I love these threads. just sayin
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Unless you are just stuck on getting a pellet pooper howsabout a Kamado Joe Big Joe or a Big Green Egg XL?Comment
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I don’t have a pellet nor have I ever used one, I can say I’ve eaten food cooked on them and for my personal taste the cooks that came off of them left me disappointed in the smoke profile, also my sons in laws always request him to smoke the Sunday meal on his Pit Barrell Cooker instead of their step father who uses a pellet. Now that said I’m not in any way pellet cooker bashing the idea of basically set and forget is very enticing. I know there many on this site that are very pleased with the results they achieve with their pellet cookers.
The best smoke flavor I get is from my KBQ, but that does require a lot of tending, (all though IMHO worth it). On the other hand using a smoke pot in my Kamado Joe with a temp controller gives me great smoke and when I do an overnight I sleep like a baby knowing that it will hold its temp no matter what is going on outside. I use it all year long from winter single digit to summer triple digit temps. Kamados do have a slight learning curve and do take a little work to get them fired up, but once you figure that out they are as close to set and forget as I can imagine. Also Kamados are very versatile from low and slow to high temp hot and fast.
Enjoy what ever cooker you get because any live fire cook is always better than the alternative.Comment
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I know you want a pellet cooker but paragliderd are nice. Lol lol lolComment
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I've been looking at Backwoods Smokers. The G2 Chubby would be in your price range at $1,450 MSRP. And it's insulated. If you are willing to consider charcoal it might be a good choice. Happy Hunting!!Comment
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Thanks for the advice everyone. I am still stuck on a pellet smoker. Anything else out there in the marketplace that I should consider?Comment
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Having a Rectec for about 8 mos not could not be happier, it replaced my gassier, also have a egg, I use them in different applications of cooking. The Yoder is a fine smoker also. How much smoke do you want on your meat? heavy or light? pellet smoker's do not give you the heavy smoke unless, you try this.
Cooked my first chuck roast last weekend, as learned on here. I elevated the roast on the second shelf. Filled smoke tube with, hickory chunks about the size of your thumb. filled voids with pellets. Set the temp at 225, extreme smoke on. All said and done it turned out mouth watering, and very smokey. my wife even said too much smoke. First time on pellet smoker. (Heavy smoke)
Sometimes the 680 is almost too big. Last nite I cooked one ribeye, then last week I cooked 6 lbs of chicken tenders at one time.
We use it 3 time's a week, been through about 20 bags of pellets so far.
You will be happy with either one.Comment
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Check out Blaz'N Grillworks. I have their Grand Slam, it's performed very well. I almost got the Yoder, but I'm very happy with Blaz'N. Good luck with whatever you end up with.Comment
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I saw the RecTec kettle on facebook the other day. I think this is a first configuration, but it looks solid. Price tag is $399.
Nobody mentioned Grilla in the mix. I'm still liking my Grilla as a substitute oven (yep, the wall oven is still broken). Wrestled with pizza in the GMG yesterday. I am peel challenged.Comment
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Just take the wall oven out, put in a decent chimney and build-in a smoker! I use a wooden peel to get into the smoker and a stainless steel peel to turn/remove the pizza. To start with, you can use parchment paper if you trim the edges around your pizza -- it won't burn because it won't get any hotter than your crust.
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KbqComment
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I have no dog in this fight, as I do not have a pellet smoker. However, the friend who sold me his Weber Performer Deluxe for $100 (with Grillgrates!) did so because he had to make room for a Yoder 640. He wife told him he could not add a 6th grill/smoker to their back porch, and something else had to go before the Yoder arrived. He loves the Yoder. And I love my Weber Performer Deluxe!
Anyway, I've been lurking and watching and reading about pellet smokers myself, as I think that is where I will be spending my money by next summer, based on the amount of smoking I do, versus direct grilling. I'll keep kettles and a gas grill for searing, but it does not bother me that the pellet grills really cannot sear. It would be a replacement for my offset.
What I have learned watching and reading is that both Yoder and Rectec have a great product. Rectec especially seems to have very good customer service. I don't read as many service stories about Yoder, and that might say something about their build quality (maybe they don't have as many issues?). Either way, if I were buying, I would be down to the choice of Rectec RT-680, versus Yoder YS-640. I don't think you can really go wrong with either. Cooking capacity is about the same with both. The Yoder does cost about $500 more though, base price. But considering the Yoder includes the second shelf, front and side folding shelves, and other features in its base price. These things are add-on's to the Rectec, but your price still comes out a couple hundred less on the Rectec. You will likely want a cover from Yoder (those are crazy looking custom fitted covers too!), so that drives the Yoder price up some.
At that point, it may just come down to personal preference. Which one do you like the LOOK of more. What do you picture sitting out in your back yard/porch? I think quality, service and cost will be similar. I personally like the look of the Yoder a little more, it looks more like a wood burner, maybe that is what gets me about it. But my checkbook will probably end up voting for the Rectec.Comment
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I too was torn between the Yoder 640 and Rec Tec 680. The following were my reasons to go Rec Tec:
1. The fire pot is located in the center of the grill on the Rec Tec to whereas the Yoder it's all the way to the left. Both obviously claim they're in the best place in terms of even heat distibution. Just makes sense to me it should be centalized.
2. The Rec Tec has a 40lb hopper as opposed to a 20lb for the Yoder. This is not a huge deal as 20lbs will get you through most long and slow cooks. It's just a nice convenience to not have to add pellets as frequently or fear you may run out on an overnite cook.
3. The Rec Tec has a built in light source. Though not super bright, it does provide adequate light. The lens easily pops off for cleaning.
4. Customer service. I don't mean because of build quality as I have had zero issues. I live where summertime temperatures get way over 110 and that extreme weather makes it hard to keep the lower (225) cooker temps where they should be. They are very responsive in helping me with tips to control the temps in those extreme conditions. Had a Traeger before and setting it at 225 in that kind of heat it would run at over 300 and not go below 275. I could never get a consistent answer/fix from Traeger folks.
5. And of course price also factored in.
Like a lot of people here have said, you'll be happy with either. They both are rated as gold medals too.Comment
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I would go with the Yoder. I WOULD GET ONE BUT THE HOUSE COMES FIRST. ALSO FOR 700 YOU COULD GET A GRILLAGRILL TO SEE IF ITS WHAT YOU WANT AND LIKE AND SELL AFTERWARD. I PICKED UP A USED ONE AND LOVE IT and there is market for them as they have a following. Check them out Sorry caps got lockedComment
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I think the Rec Tec is coming out with a smaller grill if I remember correctly. You will be happy with whichever one you choose. Pellet Grills all work on the same concept. Just different bells and whistles.Comment
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Both your choices are great. At your price point, take a look at Blaz'n Grill Works -- they're in Nebraska and they make a some-what insulated cook box if you want that. These grills aren't reviewed by Max Good yet, but there are members in the Pit who love them. I like the shelving and height of the cook box as well.
Good luck on your choice. I love my pellet grills and my testers think the smoke is about right for them...YMMV.Comment
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