I Love my Off Set....Is the addition of a Pellet Cooker useful

[Bad Hat BBQ]

For some reason I now have thoughts of adding a Pellet Grill to my arsenal. Not sure if this is just a case of MCS or if this is a good decision to truly consider.

I am pretty sure the consensus of the Pit will be "buy baby buy!!"

However, I am interested in real feedback from Pit Masters that have multiple types of cookers....are there ones that collect dust or do you actually use all of them

I currently have a Rocket Grillz Off-Set (huge), Weber Spirit E-330, Camp Chef Flat Top, and Gaby's Grill Santa Maria insert (fits perfectly on the firebox of the Off Set)....I could live without the gasser but it does come in handy. Smaller footprint , able to manage longer cooks (Brisket, Pork Butts) and Holding are my initial thoughts for a Pellet rig.

Pit Boss® Copperhead 3-Series Wood Pellet Vertical Smoker | Pit Boss® Grills (pitboss-grills.com)

The Patio Legend 410 – recteq

[Jfrosty27]

I have a Recteq RT-700. That, my Weber kettle, a Pit Boss Ultimate griddle, and my little one burner gasser are my primary units getting 90% of the work spread pretty evenly amongst them. I also have a Weber Genesis gasser, a Weber Smokey Joe, a Smokin-It electric smoker, and two Orion cookers. These all get used but obviously far less. I really don’t want to get rid of any of them in truth. They all have their place in the fleet for certain things that they each do well.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

https://www.recteq.com/products/the-patio-legend-410 is lookin pretty good!

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Bad Hat BBQ IMO with RT you need to look at the 700 and up for the value, if you're looking at the 410 I'd strongly suggest considering on other offerings in that price range. Their quality for value IMO is really only in that 700 and BFG range, everything else is probably good but there are features like a pellet dump and ash cleanout or whatever that other grills will have that will last likely as long. Specifically, I'd be looking at Grilla, or going cheaper but good enough with PitBoss etc

[JCBBQ]

I don’t have an off set or a pellet cooker but from what I understand the pellet cookers are just a convenience if you don’t want to feed your off set, that the smoke is far superior on the off set, AND you have better tools for searing. I say you don’t need it …but it’d sure be convenient 😂

[Bad Hat BBQ]

@JCBBQ...totally agree that this is not a "need"

I will add that setting up my outdoor cooking area has been my retirement gift to myself (May 24 2023 = Last Day) : Pavilion, Smoker and Gasser have all happened in the 10 months or so.

Appreciate the feed-back
What cooking gear do you use?

[Donw]

Need to do an overnight cook but want to get some sleep? Want to mingle with your guests without being tied down to one place? Need that extra space for cooking sides, baking, fish, meat and other things even if the main event is on the offset? A pellet smoker can help you with all these. I’ve had all types of smokers and grills, and I think they all have a place in your life. If they will make your life easier, and happier, then go for one.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

You are stating what I am thinking....
Really fortunate to have to deal with 1st world problems such as this one!!

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

I've said it before, but more people seem to be using their attention requiring cooker for the first few hours and a pellet cooker for the overnight/long portion of a cook.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

Yeah, 10-15 years ago it was a bragging right to have completed a 14 hour cook for my pork butts on an Okie Joe and still party hard with the folks eating my BBQ

Hitting 62 in a few weeks and that 14 hour cook is just not as much fun AND I am more interested in a nap then partyin' when its done....the Reqteq is lookin pretty good.

[Murdy]

I do not own one, but my understanding is that offsets are high maintenance. If you want to get something that's less maintenance during a cook without totally getting away from charcoal and wood, maybe consider a barrel smoker. I hear people say you have to check an offset every half hour; I have let my Bronco sit unattended for a couple hours and probably could get away with more.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

Thanks for the input...I will need to think about that

[jfmorris]

I'm in the camp that having another smoker to supplement your offset is a good idea, especially if it's something smaller and more hands off. I have an offset, but do most of my smoking on a Weber Performer with SNS, or a SNS Kamado these days. The times I spent in my 30's or 40's where I could sit up all night smoking a dozen butts or a brisket or two are past me - my 57 year old body requires more sleep these days, haha!

Other options to consider in addition to pellet smokers would be a kamado or kettle to let you smoke AND grill with charcoal and wood chunks, for those times you don't feel like firing up the offset and making the commitment in time and fuel that it requires. The advantage of some sort of 22" kettle would be the number of available accessories: SNS, Vortex, Pizza Oven, plancha, rotisserie, Santa Maria, etc...

That said, if you JUST want to smoke on it, a good pellet cooker is a good thing to be considering, and could have more real estate than a 22" kettle.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

I turn 62 in a few weeks and do not look forward to the long cooks like I used to....
I could just smoke my brisket for a few hours and finish in the oven....somehow that seems too pedestrian for me.....no where near ready to limit myself to store bought BBQ!

That day will come but it ain't today (or anytime soon!)

Plus I am so very fortunate to be in a position where I can afford to think about buying a another cooking toy.....thanx for the comments

[radiodome21]

For me it’s about convenience. I use my Silverbac and genesis during the week exclusively and the kettle and WSM on the weekends when I’m home and the weather is dry. Love all my cookers but anything charcoal demands more time and if I don’t have enough time then it’s not getting used.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

DITTO +
I have been looking at Grilla and they are a contender....

[TripleB]

I have a Jambo and KBQ offset, PK grills, Weber kettles, PBC, WSM's and a couple Weber gassers. Would I add a pellet smoker to my inventory - I don't think so. Here are my 2 main reasons:

1. Offsets do require your attention. You do need to keep an eye on them since you are managing a fire, as you well know. But they do provide a better smoke profile than a pellet smoker. The attention free aspect of a pellet smoker is enticing, especially when you are entertaining. However, my KBQ is as close to a "set and forget" offset as you will get. The "external" firebox allows you to monitor it from afar and all you need to do is toss in a small spilt when the fire gets low since the charcoal bed is what is important. The temperature gauge keeps the internal temp between 20-30 degrees of your target temp. So it is as close to a "set and forget" pellet smoker as you can get for an offset.
2. There are too many things that can break down on a pellet smoker. It is an electrical device with moving parts. Seems to me that every week there is a poster with a pellet smoker issue: the augar gets jammed/does not work; the system shuts down by itself; The WiFi has quite operating; etc. Don't want those types of possible issues and then have to deal with the manufacturer warranty. Offsets, KBQ possibly excluded, don't have these issues.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

The reliability factor is why I love my off-set
You both have a nice line-up of cooking Gear!!

Leaning towards adding a pellet, supporting long cooks and the ability to hold at low temps is what draws me in

[jfmorris]

The entire point about pellet cookers breaking down is the reason I opted for the SNS Kamado when I won the giveaway in Jan 2021. I figured a kamado would do me for 20 years or more. Any pellet rig is gonna have fans, control boards and other electrical stuff that is gonna break sooner or later.

[TripleB]

Bad Hat BBQ - Yes, having a device to hold at low temps is good. I bought a Camp Chef outdoor oven just for that purpose. Though I have not had the opportunity to use it yet. Still in the box in the garage. Much cheaper than a pellet smoker.

[ViperII]

I have a PBC, a Weber Spirit Gas Grill, a PK360, a Blackstone griddle and an Ooni pizza oven. I just pulled the trigger on a new Camp Chef XXL Pro. I’m very happy with my decision to add a pellet smoker after a couple of cooks. It’s very convenient for those long cooks and with the smoke box you can add a serious amount of smoke. I also like the low temps you can keep and the ability to cold smoke. So you see… I’m certainly supporting your decision :-)

[josepmille]

I have a Rec Teq 700 the range of cooking, baking, smoking is great!. I agree with the use of a smoke box and the cold smoke is one of the best function!!

[barelfly]

I’m always one to say buy baby buy, but if you do….then what do you use the offset for? I know the convenience of the pellet would be nice. I’ve even thought of a pellet cooker for myself, but I don’t have an off-set. Just my Weber and my great little Smokin-It smoker that is set it and forget it.

That’s just my thought. That dang off-set you have is sweet! I’d make it the workhorse that it’s meant to be.


But…then again…if you got the space and coin..heck! why not!

[Bad Hat BBQ]

Long cooks, holding and even keeping things warm ....would be for Pellet pooper
I put Delilah to work every chance I get; that rig is awesome.

[glitchy]

I find I can make use of about 4 personally, then something usually starts collecting dust. However, it would be very hard to get me to get rid of my pellet grill. It’s just too easy to use so gets the most use by far.

[jfmorris]

That’s what I am seeing. My kamado and flat top see the most use, followed by the Genesis and then the Performer. The offset is mostly gathering dust. In fact the cover I had for it dry rotted. I need to clean it up and get a new cover.

[Skip]

I've had a pellet grill for about 20 years. As I look in the garage I see a few others in my arsenal that burn charcoal and gas. I use them all almost equally. The nice thing with the pellet grill is it's easy temp setting during the colder part of the year in Minnesota and as a backup oven during the Holidays. I'll probably always have a pellet grill of some sort.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

Agree--The pellet grill is a back up/secondary but it fills a gap

[Old Glory]

The pellet cooker can be used for so much more than smoking. The pellet grill is my frequent flyer. I love to reverse sear chops and steaks. Cook chicken at 350-375. Roast anything in it like an oven. It is complimentary to the offset.

[Bad Hat BBQ]

I would have all the bases covered that's for sure

[JimLinebarger]

I started out with a vertical gas smoker and a gas grill and the Weber Jumbo Jim. Then got the PBC. The vertical smoker started to collect dust. Then got the Weber kettle and the PBC started to collect dust. Health went further south so I got the Traeger (even though it works wish I went a different way). Lately, everything has been collecting dust because of issues. Hoping things improve to get back to using everything (possibly even the vertical gas smoker for jerky). Having the pellet grill has been helpful these past couple of years. If I didn't have it I wouldn't have been cooking very much at all.

The thing is, I want to add another cooker (Weber Summit Kamado) but have to justify it to my wife. Since I cook for only 3 and then have leftovers, the cookers don't get used as much as I would like. I end up doing pulled pork only once or twice a year because of the leftovers.

As a side note, we like to make our own pizzas. So I got an insert for the Traeger to use as a griddle (for smash burgers) and a pizza oven. I can reach temps of 800°F+. We are still working out the kinks since again, we do 4-6 pizzas and then have leftovers for about 5-6 more meals and don't use it often. It is also pretty heavy so I have to be feeling good to use it.
Also been looking at a griddle insert for my Blaze gas grill. You can see the list of my cookers in my signature.

Pellet grill Griddle insert
Steelmade and Griddle Master

[Bad Hat BBQ]

Currently using everything I have (Off Set, Flat Top, Gasser, Turkey Fryer)
I am fortunate for many reasons, most importantly my wife....I just mentioned that I was talking to the Pit about the possibility of adding a pellet rig, she chuckled and said "you should get one!"