Yoder pellet or other?

busmania · 09-27-2020, 09:18 PM

I might sell my soul to the devil. I have a yoder wichita which I no longer use (but do love) because I like my home made offset much better. Lately I’ve been yearning for a set it and forget it set up and thinking of buying a pellet. I have a big green egg and a Weber Smokey mountain but honestly I don’t love the food off of charcoal smokers. So, I’ve been thinking of going yoder pellet as I read nothing but good things and like the brand. However, I dont really like my local dealer (they are pompous and dont really seem to be interested in helping every time I go in) so I got to thinking, maybe I dont need a yoder. What other pellet smokers make similar food? I want to be able to go low n slow and high heat (700+). I may just skip the dealer and drive to Kansas to pick up the yoder but again, I got to thinking about considering other brands. I think the mak is probably too expensive. I’d be looking at the ys640 size. Less than $2000 budget. Thanks!

patrickd26 · 09-27-2020, 10:14 PM

To me, pellet is pellet... You're going to get the same smoke profile whether the cooker is getting made in China or the US. I love my Yoder pellet. I think the main reason I like it is that it's just consistent. I can put something on before bed, and just know that it will be chugging along 8 hours later. The food comes off just as expected every time.

If I didn't have a Yoder, and was shopping I would look at Grilla Grills and Pits-N-Spits. But, I would pick Yoder over all of them. I'm picky that way! Good luck on your search.

Nomamm · 09-27-2020, 10:28 PM

Get the Yoder. I have had mine for about 18 months. Have put just about a ton of pellets through it so far. Zero problems. I can’t speak for the other brands, but USA made products get more of my attention then overseas.

Mlhunter · 09-27-2020, 10:57 PM

I love my Yoder. It is the smoker I use the most. I will always have a Yoder pellet smoker. It is so well made. I love the fact it is made in American too.

SmoothBoarBBQ · 09-28-2020, 02:22 AM

Have you had food that was cooked on a pellet smoker? I'm an offset guy and decided to give pellets a try...bought a Rec Tec BFG (large capacity model). The food which came off of that thing tasted like I had cooked it in my oven. There was a great smoke ring, but when it came to smoke flavor it just wasn't there...barely noticeable at all. I tried different pellets and it didn't seem to make a difference at all...B&B, Lumberjack, PitBoss, and Grilla Grills brand pellets.

Just something to consider before you take a long road trip and drop that kind of money.

gtsum · 09-28-2020, 06:34 AM

Had a Yoder and a memphis elite pellet cookers and produced some great food...it is NOT the same result as a well run stick burner though. I used to think pellets got me 80-90% of the flavor of an offset..for me now, it’s maybe like 50-60%. YMMV though. I haven’t had a Mak, which many say produces great flavor. I did like the yoder layout and results better than the Memphis fwiw

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

BlueHaze · 09-28-2020, 06:47 AM

I will be truthful. I have a Pitts and Spitts Maverick 850. It’s a really nice pellet smoker. Set it and forget it. Good smoke ring. It’s just like cooking in the kitchen in the oven. The thrill is gone. Looking for a stick burner.

Marquez · 09-28-2020, 06:52 AM

The Yoder site has a dealer map, and it indicates one in Colorado Springs.

Money talks, and if you came into my store I'd earn your business.

I am very happy w my pellet cooker. While the food from it does not taste like a stick burner, I'm ok with that. It gets the job done every time.

Good luck with your search

cclinard1 · 09-28-2020, 07:19 AM

I enjoy my YS640s a lot. The Fireboard setup makes it really nice. I'm having good luck with B&B comp blend pellets from Academy. That said, I'm currently also looking at adding a stick burner to my arsenal. For me, there is no one setup that will do it all. Use pellet cooker, have your time, but lose some flavor. Burn sticks, better smoke profile, but lose your time.

Crispy Bacon · 09-28-2020, 07:23 AM

I love my MAK 2 but I don’t think you can go wrong with the Yoder. Especially now that it has the new controller & that stainless front guard to protect your paint. Best of luck with your decision & I’m sure we’re all looking forward to see how you like it!

busmania · 09-28-2020, 07:42 AM

I have never eaten food off of a pellet nor have I ever used one. I think I would often start food on my offset and the. Move it to the pellet so I can leave and do other things. I do worry that I’ll be disappointed in the food but the family is sick of staying home on saturdays so I can cook.

Cookb4 · 09-28-2020, 07:58 AM

I bought a YS 640 without ever tasting food off a pellet smoker. I was disappointed in the smoke favor. I wish I would have tried food off a pellet before I purchased.

ECB · 09-28-2020, 08:25 AM

I have a mak 2star and honestly I wouldn't want anymore smoke flavor than it imparts. It actually is surprising how much flavor it imparts even on quick cooks like chicken or a pork tenderloin.

Raider18 · 09-28-2020, 08:29 AM

I'm with others, a pellet smoker takes all the fun out with half the flavor. That being said I'll always have one because sometimes if I'm cooking for an office pot luck I want to sleep and those folks think it's the best bbq ever. I've owned a Green Mountain and Two different Recteqs. I'm going Yoder next time.

NoCoPk360 · 09-28-2020, 08:58 AM

There are lots of good pellet cookers. The more I get used to them the less strong smoke flavor matters. I don’t have an offset but have cooked a bunch on a WSM. The lighter smoke flavor
from the pellet grill is definitely present but the lack of hassle is worth it to me especially during the week when time is limited.

09-27-2020, 09:18 PM	#1
busmania On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-07-18 Location: Centennial co Name/Nickname : Matt	Yoder pellet or other? I might sell my soul to the devil. I have a yoder wichita which I no longer use (but do love) because I like my home made offset much better. Lately I’ve been yearning for a set it and forget it set up and thinking of buying a pellet. I have a big green egg and a Weber Smokey mountain but honestly I don’t love the food off of charcoal smokers. So, I’ve been thinking of going yoder pellet as I read nothing but good things and like the brand. However, I dont really like my local dealer (they are pompous and dont really seem to be interested in helping every time I go in) so I got to thinking, maybe I dont need a yoder. What other pellet smokers make similar food? I want to be able to go low n slow and high heat (700+). I may just skip the dealer and drive to Kansas to pick up the yoder but again, I got to thinking about considering other brands. I think the mak is probably too expensive. I’d be looking at the ys640 size. Less than $2000 budget. Thanks!
	1 members found this post helpful.

09-27-2020, 10:28 PM	#3
Nomamm Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-10-18 Location: Carson City Nevada Name/Nickname : Ryan	Get the Yoder. I have had mine for about 18 months. Have put just about a ton of pellets through it so far. Zero problems. I can’t speak for the other brands, but USA made products get more of my attention then overseas. __________________ Yoder YS640, Weber 22” master touch, blackstone 22” griddle, FireBoard, ThermoWorks MK 4.

09-27-2020, 10:57 PM	#4
Mlhunter Got Wood. Join Date: 08-03-15 Location: Moses Lake WA	I love my Yoder. It is the smoker I use the most. I will always have a Yoder pellet smoker. It is so well made. I love the fact it is made in American too. __________________ Yoder YS640 Myron Mixon G33 Myron Mixon MMS-48 H2O Cookshack FEC-100 M1 Grill M16 with Competition Cart Blackstone 36” Pro Series Griddle

09-28-2020, 02:22 AM	#5
SmoothBoarBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-25-17 Location: Killeen, TX Name/Nickname : Donnie	Have you had food that was cooked on a pellet smoker? I'm an offset guy and decided to give pellets a try...bought a Rec Tec BFG (large capacity model). The food which came off of that thing tasted like I had cooked it in my oven. There was a great smoke ring, but when it came to smoke flavor it just wasn't there...barely noticeable at all. I tried different pellets and it didn't seem to make a difference at all...B&B, Lumberjack, PitBoss, and Grilla Grills brand pellets. Just something to consider before you take a long road trip and drop that kind of money. __________________ Weber Kettle, Johnson Smokers Med 6', Cotton Gin "Harvester" UDS

09-28-2020, 06:47 AM	#7
BlueHaze On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-27-20 Location: Clearwater,Fl Name/Nickname : Indy	I will be truthful. I have a Pitts and Spitts Maverick 850. It’s a really nice pellet smoker. Set it and forget it. Good smoke ring. It’s just like cooking in the kitchen in the oven. The thrill is gone. Looking for a stick burner.
	1 members found this post helpful.

09-27-2020, 10:14 PM	#2
patrickd26 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-01-17 Location: Fremont, NE	To me, pellet is pellet... You're going to get the same smoke profile whether the cooker is getting made in China or the US. I love my Yoder pellet. I think the main reason I like it is that it's just consistent. I can put something on before bed, and just know that it will be chugging along 8 hours later. The food comes off just as expected every time. If I didn't have a Yoder, and was shopping I would look at Grilla Grills and Pits-N-Spits. But, I would pick Yoder over all of them. I'm picky that way! Good luck on your search.

09-28-2020, 06:34 AM	#6
gtsum Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-30-03 Location: Richmond, VA	Had a Yoder and a memphis elite pellet cookers and produced some great food...it is NOT the same result as a well run stick burner though. I used to think pellets got me 80-90% of the flavor of an offset..for me now, it’s maybe like 50-60%. YMMV though. I haven’t had a Mak, which many say produces great flavor. I did like the yoder layout and results better than the Memphis fwiw Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

09-28-2020, 06:52 AM	#8
Marquez Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-10-09 Location: Littleton CO Name/Nickname : Marquez	The Yoder site has a dealer map, and it indicates one in Colorado Springs. Money talks, and if you came into my store I'd earn your business. I am very happy w my pellet cooker. While the food from it does not taste like a stick burner, I'm ok with that. It gets the job done every time. Good luck with your search __________________ MAK Two Star aka "420" Workhorse 1975 aka "Dolores" Last edited by Marquez; 09-28-2020 at 07:00 AM..

09-28-2020, 07:19 AM	#9
cclinard1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-29-20 Location: Wilmington, NC Name/Nickname : Chas	I enjoy my YS640s a lot. The Fireboard setup makes it really nice. I'm having good luck with B&B comp blend pellets from Academy. That said, I'm currently also looking at adding a stick burner to my arsenal. For me, there is no one setup that will do it all. Use pellet cooker, have your time, but lose some flavor. Burn sticks, better smoke profile, but lose your time. __________________ Yoder YS640s Orange Comp Cart \| UDS \| Weber GB 26.75 \| Weber MT OB 22.5

09-28-2020, 07:23 AM	#10
Crispy Bacon Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-22-19 Location: Midwest Name/Nickname : Crispy	I love my MAK 2 but I don’t think you can go wrong with the Yoder. Especially now that it has the new controller & that stainless front guard to protect your paint. Best of luck with your decision & I’m sure we’re all looking forward to see how you like it!

09-28-2020, 07:42 AM	#11
busmania On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-07-18 Location: Centennial co Name/Nickname : Matt	I have never eaten food off of a pellet nor have I ever used one. I think I would often start food on my offset and the. Move it to the pellet so I can leave and do other things. I do worry that I’ll be disappointed in the food but the family is sick of staying home on saturdays so I can cook.

09-28-2020, 07:58 AM	#12
Cookb4 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-26-20 Location: Maine Name/Nickname : Cook	I bought a YS 640 without ever tasting food off a pellet smoker. I was disappointed in the smoke favor. I wish I would have tried food off a pellet before I purchased.

09-28-2020, 08:25 AM	#13
ECB On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-19-10 Location: Hell	I have a mak 2star and honestly I wouldn't want anymore smoke flavor than it imparts. It actually is surprising how much flavor it imparts even on quick cooks like chicken or a pork tenderloin.

09-28-2020, 08:29 AM	#14
Raider18 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-22-13 Location: Texas Name/Nickname : Mike	I'm with others, a pellet smoker takes all the fun out with half the flavor. That being said I'll always have one because sometimes if I'm cooking for an office pot luck I want to sleep and those folks think it's the best bbq ever. I've owned a Green Mountain and Two different Recteqs. I'm going Yoder next time.

09-28-2020, 08:58 AM	#15
NoCoPk360 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-22-20 Location: Weld, Colorado Name/Nickname : Fred	There are lots of good pellet cookers. The more I get used to them the less strong smoke flavor matters. I don’t have an offset but have cooked a bunch on a WSM. The lighter smoke flavor from the pellet grill is definitely present but the lack of hassle is worth it to me especially during the week when time is limited.