Best Pellet Smokers of 2022

If you want an easy-to-use and flexible smoker, consider the finest pellet smoker.

You won’t earn many points with an old-fashioned pitmaster, but the ease with which you can produce superb barbecue makes acquiring the finest pellet smoker appealing.

In this post, we will discuss the finest pellet smokers. This post will also go through the benefits and drawbacks of smoking with pellets to help you decide whether a pellet smoker is good for you.

1. Best Overall – Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Smoker

This is the greatest pellet smoker at a premium price range, built by one of the top companies in the smoking business. It has all of the most recent features, so if your price permits, this is the greatest pellet smoker to choose.

The Pro has Wi-Fi, allowing you to manage and monitor your smoker from a distance. It also fixes certain difficulties with previous Traeger models, including as temperature maintenance and heating speed.

A new D2 direct drive employs a brushless DC motor to provide better torque at lower RPM. In layman’s words, this implies the motor can revolve the pellet auger quicker, allowing you to feed more fuel into the firepot faster and cook at a higher temperature.

The Pro is available in either 780 square inches or 575 square inches of cooking space. That extra area will cost you an additional $200, so you may want to stick with the 575 square inches. You may also choose between golden and black color palettes. It also includes a built-in meat probe that enables you to check the interior temperature of your meal without raising the lid.

Temperature Range: Up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Extremely accurate D2 PID controller
• Wi-Fi connectivity

Cons:

• Essential accessories will cost you extra

2. Best Budget – Z Grills 700E Wood Pellet Smoker & Grill

It’s always difficult to pick the finest pellet smoker on a budget since there’s so much technology involved. As a result, you may wind yourself acquiring a model that does not operate or is easily broken.

However, this is where Z Grills comes in. They manufacture low-cost pellet smokers of Traeger grade. This corporation seems to have sprung on the market overnight. Having said that, they seem to have been creating smokes for select firms (i.e., Traeger) for years.

You’ll receive a terrific pellet smoker without a lot of high-tech, superfluous features with 700 square inches of cooking area and a 20-pound hopper. This means you won’t get Wi-Fi, but you will get a bigger cooking space, a Traeger-like design, a storage cabinet, and accurate interior temperature control features for an absurdly cheap price.

Temperature Range: 180 450 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Great value for the money
• Comes with a three-year warranty
• Large cooking space

Cons:

• It might be difficult to get unused pellets out of the hopper.
• When closing the lid, exercise caution since you might easily contact a hot smoker.

3. Best Premium – REC TEC Grills RT-700

The creators of this pellet smoker have combined a superior construction with precise workmanship with contemporary updates like as an upgraded PID controller, twin meat probes, and Wi-Fi connection.

The controller lets you to regulate the temperature in 5-degree Fahrenheit increments, which is unusual for cheaper pellet smokers. The product’s name implies that the primary grilling area is 702 square inches. If you add the optional warming rack, the capacity expands to almost 1,000 square inches.

This is not a cheap smoker, but it is equivalent to Traeger’s more expensive Timberland and Ironwood models. Almost the whole pellet smoker is constructed of stainless steel, and the characteristic REC TEC bull horn handles are included.

Temperature Range:200 500 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Large cooking space
• Temperature may be adjusted in 5-degree F increments.
• Can add a warming shelf to increase cooking area

Cons:

• Not a budget pellet smoker

4. Camp Chef Woodwind Wi-Fi 24

This is a fantastic mid-sized pellet smoker that strikes a mix between pricing and quality.

The Woodwind is packed with technology, including a new Gen 2 digital PID controller that lets you to tune in how much smoke you want to within 5 degrees. You may also control the smoker through the app via the touch screen.

This device is available in two sizes, with the mid-size 24 model being the most popular. It has 811 square inches of cooking area distributed over two grilling racks. If you need additional space, choose the 36 model, which has 1236 square inches of cooking area.

At its pricing range, the Woodwind ticks all the boxes you’d expect from a pellet smoker. You may also enjoy set it and forget it cooking, and it comes with four meat probes to help you keep track of your temps.

While most pellet smokers struggle with scorching meat, this one does not. You may use the slide and grill function by pulling down a lever and switching to direct flame cooking.

Temperature Range: 160 500 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Super easy to operate
• Has the ability to sear food
• It comes with a SideKick attachment, which is a strong propane burner that also functions as a grill.
• You can simply adjust the smoke amount to meet your needs.

Cons:

• You dont get a cabinet door
• The app has connectivity issues

5. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Wi-Fi Smoker

When you think about pellet smokers, you usually don’t think of them as being especially portable. For one thing, a pellet smoker needs electricity to work; you can’t just open a bag of charcoal and light it anyplace.

That being said, this finest pellet smoker is made to be portable. You’ll notice that the legs fold into a carrying handle for easy travel. You also get a couple of adaptors with your purchase so you may power it from a wall socket, your vehicle battery, or your car’s cigarette lighter. A generator may also be used.

There is no other pellet smoker that compares to its mobility, particularly at this pricing. The Wi-Fi control lets you to change the temperature remotely in 5 degree increments from any smartphone or tablet.

You may not have heard of Green Mountain before, but they have been producing smokes equivalent to Traeger since 2008.

Temperature Range: 150 550 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Portable
• Precise temperature control
• App and Wi-Fi
• Smart alerts

Cons:

• Difficult for a single person to move
• The Wi-Fi connection tends to be unreliable

6. Camp Chef SmokePro LUX Pellet Smoker

If you fell in love with the greatest pellet smoker overall but were disappointed with the cooking area, this is the pellet smoker for you. It has a cooking surface area of 875 square inches and weighs 180 pounds. It has an electrical auto-start ignition, dual LED temperature reading, internal cooking temperatures, and internal food temperatures for fast and simple temperature adjustment.

It’s pretty similar to the Camp Chef PG24DLX, but as you can see, it has greater cooking area. Despite the small size of the hoppers, a single fuel can provide 12-14 hours of cooking time in moderate conditions. It may persist much longer if the weather is warm.

Temperature Range: 160 500 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Large size
• You can add a sear box
• Easy to cleanup

Cons:

• Terrible built-in temperature probe
• Calibration issues

7. Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Smoker

Pit Boss manufactures a variety of pellet smokers that are billed as less expensive alternatives to the Traeger brand. You can usually acquire a pellet smoker that is quite comparable to a Traeger pellet smoker for a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Traeger brand.

control, as well as a sliding plate mechanism that provides for a more direct sear and more cooking options.The disadvantage is that this pellet smoker lacks some of the more current features, but if they are not required, this is still the greatest pellet smoker. For the best temperature range, this device incorporates thermostatic controls and an LCD readout.

It is composed of strong gauge steel, which makes it quite robust for the price and size.

Temperature Range: 180 500 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros:

• Very similar to a Traeger model
• Made from durable materials

Cons:

• Lacks modern features

Who Should Invest in the Best Pellet Smoker?

Even the most basic pellet smokers will cost more than a gas or charcoal smoker. However, for that additional money, you will be able to enjoy the flexibility and ease of the finest pellet smoker.

Only two companies made the finest pellet smokers in 2008: MAK and Traeger. Nowadays, there are many more brands to choose from, demonstrating how popular pellet smokers have grown.

The greatest pellet smoker ranges in price from about $400 to over $1,000, depending on the manufacturer, features, and size of the pellet smoker.

The top pellet smoker benefits may be summarized in two words: adaptability and ease. If the price of the finest pellet smokers does not deter you, the convenience of one of these smokers will.

You’ll discover that with the finest pellet smoker, you can put your meat on, set the temperature, and forget it, going about your business without having to worry about the smoker.

Pellet smokers run on electricity, making them an excellent choice if you live in an apartment or in an area where the use of wood and charcoal is prohibited.

How Does the Best Pellet Smoker Work?

While pellet smokers share the same set it and forget it cooking approach as their electric and gas counterparts, they employ a different mechanism to generate heat. Pellet smokers provide heat by burning wood pellets, as the name implies.

A pellet smoker’s standard configuration comprises a hopper to one side where the pellets are inserted. After connecting in the smoker and adjusting the temperature on the controller, the pellets will begin to be pushed through the smoker and converted into heat.

The digital controller is by far the most important component of your pellet smoker since it is a computer that regulates the temperature of the pellet smoker throughout the cooking process.

There are many kinds of smoker controllers available on the market:

• There are three position controllers. This style of controller is often seen on less expensive pellet smokers. They feature three temperature settings: low, medium, and high (225, 325, and 425 degrees F, respectively). They are also known as LMH controllers. This controller will use predetermined cycles to drive the pellets into the burner. With this kind of controller, you have minimal control over the temperature.
• -20 degrees Fahrenheit, and only under perfect cooking circumstances. An LCD screen on the pellet smoker is a nice feature of these sorts of controls.Controller with many positions. This controller allows you to adjust the temperature of the smoker in tiny increments. Although the pellets are put into the smoker in defined cycles, this controller does not provide high precision. This sort of controller is often precise plus
• -15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This controller type also has LCD panels, several meat probe inputs, and one-touch buttons.Non-PID Controllers with a Single Touch. The temperature of the smoker may be adjusted in five to ten-degree F increments with this controller. They will continue to feed pellets on a set cycle, which implies they can give accuracy of +/-
• Controllers with PID. These are the industry standard in pellet smokers. They employ advanced algorithms to ensure that the smoker’s temperature is precise to within a few degrees. Pellets are continually supplied and may be adjusted to maintain a constant temperature. They often have one-touch controls and an LCD screen.

Construction Materials and Durability

Don’t choose a pellet smoker based only on its appearance. Even if you locate a pellet smoker with a lot of stainless steel on the outside, the manufacturer may have cut costs in manufacturing and utilized inferior materials within the smoker.

The grates, drip pan, flame deflector, and firepot are the most crucial parts of your pellet smoker. If you choose marine quality stainless steel, you will have a smoker that will last a lifetime.

However, if the pellet smoker you’re considering is constructed of powder-coated steel, be sure the coating is of excellent quality. When the paint chips and blisters, your smoker will rust and these items will degrade.

It’s also worth noting that the greatest pellet smoker is manufactured with the finest materials and performs the best. Higher quality materials can retain heat, maintain consistent temperatures in colder conditions, and assure effective pellet usage.

Hopper Size

The hopper on your pellet smoker is the jar that contains the pellets that are ready to be transported into the firepot by the auger. Because this is how the hopper works, the capacity of the hopper determines how long your smoker cooks. So, using a hopper that is too small will be unpleasant and inconvenient since your smokes will only last a few hours.

A pellet barbecue with a 40-pound hopper, as a buyer’s guide, may smoke for 40 hours at standard smoking temperatures. When you consider that most smokers need 20 hours, having an 18-pound hopper may be a problem.

You should also consider your local climate. If you live in a colder region, your smoker will take more fuel to heat up and maintain the temperature.

Pellet smoker hopper extensions are available for purchase. You must, however, ensure that the hopper extension is compatible with your pellet smoker.

How Big of a Cooking Area Is Needed?

Before choosing on the size of your pellet smoker, you must first answer the following questions:

• Are you planning on cooking large cuts of meat?
• How many people are you going to be cooking for?

You should bear in mind that larger isn’t always better, since purchasing a huge pellet smoker when you don’t need it can result in pellet waste.

Look for a feature in the finest pellet smoker that allows the temperature to stay consistent over the cooking surface. As a result, no temperature fluctuations between the top and bottom racks should occur throughout the cooking procedure.

With all of this information in hand, let us discuss the major distinction between total cooking area and primary cooking space. The major cooking space refers to the area on the main cooking rack. The total cooking space includes auxiliary racks.

As a result, a large pellet smoker with 600 square inches of main cooking space may be less beneficial to you than a smaller smoker with 500 square inches of primary cooking space and a secondary rack with 100 square inches.

The essential idea is that you should think about what you really need and not allow the adage “bigger is better” get the best of you.

Common Capabilities and Features

Unlike classic charcoal or offset smokers, pellet smokers have a plethora of incredible features. When shopping for the best pellet smoker, consider the following features:

• Wi-Fi connectivity. Several firms have begun to make use of the microprocessor built inside the pellet smoker. So, they include Wi-Fi connectivity so that you can monitor the smoker’s temperature from anywhere as long as you have a strong internet connection. Most of these businesses include free applications for controlling the pellet smoker.
• Probes for meat. A few pellet smokers feature controller outputs where you may connect in meat probes. Temperature readings from the meat may then be shown on the screen of your smoker.
• Grilling Alternatives. In the past, a significant disadvantage of pellet smokers was their lack of grilling capacity. There are numerous pellet smokers available today that allow you to grill and smoke your meat.
• Add-Ons. Some businesses have a variety of extra add-ons that you should think about. When looking for the best pellet smoker, consider which features are standard and which are optional. Some add-ons are also supplied by firms that aren’t the manufacturer, so keep that in mind. If a certain function is crucial to you but isn’t standard on the best pellet smoker for you, be sure it’s an add-on before getting it.

Warranty Length

Some of the greatest pellet smoker’s components are unbelievably high-tech. There are even moving pieces, such as the auger. All of this suggests that there are parts of your pellet smoker that may easily break and that you may not be able to repair yourself.

As a result, you must ensure that you understand the length of the smoker’s warranty, what it covers, what voids it, and where you must send the smoker for repairs.

Warranties vary by manufacturer, so don’t be afraid to inquire about them before making a large purchase.

Consumption of Pellets

Nobody likes a pellet hog. That is, no one loves a pellet smoker that consumes a large amount of pellets. If the material of your pellet smoker is too thin, heat will be readily lost through the body of the cooking chamber, requiring a large amount of pellets to maintain a consistent temperature.

If the smoker’s material is too thick, your smoker will consume an excessive amount of pellets. The thick material smoker walls will operate as a heat sink, drawing heat away from the cooking zone and storing it in the smoker walls.

When this occurs, the smoker will use an excessive amount of pellets to heat up the cooking zone. Thick walls may be desirable on certain kinds of smokers, but not on the finest pellet smoker.

Before you buy a smoker, make sure you know how many pounds of pellets it can burn every hour. Anything that burns at a rate of roughly a pound per hour at smoking temperatures is a smart investment.

Stay Away from Gimmicks

There is a delicate line between garish gimmicks and essential technology in the world of pellet smokers. With manufacturers becoming more competitive, many seek to separate apart from the crowd.

This is not to claim that every feature is a gimmick and should be avoided; rather, certain features are just unnecessary. Finally, you must determine which aspects of a pellet smoker you will utilize and which you will ignore.

Is there a specific functionality you require? Is it going to have an impact on more critical qualities like durability and pellet usage?

Customer Service

When you buy a pellet smoker from a major, well-known business, you can usually count on a dedicated customer support staff. It also implies that the organization will most likely be operating for numerous years if you want their assistance.

On the other hand, purchasing from a small business may provide you with more dependable and personalized customer care. People you meet will have a better grasp of the pellet smoker you have.

Price

The cost of a pellet smoker varies. Some will simply set you back a few hundred dollars, while others can set you back thousands. One word of caution: don’t mistake a low-cost smoker with a high-value smoker.

A less expensive smoker may save you money in the short term, but if it rusts, components fail after just a year of use, and you don’t have a decent warranty or customer care, you’ll wind up paying more money in the long run.

On the other hand, buying a smoker with all the latest, cutting-edge features that you will never use is a waste of your money.

Before you invest your money on a pellet smoker, make sure you go through everything we’ve outlined above. Find anything in your region that is available and ask a lot of questions if you are unsure about something.

Because the prices of the finest pellet smokers vary, you must determine what you want from your pellet smoker and what you can go without. By limiting down your top choices, you will save time and money.

Pros and Cons

As previously said, many pellet smoker customers choose a pellet type smoker due to its flexibility and ease. A pellet smoker, like an electric smoker, provides the following benefits:

• Convenience of “set it and forget it” Simply ensure that the hopper is full of pellets before adjusting the temperature. There isn’t much more you can do after that!
• Temperature management is simple. Most pellet smokers enable you to set the temperature to within five degrees, and they usually do a good job of keeping it there.

Some advantages are unique to pellet smokers:

• Efficient use of fuel Pellet smokers are similar to home ovens, except they include an amazingly efficient fan that allows you to use less pellets.
• Simple cleaning Other sorts of smokers generate huge messes every time you use it. After around 60 uses, you may need to clean out the firepot using a pellet smoker.

There are certain disadvantages to acquiring and utilizing a pellet smoker. These disadvantages are as follows:

• You wind up spending more money trying to find a consistent smoker than you do with other sorts of smokers. You can easily get an excellent electric, gas, or charcoal smoker for $200 to $500. Still, a nice pellet smoker will cost between $400 and $1,000 or more.
• You can’t cook at higher temperatures or produce as much smoke. You won’t get the same sear as you would with a charcoal smoker, and you won’t get the ideal smokey taste as you would with an offset smoker.
• You must connect the pellet smoker to power. This restricts your ability to use your pellet smoker.
• You must maintain an emergency supply of pellets on hand. If you run out of pellets, you may have to buy your preferred brand online. This is not the case with a charcoal or gas smoker.

Keep in mind that pellet smokers are not for everyone.

Final Thoughts

Pellet smokers have swiftly shown to be more than a passing trend. While some may argue that they are essentially an expensive oven, others believe that the ease and quality of food prepared on a pellet smoker cannot be matched.

When looking for the finest pellet smoker, there are various factors to consider. For example, consider what features you need and what ones you can live without. You should also consider the cost and the amount of cooking area you need. These are just a handful of the numerous factors to consider, but they are most likely the most significant.

We hope that this information has helped you understand the best pellet smoker, how to locate the best pellet smoker, and some of the benefits and drawbacks of buying and using a pellet smoker.