Bob C Cue
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Don't get me wrong, I think pellet grills are cool and would never suggest that someone should not own one, but I got to thinking about whether they are really faster and more convenient than other cookers for smoking.
I can really only speak from the standpoint of someone who has used a weber kettle and a PBC for smoking; and since getting the PBC all my smoking is done on it.
With the PBC I fill up the coal basket with charcoal, add some wood chunks and then top it off with a small chimney of lit coals. From start to finish this takes no more than 15-20 minutes and in the meantime I am usually prepping the meat. So in 20 minutes or less I can start cooking my meat(s) of the day.
And the PBC can cook ribs in 3-4 hours and a 12lb brisket in 8 or so hours.
I guess the pellet grill can heat up a bit faster and you can start cooking in less than the time it takes me on the PBC. But I understand that many folks start at a lower "smoke" temperature of around 180 degrees to impart more smoke flavor. So I would think from start to finished product you are not going to cook much faster, if at all, than a PBC or other UDS.
Again, I am not opposed to owning a pellet grill, especially one that provides direct access to the fire for quick and effective grilling of steaks, burgers, etc. But from a smoking standpoint, I not sure that pellet grills really offer a faster and more convenient way to smoke.
Am I missing something in that regard?
PS, the cleanup of the PBC is not time consuming and I understand that you have to vacuum out the fire pot on pellet grills occasionally and there can be issues with tunneling and jam ups.
I can really only speak from the standpoint of someone who has used a weber kettle and a PBC for smoking; and since getting the PBC all my smoking is done on it.
With the PBC I fill up the coal basket with charcoal, add some wood chunks and then top it off with a small chimney of lit coals. From start to finish this takes no more than 15-20 minutes and in the meantime I am usually prepping the meat. So in 20 minutes or less I can start cooking my meat(s) of the day.
And the PBC can cook ribs in 3-4 hours and a 12lb brisket in 8 or so hours.
I guess the pellet grill can heat up a bit faster and you can start cooking in less than the time it takes me on the PBC. But I understand that many folks start at a lower "smoke" temperature of around 180 degrees to impart more smoke flavor. So I would think from start to finished product you are not going to cook much faster, if at all, than a PBC or other UDS.
Again, I am not opposed to owning a pellet grill, especially one that provides direct access to the fire for quick and effective grilling of steaks, burgers, etc. But from a smoking standpoint, I not sure that pellet grills really offer a faster and more convenient way to smoke.
Am I missing something in that regard?
PS, the cleanup of the PBC is not time consuming and I understand that you have to vacuum out the fire pot on pellet grills occasionally and there can be issues with tunneling and jam ups.
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