the 1st couple of months I was weary about using it for long cooks.

Since buying the Traeger, I've bought a bunch of other pits and I still love using the Traeger for low and slow cooking. I never use it above 250F unless it's to finish something or after wrapping a brisket. I love being able to put ribs on while I'm working in the home office, knowing they will be done in about 6hours, right on time for dinner, without having to take a look at them. (I will spritz them though

)

Things I don't like? It needs electricity but we hardly ever are out of power here. Traeger build quality is not the best but I make sure to clean it after every 4-5 cooks. And yes that takes a bit more effort then cleaning a stickburner or kettle.

IFlyEm · 07-17-2018, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody1911a1

i'd chip in here but your posts anywhere else would be considered trolling and bordering on insulting . fish or cut bait dude .

seriousely . you want to see my man card pm me and i'll give you my adress .

Are you serious?

lol

MisterChrister · 07-17-2018, 09:28 AM

Thanks for this thread, Smitty. All of your other PP threads had me percolating if I might wanna consider one.

My luck is so bad though, that ALL of the possible downsides posted in this thread WOULD happen to me! I'm now firmly planted in the "fark it, life is easier without it" camp!

Kevin89 · 07-17-2018, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woody1911a1

i'd chip in here but your posts anywhere else would be considered trolling and bordering on insulting . fish or cut bait dude .

seriousely . you want to see my man card pm me and i'll give you my adress .

Feeling the need to prove man card. -10 man card points

But, due to pellet usage man card already revoked

SmittyJonz · 07-17-2018, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterChrister

Thanks for this thread, Smitty. All of your other PP threads had me percolating if I might wanna consider one.

My luck is so bad though, that ALL of the possible downsides posted in this thread WOULD happen to me! I'm now firmly planted in the "fark it, life is easier without it" camp!

I am firmly planted in the undecided camp

Bob C Cue · 07-17-2018, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmittyJonz

I am firmly planted in the undecided camp

Sounds like someone wants to plant you 6 feet under...

Baychilla · 07-17-2018, 10:32 AM

So you used to be indecisive but now you're not so sure?

Smoking Cajun · 07-17-2018, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C Cue

Sounds like someone wants to plant you 6 feet under...

...or trying to shut him the fark up!

dadsr4 · 07-17-2018, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmittyJonz

I am firmly planted in the undecided camp

In all honesty, no cooker is perfect.

tarheelsmoker · 07-17-2018, 10:40 AM

I am a new pellet cooker owner. I have cooked on it twice. I love the ease of cooking with it and the capacity (GMG DB). I got a very deep smoke ring on the Boston Butt that I smoked this weekend and had a good smoky flavor.
The two things that I do not like are the need for electricity and the fact that, IMHO, it should not really be called a grill. At least not for most of us on here. I wouldn’t even think of grilling a steak on it. To get the temp up to the highest takes a lot of pellets and you are not even cooking on it while waiting. Plus the top temp is only 500 degrees for most cookers unless you have a sear station or some kind of mod. It is a great tool in my arsenal. I have a 5 other things that each can do many things better than a pellet does. But for an easy smoker that does not require a lot of attention, it’s hard to beat.

To answer smitty’s question, if it was all I had and nothing else, I would not like it. My answer to the question of if you could only have one cooker, my answer is still a Weber kettle. That hasn’t changed.

SmittyJonz · 07-17-2018, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob C Cue

Sounds like someone wants to plant you 6 feet under...

Good Luck........

SmittyJonz · 07-17-2018, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baychilla

So you used to be indecisive but now you're not so sure?

Exactly.

Whisky · 07-17-2018, 11:30 AM

I "didn't like" my Yoder at first. Partly because it felt like cheating, partly because I was used to heavier smoke flavor, and partly because I was babying it and having to wheel it in and out of my garage every time. It basically didn't get used the first year I had it.

Now, I leave it outside, uncovered. It sure didn't take long to start rusting (typical Yoder).
I also use an Amazn Tube all the time.
I got over the fact that it was "cheating" and enjoy doing other things while food is smoking away. It gets used a lot more now.

If you think you would benefit from the added convenience of one, buy one. If not, don't. They certainly don't produce magical food.

mattmountz94 · 07-17-2018, 11:40 AM

Come help me lay some flooring in my addition and you can use my yoder all you want while in town

BBQ_Bama · 07-17-2018, 02:36 PM

I've got a question for the pellet owners. My wife's uncle bought a Pitboss two weeks ago and as we were assembling it we noticed in the owners manual it stated the unit would last approximately two years. We thought we both had read it wrong, so we re-read it several times and sure enough. Right there in the owners manual it states the shelf life on the unit is 2 years. This can't be true can it?

07-17-2018, 07:58 AM	#46
LordRiffenstein is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-27-17 Location: Langdorp, Belgium Name/Nickname : Yoeri	I have a Traeger Lil Tex pro that I bought 2,5 years ago, it was my introduction into smoking. I have had 2 problems with it: - I always use Traeger pellets because pellets are hard to get and now that they are more easy to get, Traeger are a lot cheaper. The 1 time I did use another brand of pellets, I had an error and the fire died. - November last year, the controller died, dealer send me a new one and I had to spend 2 hours to fix it. Has worked perfectly ever since but the 1st couple of months I was weary about using it for long cooks. Since buying the Traeger, I've bought a bunch of other pits and I still love using the Traeger for low and slow cooking. I never use it above 250F unless it's to finish something or after wrapping a brisket. I love being able to put ribs on while I'm working in the home office, knowing they will be done in about 6hours, right on time for dinner, without having to take a look at them. (I will spritz them though ) Things I don't like? It needs electricity but we hardly ever are out of power here. Traeger build quality is not the best but I make sure to clean it after every 4-5 cooks. And yes that takes a bit more effort then cleaning a stickburner or kettle. __________________ 20x40" Nette Lette offset - BBQ PitBox RF vault - Yoder YS640 Comp Cart - BBQ mates SM grill - Weber OTG 22.5" - Weber GA - 13" mini kamado - wood fired oven

07-17-2018, 09:28 AM	#48
MisterChrister Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: Wis-con-sin	Thanks for this thread, Smitty. All of your other PP threads had me percolating if I might wanna consider one. My luck is so bad though, that ALL of the possible downsides posted in this thread WOULD happen to me! I'm now firmly planted in the "fark it, life is easier without it" camp! __________________ Kettleheads Anonymous Charter Member

07-17-2018, 10:40 AM	#55
tarheelsmoker Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-13-12 Location: Denver, NC	I am a new pellet cooker owner. I have cooked on it twice. I love the ease of cooking with it and the capacity (GMG DB). I got a very deep smoke ring on the Boston Butt that I smoked this weekend and had a good smoky flavor. The two things that I do not like are the need for electricity and the fact that, IMHO, it should not really be called a grill. At least not for most of us on here. I wouldn’t even think of grilling a steak on it. To get the temp up to the highest takes a lot of pellets and you are not even cooking on it while waiting. Plus the top temp is only 500 degrees for most cookers unless you have a sear station or some kind of mod. It is a great tool in my arsenal. I have a 5 other things that each can do many things better than a pellet does. But for an easy smoker that does not require a lot of attention, it’s hard to beat. To answer smitty’s question, if it was all I had and nothing else, I would not like it. My answer to the question of if you could only have one cooker, my answer is still a Weber kettle. That hasn’t changed. __________________ Weber OTG 22.5"Weber Performer (copper)Kamado Joe Big JoeGasserCamp Chef FTG

07-17-2018, 11:40 AM	#59
mattmountz94 Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-07-15 Location: Wernersville, PA	Come help me lay some flooring in my addition and you can use my yoder all you want while in town __________________ Matt

07-17-2018, 10:32 AM	#52
Baychilla is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-08-18 Location: San Francisco, CA Name/Nickname : Joe	So you used to be indecisive but now you're not so sure?

07-17-2018, 11:30 AM	#58
Whisky is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-12-14 Location: Pingree, ND	I "didn't like" my Yoder at first. Partly because it felt like cheating, partly because I was used to heavier smoke flavor, and partly because I was babying it and having to wheel it in and out of my garage every time. It basically didn't get used the first year I had it. Now, I leave it outside, uncovered. It sure didn't take long to start rusting (typical Yoder). I also use an Amazn Tube all the time. I got over the fact that it was "cheating" and enjoy doing other things while food is smoking away. It gets used a lot more now. If you think you would benefit from the added convenience of one, buy one. If not, don't. They certainly don't produce magical food.

07-17-2018, 02:36 PM	#60
BBQ_Bama Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-17-18 Location: Shreveport, LA Name/Nickname : Bama	I've got a question for the pellet owners. My wife's uncle bought a Pitboss two weeks ago and as we were assembling it we noticed in the owners manual it stated the unit would last approximately two years. We thought we both had read it wrong, so we re-read it several times and sure enough. Right there in the owners manual it states the shelf life on the unit is 2 years. This can't be true can it?