Best Wood Pellet Grills - Top Reviews of 2024

Because you don't have to check the temperature constanly by adjusting the gas or coals, pellet grills are practical and allow you to set it and forget it (or water levels, as is required with some smokers); in addition, food is difficult to overcook at such low temperatures. However, pellet grills can take up to 40 minutes to come to temperature and are frequently expensive. Do keep in mind that, like an electric grill, they require a plug to function.

We'll discuss the top pellet smokers at various pricing points in this guide. We'll go over everything else you should know to choose the best pellet grill for your requirements.

1. Traeger Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Traeger

• Model Name: Ironwood Series 885 Pellet Grill

• Power Source: Wood Pellet

• Color: Black

• Item Weight: 175 Pounds

Product's highlights

The Ironwood 885 is one of Traeger's most well-known models. With an extra-large top grate, the cook surface is on the bigger side at 885 square inches. The grates are porcelain coated for simpler cleaning and maintenance, similar to those on the brand's Pro 575 model, which likewise functioned admirably. The Ironwood 885 has a larger cooking area and a ton of updated features, including an easier-to-read control panel, Super Smoke and Keep Warm settings, a sensor that alerts you when the pellets are low, a door on the hopper so you can empty the pellets if you want to try a different flavor before they run out, and a sturdy side shelf with tool holders. The grill has a built-in meat probe storage area and links to the Traeger app so you can monitor it from a distance. It also comes with a meat probe. Its hopper weighs 20 pounds.

In our tests, the chicken came out incredibly juicy and tender with crispy skin that was light, crunchy, and airy, similar to well-cooked duck skin. Additionally, the steak was tender and had grill marks. Instead of a conventional smokestack, the grill includes a downward exhaust system that is positioned on the back.

Pros

• Control panel that has been updated with additional capabilities like Super Smoke and Keep Warm

• Extra cooking space is provided by the top grate's size.

• Easy to replace pellets using hopper door

Cons

• When there appear to be plenty of pellets left, the low pellet indicator beeps.

2. Weber Smokefire EX4 (2nd Gen)

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Weber

• Power Source: Wood Pellet

• Color: Black

• Item Weight: 176 Pounds

Product's highlights

One of our top-tested grill brands, Weber, has added a new product category: pellet grills. The Smokefire EX4 (2nd Gen) has the same flavorizer bars made to evaporate cooking drippings for more moist results, as well as the high-quality polished build for which the brand is renowned. It can reach temperatures of up to 600 oF, which during testing allowed for char markings on our steak (which is unusual when it comes to pellet grills). Compared to the other brands we tested, this grill seemed to cook food a little faster quickly, but the ribs it produced were cooked in the manner that most people are accustomed to: slightly caramelized, fall-off-the-bone, and excellent.

The built-in Weber Connect technology, which you can operate and monitor directly from the grill or through the smartphone, is one of the Smokefire's best features. One probe is supplied with the grill, but up to three may be purchased separately and used simultaneously - great for keeping watch of diverse products. It allows you to keep an eye on the ambient temperature of the grill as well as the inside temperature of foods.

The Smokefire is available in two sizes: an extra-large, 648-square-inch model with a 360-square-inch upper rack, and the large, 432-square-inch model. 

Pros

• Reaches temperatures high enough to scorch steak,

• Food temperature can be checked using an app.

Cons

• Foods may cook faster than anticipated.

3. Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill with Sear Box

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Camp Chef

• Model Name: SmokePro SG 24 WiFi Pellet Grill(Black)

• Color: Black

• Item Dimensions LxWxH: 30 x 48 x 49 inches

• Inner Material: stainless_steel

• Fuel Type: Electric

Product's highlights

The inability to sear a steak as well as you can on a charcoal or gas grill is one of the main complaints about pellet grills. Both a smoker and a searing grill can be used with Camp Chef's Woodwind with Sear Box model. Use a wood pellet grill for reliable results and simple temperature control. The cast iron grate we tested generated lovely sear marks, and it can withstand temperatures of up to 900 F. Because ash is deposited into an easy-to-remove cup beneath the smoke box, this pick's ash-removal system made it easier to clean than most. For the majority of slow-cooking tasks, the 24-pound hopper capacity is plenty, and it has a viewing window so you can see how many pellets are still inside without lifting the lid.

Pros

• Hopper has a window for viewing.

Cons

• When installed, the Sear box replaces the side shelf.

4. Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Z GRILLS

• Model Name: ZPG-700D

• Power Source: Corded Electric

• Color: Brown

• Outer Material: Steel

• Item Weight: 144 Pounds

Product's highlights

Since it began selling grills under its own name in 2017, Z Grills, which has been producing grills for other brands for more than 30 years, has been able to maintain a competitive price point. This pellet grill features a stainless steel construction, a sizable cooking surface of 1,056 square inches, and a 20-pound hopper capacity. It features modern temperature controls and has a 180° to 450°F temperature range.

Consider the new 7002 series for an upgrade at a still affordable price; it contains a PID controller that aids in maintaining an even temperature, a temperature probe, and a hopper with a viewing window. In our tests, the 7002F cooked food in a manner that was comparable to those of its rivals, while it appeared to be more powerful. It needed to be handled with greater care because its door and frame were a little thinner than those of other types.

Pros

• Affordable price range

• 20-pound hopper weight limit

Cons

• Reviews bemoaned the inadequate temperature regulation of older models.

5. Green Mountain Davy Crockett Pellet Grill

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Green Mountain Grills

• Model Name: DCWF

• Power Source: wood_pellet

• Color: Black

• Item Weight: 67.6 Pounds

• Item Dimensions LxWxH: 29.92 x 14.96 x 21.65 inches

Product's highlights

The Green Mountain Davy Crockett model is our preferred portable pellet grill if you're seeking a portable choice. With a nine-pound hopper capacity and foldable legs, it's great for a day of camping or tailgating and will take up less room in your trunk on game day. (The smaller hopper means you'll need to feed pellets more frequently, but the portability is nice.) As one of the few portable options with digital controls and an integrated thermometer (called Sense-Mate) to verify the internal temperature of your food, this model stands out from the competition. Additionally, you can check on the status of your food from your phone thanks to Wi-Fi capability. You can receive notifications when the cook time is up thanks to the app's built-in meal timer.

Pros

• Able to connect to WiFi so that a phone can track food

• Foldable and portable legs

Cons

• A meager kitchen area (219 sq. in.)

1. Do pellet grills merit the price?

Given that they may be used for smoking, grilling, roasting, baking, and other cooking methods, pellet grills are incredibly versatile. Pellet grills, unlike charcoal grills, take no effort to start and little maintenance other than making sure there are pellets in the hopper. If you enjoy the taste of wood-smoked food, pellet grills make it simpler to obtain this flavor profile than burning wood on a grill or smoker. Wood chips are easier to get delivered and stored than propane tanks or charcoal, and pellet grills don't need any propane or gas to operate. Like a gas barbecue, a pellet grill also heats up rapidly, typically in less than 10 minutes.

2. How do pellet grills operate?

Hardwood pellets are the fuel used in pellet barbecues. It takes only a few simple steps to get the grill ready: add the pellets to the hopper, switch the grill on, choose the temperature, and wait. A motorized auger transports the pellets to a fire pot underneath the grill, where a hot rod ignites them to start a fire, which is then stoked by a fan to create convection.

3. Do pellet grills really offer better health benefits?

The creation of cancer-causing compounds is allegedly reduced because you are using an indirect heating source, according to pellet grill manufacturers. The generation of cancer-causing compounds is decreased by pellets, however there is little scientific evidence to support this claim. Furthermore, the majority of pellet grills must comply with California's Proposition 65, which means they contain cancer-causing chemicals. Therefore, use a pellet grill if you enjoy the flavor that hardwood imparts.

The wood pellets that are placed within a basket, or hopper, and burned on a pellet grill provide heat. The "burn pot" is where these pellets are then directed by gravity. A fan distributes the heat as the pellets burn, evenly cooking your steaks or chops and imparting a mildly smoky wood taste. Any remaining grease drips into a collection bucket while the ensuing smoke billows out of the grill's chimney. According to Horsman, pellet grills work best for "low and slow" cooking and should have a 20-pound or larger capacity for pellet hoppers.