Pellet smokers are all the rage right now and can be some of the best grills around. Finding the right one can be a challenge, though, as the best pellet smoker for you is probably quite different from what, say, your neighbor or cousin might want. Many high-end, expensive pellet smokers exist, but you might want to start a little cheaper if this is a new hobby. Enter the Z Grills 700D pellet smoker. While Z Grills only emerged as a brand in 2017, they have decades of experience crafting smokers like this one or many top-quality brands. Read on as we review Z Grills 700D smoker to find out why.
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Why We Like It – Z Grills 700D
Pellet smokers aren’t cheap, so it can be daunting trying to break into this new hobby. The Z Grills 700D utilizes the same high-quality materials and construction as their pricier competitors for a fraction of the price.
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- Huge cooking area can accommodate tons of food
- Easy to assemble
- Under-grill storage area
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- LED temperature gauge isn’t always accurate to actual temperature
- Copper exterior shows smoke residue easier than all-black
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Power/Heating
Z Grills claims this wood pellet grill smoker has a temperature range from 180-450 degrees Fahrenheit and should maintain its temperature within ten degrees in either direction. While this isn’t as high as the heat ceiling for the Camp Chef Smokepro 36 SGX or the Traeger Pro 575, the Z Grills 700D costs about $400 less. Reviewers of this grill typically claim it heats up quickly. Still, several also say the set temperature displayed on the digital control board was typically 10-15 degrees hotter than the actual temperature.
Size/Versatility
The Z Grills 700D offers 694 square inches of grilling area, which outdoes pricier pellet grills like the Traeger Pro 575. The Z Grill also has a larger, 20lb hopper capacity for wood pellets and a 190 square inch warming rack. As long as you know how wood pellet grills work, the Z grill will do exactly what you need. This grill’s ample cooking space compliments the several cooking methods it can employ: Z Grills claims the 700D can grill, smoke, sear, braise, bake, roast, barbecue, and char-grill. However, this promise rings false for some reviewers because the Z Grill doesn’t offer a way to sear meat directly. Fortunately, you can still indirectly sear on the cast iron grates. The 700D is big and versatile enough that it can easily become your main cooking tool. It’s certainly a great pellet grill than some electric smokers, which sometimes requires regular repair.
Durability
The majority of reviewers of the Z Grills 700D found it simple to put together, a welcome surprise considering the number of parts necessary. Once assembled, this BBQ grill is sturdy and solid, with only some minor downsides. One comes in the copper finish on the majority of the 700D. While looking nice and certainly setting this grill apart from the competition, it tends to show smoke residue far more than the traditional black exterior. Consider, too, where you plan to place this smoker: reviewers in high-humidity areas, unfortunately, discovered that any pellets left in the hopper and electric feed system can absorb moisture and gum up the auger. That said, if you need a portable smokey grill, you might want to try the Weber Smokey Joe.
Ease of Use
Difficulty can be a major barrier to entry when trying out something new like wood fire cooking and smoking, but the Z Grills 700D aims to lower that barrier as much as possible. This machine is meant to make every part of the cooking process easy and painless. Features like the auto temperature control, large hopper capacity, electronic auto-start ignition, and LED temperature display all add up to make this a “set it and forget it” type of machine, and most reviewers found this to absolutely be the case. If you want an easy-to-clean grill, the Camp Chef SmokePro DLX Pellet Grill, has an exclusive ash cleanout system that makes cleanup a breeze.
Value
For a high-quality wood pellet grill smoker, $600 is definitely on the “budget” end of the spectrum. Considering the price to cooking area ratio, novices and experts alike find the 700D is an excellent smoker. At the same time, Z Grills is a newer brand; It’s also worth pointing out that they are experts in manufacturing pellet grills like the 700D. Before 2017, Z Grills manufactured pellet smokers for some of the best-reviewed brands around. Still, $600 is a lot of money to drop on what could be a hobby you don’t enjoy. Absolute beginners probably don’t need the generous cooking area of this Z Grills Wood Pellet smoker and might be happier starting with a smaller, less-expensive option like the Green Mountain Grills Davy Crocket grill.
Z Grills 700D Wrap Up.
If you’ve been cooking more at home lately, you might have come to this pellet grill smoker review looking for something to spice up your home-chef routine. Z Grills makes smoking, grilling, braising, and more a reality for many newcomers. Plus, the Z Grills 700D is perfect for accommodating a party-sized amount of food, it’s easy to assemble, and it utilizes every square inch of possible space. The LED temperature gauge is frequently inaccurate, so buyers should also invest in a separate thermometer. And, while the copper exterior is quite pleasant and makes this grill stand out from the crowd, it does tend to show smoke residue more prominently than an all-black one. Otherwise, though, this is a great pellet smoker that’s certain to re-spark your joy for cooking.
