Welcome from Pittsburgh, PA. A few years ago I bought a Grilla Silverbac after much research and recommendations from many here. I couldn't be happier. I have had zero issues with it.
It's a great cooker! Mine sits outside in all manner of weather, uncovered, and aside from maybe 3x the pellets swelling and seizing the auger (my fault, completely) and needing some minor surgery, the thing is trouble free and kicks butt.
Grilla Silverbac Original -2020 (added WiFi controller 2021) aobosi Sous Vide device - 2019 Weber Original Kettle Premium 22" Copper - 2015 Pit Barrel Cooker - 2014 - retired Sept 2020 Brinkmann 4 burner gas grill (very old, stout, and still working well!)
Slow 'n' Sear for 22" kettle
Cast Iron Drip 'n Griddle for kettle 2021
Grill Grates for the gasser
CDN DSP-1 dual sensor probe therm
Maverick ET-732 therm
ThermoWorks Smoke 2 channel
Thermapop digital therm (x2, red and white)
Thermapen - x2 - orange. lime green
Little Chief electric cold smoker (lots of salmon thru this!)
Welcome from the wet side of the "other" Washington!
Here's another vote for the Grilla Grills products, the Silverbac large pellet pooper, the Chimp smaller pellet cooker, and the OG Original Grilla in a somewhat unique keg shape.
I replaced my rusted-out Pit Barrel Cooker with a Silverbac and can't be happier. The Customer Service is excellent, you're likely to get an answer to an email on a Sunday in the middle of a cook. I had an electronics early mortality failure and the replacement control unit was shipped the same day and free.
There is some noise in the industry about the vendors of the remote control apps disabling the Remote Start option, it isn't a big deal for me, but some may want it. I still have the manual control box in mine, but have the upgraded WiFi control panel sitting here in case I get too lazy to walk outside. Maybe I should DL the app before it gets upgraded....
My buddy is still remote starting his RecTec. He found a workaround on the app, and he just has to keep it from updating, though it's a bit of a trick. I dunno how long it will work, but for the moment, he's able to do it. He thinks the people losing their minds about it all are funny, though. lol
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
I can verify the Silverbac is a great cooker, solid, does well in cold temps, etc. Not a searing machine, but to echo most everyone's words above, most pellet cookers aren't searing machines. The Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy cookers sear great, but they're pricey. Some models, like Yoder, have sliding components to get more direct access to flame...but again, pricey, at least beyond your stated budget.
If you can hold off a bit, Weber is releasing their new "Searwood" pellet cooker which has more of a gas grill type setup down below, offering better range of temperature for more varied cooking. An improvement on their controversial Smokefire from 2020. The Searwood is supposed to be released this year some time and is reported to retail at ~$900.
Salutations from Hays, Kansas! Can’t help you in that price point, however, Yoder smokers have a 2 piece diffuser which does allow searing. They are built like tanks and will last a long time. I love mine. Good luck on your search!
I’d probably wait until the Weber Searwood comes out and watch reviews on that. It looks promising.
Also, not in your listed budget, but not double to triple are Smokin Brothers. They’re made in USA, claim to get to 600° plus and offer a searing station accessory. You can see if they have a dealer near you anywhere. https://smokinbrothers.com/product/s...er-plus-grill/
Fast Eddy's Cook Shack PG 1000
Humphrey's Pint with Fireboard + Pit Viper
Hasty-Bake 256 Gourmet Dual Finish
Camp Chef DLX pellet pooper/sear burner/jerky rack
Broil King Keg Kamado
Charbroil Kamander
Original Pit Barrel Cooker
Barrel House Cooker
Akorn Kamado with cart
WSM 22 with Flame Boss
WSM 18.5 with Flame Boss
Weber Kettle Performer (with Slow n Sear/Drip n Griddle)
Weber Jumbo Joe
Weber Smokey Joe
Weber Q gasser with stand
Blackstone Griddle 22 with stand and lid
Blackstone Griddle 36
Akorn Kamado jr
Get the camp chef smoke pro dlx for your pellet needs $700 - then but an ATC and a gasket for your WSM. Test the WSM with atc and gasket and realize "holy crap it's as easy as a pellet, real smoke flavor, good fuel consumption" and keep it and return the CC, save 700.
Or, if I'm wrong, return the atc, take the 300 and buy the CC sear burner attachment for the dlx, it's an amazing combo.
best pellet smoker under $1000 - Search (bing.com)
take your pick, Traeger has started it all.
But I cooked some very tasty chicken and ribs on the cheapest $300 pit boss pellet grill from a big box store.
Don't need to spend big bucks to cook great food.
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