Can a pellet grill replace a gasser?

[Matachi]

Hi Pitmasters

I am interested in pellet cooking, but don't have enough yard to justify another grill on top of my kettle, PBC & Weber Genesis (at least thats what the wife says). Would it be crazy to replace the gasser with a pellet grill? I use it mainly for quick cooks or sometimes searing sous vide foods when I dont want to deal with the coals, but could see myself using a pellet grill for long smokes too.

I know some pellet grills struggle with searing, but would something like the camp chef with sear station be able to do everything a gas grill can + more? Or where would trade offs be? Any other suggestions for ~$1000+/-?

Thanks!

[CandySueQ]

I think that Camp Chef is cool! There are pellet grills that to high temps (and low temps) well just on pellets. Look at the Grilla -- the one with the waist! It does well low and has a top temp of 500 and it's below your price point. I think you'll find that your wife uses a pellet grill more than the gasser (much less intimidating).

[EdF]

I agree on both points - searing station makes sense.

[Matachi]

That Grilla looks really cool! Have you used or seen one in person? I don't see much online about them except from the company...

[CandySueQ]

Yes, I've had 4 of them. Every one of them was a great little cooker! The current one is on the back porch in my R&D test kitchen here at the plant.

[Greasy]

I bought a searzall for my torch to overcome the searing shortcomings of my pellet grill but I haven't used it yet. When looking at Pellet grills keep an eye on how hot they get. Mine doesn't get much hotter than 400 and even with grillgrates i get slightly over 500)measured with an infrared surface thermometer.

[FlaBouy]

Winner winner chicken dinner....

[clkq4]

How about a Yoder?

http://www.yodersmokers.com/ys480-pellet-grill.html

[Argoboy]

I have both a gas grill and a pellet grill and I use both, my neighbor has two pellets grills and he says he rarely uses his gas grill any more, so I think it is an individual thing. I also have a Char Grill Akron egg that I use as well. The egg is good for cold weather smoking or that is what I told my wife when I bought it.

[texastweeter]

You can always use the afterburner method to sear if the pellet doesn't do the trick. Next to a sear plate/superheated black iron griddle, the afterburner is the best. The only downside is can not sear very many items or large items at once on the afterburner.

[kmhfive]

My GMG will get to 500 on its own. GrillGrates or a CI griddle can bring the searing surface temp up higher. I've used a pizza attachment where I got the surface over 600F.

But, I use my Weber 22/SnS or an afterburner chimney for many searing jobs.

[JCGrill]

Like kmhfive I have a GMG, and yes it gets to 500, and that probably would do the trick, but I use the gasser for most of my searing work. I'm pretty sure I can get it a lot hotter than 500, although I have never measured (off scale of my thermometer).

[DWCowles]

Same as kmhfive and JCGrill except I have a RecTec 680. It too can reach temps of 500 plus but I see no need to waste all of those pellets when 3/4 of a chimney of charcoal is a lot cheaper to do the searing.

[CandySueQ]

And faster!

[gshayd]

I have 4 Weber Kettle Grills and three different sizes of wood pellet smokers and a gas grill.

[jgreen]

Well done! A great collection!

[Tarpon]

My 2017 Mak 2 Star, with the redesigned flame zone, has so far proven to be a replacement for our old gas grill.

[Nate]

I recommend you watch the new video in the video series forum with Max Good.. he address that very question.

[fzxdoc]

Agreed. He talks about the sear station on the Firestarter pellet grill. For my own tastes, I feel I need 600-700 deg or more for a really good sear. I like the idea of the Firestarter pellet grill he described in that very excellent video. Here's the link:

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/forum/grad-school-seminars-with-pitmaster-professors-aa/366004-smokers-and-grills-101-amazingribs-com-s-max-good

Kathryn

[Letmebefrank]

My PG 500 can get very hot on the searing side, they claim upwards of 800 degrees. Definitely hot enough to sear. You could replace your gasser with it. But I'm glad I didn't replace mine. For something like just searing something you sous vide'd, you want simple and quick and a gas grill is still better for that, in my opinion. And in fact when I do sous vide, I'll plop my baking steel on the gas grill and get it super hot and seary. That wouldn't work in my pellet grill.

[fzxdoc]

I agree that if you already have a gasser, keep it. It comes in handy, especially on those cold winter nights when you want do get dinner on the table simply and easily.

Kathryn

[Eugene A]

I've had my Weber Genesis 1000 for about 20 years. I can't bring myself to part with something that still works. I'm afraid that I'll grow accustomed to the pellet grill, and the gas grill will just deteriorate from lack of use.