If you have just bought a new pellet grill or are considering buying one and you want to simply learn as much as possible about them before making the final decision, then we invite you to read this guide where you will find out how to use a pellet grill.
Pellet grill is a versatile machine that offers plenty of benefits. We will gladly present to you the basics and the principles of a pellet grill’s functioning so that you get the best results when cooking. We’re sure that the convenience, simplicity and versatility of this type of grill will really surprise those who are just starting their journey with this type of grill.
Choosing a Pellet Grill
You need to know that the prices for a decent new pellet grill start at about $300 all the way to several thousand. According to our analysis, the average price for a good quality pellet grill is $500-$800, whereas the top-quality ones always cost way over $1000. They mostly differ in size, technology and the quality of the materials they were made of.
If you are completely new to the topic, then you have to know that the models for a beginner are the ones from the price range of about $300-$800. It all depends on what your budget is and what you really expect. The more expensive models offer a longer warranty for individual elements which makes it a good idea to buy something better.
Pellet Grills are technically advanced and there’s a risk of malfunctions in the future. It is the best for your grill to have a pretty long warranty and for the manufacturer to have good servicing. If you need more information on the topic then we encourage you to read our buyers guide to pellet grills. You will find all the information you need there which will help you choose the right pellet smoker.
Currently the best choice is Z Grills Wood Pellet Smoker or Camp Chef PG24 when it comes to the middle price range and high quality, for those with a limited budget we suggest considering GMG Davy Crockett, and for those more demanding the best choice will undoubtedly be Rec Tec. It will be the best if you read the whole buyer’s guide on your own and choose yourself what is the best in your situation.
How to Start a Pellet Grill Smoker
Do you have your own pellet smoker yet? Great, now is the time to learn a little more on how to use it.
Pellet grill relies on electricity ( a digital controller, a spinning spiral, a fan ), which is why it has to be around a source of power to be started. The whole process of starting the grill, however, is incredibly simple compared to other types of grills.
Overall it’s an intuitive and easy-to-use grill that shouldn’t cause any problems to anyone.
In order to start the grill, first you have to refill the pellet container, just fill up the container half way or all the way with your preferred type of pellets. Remember that a pellet grill only works with pellets, you cannot use any other type of fuel.
Next program the temperature of the grill using the controller, almost every grill these days has a digital controller that makes it possible to set the temperature within a range of about 160-500 degrees F at 5 degree intervals.
Once you have selected your preferred temperature and refilled the pellet container, you can press the ignition button. From this moment on, you don’t have to do anything else, the grill will take care of controlling the amount of fuel needed to maintain the desired temperature on its own.
All you have left to do now is wait 10-15 minutes for the grill to reach the selected temperature and you can start cooking.
How to Cook on a Pellet Grill
A Pellet Grill is a versatile grill that allows to roast and grill, but is best for smoking. There’s a special plate between the grates and burning pellets that is responsible for the grill warming up evenly. You need to know that this plate also separates food from the flame, preventing quick burning or flare-ups while also making conditions for cooking using the indirect method. Not all pellet grills offer direct heat which is why many of them have an extra sear box or sear station.
How to cook?
There’s nothing complicated about that, just start the grill and set the adequate temperature. Wait 10-15 minutes for the grill to reach the selected temperature and you can start putting the food on the grates.
How to cook on a pellet grill in more detail depends on what you actually want to cook, it’s a broad topic which is why we won’t explore it here.
The best solution is to cook a lot, only that way you can learn everything from the ground up and understand how your grill works.
Temperature Control
We mention the topic because you should know that term from other types of grills where temperature control is very important and often tends to be a task that requires focus and experience.
What is temperature control like in a pellet grill? All the tasks related to maintaining the right temperature have been reduced to the minimum. All you have to do is check the amount of pellets in the container and set the temperature using the digital controller. If need be, you can remove the ash once in a while and plug in probes that will allow you to monitor the temperature inside the meat.
To the point
The temperature control in a pellet grill is taken care of by an advanced system. Your task is what we mentioned above, then once you press the ignition button you don’t have to do anything else. Your entire role is taken over by the system, which uses many sensors and advanced systems to calculate in real-time how much fuel has to be provided to maintain the desired temperature ( read more on how a pellet grill works here ).
It is incredibly convenient especially to those who are not geniuses when it comes to grilling or simply don’t feel like checking the temperature and fuel level all the time. If you spend many hours cooking more demanding food that requires fixed temperature then it’s a great option for you.
A little Pellet Grill Tip from us
- Buy Meat Thermometer – If you have completely no experience and are worried that your grill-cooked food will be raw on the inside or overcooked, then we honestly recommend purchasing a meat thermometer. Many new pellet grills make it possible to plug in a meat probe that allows to regularly control the temperature inside the meat on a display of a digital controller.It is truly a great option that allows us to be sure that the meat will certainly be done just right. On top of that, it’s not expensive and can definitely come in handy in more places than just the grill. You can easily use such thermometer when cooking in the kitchen or on a different type of grill, for example.
We hope that in this smaller article we were able to explain to you how to cook on a pellet smoker. It’s a very easy to use pellet grill which is why there’s no point writing much about it. If you’re looking for other information such as history of kamado or how to clean a pellet grill etc., check out our other posts.