Learn me on dem pellets

[Rockchucker]

Been a stick burner only guy forever. Currently a Lang 60D. Wife surprised me with a Rectec Bullseye for my birthday. Very excited but also very ignorant to pellet grills/smokers. Any info that can be shared specifically about best pellet brands and best practices or lessons learned is most appreciated.

Haven’t had time to put it together yet but will update when I do, TODAY.

 

[BlackGun]

I like the PitBoss Competition Blend pellets. Sold at Lowe’s Home improvement and Academy.

 

[CZfool68]

BBQ Delight is my go to.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Keep the firepot clean between smoke sessions for max effeciency. Im sure youknow this and youd think this wouldnt need to be said, but Ive had to say it to two people in my area smdh. I take nothing for granted anymore lol.
My pellets 'funnel' in the hopper while being drawn out by the auger, but will get to a point where they all fall anyway. Ive never had a flame out from that, but I constantly get low pellet alarms when they're not really low. I just flip the hopper open and knock em down when I go out to spritz the meat.
I store my pellets in a bucket with a lid seal near the smoker and I empty the hopper back into the bucket after every smoke. High humidity can cause the pellets to swell and come apart in the hopper and/or auger channel. Ive only had my auger channel intake clog once, but that was enough.
Edited to add: Ive asked several others if this has ever happened to them, and they said no. I dont know if it was a pellet adhesive issue in a bad batch or what, but I dont chance it anymore.

As far as pellet brands go, Ive used several and found no major difference between the brands themselves. I personally use an oak whisky barrel blend from Louisiana Grills, a pecan from Pitboss, and my cherry and apple come from Bear Mountain lol.
Wood type and flavor...well, thats personal to each pitmaster lol.

Congrats on the gift and happy smoking!

 

[noway2]

There are two basic designs: smoker - grill and vertical smoker. The smoker - grill can do both grilling and smoking while the vertical smoker can't grill but is supposed to be better at smoking than the grill variety. I have a charcoal grill for when I want to grill and a vertical smoker for when I want to smoke food.

 

[dman24]

I like the PitBoss Competition Blend pellets. Sold at Lowe’s Home improvement and Academy.
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Walmart had these pellets in a 40lb bag for less than $9 last weekend. I’ve used the pit boss pellets and some from academy and they both worked equally well. I usually go with whatever is cheapest at the time. Most brands I have seen have some kind of competition blend that has worked fine for everything I’ve cooked without having to empty the hopper if you cook beef today and pork tomorrow.

 

[BlackGun]

Walmart had these pellets in a 40lb bag for less than $9 last weekend. I’ve used the pit boss pellets and some from academy and they both worked equally well. I usually go with whatever is cheapest at the time. Most brands I have seen have some kind of competition blend that has worked fine for everything I’ve cooked without having to empty the hopper if you cook beef today and pork tomorrow.

$9 for 40? I’ll need to get by there today.

 

[Schattenreiter]

My SIL uses a smoker and he says that he sifts/strains his pellet before putting them in the hopper. Learned that one the hard way when the auger got stopped up because the pellets fell apart and then humidy made them like cement. Took us about 2 hrs to get it going again.

 

[dman24]

$9 for 40? I’ll need to get by there today.

Yes sir. Tractor supply also had them cheaper than Lowe’s but it has been awhile since I’ve checked there. When I bought my grill they had the 40lb bags for $10.99.

 

[Rockchucker]

Local Lowe’s had Weber and Pitt boss. Grabbed a bag of comp blend and apple, respectively. Prime brisket with the comp blend. Homemade beef concoction for injection. 225. We’ll see. Forgive the hatch job. May have started a bit too early.

Have never went to bed during a cook. Hope it all works out.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Im burnin pellets today, too. Dont know if you saw the 'What smoker' thread, but it turned into a smoked meat show off pic thread.
Post your final product there so we can all see...I know Im going to 😁

What smoker should I get?

I do all of the cooking at my house, and I really enjoy it. I have lots of experience with grilling, but I've never had a smoker. I really want to smoke a brisket, and bacon, and chicken wings, and ribs, and everything else... Also, my current grill is disintegrating from rust... My wife...

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