Pellet Grills 101 - Selecting the Best Pellet Grill for the Money

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If you want one appliance that can help you grill, smoke, barbecue, or bake a dish, the pellet grill is an excellent choice. While all pellet grills share this impressive versatility and a straightforward, user-friendly approach, not all pellet grills are exactly the same.

When choosing a pellet grill, you need to decide what type of grill you want, what you want it to do, what you’re willing to spend, and what features you just have to have. This guide will take you through all these components so you can truly understand the product you’re investing in.

As you’re going through this information, you’ll want to get very clear on your unique goals. Different pellet grills will serve different needs – so in order to determine the best grill for you, you’ll want a clear sense of how you’re going to be using it.

Uses of Pellet Grills

There are several decisions you’ll need to make as you decide which pellet grill is the best for your home. But first: what exactly is a pellet grill? What ties all these options together?

A pellet grill uses fuel-grade hardwood pellets to create a wide range of temperatures that can sear, grill, bake, or smoke your food. They are often monitored by a digital sensor, which then feeds pellets into the flames to adjust the temperature. The hot air is then circulated throughout using a fan.

Pellet grills are beloved for their versatility and the range of smoky flavors that different wood pellets can provide. They’re also extremely user-friendly when compared to gas or charcoal.

Keep in mind: pellet grills do need a power source, so you’ll need to plan your grill around your access to outlets. Some grills are small enough that they can be powered by batteries, which may be interesting to campers.

Pros	Cons
Range of smoky flavors Range of temperatures (typically 150-550 F or higher) Consistent temperature Easy to use (automated)	Require an outlet or battery Digital component can break down Pellets can be affected by humidity Less cooking space than gas grills May not sear quite as well as some gas grills
Pros Range of smoky flavors Range of temperatures (typically 150-550 F or higher) Consistent temperature Easy to use (automated)
Cons Require an outlet or battery Digital component can break down Pellets can be affected by humidity Less cooking space than gas grills May not sear quite as well as some gas grills

Types of Pellet Grills

The first major decision facing you is the type of pellet grill you’re going to buy. This decision will primarily be made by what kind of space you have available, and how many people you intend to cook for.

Each of these types of pellet grills will burn wood pellets to produce a wide range of temperatures, from low and slow to high heat for grilling – and some will come with additional features such as gas burners. While some grills can be moved around your space, others can be installed directly into the structure of your home or yard.

Before we dive in, consider where you’ll most likely be cooking, and for whom. Then, it’s an easy choice between a freestanding grill, built-in grill, or vertical pellet smoker.

1. Freestanding Pellet Grills

A freestanding pellet grill is one that comes with its own legs and foundation, and can often be moved around your property.

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If you’ll be throwing large dinner parties or you’d like more features, a larger freestanding pellet grill might be the right option. Many freestanding pellet grills come with shelving for storage and food prep, and some offer side burners as well.

If you’re cooking for a small number of people, you might want to get a smaller, more portable grill. These grills can also be small enough to be powered by a mobile battery pack, which can make them a great option for camping.

Pros	Cons
Can work well regardless of your existing setup Some are portable enough to bring camping	Smaller grills will feed fewer people Require their own space in your home setup
Pros Can work well regardless of your existing setup Some are portable enough to bring camping
Cons Smaller grills will feed fewer people Require their own space in your home setup

If you already have some structure in your backyard, then you might be more interested in…

2. Built-In Pellet Grills

A built-in pellet grill can be installed right into an existing barbecue island.

A built-in pellet grill is sturdy, sleek, and an excellent way of bringing advanced, versatile cooking options into an outdoor setup. If you already have an island, or you are considering remodeling your backyard to include one, the built-in pellet grill might be an excellent option.

Pros	Cons
Versatile cooking solution for outdoor barbecue island Sturdy, stable, design your own prep space in island	More expensive once construction costs are included Cannot be moved once installed
Pros Versatile cooking solution for outdoor barbecue island Sturdy, stable, design your own prep space in island
Cons More expensive once construction costs are included Cannot be moved once installed

But there’s one more item that frequently comes up in discussions of pellet grills.

3. Vertical Pellet Smoker

If you’re more interested in the smoky flavor of the pellets but less interested in grilling or searing, a vertical pellet smoker might be the solution for you. Vertical pellet smokers can smoke a higher quantity of food than similarly priced pellet grills, but they cannot reach the higher temperatures.

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This option is for people who are excited by the ease and flavor offered by the wood pellet system, but who don’t need the full versatility that pellet grills are known for.

Pros	Cons
Cook more food than comparably priced pellet grills	Cannot grill or sear – only smoke and slow cooks
Pros Cook more food than comparably priced pellet grills
Cons Cannot grill or sear – only smoke and slow cooks

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Now that you have a good sense of what type of pellet grill you’ll be looking for, it’s time to choose the controller.

Pellet Grill Controllers

A typical grill must be continuously fueled by charcoal or another source in order to maintain the temperature. Because of this human error, a grill’s temperature is therefore usually very inconsistent.

This is the big, unique advantage of the pellet grill: instead of a human adding additional fuel as a judgment call, the pellet grill has a temperature controller that automatically adds the correct amount of fuel to the fire to maintain a specific temperature.

However, not all of these controllers are the same. While you can still find some old school controllers, proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers are digitized systems offering a whole spread of functionality.

Let’s walk through the different types of controllers so you can decide which is best for you.

1. Non-PID Controllers

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When we say “old school,” we’re basically talking about non-PID controllers. These are quite a bit less precise: there is usually more temperature fluctuation, even up to 40 degrees of your set temperature. You may want to use an oven thermometer if you’re planning to use one of these controllers for something that needs a precise temperature.

With non-PID controllers, you can usually find 3-position controllers, multi-position controllers, and one-touch controllers.

Non-PID Controller Types	Temperature Settings
3-Position Controller	Settings for low, medium, and high (ex., 225° F, 325° F, and 425° F)
Multi-Position Controller	More settings, typically increments of 25° F
One-Touch Controller	LCD display, increments of 5° F or 10° F
Non-PID Controller Types
3-Position Controller: Settings for low, medium, and high (ex., 225° F, 325° F, and 425° F)
Multi-Position Controller: More settings, typically increments of 25° F
One-Touch Controller: LCD display, increments of 5° F or 10° F

Because all of these options use fixed cycling, none of them will give you a very precise read.

2. PID Controllers

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PID controllers have gained popularity since their invention thanks to the massive leap forward in precision they offer. While non-PID controllers run on cycles with a wide range of temperatures, a PID controller is able to continuously calculate the temperature and make much more precise adjustments continuously.

A PID controller is therefore able to be within 5° F of your desired temperature. If you’re looking at a pellet grill with a variable-speed fan, it’s safe to assume it uses a PID controller. PID controllers come with an LCD display and buttons to adjust the temperature. PID controllers can also be hooked up to meat probe thermometers.

3. PID-Plus

If you see a pellet grill marked as having a PID-plus controller, it’s not actually the controller that’s any different – you’re still getting basically the same PID controller. But, you’re also going to get a whole host of additional features that you may or may not need.

These features commonly include WiFi and connection of the controller to your smartphone. This means your phone can alert you when time is up, and you can change the temperature from your phone. If you love pairing technology with your outdoor culinary adventures, these features can be a lot of fun.

Controllers Compared

At a glance, here are your options for pellet grill controllers:

Non-PID Controllers	Less precise with temperature Reliable
PID Controllers	Highly precise temperature control Digitized Can be hooked up to meat probe thermometers
PID-Plus Controllers	Same as PID plus WiFi capabilities and companion apps
Non-PID Controllers Less precise with temperature Reliable
PID Controllers Highly precise temperature control Digitized Can be hooked up to meat probe thermometers
PID-Plus Controllers Less precise with temperature Reliable

As controllers get more complex, they also get more expensive. Your budget is another determining factor – not just in the controller, but in the pellet grill as a whole. This is our next consideration.

Pellet Grill Classes

It’s no secret that a fancier pellet grill is going to cost more money. But many of us have some flexibility in our budgets – as long as we really need what we’re paying for, and will really use the additional features.

In this section, we’ll break down pellet grills into four tiers: affordable, practical, and premium. We’ll walk you through what you can expect from the grills in each tier so you can decide which is the right choice for you.

1. Affordable Pellet Grills

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If you’re looking to try out your first pellet grill and you’re not sure how much of an investment you want, or you know that you don’t need anything fancy to get the job done, then these are the grills for you. These grills offer the most basic features of a pellet grill: nothing more, nothing less.

These are the most common features of the affordable class of pellet grills, though of course these may vary:

• Non-PID controller (wider temperature fluctuations)
• Up to 500° F (best for slow smoking – less versatile than others)
• Constructed from painted, galvanized steel

Great brands providing affordable pellet grills include Traeger, Camp Chef, Pit Boss, and Cuisinart.

2. Practical Pellet Grills

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Now maybe you want a step up from the absolute basic, but you’re still not feeling like you need a particularly fancy pellet grill. The mid-range practical grills are a big step up, with higher quality construction than the affordable grills but less features than the premium and beyond.

Typical features of practical pellet grills include:

• Constructed from mid-range steels such as painted or aluminized
• Features like grates and interiors may be cast iron or stainless steel
• PID controllers – potentially including WiFi capability and keeping temperature more precise
• Temperature from 200-600° F for greater versatility

The top brands offering practical pellet grills include Broil King, Grilla Grills, Traeger Pro, Camp Chef, and Weber SmokeFire.

3. Premium Pellet Grills

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Now we are talking about the best pellet grills money can buy. These grills are constructed with the highest quality materials, are extremely durable in all kinds of weather, and look good to boot.

The most common features for premium pellet grills are:

• Stainless steel construction
• Freestanding or built-in options available
• Widest temperature range, often 180-700° F or higher (extremely versatile)
• Extremely precise temperature control

The most beloved brands offering premium pellet grills include Memphis, Louisiana Grills, and Cookshack.

Now you know the basic classes available for pellet grills on the market today. As you’re making your final decisions within these categories, we can turn to some of the features that are easier to overlook.

Brands by Budget

Several pellet grill brands offer different lines that work well for various budget levels. Still, we’ve put together a basic run-down of some of the best, most trusted brands in pellet grills at each of the above budget levels. If one of these classes is calling to you, these brands are an excellent place to start.

Price Point	Pellet Grill
Affordable	Traeger, Camp Chef, Pit Boss, Cuisinart
Practical	Broil King, Grilla Grills, Traeger Pro, Camp Chef, Weber SmokeFire
Premium	Memphis, Louisiana Grills, Cookshack

Additional Pellet Grill Features

Temperature precision, controllers, range, and quality construction are the most important factors in what kind of pellet grill you choose to buy. But there might be a few other comfort items that help your pellet grill fit your style of cooking exactly.

When you’ve narrowed your choices down to just a few great grills, look for these finishing touches before you make your purchase:

• Cooking area. How much space is there in the grill? A family of four can usually be fed with 450-500 square inches; if you’re cooking for one or two, you can do with less; for more, you’ll want more.
• Cooking racks. How many cooking racks can you fit inside your pellet grill?
• Grilling. Different pellet grills will have different options for direct grilling. What kind of grates are offered?
• Meat probes. You may need to buy your meat probe separately, even if your grill can be hooked up to them. Check that you can connect your favorite brand.
• Additional shelving and prep space. If you want to prepare food near the grill, or store kitchen supplies or spices, check out what kind of space is available on a freestanding grill.

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Conclusion

Now that you’ve taken a thorough walk through the different types of pellet grills, you are prepared to make a quality purchase. Remember: the right pellet grill is highly dependent on your unique needs, including your budget, cooking style, and family size.

Once you’ve determined the basics of what you need (size, type, and budget class), the real fun of debating all the different features begins. As long as you choose a grill from a reliable manufacturer such as the ones vetted by Sportsman’s Warehouse, you’ll soon be cooking a variety of quality meals right in your own backyard.