Pit Boss is one of many when it comes to manufacturers of wood pellet grills and smokers. If you have spent any amount of time shopping around for a grill, you have probably come across some products in the company’s extensive lineup. In the sections below, you’ll learn more about what makes Pit Boss pellet grills great and hear about some of the potential drawbacks as well.
Pit Boss pellet grills come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and contain many features worth discussing in further detail, such as durable construction, temperature control functions, and direct flames for searing.
In the sections below, the 3 best Pit Boss pellet grills will be discussed. Features such as cooking surface, temperature range, pellet capacity, and affordability are all explained in detail.
Are Pit Boss Pellet Grills Any Good?
Pit Boss grills are jam-packed with features that make them an excellent companion to any backyard pitmaster. These grills contain features that contribute to durability, such as steel gauge construction and advanced technologies such as the “P” Set temperature control function. You’ll learn more about these features in the section below.
You’ll also find that the Pit Boss lineup of smokers is quite diverse in terms of shapes and sizes. These are the hallmarks of a reliable product line since the “one-size fits all” approach certainly doesn’t apply to grills. Some desire a grill for entertaining guests in the backyard, while others want a grill that can be easily folded up and toted around campgrounds and parks. Pit Boss services both crowds.
Featured Grill
Fuego F21C-H Element Hinged Propane Gas Grill
• Upgraded 22,000 BTU/hr. dual zone burner system
• 500F in just 5 minutes
• Compact 21″ x 21″ footprint, perfect for the small patio/balcony.
• 346 sq. in. cast iron grilling grate
Dial-In Digital Control W/ LED Read Out
Pit Boss Pellet Grills are equipped with an LED control board, which allows you to make precise adjustments to many critical settings, including:
- Temperature
- Smoke setting
- High heat setting
The desired cook temperature, actual temperature, and “P” setting are all displayed on the LED screen at the same time. The “P” Set button is a unique feature of Pit Boss Grills that will be covered in further detail in the section below.
What's So Special About The "P" SET?
The “P” SET function allows pitmasters to select one of eight finely-tuned temperature settings. When the dial is turned up, the amount of time between each pellet cycle is increased. Conversely, when the dial is turned down, the firebox is continually supplied with fresh pellets. This increases the temperature of the grill.
Why is the “P” SET such a great feature? It gives everyone the chance to manually play around with the pellet feed system. Simply put, it means that you can commandeer your barbecue pit without having to worry about the hassle and manual labor that usually comes with this sort of responsibility.
Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Cooking Grids
Pit Boss has porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grids in every single one of its grills. The porcelain coating helps remove many of the headaches associated with cast iron grilling. Cast iron retains heat very well, but it also often causes foods to stick to the cooking surface.
The porcelain coating removes the need to season the surface every time you cook. It also ensures that you’ll have some killer grill marks, which is especially important if you want your premium cuts of meat to have that professional finish.
Direct Flame Searing
The Pit Boss lineup of wood pellet grills allows for direct flame searing, a feature not commonly seen in wood pellet grills. This means that you use these grills in the same fashion as a gas or charcoal grill, but with the added benefit of being able to infuse a rich, smoky flavor into whichever delicacy you are preparing.
Which Is The Best Pit Boss Pellet Grill?
Pit Boss pellet grills come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so you should have no trouble finding a grill that best suits your needs. In the sections below, you’ll learn more about the best that Pit Boss has to offer.
That being said, the Pit Boss 820SP is the most versatile grill in the lineup. While it does have a large cooking surface, the grill is still small enough to fit comfortably on most backyard patios. It’s also an affordable option for the backyard pitmaster.
Regardless of whether you’re in the market for a smoker to take camping or looking to feed a large party, Pit Boss has you covered.
The 3 Best Pit Boss Pellet Grills
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the wide selection of grills in the Pit Boss lineup. In the section below, you’ll find a list of the 3 best Pit Boss pellet grills. This list was produced after extensive research into customer satisfaction ratings and the features and specs of each grill.
For Camping: Pit Boss 10697 Tabletop Pellet Grill
The Pit Boss 10697 Tabletop Pellet Grill is the perfect companion to a picnic or campground cookout. With most wood pellet grills, the major downside is that they are not readily portable. That’s certainly not the case with the Pit Boss 10697, which weighs just 50 pounds and is equipped with many of the same features that the larger grills in the lineup have.
The Pit Boss 10697 has a dial-in digital control and is capable of reaching 500 degrees. You’ll find that this grill is well-suited for searing delectables, not just smoking them, thanks to the slide-plate for direct and indirect flame grilling.
As far as downsides go, one is the fact that the pellet hopper only has a 7 lb. capacity (which is to be expected with such a small grill). It is also unfortunately not equipped with wheels, which would’ve added to the portability of the smoker. Still, the Pit Boss 10697 is the answer to the demands of avid adventure-seekers everywhere.
| Cooking Surface | 256 sq. in. |
| Temperature Range | 180 to 500 ℉ |
| Hopper Capacity | 7 lbs. |
Most Versatile: Pit Boss 820SP
The Pit Boss 820SP is a solid choice if you are looking for a larger wood pellet grill without breaking the bank. The 820D3 has a cooking surface totaling 849 square inches between an upper and lower grill rack. One of the coolest features of the 820SP is the 21LB hopper, which has a significantly larger capacity for wood pellets than the smaller grills in the lineup.
Even a 20-pound bag of wood pellets is large enough to last you through several cooks in most conditions, so you certainly don’t have to worry about the hopper limiting your ability to entertain a large crowd.
One potential drawback of the 820SP is that it only has one burner, limiting how much food you can keep over a direct flame. That being said, the versatility of this pellet grill is quite impressive.
| Cooking Surface | 849 sq. inches |
| Temperature Range | 180 to 500 ℉ |
| Hopper Capacity | 21 lbs |
For Large Crowds: Pit Boss 77550 Pellet Smoker
The Pit Boss 77550 Pellet Smoker is the only vertical smoker on this list. It comes with an extensive 1548 square inches of cooking space, split between 5 different porcelain-covered trays. It also has a hopper capacity of 40 lbs, which should be more than enough to do the slow roasts over 24 hours.
One advantage of a vertical smoker like this is that the compact design prevents the smoker from taking up a bunch of space horizontally. Vertical smokers also tend to be more affordable than other smokers, and they require less power to operate. When you combine these characteristics, you have a grill that is well-suited for beginners.
The 77550 does come with some drawbacks, though. It is not as affordable as the other two options in this list, although it is undoubtedly a worthy investment for those who like to entertain. This grill is also not easy to move, as the entire unit weighs 150 pounds altogether.
| Cooking Surface | 1548. sq. in. |
| Temperature Range | 150 – 450 ℉ |
| Hopper Capacity | 40 lbs |
How Long Do Pit Boss Pellet Grills Last?
The longevity of a wood pellet grill depends on the strength of the materials it’s made out of. A cheaply-made grill may only last a few years (or even less than that in some cases). As long as it’s made out of sturdy materials, then you can reasonably expect it to last ten years or more.
The wood pellet grills in the Pit Boss lineup are packed with many design features which contribute to durability:
- Gauge steel frame
- Stainless steel shelf/serving tray
- Porcelain-coated cooking grates
- Legs with locking caster wheels
Many other models of wood pellet grills are made out of a less durable cast of aluminum, which is certainly less heavy and more affordable. Unfortunately, these lesser grills are more susceptible to wear and tear, especially if they are being used regularly.
Warranty Information
All Pit Boss grills come with a 5-year warranty, covering workmanship and defects on all parts, including the electrical components. The manufacturer does not cover cosmetic issues, such as dents or scratches, as long as those cosmetic issues do not affect the grill’s performance.
Can You Use Any Pellets In The Pit Boss?
You can only use all-natural wood fuel with Pit Boss Pellet Grills. If you use any other type of fuel in these grills, Pit Boss will consider the warranty void. Wood fuel pellets advertised as having special additives should also be avoided. Despite these restrictions, many different types of natural wood pellets are compatible with these types of grills.
The Difference Between Heating Pellets & Cooking Pellets
There is a significant difference between heating pellets and cooking pellets. You may notice that heating pellets tend to be the cheaper of the two. Unfortunately, they cannot be used in smokers due to the way that they are made:
- Heating pellets consist of a variety of woods, including pine, which can cause food to taste bitter.
- Cooking pellets consist purely of hardwoods, which give foods a rich, smoky flavor.
What's The Advantage Of Smoking With Pellets?
Pellet grills are a solid option for beginners because you can barbecue, smoke, roast, and grill on them, especially if you have a smoker that has a direct and indirect flame. There are several other advantages to pellets, as compared to straight wood and charcoal:
- Fast preheating: Pellets take 10-15 minutes to be preheated.
- Temperature control: Typically, pellet grills, such as those in the Pit Boss lineup, allow you more control over temperatures.
- Easier to smoke foods: It’s hard to over-smoke food on pellet grills. Straight wood or charcoal fires can sometimes produce acrid smoke.
Outro
Trying to pick out a grill can be a pretty overwhelming task. You certainly want something that you know will last, but you also don’t want to break the bank while doing so. Rest assured, Pit Boss grills contain many features that make them an attractive option in this market.
Check out our Recent Posts
Z Grills Review
If you’re looking for a grill that will last, Z Grills is the way to go. Z grills are made of the best quality materials...
Read More
Pit Boss Pellet Grill Review
Pit Boss is one of many when it comes to manufacturers of wood pellet grills and smokers. If you have spent any amount of time...
Read More
10 Fun Benefits of Taking an Online Cooking Class
There’s never been a better time to take an online cooking class. With the continued popularity of online learning, there are more and more exciting...
Read More