Pellet grills?

[tonymoe]

I'm looking to pull the trigger on a pellet grill. I've ruled out the treager due to not being able to seat a steak. I haven't used one, but 3 buddies that have treager a say it doesn't get hot enough for steaks. My M/O is getting something I can use for everything, I don't want 4 different rigs for cooking.
So, I've heard GMG get hot enough as well as the "pit boss" brand.
Has anyone here had experience with the pit boss?

[carpsniperg2]

You are right on the treagers don't get hot enough for me either. Sometimes in the winter it would take 2+hrs to cook thicker steaks.

Sorry I cant help on the other brands.

[92xj]

You're looking for a unicorn.
Pellet grills are great for their purpose.
Searing is not their purpose.
Use a cast iron skillet on the stove top cranked as high as it will go after you cook your steaks on the pellet grill to your desired internal temperature.
That method will give you the best sear, and take a lot less time. Every pellet grill out there will not get to those temps. And a pellet grill takes a long time to get it's grates to the highest temps it can possibly get to, which fall short.
GMG is good, I enjoy mine.
Rectec I feel is the best out there at the moment.
If you want to cook 4 different ways, you'll need 4 different cooking devices to produce the best food for that method. The pellet grill is not a replace all.

[tonymoe]

You're looking for a unicorn.
Pellet grills are great for their purpose.
Searing is not their purpose.
Use a cast iron skillet on the stove top cranked as high as it will go after you cook your steaks on the pellet grill to your desired internal temperature.
That method will give you the best sear, and take a lot less time. Every pellet grill out there will not get to those temps. And a pellet grill takes a long time to get it's grates to the highest temps it can possibly get to, which fall short.
GMG is good, I enjoy mine.
Rectec I feel is the best out there at the moment.
If you want to cook 4 different ways, you'll need 4 different cooking devices to produce the best food for that method. The pellet grill is not a replace all.

So the gmg won't sear? I'm just going by what others have told me on that. I haven't felt with any of them.

FYI, my 5 year old daughter says unicorns are real🙄

[92xj]

to get the same sear as a cast iron skillet or a sear from a hot grate over an insanely hot bed of coals...the pellet grills will not get there. 
After an hour of getting the pellet grill heated up to it's max temperature and for the grates to get hot, it will be hot enough to darken some lines on your piece of meat, if thats the sear you're looking for, then sure, they will get there.

[Mudman]

I have the Cabelas model made by Camp chef.  Awesome grill.  I see temps from 59-68 smoking to 480-500 on high.  So it does sear but not super good.  2 hours for thick steak?  Really, wow, I do better then that.  I like to preheat grill then put meat on and smoke for a few then turn it up high.  35-45 minutes for 1' thick steak.

[KFhunter]

I like to sear on briquettes then transfer to the Treager.    Some in my family like steak well done, sacrilegious I know.  I get less smoke in the meat doing it that way, don't like a smoked steak.

everything else ya smoke it a little or a lot, but not steak.

[carpsniperg2]

I have the Cabelas model made by Camp chef.  Awesome grill.  I see temps from 59-68 smoking to 480-500 on high.  So it does sear but not super good.  2 hours for thick steak?  Really, wow, I do better then that.  I like to preheat grill then put meat on and smoke for a few then turn it up high.  35-45 minutes for 1' thick steak.

Yeah depending on the time of year. When it's 40 outside it would take forever to get them done. Had much better luck when it was 80-90 outside in the summer then yeah it would cook them faster.

I am all propane now, even though I do miss the flavor lol

[Tenkara]

I am happy with my gmg and they are making a pizza oven attachment now that will go over 700 degrees that will sear steaks.

[Timberstalker]

My Louisiana will go to 700 in the warmer season and 500 in the winter.

I can sear on it at 650 plus - blacken actually.

YMMV - but the newer pellet grills will get with it.

Take a look at the RecTec's & Yoder's.  Watch some videos.  They are pretty amazing units.

[mossy8352]

I am happy with my Trarger and with the insulating blanket they sell no issues with heat.

[garrett89]

Have you guys changed your fans or clear the drum/feeder once in awhile. I fixed my dad's traeger by replacing one of the fans hat was a couple years old. Also, use up what you dump in, the moisture will swell the pellets up and make harder to feed/burn. If our wan to get hotter than the pellet grill allows an extension cord with a decent blowing box fan under the feeder/air intake area will make that grill very hot. That's how I bypassed the heat control. Help this helps.

[KFhunter]

different pellet brands and wood species will give off different heat too

[Fishstiq]

Love my gmg!  Rec Tec is nice but I think the gmg is your best bang for your buck. 

As far as searing a steak goes, honestly cast iron heated over a burner (or in the oven for us glass-top types  )  is the way to go.  At 500+ degrees, you aren't getting any smoke anyway really (especially in 6 minutes) so why use the smoker?  I heat my cast to 500+, then toss in dead animal.  3 minutes each side tops.  ..........thanks, now I want a steak......

Sorry, back on topic....  Steak searing aside, my gmg is my go to for a lot of things.  It replaced my old smoker and propane bbq.  I smoke a lot more now because its so easy.  From all day low and slow brisket/pork shoulder/whatever, to backyard burgers and hot dogs and chicken, I love that thing!   

[Pnwrider]

I have a gmg and steak is about the only thing I do not like on it. Still use my Weber or skillet to do steaks. I would add Mak to the list along with yoder and rectec if money isn't a concern.


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[whacker1]

I started following several recipes backwards and quit searing with pellet grills.

Now I smoke a 1" 1/4" steak for 30 minutes to 2 hours at 130 -170 degrees and turn up to high for 20-25 minutes this time of year.  takes 10 minutes to get to 400 degrees and the next 15 to get the fat to render.  I pull them off and let sit for 15.  I like them better than the old way of searing.  I do the same with venison, beef, and many other forms of red meat.  thicker equals longer, and if the meat is at room temp to start it turns out the best.

[whacker1]

By the way Traeger little Tex still gets to 425 in the winter at 25 degrees outside at night and in the summer gets to about 600.

I like it to get the smoke first before hitting it with high heat.

[ridgefire]

I have had treater and gmg and am much happier with the gmg. I will seara steak a cast iron skillet if I want it seared but never really worry about . I use grill a lot more than thought would.

[jrebel]

Love my traager but yes it will not sear a steak.  Not sure about the other smokers, but what I have heard is, "A smoker is a smoker."  They are made to smoke / grill and not to sear.  For that reason I purchased a cheap $90 dollar charcoal grill to do the searing.  Smoke my steaks to a temp of 110 then burn them for 30 seconds on each side.  Best steak you will ever eat. 

[mossy8352]

Dinner tonight cooked a Cornish Game Hen on the Traeger with the temperature outside @39 degrees F. The Traeger held the temperature of 375 degrees for 40 minutes nice skin moist meat and now gone. The insulating blanket to me is the answer for cold weather cooking!

[Blacklab]

game hens nicely done 

[trophyhunt]

I have the little Tex, to sear my steak I throw a cast Iron grill on top of the grill, turn it all the way up and it comes out great.  The cast sucks to clean but it definitely helps sear the steak.

[hayes202]

one more vote for GMG with grill grates

[carvermoe]

I am doing ribs and chicken right now on GMG.
Love it. Never done a steak . I use my weber for that.

[BackStrappin]

Look at Yoder's or Mak v .  Both are pellet poopers and can be used to grill.   

[Rick]

Reverse sear.  Cook your steaks low and slow until they're almost to temp. Throw on a gas grill or whatever to get your sear.

They turn out great

[jrebel]

  

Except use charcoal to sear!!!!

[bearhunter99]

Resurrecting an old thread but I just purchased a Camp Chef Woodwind with the sear box. Excellent grill. Smoke/grill meat and then throw on the 900 degree sear box for a perfect sear. Hands down best grill I have ever had.