Threw $150 at a 'competition grade' pellet smoker and got sawdust flavored chicken

I bought this pellet smoker claiming it competes with offset pits, but after a 6 hour brisket that tasted like a campfire's regret, I'm leaning hard towards team real wood. Has anyone else been burned by a pellet pooper that promised more than it could deliver?

3 comments

3 Comments

elizabethmason8h ago

Jump right into returning that thing if you still can. I've been down that exact road with a "competition grade" Traeger knockoff that turned my pork butt into dusty cardboard with a side of sadness. The problem is those cheaper pellet smokers can't hold a consistent temp, so the pellets smolder instead of burn clean, giving you that ash tray flavor. Even with the best pellets from a local source I still fought temp swings that turned my ribs into jerky. Honestly, for the same money you could grab a used Weber kettle and a slow 'n sear insert, get real wood chunks, and actually taste the meat instead of the machine.

keith90017m ago

When you said ash tray flavor, that hit home. Fixed mine by adding a cheap welder's blanket for temp stability.

hugoj123h ago

See, I've had the opposite experience with my cheap pellet rig after dialing in the temp settings.