It also lacks any work tables or shelves, and it only has one rack and a small warming rack inside. That said, it was the least expensive grill we tested but performed as well as our winning grill, so all these aesthetic complaints come at a price we were willing to live with. Finally, we assessed each grill’s aesthetics and build quality, looking to see if it wheeled around easily without rattling and whether it was built to last. We also factored in if the grease tray was easy to clean, grill grate design, and the location of side tables. Most items come with a limited manufacturer’s warranty.
I spend a whole lot of time cooking outdoors, so I decided to build and design an outdoor kitchen with help from BBQGuys.com. I was browsing the Lowes website as I do from time to time to look for new pellet grill models and I came across a Camp Chef model I wasn’t familiar with, the MZGX24. This is where the Cuisinart Clermont actually has a one-up over the Pit Boss Lockhart which only currently features Bluetooth connectivity. However, the Pit Boss Lockhart does feature a PID temperature controller, where it doesn’t appear that’s the case on the Cuisinart Clermont. Also, while as I discuss above that I don’t think a very large 40 lb pellet hopper is really necessary, placing the control on top of the hopper makes it easier to read/use. This is a residential grade product that will likely be used at weekends etc.
Wipe the cleaner off with a clean cloth or paper towel. If cleaning a stainless steel BBQ, wipe in the same direction as cuisinart pots and pans set the grain. If your smoker has a painted surface, wipe in circles. Apply your cleaner using a soft cloth or spray bottle.
Napoleon’s 22″ Pro Cart Charcoal Kettle Grill puts a few spins on the familiar kettle design. In fact, the hinged lid with a handle on the front, spins in a rotary motion 180 degrees. It’s hard to beat a Weber kettle, but Napoleon holds its own and adds some unique features to make the 22″ Pro Cart a viable alternative. These are products we have tested, won our top awards, and are highly recommend. Click here to read how we test, about our medals, and what they mean.
A thermostat and an onboard computer control the grill’s auger, fan, and ignition system. Next up, we wanted to know how the pellet grill worked with high-heat temperatures. We cranked the dial up to 500°F (or the highest setting if the grill didn’t have that setting). After preheating, we cooked a dozen chicken wings, hoping they would crisp up as well as they do in an indoor oven without burning. Traeger is the original name in pellet grills, so it didn’t surprise us when the Traeger Ironwood 650 ranked higher than any pellet grill in the test group. Here are the best pellet grills and smokers we tested ranked, in order.
After building the pellet grill, we proceeded with the initial burn-off process without any issues. The next day, we fired up the grill to smoke a brisket, and that’s where the trouble started. The auger continuously fed pellets into the fire pot, but they never caught fire. The ignitor was active and glowing red-hot, but the smoldering pellets were continuously covered with new pellets. We attempted to remove the excess pellets and help the ignition along with a handheld bellow but to no avail. After some time, the grill shut itself off and would not turn back on.
Grill, sear, smoke, BBQ and so much more – whenever and wherever you want. It’s never been this easy to create smokehouse quality food while adventuring. GRILL HOUSING Remove the warming rack, cooking grates, flame tamers, and burners.
We were pleased with the results, and our chicken wings cooked evenly over the entire grill grate. To use the grill, the pellets are loaded into a hopper to the side of the grill. An electric-powered auger transfers the pellets to the fire pot inside the grill. The ignited wood pellets produce flames until the box reaches the set temperature, and the auger slows to drop fewer pellets into the pot to maintain the heat. The grill’s heat deflector plate acts as a physical barrier to keep the food from being exposed to the flames, and it also keeps the grease from creating flare-ups.
Grilling burgers, we set the temperature to 500°F, a bit short of the 700°F max. We found this to be a nice temp, between a sear and slower cook, that gave our burgers a deep, brownish red color, cuisinart soup maker with dark grill lines. Chicken on the bone cooked to perfection with the temp backed down to 400°F, placed on the racks above the grill grates, and away from the heat—in about 40 minutes.