Searing/grilling on pellet grill

[choffert]

I'm fairly convinced that searing on a pellet cooker is using a hammer to drive screws, it'll work, but there are better tools for the job...I use my smoker for smoking and my grill for grilling. I do use a cast iron griddle on the gasser, but I'm starting to eye that Blackstone...MCS?

[jfmorris]

I think if you do not have a good gas grill, and want just one device, the Camp Chef Woodwind or one of their other smokers with the sear box accessory is the way to go. A good friend of mine bought a Woodwind and loved it so much he sold his Kamado Joe, and cancelled plans to install a built in gas grill in his outdoor cooking area. I have a gas grill, so if I ever get a pellet smoker I am not worried about one with searing capabilities.

That said, I do as much or more low and slow as I do hot and fast. The only things I "sear" are:

- Steaks (after sous vide or as a reverse sear after indirect)
- Burgers. Lately I do smash-burgers on upside down grill grates
- Bacon wrapped pork loin. I in fact sear this in a hot oven after sous vide.

A hot cast iron skillet, a griddle, a gas grill, or a weber kettle will all sear better than any straight up pellet grill, even with added sear plates and the like. The issue is the size of the fire. A fire pot in a pellet smoker is just so SMALL, that your direct searing zone is really about the size of one steak or burger. Grillgrates can spread that heat out some, but only so far.

[Thom Emery]

http://www.cookshack.com/PG1000

This unit works for me

[rwalters]

I have a MAK 2 Star and 26” Weber kettle. Makes for a fine cooking duo. I grill on my MAK quite often. The way MAK has designed their cooker, I can use the entire cooking surface when grilling. I grill burgers, chicken, sausage, etc. quite often on the MAK because of how easy it is and good the results are. With that said, when it comes to straight up searing power it’s tough to beat a screaming hot pile of lump charcoal in a Weber kettle, especially if you are you are using a Slow n Sear!

I am in the 2 cookers is better than one camp...lol

[BBQ_Steve-O]

I have a couple of GMG Davey Crocketts with the slide trays, and for things like crisping up chicken wings and turkey legs, it works great, but for quick reverse searing steaks and what-not, I use my Weber kettle with SNS or charcoal chimney.

[treesmacker]

I wouldn't consider using my pellet grill like mentioned. It would be messy. I have a Rec Tec Trailblazer, and for searing, because it is a small size chamber, I can get up to 550 degrees and then with Grill Grates added https://www.grillgrate.com/ I can sear with leaving the grease drip tray in place. Doing this, the cooking chamber doesn't get greasy, and I can just vacuum ashes out occasionally.