Cost of Cooking Pellets

[CandySueQ]

Rather than hi-jack the next thread, I thought I'd start this one!

If you live close to the Cookinpellet pellet factory like Advantage49 or work at the BBQr's Delight pellet factory like me, you can get cooking pellets at a reasonable cost. I get all the broken bags I want to haul out! Otherwise, you're going to have to search a bit for pellets. Good news is that pellets are becoming more and more available nationwide.

If you're out West, most cooking pellets made out there have an Alder base wood with flavoring woods or oils added for flavor. Honestly, I don't know if Traeger is still making pellets using their patented oil method. Typically west of the Mississippi River Traeger pellets are alder based and east of the Big Muddy pellets are oak based. I heard a couple of weeks ago that Traeger had a pellet plant in Midland, TX that was making an oak-blend pellet. I doubt it though. I've been to Midland and there aren't many trees out there!

Pacific Pellet manufactures out of Oregon as does Bear Mountain. These are both alder based pellets.

Cookinpellets is a real powerhouse in pellet manufacturing. Up in MN area I believe. They have a lock on pellets at Amazon. I don't know how they are selling 40# for $35 delivered. That's a good deal because freight on pellets is high. And I've use the perfect mix pellets, they aren't a bad pellet. I disagree on using 100% hickory though.

Lumberjack is also a force out there. They make their pellets from whole trees rather than residual sawdust. Because they use it all, there tends to be more bark in the pellets. In my opinion, this makes for a potentially bitter taste on food and definitely more ash in the fire pot. Higher ash will effect the performance of any pellet cooker.

B&B Charcoal sells pellets in Walmart, HEB and Academy Sports. I know about these because we make them. Price is about $12 for a 20 pound bag.

I don't know who manufactures for Green Mountain Grill, Camp Chef, Cookshack, Q pellet, Rec Tec or Grilla. I do know that 5 of the 6 do NOT make their own pellets. All of these grill manufacturers are following the Traeger business model to control the expendable that runs their devices.

Bottom line -- hunt for what's available in your area. Look online if no local reseller is there. Look to buy in bulk after you've tried a particular pellet brand, that will save you money.

There's as much difference between pellets as there is in charcoal briquettes. Look around, you'll find one that will work for you at a comfortable price.

[DWCowles]

I agree on the Cookinpellets perfect mix being so good that it's the only pellets I used with my RecTec.

[Baltassar]

I use the 100% hickory Cookinpellets to generate smoke on my Genesis gasser, and have been very happy. But I have learned to be careful. They do indeed provide serious hickory flavor, and it is easy to overshoot. I'm not using them as fuel, just seasoning, so it's easy to control the results. Still, my next bag will be their "perfect" mix (hickory, cherry, maple, apple), or something similar.

[Deaf Arty]

Wow. Great advice, CandySueQ . Thanks. For a while all I used was Traeger because I had one and I thought that was about all that was available. Since shopping for my GMG and spending time here on AR I've discovered there's so much more. I'll continue to search and try other pellets so your post is really helpful.

[Nate]

Great Info! Thanks CandySueQ ...

Care to elaborate on what the difference is between BBQr's Delight and B&B?

[CandySueQ]

Two words -- the bag.

[DogFaced PonySoldier]

Love it! Thanks, CandySueQ I have used the B&B quite a bit, and was super pleased when my local WM started carrying them. Having to stock up in Tulsa was a pain. Now WM has started carrying another brand, and I'm still trying them out. They seem ok, though...

[Bogy]

I noticed the other day that while my local WM does not have B&B pellets, they do have B&B Charcoal. I'm hoping that next spring they have the pellets as well. Then again, next spring I might not be here.

[Davek8282]

Would love to try the BBQ Delight but can't find a dealer for the 20 Lb. bags in Canada

[CandySueQ]

Barbecues Galore in Alberta. BBQ Quebec. Those are the main two.

[kmhfive]

Thanks for starting this thread! I currently use CookinPellets perfect blend, but I keep shopping around. Once I find the perfect pellets for me, I'm going to order a pallet full.

[CandySueQ]

Only do that if you've got a dry space to store them!

[kmhfive]

I do. Inside. If I'm really cooking, I can use 40lbs in a weekend.

[bten]

Just bought a 20# bag of Mesquite B&B to try out.

[Mr. Bones]

Have ya had time to see what ya think? Bein a mesquite lover, I am curious how it came through...

[bten]

I did a brisket with them, and it turned out great. Best brisket I ever cooked. I will be using this for the next one.

[Mr. Bones]

Brisket, an chuckies are typically two of my most common mesquite cooks. Sometimes mixed with oak, or hickory, depends on th final utilization of th proteins...
Don't overlook/underestimate th awesome flavour impact of some mesquite chicken, or turkey, as well...

[Greasy]

Thanks for posting this, very informative. I've only used Traeger (bought grill 3 weeks ago) but bought a bag of B&B Apple to try.

[Advantage49]

Did someone say my name!! I'm very blessed to live so close to cookin pellets, Which reminds me I need to stock up!

Btw I've been to where the manufacture cookin pellets and to see pallets upon pallets of of perfect mix was like BBQ heaven

[CandySueQ]

Does Chris still wrap vehicles? Used to be that pellets weren't his main deal.

[Advantage49]

When I was there last time he still had the graphics s and sign business along side of it, I'm going there today to pick up more pellets.

[cscheib]

I found a local guy (within 30 minutes drive) who has the Cookinpellets perfect mix for $30/bag, and $25/bag for 4 or more. Don't think I'll find a better deal than that around... and when I'm lazy, I'll just order em off of Amazon!

[Advantage49]

That's a good deal if you buy 4 or more, remember that last thing on earth you want is to run out of pellets!!!

[Flat Rocker]

I have a bag of B&B Mesquite that I want to use for something. I'm planning to do a pork shoulder with hickory and I have a brisket in the freezer for July 4th, but I'm leery of using mesquite on it in the event that it's overwhelming and the guests can't choke it down. Any suggestions for using the mesquite? Thanks.

[CandySueQ]

What kind of cooker? With the exception of Yoder (which gives out good smoke at any temp), I've found if you cook hotter, smoke might not be as strong. OR embrace the Mesquite and put south of the border seasonings on the pork.

[vandy]

I use the mesquite to cook beef and it gives a nice flavor, I have used it on chicken but prefer apple or hickory on chicken. I even use mesquite chunks when cooking beef with charcoal and also like the flavor it gives a nice steak.

[Mr. Bones]

vandy I definitely like th Mesquite, agreed I use it mostly on beef, haven't tried pork. (yet)
Mesquite smoked chicken or turkey is certainly in my rotation, though.

Most often, I mix it in, mebbe 50/50, to 75/25. with hickory, or oak, dendin on what's cookin...

[Flat Rocker]

CandySueQ : it's a Blaz'n Grillwork's Grand Slam and you're right about the higher temps not creating as much smoke. I'll have to give it a try on some pork like you suggested. Any chance you have a recipe for your south of the border idea?

Thanks.

[vandy]

Flat Rocker how do you like that Blaz'n Grillwork's? I have looked at those online and they certainly look like a quality smoker for a reasonable price.

[Powersmoke_80]

CandySueQ I agree shipping is a big factor, I live in Mid Michigan and found a new pellet company, Kirtland Products in Boyne City MI. that are making Smoke Ring BBQ Pellets. I signed up to be a dealer and bought a pallet load but some of the info I found makes me think these may be re-branded Lumberjack pellets. would you know any thing on this?
Oh, any any body looking for these in Mid Michigan area look me up.
Thanks Dean

[CandySueQ]

Never heard of them. Do a bit of research on the company! Call them up and ask what kind of pellet mills they run.

[SammyJ]

The person that started Smoke Ring Pellets had been the Web sales manager for Lumberjack. He left Lumberjack.

I know him, as I am a lumberjack distributor. (sell 20# bags in my garage)

[Breadhead]

Pellet manufacturers ought to contact furniture manufacturers that use hardwood to make their furniture. A large furniture manufacturer will cut up millions of board feet of lumber per year. They have huge dust collection systems that suck up all of the sawdust that gets transported to a huge silo that a huge 45' open trailer can drive under to get filled. To furniture manufacturers sawdust is classified as waste in their costing formula. So every nickel they get from selling their waste goes directly to the bottom line.🤗

If that factory doesn't have a contract with someone to buy that from them they pay big bucks to get someone to haul it away and take it to a dump. Usually a furniture factory will sell their dust to pig farms, fireplace log manufacturers, partical board manufacturers or maybe BBQ pellet manufacturers?

Alder is the only hardwood that grows in the Pacific Northwest. There is a huge solid alder furniture manufacturing company based up there called Thunderbird manufacturing. I don't know who they are selling their dust to but it might be the pellet maker you mention from there CandySueQ ? Buying their dust cheaply might give them a price advantage.🤔

[CandySueQ]

I could argue that alder is a very soft hardwood! Yes, there are times that we purchase "residuals" from other manufacturers. For BBQ pellets, you have to know what's in the sawdust though. If it's a factory that uses mixed woods, their sawdust is generally mixed wood too.

[BBQ_Steve-O]

"Alder is the only hardwood that grows in the Pacific Northwest."
I'd have to disagree with that. Maple grows like weeds where I live. After splitting many, many cords of this maple, I can assure you it's hardwood... very hard wood.