However, the biggest downside of this grill has to be its small hopper. The grill did experience some temperature fluctuations during the 10-hour smoking session, but overall, it performed impressively considering its budget-friendly price. It was able to reach its max temperature in around 15 minutes, and food cooked on the grill had an intense smoky flavor. This Pit Boss grill punched well above its weight, particularly on the searing and smoking tests. The grill is on the smaller side at less than 100 pounds, and it has a modest cooking space of 465 square inches - big enough to accommodate several pounds of chicken wings, but potentially not enough space for those who like to entertain large crowds. This grill outperforms many larger, more expensive models, heating up quickly and delivering well-defined smoky flavors when cooking steak, chicken wings, and more. Inconsistent temperature during long smoking sessions fluctuated over 10 hours of testingįor those just getting into smoking, the Pit Boss BP440D2 is a compact and budget-friendly model that’s ideal for beginners. Small hopper that can only hold five pounds of wood pellets at a time | Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds | Temperature Range: 150–600☏ It’s mounted on heavy-duty wheels that make it easy to move around, but keep in mind that this large grill weighs over 300 pounds-we highly recommend having two people available for assembly.ĭimensions: 61.3 x 55 x 36.1 inches | Weight: 335 pounds | Cooking Space: 1,070 sq. In addition to its stellar grilling and smoking abilities, this pellet grill is stacked with useful features, including Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to monitor its temperature right from your smartphone and two integrated food probes. In terms of performance, the only downside we could find is that there is a hot spot directly over the grill’s searing grate, so you may need to position food accordingly to avoid it cooking too quickly. We thought the pork had a very clean flavor that wasn't muddled by astringent flavors commonly associated with foods that are over-smoked. It was basically the Goldilocks choice for pellet grills in the long-smoke test: not too much or too little smoke flavor, but just right all around.

The grill was also a top performer when it came to traditional long smoking. The Yoder Smokers YS640 heats up extremely quickly, reaching its max temperature in a little over 10 minutes, and it passed all of our tests with flying colors, delivering beautiful char marks and rich, smoky flavors. This grill is made from heavy-duty 14-gauge steel for unbeatable durability, and it boasts a 640-square-inch main cooking grate with an optional second shelf that brings the total cooking area up to 1,070 square inches. During testing, we fell in love with this high-end grill and its highly adjustable temperature range, spacious interior, and Wi-Fi connectivity. If you’re looking for a pellet grill that can do it all, the Yoder Smokers YS640 is worth its high price tag.

Weighs over 300 pounds and is quite heavy to move Hot spot is directly over searing grate, so food can cook too quickly If you’re ready to take your grilling to the next level, these are the best pellet grills that PEOPLE tested. After hours of rigorous testing, we found a batch of winners that brought the richest flavors, with the easiest setup, and best features. To find the best pellet grills available today, the PEOPLE Tested team reviewed 21 models from top brands, using the grills to cook steak, chicken wings, pizza, and more. “They allow you to season your meat, then set it and forget it until the cook time is over.” “Pellet grills are great for low and slow cooking of heavier meat like beef, brisket, pork shoulder or pork butt, hams, turkeys, and even ribs or large roast,” says Bill Hazel, chef and owner of BBQ food truck Bill's Grill. These grills burn wood pellets to infuse your food with lots of smoky flavor, and they’re a favorite among grilling enthusiasts thanks to their versatility and easy operation. If you enjoy grilling and smoking meat, a pellet grill is a worthwhile addition to your patio.

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