A Beginners’ Guide to Pellet Grills
Grilling season doesn’t just mean a choice between hamburgers and hot dogs. It also begs the question of what kind of grill you want to use when cooking outdoors. But while there are a lot of popular grilling choices, one you may be less familiar with is the pellet grill.
But how can you use a wood pellet grill? In this article, we’ll explore the basics of a pellet grill. This will include how they work and what benefits they have over traditional grills.
After reading, you’re sure to learn how to use a pellet grill for the first time. Read on to learn more.
Fuel Source
Pellet grills are similar to other types of grills in many ways. They have a similar size and body shape. They provide heat to an open flame cooking surface where you can grill your food. They offer precision temperature control.
But the key difference between a pellet grill and other grills is how the heat is generated. While traditional grills are typically fueled by either propane or natural gas, a pellet grill burns small wooden pellets. These hardwood pellets are made from compressed hardwood sawdust. In honesty, they look a lot like what you might line at the bottom of a rabbit or hamster cage.
More than anything, the pellets are the key elements to understanding how a pellet grill works.
The Hopper
The wood pellets are poured into a container on the back of the grill called a hopper. This is essentially a large storage bin for the pellets. But it’s functional, too. The hopper helps them move onto the next part of the appliance in their journey toward the flame: the auger.
The Auger
Another key difference is how the fuel source is delivered to the flame. Traditional grills feed the flame via a steady stream of gas. A pellet grill, conversely, feeds its flame using an auger.
This corkscrew-shaped piece of metal moves a few pellets toward the flame during operation. It is typically electrically powered and sounds like a small running motor as it feeds.
The Benefits
The reasons why a pitmastermight consider a pellet grill over more traditional grills are many. Pellet grills are a great cooking tool with numerous unique advantages, including:
- They don’t require gas canisters
- Wood pellets are more fuel efficient
- They offer more precise temperature control (when compared with charcoal grills or gas-powered grills)
- The smoke produced by a pellet smoker adds a unique smoke flavor to cooked food
- They are great for low and slow cooking, such as brisket or pork shoulder
- They are easy to use (the hopper, auger, and combustion chamber all work automatically)
There are countless other reasons a pellet grill is a great choice for most outdoor cooking enthusiasts. But the biggest reason is they are simply an easy and flexible choice of appliance for most needs.
HALO Products Group offers reliable pellet grill models for every kind of cook. Shop our selection of outdoor pellet grills including the Prime300, Prime550, Prime1100, Prime1500, and Pellet Grill Bundles. Browse popular accessories like our countertop cart, essential pellet grill kit, countertop appliance carry straps, and much more!