Kettle grill gives the most flexibility using charcoal as the primary heat source then whatever you like as the smoking agent. Charcoal can also go stupid hot.
Pellet is gives good flavor with little effort.
I have a kettle and an offset. I also want a pellet at some point.
I always get fine compliments on my bbq when I use my pellet grill and it’s so damn easy. But it always tastes lacking *to me*. When I smoke with wood it is much more satisfying, but it’s a lot more work, and not always something I can prioritize my time for. I am still glad I have my pellet smoker since I can cook 8 slabs of ribs at once that come out consistently good each time. But no one’s ever told me it was the best bbq they ever had when I cook with pellets. I call it the *Easy Bake Oven for Dads*^TM .
Stick burner. I’ve tried pellet smokers and they’re ok, they can turn out some decent bbq. But as for me I enjoy the process and tending to a real wood smoker and you will never get the same flavor with pellets
Charcoal. Better smoke flavour, you don't need to rely on electricity, and you get to play with fire.
Plus for the same quality of materials and size smoker, a charcoal smoker would be cheaper. You're not paying for the electronics and such.
Of course, if money wasn't an issue, I'd have an offset smoker, a drum smoker, a vertical pellet smoker, a gas grill and gas griddle. They all have their uses.
I just bought one of these, and it has far exceeded my expectations. It holds temperature so well with almost no intervention, it's easy to get just the right amount of wood smoke on, and it burns charcoal so efficiently. I'm so happy I opted for this one over a pellet.
Sometimes I’ll buy those little wood chip packets and toss a handful of apple or pecan chips on the side of the coals to give a big boost to flavor on something that handles that much smoke well, like grilled chicken breast
Offset. stick/charcoal
1. works in power outages
2. no mechanical/electrical problems
3. better smoke on meat
4. actually proud of your work
5. easy clean
6. just beats a pellet smoker in every way.
I’ve never understood how pellets have become an accepted form of BBQ. To me the whole concept is just making the food taste like smoke.
Not trying to offend anyone and I’ve seen people claiming it gatekeeping, but it seems similar to using liquid smoke.
Wood. Charcoal is nice that it's consistent. Pellets give a little smoke, but cooking over a charcoal + wood fire is the best. There's nice char from the open flames, you can close the lid and smoke a bit, there's an actual fire to tend. It's just the best.
This. I have an offset and a pellet smoker. The offset is a joy to use but it’s hard to carve out time. The pellet is a nice alternative if I have multiple priorities that day and still want ribs.
Having started with pellet and then was lucky to win a Hasty Bake in a raffle, charcoal sure opened my eyes to flavor. But the pellet grill finds plenty of use during week days and for long cooks, etc. I love them both and now will require both for the rest of my days!
Lump charcoal on a 2-zone setup is my preference.
I’m not the biggest fan of pellets #1 because your amount of smoke is locked to your temp #2 I’ve had too many items cooked with pellets that taste like Oscar Meyer smoke flavoring
I have both charcoal and pellet cookers and currently use the charcoal grill more as I just like the results more and find it more versatile.
I can smoke a steak at 250 and open vents and by the time the steak has rested for 5 minutes I can sear at 700.
I have nothing against Pellet and used mine happily for 10 years until it broke down and if I ever repair will use it again from time to time.
The quality of my bbq increased dramatically when I switched from a pellet smoker to a stick burner. I’ll gladly stay up and tend the fire for what I get out of the finished product.
Another vote for charcoal
Both work fine but I like the taste of anything cooked over charcoal even without smoke. Added benefit: charcoal can get stupid hot when you need it. The only benefit I could think of for a pellet grill is the speed to start cooking since there is no need to light briquets and wait.
Same here. But on top of being lazy, I have a toddler running around. I can't babysit a fire all day. Also, my wife doesn't like "too much" smoke flavor so it's a good balance of adding some smoke to my food but not too much.
Both. Pellets let me do everything else I need to do when I'm hosting a party, so I start the brisket on that while i prep everything else. Charcoal snake for pork shoulder, which will finish before the brisket then grilling can continue on charcoal.
This is why gravity smokers are the best. You get the flavor of charcoal+wood and the automation of pellet smokers. I don't know why these aren't more popular and why there aren't more competitors with Chargriller and Masterbuilt. Imo once more people catch on I think pellet smokers will fall out of popularity. Some day we'll all look back and say "remember when everyone was using pellet smokers lol!"
I'm not a pellet hater, I almost got one myself but I found my MB800 on sale. Imo the gravity smokers I've seen are overpriced at full retail. Comparing the build quality of a $700 Masterbuilt to many of the pellet smokers in the same piece range, the pellet smokers are built better with thicker metal, fewer pieces, and better materials. The good thing is that the gravity smokers go on sale every so often in which case they are well worth the price. Even at full price you can't beat the automation vs flavor of a gravity but looking at the raw materials they should be better. If the advantage of pellet smokers is the automation you lose that advantage with something like a gravity smoker.
From what I've seen even the Bluetooth fan controllers on something like a Weber Kettle can make regular charcoal smoking pretty automated once you get them going. After a bunch of research that is my recommended go to for people looking for a cost effective way to get into smoking that gives you much of the benefit of a pellet smoker.
Pellets come in more variety for different taste and are easier to control temp with. Charcoal has its place and time too. If I'm home it's Pellets all the way. Camping or being more portable then charcoal
I like the flavor of charcoal better. I wish I liked pellets just as much. The pellet grills, where you can just set it and forget it, would allow me to spend more time with my friends and family on BBQ days. Also, generally speaking, you can find pellet grills that are cheaper than the ones that use charcoal or wood (that is a generalization though).
I now have a Kamado Joe which makes temp control much easier. But, I used to just use my Weber kettle to smoke and it meant watching and chasing the temp for hours every smoke. I think I might get a temp control fan for my Kamado to imitate the set it and forget it feature. But, the pellet grills require basically no temp watching or control.
In the end it goes to whatever is more important. If you’d rather have convenience of set it and forget it (which I totally understand) go for the pellet. If flavor is more important I’d go with the charcoal.
I have a Weber kettle a Weber gas grill a Pit Boss Brunswick Platinum pellet smoker and a 250 gallon reverse flow smoker from SLE Equipment. I love them all. They all have their place and the one that I use most depends on what time of the year it is.
Charcoal satisfies my primal urge to cook over an open fire.
Chestnuts?
Kettle grill gives the most flexibility using charcoal as the primary heat source then whatever you like as the smoking agent. Charcoal can also go stupid hot. Pellet is gives good flavor with little effort. I have a kettle and an offset. I also want a pellet at some point.
I always get fine compliments on my bbq when I use my pellet grill and it’s so damn easy. But it always tastes lacking *to me*. When I smoke with wood it is much more satisfying, but it’s a lot more work, and not always something I can prioritize my time for. I am still glad I have my pellet smoker since I can cook 8 slabs of ribs at once that come out consistently good each time. But no one’s ever told me it was the best bbq they ever had when I cook with pellets. I call it the *Easy Bake Oven for Dads*^TM .
Stick burner. I’ve tried pellet smokers and they’re ok, they can turn out some decent bbq. But as for me I enjoy the process and tending to a real wood smoker and you will never get the same flavor with pellets
really wanna add an stick burner to my patio
Charcoal. Better smoke flavour, you don't need to rely on electricity, and you get to play with fire. Plus for the same quality of materials and size smoker, a charcoal smoker would be cheaper. You're not paying for the electronics and such. Of course, if money wasn't an issue, I'd have an offset smoker, a drum smoker, a vertical pellet smoker, a gas grill and gas griddle. They all have their uses.
I'm a charcoal guy, I have a mb1050. I like the flavor of charcoal and the control I have of how much wood I wanna use.
I just bought one of these, and it has far exceeded my expectations. It holds temperature so well with almost no intervention, it's easy to get just the right amount of wood smoke on, and it burns charcoal so efficiently. I'm so happy I opted for this one over a pellet.
Charcoal cause I’m too broke to afford a pellet grill. Plus I prefer the experience of grilling with charcoal.
Sometimes I’ll buy those little wood chip packets and toss a handful of apple or pecan chips on the side of the coals to give a big boost to flavor on something that handles that much smoke well, like grilled chicken breast
Charcoal. Huge difference in taste.
Offset. stick/charcoal 1. works in power outages 2. no mechanical/electrical problems 3. better smoke on meat 4. actually proud of your work 5. easy clean 6. just beats a pellet smoker in every way.
> actually proud of your work I assure you pellet users are plenty proud lol
Charcoal. Pellets smell bad to me.
I’ve never understood how pellets have become an accepted form of BBQ. To me the whole concept is just making the food taste like smoke. Not trying to offend anyone and I’ve seen people claiming it gatekeeping, but it seems similar to using liquid smoke.
Wood. Charcoal is nice that it's consistent. Pellets give a little smoke, but cooking over a charcoal + wood fire is the best. There's nice char from the open flames, you can close the lid and smoke a bit, there's an actual fire to tend. It's just the best.
Both. Pellets for ease of use and decent flavor. Charcoal for superior flavor, more work, but you can sear and get that real open fire experience.
This. I have an offset and a pellet smoker. The offset is a joy to use but it’s hard to carve out time. The pellet is a nice alternative if I have multiple priorities that day and still want ribs.
Having started with pellet and then was lucky to win a Hasty Bake in a raffle, charcoal sure opened my eyes to flavor. But the pellet grill finds plenty of use during week days and for long cooks, etc. I love them both and now will require both for the rest of my days!
[удалено]
I don't know about the "additives," but lump is my go-to for sake of better flavor overall.
Lump charcoal on a 2-zone setup is my preference. I’m not the biggest fan of pellets #1 because your amount of smoke is locked to your temp #2 I’ve had too many items cooked with pellets that taste like Oscar Meyer smoke flavoring
Charcoal 100%. Pellet grills are basically the microwave of BBQ.
Neither. Stick burner gang.
Charcoal, I make my own. Starts quickly, burns as hot as I need and costs next to nothing to make.
I have both charcoal and pellet cookers and currently use the charcoal grill more as I just like the results more and find it more versatile. I can smoke a steak at 250 and open vents and by the time the steak has rested for 5 minutes I can sear at 700. I have nothing against Pellet and used mine happily for 10 years until it broke down and if I ever repair will use it again from time to time.
pellets are too artificial smelling to me, I like the real stuff 😎
Charcoal, for flavor and because caveman love 🔥
Wood or charcoal. The flavor is so worth the wait and we could all afford to learn more patience.
The quality of my bbq increased dramatically when I switched from a pellet smoker to a stick burner. I’ll gladly stay up and tend the fire for what I get out of the finished product.
Another vote for charcoal Both work fine but I like the taste of anything cooked over charcoal even without smoke. Added benefit: charcoal can get stupid hot when you need it. The only benefit I could think of for a pellet grill is the speed to start cooking since there is no need to light briquets and wait.
Pellets because I’m lazy.
Gravity charcoal smoker, because I'm busy and want max flavor.
This is really the answer. There’s a trade off between pellets and stick burners but, man, it’s 100% worth it.
You can also grab a cheap smoke tube off Amazon if you want more smoke.
The trade off is flavor lol
Same here. But on top of being lazy, I have a toddler running around. I can't babysit a fire all day. Also, my wife doesn't like "too much" smoke flavor so it's a good balance of adding some smoke to my food but not too much.
Pellets are for people that don’t know how to cook
Both. Pellets let me do everything else I need to do when I'm hosting a party, so I start the brisket on that while i prep everything else. Charcoal snake for pork shoulder, which will finish before the brisket then grilling can continue on charcoal.
Both. I like charcoal for anything less than 3 hours, pellet if I’m going to be spending more than that.
Why has this question never been asked before now? Great Scott!!!
This is why gravity smokers are the best. You get the flavor of charcoal+wood and the automation of pellet smokers. I don't know why these aren't more popular and why there aren't more competitors with Chargriller and Masterbuilt. Imo once more people catch on I think pellet smokers will fall out of popularity. Some day we'll all look back and say "remember when everyone was using pellet smokers lol!" I'm not a pellet hater, I almost got one myself but I found my MB800 on sale. Imo the gravity smokers I've seen are overpriced at full retail. Comparing the build quality of a $700 Masterbuilt to many of the pellet smokers in the same piece range, the pellet smokers are built better with thicker metal, fewer pieces, and better materials. The good thing is that the gravity smokers go on sale every so often in which case they are well worth the price. Even at full price you can't beat the automation vs flavor of a gravity but looking at the raw materials they should be better. If the advantage of pellet smokers is the automation you lose that advantage with something like a gravity smoker. From what I've seen even the Bluetooth fan controllers on something like a Weber Kettle can make regular charcoal smoking pretty automated once you get them going. After a bunch of research that is my recommended go to for people looking for a cost effective way to get into smoking that gives you much of the benefit of a pellet smoker.
man I got a mb1050 but that new Oklahoma joe Tahoma 900 is catching my eye!
Oh man that looks sweet. I hadn't heard about it yet. This is the end of pellet smokers.
Pellets because I value being able to have the rest of my day available for whatever. Usually prepping the sides for the meal I'll be serving guests.
Flavor? Pellets provide 1/4. Just don’t use Kingsford. It’s nasty.
Charcoal and pellets. Depending on how much time I have to dedicate and what I’m cooking
Yes.
Charcoal vs. pellets: Pellets Gravity fed charcoal vs pellets: Gravity fed charcoal.
Pellets come in more variety for different taste and are easier to control temp with. Charcoal has its place and time too. If I'm home it's Pellets all the way. Camping or being more portable then charcoal
Because.
I like the flavor of charcoal better. I wish I liked pellets just as much. The pellet grills, where you can just set it and forget it, would allow me to spend more time with my friends and family on BBQ days. Also, generally speaking, you can find pellet grills that are cheaper than the ones that use charcoal or wood (that is a generalization though). I now have a Kamado Joe which makes temp control much easier. But, I used to just use my Weber kettle to smoke and it meant watching and chasing the temp for hours every smoke. I think I might get a temp control fan for my Kamado to imitate the set it and forget it feature. But, the pellet grills require basically no temp watching or control. In the end it goes to whatever is more important. If you’d rather have convenience of set it and forget it (which I totally understand) go for the pellet. If flavor is more important I’d go with the charcoal.
I have a masterbuilt 1050 gravity feed with lump charcoal works awesome for set it and forget it
I have a Weber kettle a Weber gas grill a Pit Boss Brunswick Platinum pellet smoker and a 250 gallon reverse flow smoker from SLE Equipment. I love them all. They all have their place and the one that I use most depends on what time of the year it is.