What Are Pellet Grills?
Pellet grills offer the capabilities of both a grill and a smoker. They’re fueled with wood pellets made of compressed hardwood sawdust, which allows them to heat quickly, burn hot and create clean smoke. Pellet grills are very user-friendly and provide consistent, even cooking for a variety of your favorite dishes.
How Does a Wood Pellet Grill Work?
To use a pellet grill or pellet smoker grill, start by pouring the cooking pellets into the storage container, known as a hopper, mounted on the grill. An electric motor powers an auger that moves the pellets from the hopper to the firebox. An ignition device lights the pellets, creating the combustion that cooks the food in the cook chamber. Intake fans bring in air to further feed the fire. The fans also circulate heat and smoke inside the cooking area, creating a convection cooking environment.
A digital controller regulates continued delivery of the pellets to the firebox to keep the grill at the designated temperature, usually between 180 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This controller gives you precise control of the cooking environment (similar to that of an oven), whether you want to cook slowly at a low temperature or more quickly with high heat. Most pellet grills include a meat probe that monitors the temperature of the meat you’re cooking and connects to the temperature control system.
The wood pellets provide the fuel for cooking, but the grill requires electricity to power the auger, controller and fan.
Capacity and Sizing
When it comes to cooking capacity, you'll need to consider the primary cooking area and the total cooking area. The primary cooking area is the main part of the grill where you'll prep your entrees that require direct heat. The total cooking area includes the upper racks where sides are prepared or items are kept warm.
When you're cooking, think about the total number of people you typically prepare for. A general rule of thumb is to allow 72-square inches of cooking space per person. If you're usually feeding a family of four, we recommend internal dimensions of 400-600 square inches. If you like to entertain, we recommend 700 inches or more for optimal food capacity.
Temperature Use Cases
The average temperature range on a pellet grill is between 180 and 600 degrees. Here's a standard guideline for cooking at different temperatures.
- For long, slow cooking, the temperature is between 160–225 degrees Fahrenheit.
- For ribs and brisket, the temperature ranges between 225–275 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you're grilling or roasting chicken and vegetables, the temperature should be between 300–400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- If you're using high heat to grill steaks and burgers, you'll need a temperature between 400–500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do Pellet Grills Cook the Same as Other Grills?
Pellet grills cook with indirect heat, which doesn’t give you the heavy grill marks you get with a gas or charcoal grill.
However, some models can also cook with direct heat for grilling and searing, like a standard grill does.
Pellet grilling and smoking aren’t the only options. These grills provide even cooking with more precise and consistent temperature control than other grill types, and they also let you barbecue, roast and bake. Cook pork shoulders, ribs, briskets and other large cuts of meat in addition to burgers, sausages, hot dogs and whole chickens.
Pellet grills give you the option of cooking foods lower and slower than you could with a gas or charcoal grill, giving you more culinary options.
In addition, pellet grills:
- Have push-button starters and produce heat within an average of 10 to 15 minutes
- Give food a subtle, smoky flavor
- Let you enhance food flavors with different wood pellet types, including hickory, mesquite, apple, cherry and whiskey barrel
When grilling with direct heat, it’s important to monitor the grill and food during cooking. Don’t leave the grill unattended when using this option.
Pellet Grill Advantages and Disadvantages
Here are few points to think about when considering a pellet grill versus a gas or charcoal grill:
- Pellet grills often don’t heat up as quickly as gas grills, but they maintain a more even temperature once they’re hot.
- Pellet grills cook with indirect heat that's circulated using a fan for a more consistent smoke flavor, but they don’t char food quite like a gas grill. However, you can use a preheated cast-iron pan to help with searing. Some of the best pellet grills even include a flame broiler feature for finishing meats at high temperatures.
- These grills use electricity, so they’re not as portable as gas grills and are best for home cooking, rather than tailgating and camping.
- Pay attention to power cord length because it will affect where you can place the grill. You can use an extension cord with some grills, but follow the manufacturer’s specifications for type, length and gauge. See Power Cord Safety Tips.
Smart Pellet Grills
Some of the latest-model pellet grills include convenient smart grilling technology that makes using them even easier and more worry-free. Using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, you can pair these pellet grills with a smart device and use a special app to keep up with when your grill is preheated to the correct cooking temperature, when your food is done, when to flip your food and many other helpful features.
Pellet Smokers
Wood pellet smokers perform the same function as traditional stand-alone smokers but require less monitoring. They're heated with wood pellets fed from a hopper, just like pellet grills, and have a temperature control for long, slow smoking. The best pellet smokers for entertaining have multiple racks with lots of surface area for accommodating large racks of ribs, chickens, turkeys, cold smoking cheese and side dishes.
Pellet Smoker Capacity
How big of a turkey can you cook? Will a rack of ribs fit in a pellet smoker? Can my smoker make enough food for a large group? These are the questions that are often asked when researching pellet smoker sizes and capacity.
Pellet smokers are available in smaller portable versions that can accommodate up to 256 square inches of cooking space. This pellet smoker size can feed a small family and it's good for everyday use. If you love to entertain, Lowe's sells pellet smokers that are almost 1100 square inches, which can feed up 18 people. It's also large enough to be used for the holidays as a turkey-sized smoker.
Pellet Smoker Temperature Range
The temperature range for a pellet smoker can vary from 180 degrees Fahrenheit to more than 420 degrees Fahrenheit. Select a grill with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. This allows the temperature probe on the smoker to sync to your phone for easy monitoring.
Using Wood Pellets
How long do the cooking pellets last when you’re using a pellet grill? Specific times vary, depending on how you’re using the grill and the type of pellets you’re using, but below are general guidelines:
- For slow, low-temperature smoking on a pellet grill, plan on using about 2 pounds of pellets per hour of cooking.
- For faster, high-temperature grilling, have about 4 pounds of pellets on hand for each hour you’ll be cooking.
While you can use these tips as a guide, it’s always a good idea to have plenty of pellets on hand so you don’t risk running out while you’re cooking.
Can you use any pellets in your grill or smoker? Pellets come in a variety of wood types — including blends of different woods — adding unique flavors to food. Pellets enhance the flavors of a variety of foods, from fall-off-the-bone ribs to sweet and crunchy corn on the cob.
Below are a few popular wood pellets and their flavor profiles:
- Competition blend includes maple, hickory and cherry woods that craft a sweet and smoky wood-fired flavor.
- Apple pellets have a light, sweet, fruity smoke flavor that pairs especially well with pork and chicken.
- Cherry has a mild flavor that gives food a subtle sweet and fruity flavor. It mixes well with other woods, like oak, pecan or hickory, to bring complexity to the flavor while maintaining the mild, fruity flavor.
- Hickory provides a full-bodied smoky flavor, but it can make food taste bitter if over smoked.
- Maple adds a rich, maple smokiness layered with a hint of sweetness.
- Mesquite gives a bold, almost spicy, smoky flavor to foods, and it can easily overpower food.
- Oak adds a medium smoky flavor that pairs well with other woods.
- Pecan imparts a nutty, spicy flavor.
Follow the manufacturer’s safety regulations for whichever pellets you choose.
For more tips on outdoor cooking safety, see our grill and smoker guide.
Pellet type can be a factor in how long pellets last during cooking. For example, pellets made from fruitwood will typically burn more quickly than pellets made from hardwood.
Wood-Grilling Pellet Flavor Guide
Tastes vary. This chart is only a suggestion. Select the pellets that you believe would offer the most flavorful impact to the foods that you grill or smoke.
How Much Do Pellet Grills Cost?
The price of a pellet grill can vary greatly depending on the size and type of grill, as well as the included features. Also, freestanding grills are often less expensive than built-in grills. Entry-level grills may start at a few hundred dollars, while high-end models can cost over $1,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions customers have about Lowe’s pellet smokers and pellet grills.
Do Pellet Grills Need Electricity?
Pellet grills use electricity to drive an auger to push the wood pellets into the grill firebox for temperature control.
How Long Can I Cook With a 20lb Bag of Pellets?
It really depends on your cooking temperature as to how often to add pellets. On average, a 20-lb bag of pellets should last for six hours of high-temperature smoking or around 10-12 hours if you're smoking at a low temperature.
Do Pellet Smokers Work in Cold Weather?
Yes, pellet smokers do work in cold weather. However, food may take longer to cook in extremely cold temperatures, so you’ll need to plan accordingly.
Should I Get a Pellet Grill or a Pellet Smoker?
Pellet smokers are intended solely for slow smoking foods, so you won’t be able grill foods in a pellet smoker. Pellet grills work just like gas grills, but they can also impart a smoky flavor from the wood pellets. When considering a smoker vs. a pellet grill, think about what types of foods you most want to make for you and your guests.
What Should I Look For in a Pellet Grill?
You’ll want to consider the size of the grill, the cooking temperature range it offers and any additional features that are important to you — such as a built-in thermometer — when shopping for a pellet grill.
Is There a Difference Between Grilling Pellets and Smoking Pellets?
Yes, there is a difference between grilling and smoking pellets. Check the manufacturer’s indications on any pellet fuel you’re purchasing to make sure it’s compatible with your grill or smoker.
Is It Worth Buying a Pellet Grill?
Pellet grills are often more expensive than gas or charcoal grills. If you only grill once or twice a year, it may be hard to justify the added expense. If you cook out regularly, a pellet grill is probably a wise investment.
Are Pellet Grills and Smokers Good for Beginners?
Yes, pellet grills and smokers are great for beginners for a few reasons.
- Pellet grills can grill, roast, bake and smoke, allowing you to try multiple cooking styles with one piece of equipment.
- It's easier to control the airflow and maintain steady heat and smoke with a pellet grill than it is with a charcoal smoker.
- Pellet grills use digital control to regulate the heat. The temperature can often be monitored with your smart phone.
- A pellet grill delivers consistent smoke and flavor.