Rusty James
TVWBB Emerald Member
I take it that pellet grills don't produce the same rich smoke you get from wood splits?
New Member's Mark
- Thread starter LMichaels
- Start date
Darian Hofer
TVWBB Pro
Honestly, for the average backyard cooker, a good pellet grill gives better consistency and pretty nice smoke flavor. There are not many people with the dedication and skill it takes to feed a stick burner for many hours. And not keeping a nice clean smoke on a stick burner produces a terrible smoke taste. So neither grill is for everyone. But it’s nice to have choices.
LMichaels
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Hogwash. I get outstanding smoke from both my units without resorting to tubes or any other BS. Gotta experiment with pellet makeup and brand, find what works well for you. I get good consistent smoke without dirty or bitter tastes.
Jon Tofte
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
ON SALE AGAIN!!!
Looks like Sam's may be pushing out the MM Pro Series pellet grill that @LMichaels bought and enjoys a lot. 50% price cut to $249!! (Probably making room for the recently released new model still at $499.)
This is the one that has been put on sale (I believe again on sale as I recall Larry getting a great deal last year):
www.samsclub.com
Looks like Sam's may be pushing out the MM Pro Series pellet grill that @LMichaels bought and enjoys a lot. 50% price cut to $249!! (Probably making room for the recently released new model still at $499.)
This is the one that has been put on sale (I believe again on sale as I recall Larry getting a great deal last year):
Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill - Sam's Club
Buy Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill : Pellet Grills at SamsClub.com
www.samsclub.com
Rusty James
TVWBB Emerald Member
Actually, I was referring to placing splits in the bottom of the WSM. I get much better smoke flavor with local wood than I do with store - bought chunks. I've heard comments about pellets not having the same richness of flavor like real smoke wood does.
Jay D in Jersey
TVWBB Wizard
I think the catch here is shipping at over $100 unless one has Sam's Plus...or whatever it's called.ON SALE AGAIN!!!
Looks like Sam's may be pushing out the MM Pro Series pellet grill that @LMichaels bought and enjoys a lot. 50% price cut to $249!! (Probably making room for the recently released new model still at $499.)
This is the one that has been put on sale (I believe again on sale as I recall Larry getting a great deal last year):
View attachment 88070
Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill - Sam's Club
Buy Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill : Pellet Grills at SamsClub.com
Dave in KC
TVWBB Wizard
ON SALE AGAIN!!!
Looks like Sam's may be pushing out the MM Pro Series pellet grill that @LMichaels bought and enjoys a lot. 50% price cut to $249!! (Probably making room for the recently released new model still at $499.)
This is the one that has been put on sale (I believe again on sale as I recall Larry getting a great deal last year):
View attachment 88070
Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill - Sam's Club
Buy Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill : Pellet Grills at SamsClub.com
Tough to knock a pellet grill for not much more than a premium kettle.
Jon Tofte
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Yeah, I didn’t look into it enough to notice that. If I were buying, I would upgrade my membership. It would be worth it for this purchase alone plus other benefits you get.
Like @Dave says, it’s hard to beat a decent pellet grill at this price, and in addition to the Sam’s return policy, @Larry has shown that regularly available parts will interchange for replacement or even upgrade.
Jay D in Jersey
TVWBB Wizard
I get emails now and then for 1 month trials of Plus...not sure if it's Sam's or Walmart. I've read that you can get Sam's Plus pro rated based on membership time remaining too. So there's that.
?
LMichaels
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
I never thought the Plus would be worth it......................Now? Would not be without it. Besides free shipping (imagine how much it would have cost to ship my Z Grill) but I get so much money back and other savings it more than pays for the Plus AND my Membership.
Darian Hofer
TVWBB Pro
There is definitely no way for me or anyone to compare the smoke flavor you get with your local wood pieces used in your WSM.
All that really matters is you make it work for you. But many of the newer pellet grills have added the ability to use small wood splits/chunks. So there must be some pellet grill users who want more smoke options.
Jon Tofte
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
It is definitely a to each his own kind of thing. I hear what Larry says, but I also hear what Jeremy Yoder says about the new Camp Chef with the slide in tray being a "game changer." Maybe he has his own motives, but he is an experienced user of stick offset burners, so when he says the new Camp Chef delivers really close results to that, it is hard for me to not take notice.
Similarly, so many here have reported - and shown in pictures - some very compelling, similar results from their SmokeFire cooks. Again, it is hard for me to not take note and wonder if these seemingly way above average results are due to the SmokeFire's unique design.
Of course, it is again what you prefer. I suspect my wife would rather have pellet grilled food with no smoke boost at all vs. the very best an offset (or maybe one of the above pellet grills - or even other newer pellet grill models with "smoke boost") can produce. Not everyone wants a distinct, strong smoke flavor, and there is nothing wrong with that.
LMichaels
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Well, looked long and hard. Neither grill was at my local Sam's Wednesday. Also only 2 of their 4 iirc available gas grills on display but plenty of griddles. Maybe they think those are the next big thing and using floor space for them? I hope not. IMO griddles are an OK but very singular in purpose. But, I don't think (at least I hope not) that the new 36" pellet grill is going to replace the Pro Series. As IMO the Pro Series is one REALLY fine product that if it had a name like Traeger, Weber or so on, on it people would be falling all over themselves to pay $800+ forON SALE AGAIN!!!
Looks like Sam's may be pushing out the MM Pro Series pellet grill that @LMichaels bought and enjoys a lot. 50% price cut to $249!! (Probably making room for the recently released new model still at $499.)
This is the one that has been put on sale (I believe again on sale as I recall Larry getting a great deal last year):
View attachment 88070
Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill - Sam's Club
Buy Member's Mark Pro Series Pellet Smoker Grill : Pellet Grills at SamsClub.com
Jon Tofte
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Hard to say what Sam’s might be planning. It would be great if you could see both of these pellet grills on the sales floor to compare construction. The very initial “unboxing” review of the new one seems to be as complementary as you are about your Pro Series. Might be they have two winners, both aggressively priced, although the current half price sale makes the Pro Series an unbelievable bargain.
LMichaels
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Yeah, definitely going to tell my SIL about it. A couple weeks ago he was at my house munching away on my smoked prime beef ribs I'd made for us. And he looked at me with all seriousness and said "this is what would convince me to buy one of these". And I have to say I totally agreed. As, I'd made those things MANY times on both the Genesis and the Wolf and never turned out product like that.
While he's not a Sam's member I am and if he wanted one I could order him one with free delivery.
Also, in looking at the new 36" I almost get the idea it's made by the same mfgr for Sam's as the Pro Series. If it is I am sure it's very well made.
LMichaels
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
So I did a little research on that unit. Turns out it's made by a company called Even Embers. They also made the Cuisinart pellet grills. And in looking at the parent web site I saw this https://shop.evenembers.com/collections/pellet-grills/products/even-embers-pellet-fueled-ceramic-egg Now how interesting is this?
Jay D in Jersey
TVWBB Wizard
Quite