In simple terms, pellet cookers are outdoor cookers that still requires electricity to run. When they’re plugged in, and the digital controller is activated, a rotating device delivers pellets into a cylindrical fire pot that houses an igniter rod. This rod then heats up and ignites pellets.
The pellets produce heat smoke and heat, which are then diffused by a blowing fan as well as the grill grate’s metal plates. These pellets are used as fuel by the grill, in order to flavor, smoke, and cook a varying range of food – but mainly meat.
One of pellet grills’ most defining features is their capacity to hold larger quantities of food, spanning larger in size than usual household appliances.
For those who are unused to them, a pellet grill might seem like any other smoker. They’ve even been labeled by many as a ‘country smoker’, as they deem them to be versatile enough to tackle any grilling recipe.
Other names include smoker grills, electric smokers, wood-fired grills, and pellet smokers. All of these named refer to the same type of appliance – pellet grill with a wood fire.
Pellet grills are also known to make event hosting a much easier process, as providing food for large numbers of guests is much easier to achieve.
They rarely have a steep learning curve, meaning most people used to a barbecue won’t encounter any problems with pellet grills – especially as many modern models come with varied temperature controls, as well as a range of other features.
Many consider them ideal for those who don’t necessarily have any prior cook-out experience.