Just The Basics
Welcome and thank you for visiting pelletsmokerhq.com. Whether you are an experienced grill master with your tried and true recipes and variations for amazing meats and sides, or you are brand new to the BBQ scene, I dare say that potentially the most important tool you can have in your BBQ arsenal is the type of cooking grill that you are going to use. And there are choices, lots and lots of choices. From the old-style weber charcoal grills and the propane and natural gas grills to the high-end pellet devouring grills that entice even the wildest dreams of masters of the grilling craft, these appliances come in all shapes, sizes and prices.
In this post I would like to explain what a pellet smoker is and why I believe owning a pellet smoker is the best of all worlds in the BBQ scene. For anyone wondering what a pellet smoker is, essentially, it’s an electric grill that uses hardwood, pressed into pellets to heat the grill and flavor the food that is placed onto the cooking grate. On the grill itself there is a hopper that contains a feeder tube on the bottom which feeds the pellets into the firepot. The firepot is located under the heat diffuser which resides under the cooking grate. Inside the firepot, a heating element ignites the pellets and causes smoke and heat. On the front face of the hopper a digital readout with a knob or touch pad allows the user to adjust the heating of the cooking area. Some of the nicer pellet smokers even include a probe connection so that the chef can keep track of temperatures. Now I did say that pellet grills are electric and do need to be plugged into a regular wall outlet. And that adds a distinct advantage to these grills over regular charcoal or gas grills. There is no worrying about using starter fluid or waiting 60 minutes or more for the right heat temperature to grill your food. And there is no need to change out propane bottles or worry about flare ups that can destroy and ruin your steaks, chops, ribs, briskets, roasts or other juicy, delicious, fat marbled meats. In short, I believe that pellet smokers do offer the best of what BBQ has to offer in delicious, professional tasting BBQ without having to be a “professional”.
Indeed, perhaps the biggest advantage to having a pellet smoker in your yard or patio is the “smoke” function that these grills provide. With this function, you have the ability to smoke your favorite meats, cheeses and veggies and even desserts. No more trying to find the right kind hardwood chips and then soaking them in various juices or concoctions for hours to get the right smoke in the old school smokers of yesteryear. There are a variety of hardwood pellets that you can choose to give you the distinct flavor that you are looking for from applewood and cherry to mesquite, hickory and even maple or pecan, each providing its own unique flavor to your dish. All without having to go to a high-priced BBQ smokehouse. Don’t get me wrong, there are many great places to eat BBQ, each with their own atmosphere and prized recipes that draw crowds from all over. And the BBQ is great. But there is nothing better than having your very own smoker/grill in your back yard to show your neighbors and family that you are “king of the sweet meat”.
The distinct advantage and versatility of these grilling/smoking machines offer is unmatched in the BBQ world. Imagine the pats on the back and the oohhs and aahhs that you will get when your guests and family members take their first bite of that “fall off the bone” rib or that “melt in your mouth” flavor of your favorite cut of roast or steak. In fact, I have even smoked a pastry stuffed brie in maple sauce in the Traeger smoker that I own (more on that one later). I have smoked cookies and cobblers in my smoker all with amazing results. Pellet smoker Manufacturers such as Treager and Louisiana grills offer many upgrades for their smokers as well as offer tips and tricks and amazing recipes for all kinds of delicious and tantalizing food for one to try and experiment with.
So now that you know what a pellet grill/smoker is, what are you waiting for? Grab the tools of the trade and start showing everyone that you are “King of the sweet meat”! If you enjoyed this post, please visit the store section of pelletsmokerhq.com and look through the many products that we offer. As mentioned on our faq page, pelletsmokerhq.com does participate in the amazon affiliate program and by purchasing through our site, we may receive some compensation at no additional cost to you and it helps us to create more free content for you to enjoy.
Once again thank you for visiting pelletsmokerhq.com and until next time, keep grilling😊