Pellet smokers are not the mystery you think they are. While we will focus on pellet smokers there are also pellet grills. They both are very similar to the coal-fired and gas-fired grills.

When we talk about grills, pellet smokers have not been out that long. One of the first was put on the market in the 1980s. People have been cooking over wood since recorded history. So this is a really new concept.

In many ways, a pellet smoker is just a wood smoker. The pellets are compressed sawdust. Due to the compression, it makes them dense. And that density allows each pellet to hold more energy. This makes pellets more efficient than regular wood.

When you use pellets not many changes in the grill itself. The biggest change is a hopper attached to the side. The core apparatus looks similar if not identical to a standard gas grill.

So why would you use a pellet smoker? The benefits are pretty cool. These are really easy to use. You don’t have to try to control the temp with a big block of wood. If you have ever smoked before every time you add wood you will see a spike in temp.

That can ruin your 8-hour brisket.

Not to mention you have to be there. Being consistent with the heat can be tricky. Using pellets can give you consistent heat for many hours.

Again, you can do the same thing with other grills. But it will take so much more skill to do so. This is why you want to look at a pellet smoker.

You will see a lot of different shapes and sizes. They all work basically the same way. At the different, price points you will get different bells and whistles. This would include things like digital readouts.

Built-in Thermostat

In order to slow cook with pellets, you will need a thermostat. The thermostat triggers the feed to put more pellets in the grill.

You won’t see a pellet smoker get higher than 400 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to get a sear, make sure your grill has that ability.

Smoker Pellets

All pellets are not made the same. Make sure you read the instructions to make sure you get the right ones. That said some brands recommend only using their pellets.

When you go to buy the pellets you can see the size. So may not have to get the same brand every time. Test and see, not all pellets perform the same.

Other Features

Speaking of searing, find a grill with a searing compartment. If you are looking for portability some grills have folded up legs that are great for camping.

By using a full-electric model you can get the greatest control smoking your meats.