Pellet Grill Tips & Tricks to Help You Master Your Grill

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A pellet grill is an investment. You’d be able to enjoy barbecue anytime you crave it. You don’t need to rush things as thanks to its easy-to-use feature; there’s not much preparation needed.

Since it’s an investment, when you’re out in the market for one, you might get a long-lasting model to get the best value for your money. We recommend reading reviews to find sturdy and reliable pellet grills.

If you already have one or are still looking for the perfect pellet grill for your family, you might want to get the most out of it. Keep in mind that even if it’s a simple cooking device, you’d be surprised that it has plenty of tips and tricks to help you smoke your food better.

This article will provide you with the essential tips, allowing you to master your grill.

Burn off and Season Your Pellet Grill Before Using it

We know how amazing barbecue tastes, so most people love it. When it’s time to grill, we tend to make the most common mistake; rushing. We want to throw the meat after putting the pellet grill together.

However, we should not rush things, especially when it comes to cooking. Instead, read the manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations as they have one to do the ideal burn-in process.

Pellet grill makers coat the internal parts of the grill with oil to protect the unit when being transported. You don’t want that smell getting into your food. So the best thing to do is to season your grill properly.

The process involves putting oil and setting the grill at a high temperature to burn the chemicals and oil from the manufacturing process.

Always Stock Pellets

One of the worst things that could happen is to run out of stock pellets in the middle of your cooking. Imagine you’re grilling ribs with homemade marinades and rubs for the whole family, and suddenly you run out of pellets.

Some grillers need to be shut down and cooled down properly before you can restock your pellets. You add the restarting time, and you have already lost hours of cooking. Your meat will have cooled down by the time you can get your griller up and running again.

The best thing to do is to ensure that your pellet level is full before you start cooking. If you’re planning to cook for a long time, let’s say for a party, always prepare one to three pounds of pellets for restocking every hour.

And when you’re storing your pellets, make sure they are in a dry place where there is no moisture. Humidity can affect the texture of the pellets, making them wet and more difficult to burn.

Clean Your Smoker Regularly

Similar to other appliances in our houses, we need to make sure that our pellet grill is in its best condition. When you don’t clean your smoker, ashes and other debris could pile up and cause some damage, such as the ignition not working. Some models of barbecue actually have easy cleaning features, such as this EZ-Clean™ Grease & Ash Keg on the Traeger Timberline.

Another example is when you don’t clean your grease tray. Grease trays catch the natural oil from the food, and it’s highly combustible. Since you are cooking with fire, there’s a high possibility that it’ll catch fire. This will set everything at high temperature, even burn your food.

Make sure that you clean your pellet grill regularly. If you use it often, you may want to clean it at least every three usages. On the other hand, if you don’t cook often, once every season can do the trick.

Cover Your Pellet Grill When Not in Use

As mentioned above, your pellet grill is an investment. This means you need to protect it so you can use it for a long time. They are very similar to outdoor furniture, where you need to ensure their safety as they are more exposed to the outside world.

If you leave it open outside, debris could go in and damage the interior. You’ll be facing more problems as you have to pay for repairs, or worse, buy a new one.

So make sure you cover it when you’re not using it. Store it in your garage or under a shed, basically, in a place where it’s safe from various weather conditions.

Wood pellets aren’t the only thing you should be concerned about, as the body is also prone to rust, especially when there is moisture. So keep your grill safe when not in use, and remember to cool it down before keeping it for your safety.

Don’t Be Afraid To Explore

Understanding the basic use of your pellet grill is essential, but don’t let that stop you from learning new techniques to improve your cooking experience.

There are plenty of ways you can maximize your grill, so don’t be afraid to explore. Try the tips above, and they’ll help you master your grill more. You’ll be able to enjoy cooking and probably have more barbecue nights with your family.

 

Jeff Campbell
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