If you are new to the world of outdoor grilling, you may wonder about pellet smoker parts. Some of the best grills, after all, use wood pellets to smoke ingredients. So what is a pellet smoker and what are its various components? Keep reading to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Pellet grills, or pellet smokers, are outdoor cooking appliances that use wood pellets as the primary fuel source, operating differently from gas grills.
- These pellet grills are great for smoking, due to increased temperature control, a powerful auger motor, and an easy ignition process via drive motors.
- Wood pellets are also great for braising, roasting, searing, and nearly any other outdoor cooking task.
What is Pellet Smoker?
If you are learning how to do barbecue, you’ll likely come across a pellet smoker. These appliances offer a complex answer to the question of “what is a grill,” as they use compressed pellets of wood to cook ingredients. This allows them fantastic temperature control, which is why they excel as smokers. Pellet smoker grills can be used with higher heats for searing and for cooking meats the old-fashioned way.
Insider Tip
Make sure to clean your cooking surface after each use, particularly when cooking fatty cuts of meat.
Pellet Grill Parts
Each pellet grill is different, with a unique design, but they tend to share some commonalities when it comes to interior components. Many of these same components are included with charcoal grills if you wonder how to use a charcoal grill as a smoker.
Wood Pellets
The primary fuel source for these grills is wood pellets, which are compressed batches of wood and wood fiber. Wood pellets are known for imparting a delicious smoky flavor after long cooks, which is one of the reasons these grills have become so popular for smoking. Additionally, wood pellets tend to boast even heat, leading to increased temperature control and fewer chances of a dangerous flare-up. These wood pellets are placed in a dedicated chamber called a pellet hopper.
Cooking Area or Grates
While each model differs slightly with regard to size and type of cooking area, most boast enough room for cooking large ingredients, such as cuts of brisket and the like. After all, smoked meats tend to be on the larger side. Another benefit of using wood pellets as a fuel source is that they ignite easily and stay hot, making for extremely easy ignitions and, as such, an easier than average operation. This makes pellet grills a great first choice for newbies.
Fan System
One thing most pellet grills share in common is a robust fan system that circulates heated air throughout the grill. These fans, along with a heat-transferring auger, are a primary reason why smoking works so well with pellet grills. The fans help regulate temperature, allowing for easy and precise controls which are perfect for smoking.
F.A.Q.S
Need to find a part?
Many manufacturers stock grill-specific parts. For instance, if you use a Traeger pellet grill, you should be able to pick up a Traeger metal grill induction fan from them directly.
How to choose a pellet smoker?
You may want to stick to a known brand, as Traeger wood pellet grills are known for their quality, but so do companies such as Camp Chef. When choosing a grill replacement, pick based on personal preference, such as if you desire grill covers.
Do pellet smokers require maintenance?
Your average pellet grill does require regular cleaning and maintenance, but nothing that should stress your grilling skills too much. Traeger grills, including the Traeger pellet grills, are known for being easy to clean and maintain.
STAT: Wood pellets were invented in the United States in the late 1970s, they are small eraser-sized capsules made of compressed sawdust. (source)
