Taisa Mellow
Cooking in the backyard is fun and exciting. It gets cooks out of the kitchen and enjoying nature. Having a pellet smoker opens new cooking opportunities for chefs who pride themselves on creating masterful meats. Learning about the benefits of pellet smokers will help those who are considering investing in one.
What Are the Benefits of Pellet Smokers?
Those considering a pellet smoker should visit rtaoutdoorliving.com to learn about the options. Consider the following benefits to determine if a pellet smoker is the correct cooking tool for outdoor grilling.
1. Pellet Smokers Are Simple to Use
One of the reasons pellet smokers have become so popular is because of their ease of use. All one must do is fill the hopper with pellets, empty the ashes, and select the correct temperature and setting. The smoker does all the work. The pellet grill maintains the exact temperature at all times, ensuring all meats and vegetables are smoked to tender perfection.
During the winter, owners can use an insulated grill blanket to control the temperature of their smokers. These blankets buffer the grill from the cold temperature extremes and help prevent temperature drops that reduce the efficiency of the grill.
2. Pellet Smokers Require Less Work
Most people do not want to slave over a smoker grill for hours. There are much better things to do with one’s time. These smokers offer the convenience of less work. Simply put in the pellets, take care of the settings, and walk away. The pellet smoker does all the heavy lifting, and the owner takes the credit.
There is no need to constantly check the smoke level or temperature. The grill continuously takes care of the smoking process and produces consistently beautiful results without too much work.
3. Pellet Smokers are Versatile
Versatility is one of the many reasons people enjoy using pellet smokers. Owners can cook many dishes with ingredients like beef, poultry, seafood, pork, fruit, and vegetables. The sky is the limit on the number of recipes one can conceive when using one of these grills.
Pellet smokers offer the following options for cooking outdoors.
BBQing
Everyone loves to BBQ. With the delicious flavors of the smoke and the convenience of the pellets, cooks cannot go wrong using a pellet smoker. Simply pick the favorite pellet, and put it in the hopper, set the grill to low, and allow it to do its magic. This way of cooking is ideal for trout, salmon, chicken quarters, wings, pulled pork, and beef ribs.
Baking
Many people are surprised to learn they can bake in a pellet smoker. Anything that can be cooked inside an oven can be made inside a pellet smoker. People make baked mac and cheese, bread, pizzas, cakes, pies, and casseroles. Cooks will love the options for baking outdoors.
Grilling
What would a pellet smoker be if it could not grill? Grilling is a pastime many people enjoy. Grilled pork chops and steaks are always favorites, but how about veggies and fresh fruit? These ingredients bring sounds of delight from family and guests.
Pellet smokers can grill at temperatures up to 500 degrees, providing many options for cooking. Those beautiful grill marks make steaks and other meats look and taste divine.
Roasting
Another surprise to pellet smoker owners is that they have the ability to roast meats and vegetables. Spatchcock a chicken or put rump rust in surrounded by carrots, onions, and potatoes. A pellet smoker will roast the meat beautifully, leaving the meat fall-part tender and juicy.
During the holidays, owners can use their smokers to roast a beautiful turkey, freeing their oven for other delicious dishes. Make sure to brine the turkey first for the best flavor.
Braising
Pellet smokers also braise meats beautifully. Braising creates beautifully tender meats that are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. First, sear the piece of meat to get it golden brown. Put the meat in a pan with a little liquid and some vegetables. Cook on low in the pellet smoker, and enjoy a gorgeous meal later with very little effort.
Use wine or stock for the liquid to add flavor to the meat dish. The steam from the liquid will help lock in flavor and moisture. Many cooks find they like their meats braised in the pellet smoker more than on the stove.
Delicious Wood Flavors
One of the most significant benefits of using a pellet smoker is the versatility of flavors. Changing the type of wood pellets adds nuances to every grilling or smoking experience. Pellets flavor the food much better than charcoal or gas can.
Cooks can choose a single wood pellet or create their own mix, according to their desires. Pellets are available in a wide array of woods, including hickory, cherry, apple, and mesquite. Some pair well with specific meats.
Anyone Can Become a Grilling and Smoking Expert with a Pellet Smoker
Those on the fence about buying a pellet smoker should realize that anyone can become an expert because these grills are so easy to operate. Owners do not need to be professionals to look like them.
Using a pellet grill gives cooks more time to spend with family and those they entertain. No one wants to slave over a hot grill for hours when they could be enjoying drinks, appetizers, and conversation with guests.
Owners can experiment with different wood pellets, meats, and sauces. Learning to brine and inject is not overly challenging and can take grilled and smoked dishes to new heights in flavor and tenderness.
Pellet Grills Last For Many Years
With proper maintenance, pellet smokers and grills can last many years. It is essential owners keep their smokers clean after each grilling session. Once a year, a deep spring clean is in order.
These grills can last up to ten years or longer. Keeping them out of the elements with a cover can prolong their life and prevent rusting.
Pellet smokers make grilling outdoors more fun and exciting. Even those new to grilling and smoking will find the learning curve favorable. Everyone should consider purchasing one of these grills.
