Stand alone smoker or pit boss pellet grill smoker

[Weldor]

Ok, I don't use a smoker alot . I want start to doing it more often. Looked at a bunch of reviews and video's, overload. I like my steaks seared so I'm leaning toward the pellet grill/smoker. What am I missing if I go with a stand alone smoker. I have a bunch of Texas hogs to make into Ham's.

 

[Blurry1]

Personally I would recommend a stand alone. In my experience multi tasters do neither tasks well. At least in this case.

 

[Frozenlead]

I’d go pellet grill for the most versatility. I’ve ran a pit boss for 8years now and like it. Yes, for some applications a vertical or dedicated smoker can be a little better. But unless you are going deep down the worm hole, a pellet grill/smoker will do everything you need to do.

 

[MuleyFever]

I have thought about replacing my electric smoker with a pellet grill/smoker but I have heard people say they go through a lot of pellets.

 

[Frozenlead]

They do go through pellets faster than an electric smoker, but it’s dependent on your cook temp and smoker size of course. I’m sure someone has crunched the numbers in depth but I’d say it’s more comparable lb/hr wise to a propane bbq.

 

[TX_Diver]

I have had them all.

The pellet grill is great and extremely easy. It also got my wife cooking on the bbq.

A Weber kettle with the slow n sear insert is probably the most versatile though and still easy to use. I’ve sold the offset, the pellet grill, etc. but still have my 26” kettle. It’s easy enough my wife still uses it.

Www.amazingribs.com is an excellent website with a ton of good info.

Last night we made pizzas, and jalapeño poppers, then some quail.

 

[chancey]

As others have said, most combo units don’t do anything particularly well. Hasty Bake breaks that rule though.

 

[ProStaffSteve]

I had Traeger’s cheaper offering and now a pit boss.

Idc what you pick they all seem to work, they all get dirty, ignition rods go out, they all make incredible food. Getting a thermometer that connects to your phone would be great but I get by with a manual thermometer, pinning down temps is the key to all cooks.

Ribeye, pulled pork, smoked steelhead, 0-400 wings, did a duck that was incredible, jalapeño poppers, I start venison pot roasts on the smoker then finish em in the pot, back strap (again use your thermometer or you’ll ruin it)

No wrong answer, pellets are pretty cheap if you avoid Traeger pellets

 

[Caseknife]

My step-son bought me a Recteq Deck Boss 800 for my retirement. Love it, replaced a 15 year old Traeger.

 

[Team4LongGun]

I have 4 grills/smokers from old school standalone to new. We use the Reqtec bullseye for everything now. Can grill and sear a steak, and also low and slow a brisket. I used to think I had to have one of each to get what I wanted.

 

[Hondo]

Pellet Grill/Smokers are the Honda Ridgeline's of outdoor cookers IMO. That being said, they can provide an introduction into smokers before jumping all in on a dedicated pit.

A Big Green Egg is another option to consider for multiple cooking options as it will outlast most pellet cookers I've seen and has superior heat retention.

 

[Team4LongGun]

@Weldor

When I grill meat I want a char/sear. It wasn’t until we got the recteq that we can get the sear AND the great wood fire/smoke flavor. Every single piece is cooked to internal temp-even burgers.
To get the sear it has to be on the “riot” setting and preheated a good 10 mins. I don’t think it goes through pellets that bad, but in the end is more expensive than a tank of propane. Total guess would be we use a $15 propane tank up in 3 months, we are using a $15 bag a month in pellets.

If you want to do a pork shoulder or brisket you have to put a drip pan below the grates to catch fat.

 

[dsotm]

Weber Kettle

 

[Agross]

Depends on what the majority of yer use is gonna be. I have both but use my pellet grill ALOT more. I have the recteq and love it.
About the only time I use my stand up smoker is when I do jerky, which is once a year as I do large batches and vacuum seal it and freeze it, or when I’m doing a big meal for a get together.

 

[5MilesBack]

If you want to do a pork shoulder or brisket you have to put a drip pan below the grates to catch fat.

I always put a drip pan filled with water under my grates when smoking, just to add moisture. But we're dry as a bone to start with up here. I have a vertical charcoal smoker that works really well. I mix in wood chunks with the charcoal for extra smoke of whatever flavor I want (mostly use apple, hickory, or mesquite). I've started smoking my steaks with mesquite at 250 degrees until they reach 95-100 degrees in the middle, then I crank it up to 600-700 degrees and sear them until they hit 125.

 

[svivian]

My first question is if you have a black stone style flat griddle? If so a stand alone smoker and reverse sear on the griddle

If not, reqtec is what I’ve been using and it’s great. Can get up over 700 degrees while also being great for briskets, smoked salmon and pulled pork.

 

[TaperPin]

I have the medium size Weber smoker and wish it was the largest size. The thing I love about these and why we have 3 in the family is it can sit for 6 months unused, then simply fill the pan with charcoal, add half a starter full of lit charcoal, put the lid on and walk away from it until done. Good for at least 6 to 8 hours. It never breaks down, gets plugged up, or runs out of anything halfway through. Add extra wood every half hour for extra smoke if you want.

 

[Weldor]

I do have a large flat Blackstone, but it does not sear very well. To many cold spots. Preheat and put steaks on at room temp and one side might get a little, but flip them and the heat is gone. It does great on everything else. I think they all just need more BTU'S.

 

[Weldor]

Best sear I get is a large cast iron pan on my single camp chef burner. (has adjustable regulator) That works great, but limited space.

 

[CRJR45]

I've tried pellet grills , they suck ! I have a Green Egg and it's just ok .
The best vehicle I've ever smoked with is the UDS ! Upright drum smoker made from a 55 gallon drum . Cost less than $50 to build and will smoke anything . I've done two turkeys at the same time .
I'm looking for a stainless steel drum now to build another .