Looking for Pellet Grill Suggestions - It will be used for smoking - not searing.
Any suggestions on a good pellet grill in the $800-$1100 range? I've read the reviews and I would like to hear from cooks who are using them. Never had one before - uses WSMs. But now I'm leaning toward the pellets. Is the Traeger Pro 34 really only worth a Silver rating? They are the most plentiful on display in Austin (where I live.) Any help is appreciated!
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I’m leaning heavy towards a Grilla Silverbac right now!
I’ve done a lot of research and looking for the last 6 months or so and this is what I keep coming back to.
Their original Grilla is pretty awesome too and has some great reviews. -
I know many like the Grilla and the RecTec. I have a Green Mountain. I like it, but I think there are a few that are better.Comment
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My advice- stay away from Traeger if you want longevity and reliability. Not saying they're junk, they're not, they gets Max's Silver medal. I hear more complaints about Traeger than any other model. A quantity over quality thing perhaps. I personally am on the fence between the Grilla Silverbac and the Blaz'n.Comment
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I own the Grilla Silverback but if I had it to do over again I think I would go with the Blaz'n, a little more money but I think for what you get it is probably worth it.Comment
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The Silverback is built well for the price but I have had an on going problem with flameouts. If I go more than about 2 or 3 cooks without cleaning the burn pot I take a chance on having a flame out. The Blaz'n with the easy fire pot clean out plus the quality of the grill make it a more attractive option and I think you get what you pay for so the extra money I think would be well spent. -
Check out the Blaz'n grill and then read what people on here say about them, from what I have read and heard from people that own them is the quality is very high for the investment. Don't get me wrong the Grilla is a good grill for the price but I wish I had waited a little longer to get the funds together to get the Blaz'n. -
Thanks - that is the type of feedback and comment I'm looking for - you would never know that from a review based on one or two cooks. That's a big enough issue to expand my search.
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I have a Blazin Grill Works and can't say enough about the quality.
Customers service is also second to none......
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I’ll try and keep this short...HA.
I bought a GMG DB late last year just to see if I would like cooking with pellets. After about 15-18 cooks I really did like it. But I had some issues with the grill. Nothing major but stuff that kept me from enjoying the grill. I’m not saying GMG isn’t a good grill, but it just wasn’t for me.
so now I’m looking for my next pellet pooper. After a ton reading and research IMO there are 4 that I like. Yoder, MAK, Blazin and Grilla. Each seem to be quality cookers and have great customer service.Comment
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I have an older Traeger from when they built them from rolled steel and love it. Occasional hot rod replacement, but otherwise a fantastic cooker. However, were I shopping for a pellet pooper now, and sort of in that price range, I'd lean towards the RecTec or Grilla. Sooo many choices out there!Comment
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I have an older Traeger Texas that I bought at Costco about 8 years ago and it has been a very good cooker. The only problem I have had with it is the auger motor went out after about 3 or 4 months, they sent me a new one no questions asked. It has worked flawlessly ever since without even a hiccup as far as I can remember. I don't think the new ones could stand up to that. -
Yes - TOO many choices - pellet grills are starting to become like mattresses. Too similar to truly compare but just different enough to make it hard to differentiate and pick the perfect model.
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Agree with the four listed above by Dadof3Illinois. But once you include add ons and delivery, most of these will be well out of the $800-1100 range. If I had to stay below $1100, I would try to get a Grilla or Rec-Tec within that budget. Just basing this on being a previous Yoder owner and after doing much research on pellet grills and reviewing comments.Comment
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I thought I was selling the house and moving so I sold the Yoder. If buying a pellet grill, I would buy the 640 again without looking at others. When we didn't sell, I went with the Backwoods Chubby G2 to get a stronger flavor profile over the pellet. Ideal would be to add the 640 to my G2 and kettle along with a Blackstone 36 griddle and a pizza oven. If only I could hit the lotto.
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I say spend more money. Look cookers are an investment plus the old adage you get what you pay for. Step up to the $1500 threshold and you will find much better cookers for the money.Comment
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I echo this sentiment. I started with a GMG Jim Bowie. Recently upgraded to Yoder YS-640. There is a clear difference in quality. Wish I had saved the price of the GMG. -
That's probably the best answer to my question -I was just trying to limit the cash outlay - I got a new Genesis II 4 burner right after XMAS and my wife isn't real keen on me buying as she puts it, "your 10th grill. how many do you need?"
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Love my TraegerComment
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I own a Traeger Pro 22 (newer model) and it is an excellent pellet grill. The temp controller keeps a tight range, the temps across the grill are consistent, it produces sweet smelling smoke and great tasting food. However, I was able to get the unit new at a significant discount so that was a major purchase decision for me. Regardless, they are in your price range and the Pro 22 model does not deserve the bashing that other Traeger models receive.Comment
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I love my OG Grilla. If I did not have my space limitation, it probably would have been the Rec Tec or maybe the Silverback. Grilla’s free shipping, customer service and double wall construction were all sales points to me. The double wall for cold weather performance is a big bonus for thanksgiving and Christmas in Chicago. But the Rec Tec is pretty cool and I’m a sucker for the bull horns (hook em).Comment
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Thanks for the comments - as you can see from my avatar, the Rec Tec "horns" may be too much for me to overcome! But your advice is great - i'm checking into the other smokers now. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. You can drive yourself crazy comparison shopping and researching. -
Yeah... I was fortunate that I have limited deck space and no ability to build more deck. The form factor thing limited selection. No problem, and I'm far enough out of college to not hold TAMU against anyone.
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Different price point than you're considering . . . but just to throw out another kudo for the MAK grills. Have the MAK 2 star general and probably get in ~6-8 cooks per months. Have had this for just over 2 years so I'm guessing I have just under ~200 cooks on it. This thing is rock solid. I have smoked brisket and pork butt in 10 degree weather with no issues (other than churning through a few more pellets than you would in the summer). I do a full grill cleaning once a year (probably should do twice), and this thing continues to go strong despite pretty high volume use. Coupled with grill grates, this not only does low and slow, but also does a manageable job of searing. Waiting for an insert upgrade that apparently will allow me to increase at surface temp to 650.
One feature on the MAK that often goes un-mentioned. It has an offset indirect heat chamber for cold smoking. Have cold smoked cheese and cold smoked nuts (before spicing and cooking in the oven). A nice additionComment
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