My new Yoder YS640

nucornhusker · 03-05-2013, 11:17 AM

Well, after over a year of research and saving, I got my new cooker. I wanted to get a pellet fired unit so I could smoke food while spending time with my family, and also grill on it if I wanted to. I’ve been eyeing the Yoders for over a year now, and after deciding on which of their three cookers I wanted and wouldn't break the bank (I would have loved the YS1320

) , I decided on the YS640 and ordered it in early February.

This thing is built like an absolute tank, and it is much more impressive in person than it is looking at pictures.

I had a few options added. A custom tool hanger and probe ports, as well as the door therms you see above. The therms aren’t needed at all, but I just liked the look.

I ordered expanded steel grates for the bottom grill surface as well, but I was mis-shipped the regular rolled bar grates. Yoder already sent me the expanded grates.

Any new grill I get, the first cook is steak. Any new smoker I get, the first cook is ribs. So for my first two cooks, I did steak one day, ribs the next.

Pretty good grill marks for a pellet grill. I cooked these at 525*. It was a completely different texture than cooking steaks over charcoal. The meat still felt loose like it was raw, but it was cooked just right. It was very juicy and very tender. You can see how tender it is by the way it's bending over my fork. It doesn’t get a great sear, but the flavor and texture was amazing! If I want a better sear, I can just buy Grill Grates and cook directly over the fire. A great option that the Yoder pellet grills offer.

----------------------------------

Ribs rubbed down. The back rack is my comp rub, next is my personal favorite, plain old salt and pepper, then the front two are SM Cherry. One of my assistants was overseeing operations in the background. He knows if Dad is working at that counter, good food is on it's way later.

I cooked in four different areas so I could get a sense of how even the heat distribution is. No cooker is perfect, but this did a pretty good job.

Great color, tender and juicy and pretty good smoke flavor using Lumberjack pellets. The rib looks a little dry in the picture, but is was not dry at all. This is my first cooker with a second shelf, so I need to learn how to deal with drippings falling and making dark spots on the food below.

Instead of the usually intermittent puff of smoke I’ve seen from a few other pellet grills, this puts out TBS over the whole cook, and it almost smells like I’m using my stickburner or KJ. I was very impressed with how it smokes food. And it puts out good smoke even at 400*. Having said that, I don't like the heavy smoke flavor you can get from some charcoal smokers, so this was just fine with us.

It’s only been a few days and I know I’m still in the “Honeymoon Phase”, but I’m really liking this cooker so far. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a pellet grill.

Yoder’s and All Things Barbecue’s customer service has been top notch. They are great to work with and will answer all of your questions. And I asked a lot of questions. I will do business with them again in the future.

Wrench_H · 03-05-2013, 11:24 AM

Nice, all your food looks great. I've never cooked on one of those or even seen one in person, but they are sharp looking grills. I really like the design of it. Congrats, and put that thing to work.

Bluesman · 03-05-2013, 11:40 AM

Great post. Food looks outstanding. Looks like you got a fine little helper as well.

Goddahavit · 03-05-2013, 01:26 PM

love the orange!! nice cooker indeed

IamMadMan · 03-05-2013, 03:34 PM

Nice Looking Rig and Great Looking Food....

I was looking at a YS1320.... But may have an interest in a used Backwoods Pro Jr listed by Brethren.

The Pro Jr is more than I need, but if the price is right, hey I'll go for it.

JandJbuidasmoker · 03-05-2013, 03:52 PM

Did the Supervisor get his share of deliciousness?? Great looking setup! I like the ports for therm.

hamiltont · 03-05-2013, 03:57 PM

Looks AWESOME, the cooker & the food. You should have many, many years of enjoyment from that investment. Cheers!!!

smokinit · 03-05-2013, 04:11 PM

Sweet all the way around!!

Show me smoke · 03-05-2013, 04:14 PM

Nice the probe ports should be standard..great idea... I have had my 640 now for about 2 months love it..

Show me smoke · 03-05-2013, 04:19 PM

What are those probe holes made of...? is it something that could be retrofited onto mine...or Could buy someplace?

Smokin Ribs · 03-05-2013, 04:22 PM

Looks great, I'll have some please!!

jmoney7269 · 03-05-2013, 04:34 PM

Nice lookin smoker! Them front 2 ribs with the sm cherry did you use molasses glue? They got a pretty color to em

nucornhusker · 03-05-2013, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Show me smoke

What are those probe holes made of...? is it something that could be retrofited onto mine...or Could buy someplace?

Call Don at Yoder. I'm sure he could sell you the ports and you could drill them in. They are nice because there is a little gasket in them that expands as you unscrew, and contracts as you screw it down, so you can seal it back up a bit once the probes are run though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmoney7269

Nice lookin smoker! Them front 2 ribs with the sm cherry did you use molasses glue? They got a pretty color to em

Thanks, just straight SM Cherry on them as pictured rubbed. I sauced one of them for my wife, and left one dry for me. The other sauced rack is my comp recipe.

nucornhusker · 03-05-2013, 09:57 PM

I also forgot to mention how quiet it is. I've been around a few other brands of pellet grills, and you can barely tell the Yoder is even on when it's running. It was a very pleasant shock to me just how quiet it really is. You really don't even hear it unless you are trying to.

Gore · 03-05-2013, 10:11 PM

Thanks for posting. That is an absolutely beautiful toy!

03-05-2013, 11:17 AM	#1
nucornhusker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-29-11 Location: Lincoln, NE Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	My new Yoder YS640 Well, after over a year of research and saving, I got my new cooker. I wanted to get a pellet fired unit so I could smoke food while spending time with my family, and also grill on it if I wanted to. I’ve been eyeing the Yoders for over a year now, and after deciding on which of their three cookers I wanted and wouldn't break the bank (I would have loved the YS1320) , I decided on the YS640 and ordered it in early February. This thing is built like an absolute tank, and it is much more impressive in person than it is looking at pictures. I had a few options added. A custom tool hanger and probe ports, as well as the door therms you see above. The therms aren’t needed at all, but I just liked the look. I ordered expanded steel grates for the bottom grill surface as well, but I was mis-shipped the regular rolled bar grates. Yoder already sent me the expanded grates. Any new grill I get, the first cook is steak. Any new smoker I get, the first cook is ribs. So for my first two cooks, I did steak one day, ribs the next. Pretty good grill marks for a pellet grill. I cooked these at 525. It was a completely different texture than cooking steaks over charcoal. The meat still felt loose like it was raw, but it was cooked just right. It was very juicy and very tender. You can see how tender it is by the way it's bending over my fork. It doesn’t get a great sear, but the flavor and texture was amazing! If I want a better sear, I can just buy Grill Grates and cook directly over the fire. A great option that the Yoder pellet grills offer. ---------------------------------- Ribs rubbed down. The back rack is my comp rub, next is my personal favorite, plain old salt and pepper, then the front two are SM Cherry. One of my assistants was overseeing operations in the background. He knows if Dad is working at that counter, good food is on it's way later. I cooked in four different areas so I could get a sense of how even the heat distribution is. No cooker is perfect, but this did a pretty good job. Great color, tender and juicy and pretty good smoke flavor using Lumberjack pellets. The rib looks a little dry in the picture, but is was not dry at all. This is my first cooker with a second shelf, so I need to learn how to deal with drippings falling and making dark spots on the food below. Instead of the usually intermittent puff of smoke I’ve seen from a few other pellet grills, this puts out TBS over the whole cook, and it almost smells like I’m using my stickburner or KJ. I was very impressed with how it smokes food. And it puts out good smoke even at 400. Having said that, I don't like the heavy smoke flavor you can get from some charcoal smokers, so this was just fine with us. It’s only been a few days and I know I’m still in the “Honeymoon Phase”, but I’m really liking this cooker so far. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a pellet grill. Yoder’s and All Things Barbecue’s customer service has been top notch. They are great to work with and will answer all of your questions. And I asked a lot of questions. I will do business with them again in the future. __________________ Yoder YS640 on Competition Cart, Oklahoma Joe's Offset, Kamado Joe Classic, UDS, Yoder 24" Firepot w/Cooking Grate and Hanger Weber: OTG 22.5" (DI), OT 22.5" (L), Smokey Joe Gold: Black (AU) & Copper (DI) Zero club member - Join a throwdown and try to earn your Goose Egg. IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller in Accordance with the 2008 Wichita MOINK Ball Treaty
	2 members found this post helpful.

03-05-2013, 11:24 AM	#2
Wrench_H is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-22-09 Location: Wilmington, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice, all your food looks great. I've never cooked on one of those or even seen one in person, but they are sharp looking grills. I really like the design of it. Congrats, and put that thing to work. __________________ Anthony - Pork City Grillers KCBS team CharGriller Smokin Pro, King Kooker Cast Propane Smoker, Smokey Joe Silver, Blue Mosaic Kamado, Traeger 075(Somehow I now have 2 of these), Weber Performer, BW Fatboy Multiple Time Zero Member Try the Throwdowns - MMMMM...tastes like liquid crystal

03-05-2013, 11:40 AM	#3
Bluesman is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-01-10 Location: Fond du Lac, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great post. Food looks outstanding. Looks like you got a fine little helper as well. __________________ "98" Green Weber Performer "95" Black Weber Platinum - Dumpster find workin' on it "00" Weber Simpsons OTG 22.5 WSM Smokin' Bucky UDS Weber Q100 Weber Q200 Faster than the Speed of Light Red Thermapen, Certified MOINK Ball Maker Proud Member of the Zero's Club with Voodoo Soup..

03-05-2013, 01:26 PM	#4
Goddahavit Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-18-08 Location: PA, Fleetwood Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	love the orange!! nice cooker indeed __________________ Fire & Spice Cook Team Backwoods Authorized Dealer fireandspicebbq@gmail.com Backyard Jambo Backwoods Gater Stump's Stretch Bubba Keg Meadowcreek PR60 Weber WSM Old weber gasser

03-05-2013, 03:34 PM	#5
IamMadMan is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 07-30-11 Location: Southern New Jersey Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice Looking Rig and Great Looking Food.... I was looking at a YS1320.... But may have an interest in a used Backwoods Pro Jr listed by Brethren. The Pro Jr is more than I need, but if the price is right, hey I'll go for it. __________________ Humphrey's DownEast Beast

03-05-2013, 03:52 PM	#6
JandJbuidasmoker Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-18-13 Location: Terre Haute, Indiana Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Did the Supervisor get his share of deliciousness?? Great looking setup! I like the ports for therm.

03-05-2013, 03:57 PM	#7
hamiltont is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-24-10 Location: Kearney, NE Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks AWESOME, the cooker & the food. You should have many, many years of enjoyment from that investment. Cheers!!! __________________ If Homebrew & BBQ aren't the answer, then you're askin' the wrong questions... Cheers!!!

03-05-2013, 04:11 PM	#8
smokinit is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-16-07 Location: Coxsackie NY/West Chester Pa Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Sweet all the way around!! __________________ BWS Pro Comp Hog G2 Chubby the Little Big Cooker Battle Box on order Humphrey's Smokers and Accesories http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=154925 Authorized Backwoods Dealer http://www.purpleporkmasters.com http://www.facebook.com/SMOKENIT

03-05-2013, 04:14 PM	#9
Show me smoke Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 01-23-13 Location: gardner kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice the probe ports should be standard..great idea... I have had my 640 now for about 2 months love it..

03-05-2013, 04:19 PM	#10
Show me smoke Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 01-23-13 Location: gardner kansas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What are those probe holes made of...? is it something that could be retrofited onto mine...or Could buy someplace?

03-05-2013, 04:22 PM	#11
Smokin Ribs Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-05-11 Location: Kokomo, IN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks great, I'll have some please!! __________________ Brinkman Smoke N' Pit, Hmde wood grill, trailored smoker in progress, rescued weber 22.5 kettle

03-05-2013, 04:34 PM	#12
jmoney7269 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-07-11 Location: brenham, texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice lookin smoker! Them front 2 ribs with the sm cherry did you use molasses glue? They got a pretty color to em __________________ Those willing to sacrifice liberty for security should be entitled to neither! - Benjamin Franklin

03-05-2013, 09:57 PM	#14
nucornhusker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-29-11 Location: Lincoln, NE Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	I also forgot to mention how quiet it is. I've been around a few other brands of pellet grills, and you can barely tell the Yoder is even on when it's running. It was a very pleasant shock to me just how quiet it really is. You really don't even hear it unless you are trying to. __________________ Yoder YS640 on Competition Cart, Oklahoma Joe's Offset, Kamado Joe Classic, UDS, Yoder 24" Firepot w/Cooking Grate and Hanger Weber: OTG 22.5" (DI), OT 22.5" (L), Smokey Joe Gold: Black (AU) & Copper (DI) Zero club member - Join a throwdown and try to earn your Goose Egg. IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller in Accordance with the 2008 Wichita MOINK Ball Treaty

03-05-2013, 10:11 PM	#15
Gore somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-05-08 Location: Hiding out from blood suck ghost snake gods ... and Nazis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for posting. That is an absolutely beautiful toy! __________________ Assistant to a Mad BBQ Scientist (and a squirrel): Primo Oval XL, Small Offset, Gasser, Optigrill, UBS "I love everything about the pig, even the way she walks." -- Spanish proverb (\__/) (='.'=) This is the rabbit baby. Invests him in yours signature, (")_(") and the help rabbit baby takes over control of the world! Hmmmm, I wonder, WWGALD? Avatar courtesy of Grillman and NorthwestBBQ Promoted by Bigabyte to "Idiot #1"