Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | Z GRILLS |
| Model Name | 2020 Upgrade |
| Power Source | Wood Pellet |
| Color | 450 sq in Bronze |
| Item Weight | 84 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 45 x 28 x 49 inches |
| Fuel Type | Electric, Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- ★ ULTIMATE 8-IN-1 (Cover included): Barbecue wood fire pellet grill: bbq✓bake✓roast✓braise✓smoke✓grill✓sear✓char-grill
- ★ Pellet Grill Technology: There isn't an easier way to get wood-smoked flavors than with a pellet grill. Try it, and you'll taste the difference from a GAS or CHARCOAL grill
- ★ Set the Temperature, Relax, and Enjoy: Z Grills pellet grills will do all the work for you once you set the temperature. No labor-intensive start-up. No babysitting the grill. Enjoy the cooking!
- ★ Consistent Results Every Time: The PID technology holds the tightest temperature possible throughout your cooking for consistent results.
- ★Smoke, Grill, and Everything in Between: With its 180° to 450° F temperature range, this pellet grill has 8-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill with incredible hardwood flavor.
- ★Designed for Small Families, yet Big on Flavor: Perfectly sized for small households, the 450A features 452 sq. in of cooking space while infusing big flavors into your food.
- ★Built to Last: Sturdy steel construction with a high-temperature powder coating finish makes the pellet grill long-lasting, bringing you years of ultimate wood-fired grilling experience.
- ★Less Pellet Filling, More Smoking: The 15 lbs large-capacity pellet hopper offers longer cooking time, eliminating the need to refill the hopper constantly.
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
The ULTIMATE 8-in-1 Grill & Smoker
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Advanced Wood Fire TechnologyZ Grills wood pellet technology gets you wood fire flavor at the convenience of propane or gas. You can cook for about 20 hours per 20 lbs. of pellets. Super versatile and wide temperature range from 180 to 450 degrees to grill, smoke, bake,roast, braise or BBQ. | Z Grills TechnologyWood pellet grills are taking off in the market and quickly becoming the preferred choice over charcoal, propane, and gas grills. Z Grills stands out in the taste, versatility, and consistency among all the grills. | Consistent & PreciselyDigital temperature control automatically adds pellets as needed to regulate the temperature. Most stay within 10 degrees of the set temperature. Convection heat distribution technology ensures food gets cooked evenly to perfection. | Huge Grilling Area & Hopper Capacity450 Square inches grilling area; 15-pound hopper capacity. Foldable working shelf. Heavy duty all terrain wheels. Rust proof cover & racks. |
WOOD PELLET GRILLS VS.TRADITIONAL GRILLS
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The FlavorThe reason professional barbecue chefs use wood is that it provides the best flavor. Pellet grills use all-natural hardwood as fuel, delivering unmatched pure, hardwood taste. Try it and taste the difference. | The VersatilityUnlike gas or charcoal grills, pellet grills have an adjustable, wide temperature range, allowing for 8-in-1 versatility. That means you can smoke a rack of ribs low and slow, or grill a wood-fired pizza hot & fast, and even bake a berry cobbler, all with the same grill. | Cost-EffectivePellet cooking typically costs less than a comparably sized gas grill. A bag of pellets (20 lbs) costs about 25 dollars and can burn up to 50 hours. While propane gas tanks are usually 30 dollars for a full tank, and you’ll typically get 20 hours of cook time even when cooking on low. |
| Total Cooking Area | 452 sq in | 538 sq in | 601 sq in | 694 sq in | 694 sq in | 1060 sq in |
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| Main Cooking Area | 324 sq in 21.5" * 15.5" | 399 sq in 26.1" * 15.1" | 350 sq in 32.5" * 10.8" | 504 sq in 19.2" * 26" | 504 sq in 19.2" * 26" | 432 sq in |
| Warming Rack Area | 128 sq in 22.6" * 5.3" | 139 sq in 27.4" * 5.1" | 251 sq in 21.3" * 11.8" | 190 sq in 6.9" * 27.5" | 190 sq in 6.9" * 27.5" | 374 + 255 sq in |
| Hopper Capacity | 15 lbs | 10 lbs | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | 20 lbs | 20 lbs |
| Assembled Weight | 84 lbs | 84 lbs | 83 lbs | 112 lbs | 146 lbs | 145 lbs |
| Assembled Dimensions | 45" x 28" x 49" | 47" x 20" x 45" | 47" x 21" x 49" | 48" x 22" x 51" | 48" x 22" x 51" | 54" x 25" x 53" |
| Package | one package | one package | one package | one package | two packages | two packages |
| Cooking Grids | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron |
product description
Style:ZPG-450A
SMART SMOKE TECHNOLOGY --- Set it and forget it, Automated electric feed system maintains temperature from 180ºF to 450ºF, Smart Digital Controller keeps temps within +/- 20 degrees F and makes setting the grill temperature as easy as turning a dial HUGE GRILLING AREA & HOPPRT CAPACITY--- Great for Home, party, and Tailgating: 450 Square inches grilling area; 15-pound hopper capacity. Foldable working shelf; heavy duty all terrain wheels ULTIMATE 8 IN 1 BARBECUE WOOD FIRE PELLET GRILL ---Grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, barbeque food all in one grill . GREAT SMOKE FAVOR NOT ONLY GRILL EASIER--Fueled by premium 100% hardwood pellets to generate heat and smoke, infusing your food with a savory wood-fire taste that’ll make your taste buds sing 3 YEARS WARRANTY -- We GUARANTEE you that our grills are made from top quality materials.
product details
important information
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Questions about Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze
Q:
Is the grill water proof, would it be ok to use in the rain?
Answer: The hopper is sealed, but I would not use it in the rain, in fear that the pellets would get wet. I suspect that trying to clean the hopper of wet and deteriorated pellets would be extremely time consuming.
Answer: It is not waterproof.
Q:
What is the lowest temp you can smoke at?
Answer: When I turn my ZGrill to smoke it averages from 190-220 degrees. It will produce a lot of smoke at first, then it will cycle smoke every 10 minutes or so. I have cooked all kinds of meat on the grill, and it works good on ribs using the 3-2-1 routine. (3 hrs smoke, 2 hrs wrapped, 1 hr with sauce)
Answer: Smoke setting is around 125. Just a hint, I found mine was cooking uneven but by screwing the chimney cap up or down, depending on what side was cooking hotter, I could even it out. My temps are now pretty consistent throughout the grill.
Answer: 125 for smoke only. 200+ for everything else
Answer: There is a smoke setting and it''s below . It runs at around 125.
Answer: 140 to 150
Answer: 250 degrees
Q:
Has anyone had trouble with the grill tripping a circuit breaker or GF outlet?
Answer: Never has happened to me. Try another supply and see what happens. GFI's are sometimes kinda finicky, but if it's tripping a circuit, it could be a bad smoker, or a weak circuit breaker.
Answer: It isn't your grill. GFI outlets are known to trip. I have changed my outlet out and have had no further issues.
Answer: Yes, but not on this specific unit. I ended up having to replace a faulty igniter.
Answer: No problems at all i Love the smoker
Answer: Nope
Q:
What are the grill grate measurements?
Answer: 15.5” x 21”
Q:
Does the z grill 550a have a removable heat diffuser for griling and smoking?
Answer: No, there is a dial that you set for smoking and then turn up the temp dial for grilling. If you don’t want smoke you put food in after the temp is turned up. Directions advise to start on smoke setting and from there dial in your selections on temperature.
Answer: Yes, the diffuser can be removed.
Q:
If you buy extended warranty for 4 years does that start after 3yr manufacturer warranty?
Answer: not sure, I'll have to check that out.
Q:
I've never owned a pellet wood smoker before. What are the differences between these and charcoal smokers? Besides wood and charcoal.
Answer: charcoal is harder to regulate temperature and cook times. with wood pellets its a breeze. even though wood pellets are more expensive u only use what u need so is cheaper in long run
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: No flare ups, even heating, and the ability to smoke and grill. Different pellets can produce different tastes dependent upon what meat, fish, poultry you are cooking. Set the temp, walk away.
Answer: Also, unlike the others, you have to plug the WP Grill into an external electrical outlet which is not that convenient. But the taste is much better so it's worth it. You have to plan on where to place it so it's close to an outlet or you'll be running extension cords.
Q:
ZPG 550B outside dementions
Answer: Per the data in the product description, 45" x 28" x 49"
Q:
I want to place this on a table top with no legs and let the pellet box hang off the edge of the concrete table. Will this work?
Answer: Since the leg mounts are flat and below the round bottom this possibly could work. But the concrete could crack from the heat if there is mosture in it.
Q:
I have a wing and drumstick rack that measures 18"x7.5"high x 6"w. will this fit inside?
Answer: No, it will not fit inside. I just measured how high my drumstick and wing rack is and it's just under 6" high and makes it inside the Z-Grill with less than 1/2" to spare. My wing and drumstick rack measures 14"x5.5"high x 6"w
Answer: Inside dimensions 21” wide, 15” deep, 7” from grate to highest point.
Answer: Yes. it will be fit inside.
Answer: I don’t think so, I just measured from grill to top of smoker and it measures less than 7 inches tall.
Q:
Has anyone else had on going issues with the pellet auger constantly jamming?
Answer: Never had that issue and been using it almost weekly since before Thanksgiving. Gone through over 100 lbs of pellets. Contact their support for assistance.
Answer: When you add pellets be certain that you do not add the powdery dust from the bottom of the bag. You might try cleaning as others have suggested. Then scoop pellets from bag and add to the hopper. When you near the bottom of the bag, if it has powder, discard or use a slotted spoon to seperate the pellets from the powder.
Answer: I've used my Z-Grill for close to a year now, and never had any hang ups. Make sure you're using the recommended pellets. I ordered my pellets when I ordered my smoker from Amazon.
Answer: We are having that issue now. How did you fix it??
Answer: So far no issues with auger here.
Answer: No. You need to vacuum it out occasionally. You probably have something clogging it up
Q:
Is the 450A large enough to smoke a full sized brisket?
Answer: Yes. You can remove the small, upper rack and fit one in there. Awesome grill!
Q:
Do these not have a temperature gauge on them?
Answer: Digital readout on heat setting but no temperature probe.
Answer: Yes they do. With optional meat probe. Follow directions during initial setup, then afterwards its set tbe temp and wslk away.
Answer: Yes, it does. It's a digital temp reading. Works great. This is an awesome grill.
Answer: It has a digital temp Guage by the temp control knob
Answer: It does not have a built in thermometer for probing.
Q:
Hi. Can you build one with 220-240 volt power rating. shipping to Singapore. Thanks.
Answer: I have no idea but DO NOT BUY this grill! I bought and returned to of them for the exact same problem. I bought a Pit Boss instead.
Q:
What temperature will grill stay at on the smoke setting ?
Answer: 180°
Q:
does this have a PID controller?
Answer: Yes
Q:
How long should this take to reach maximum temperature? It’s already been 20 minutes and it’s only at 325°
Answer: My husband uses this to smoke briskets. He usually fills the hopper with the pellets and turns it on to preheat, which usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. When he puts the brisket in, he inserts a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature of the meat. Close the door and do not open until it is done. You have to periodically check the hopper and level out the pellets and add more if necessary throughout the cooking process. Smoking is a slow process. My husband usually smokes our briskets for 8-10 hours, depending on the size of the brisket. Hope this helps.
Q:
There is a tan wire/cable/cord (very thin) between the hopper and the grill chamber. What is this? There is no mention of it in the instructions?
Answer: Temperature Sensor.
Q:
My grill will not hardly make any temperature above 250 and takes forever to get there. What Is wrong?
Answer: Be sure to start on smoke setting for 15 minutes with lid open, close lid. Set temp.. also be sure there is nothing causing the pellets to enter the hot box...
Q:
Z Gills vs Treager Grill, which’s one is better?
Answer: I haven't used Traeger, but our Z Grill is fantastic!
Answer: We have a ZGRILL and a Pit Boss the ZGrill is compatible, cooks well.
Q:
what tempdo you smoke ribs?
Answer: 200 for about 3 hours then I wrap with foil and use butter, apple cider, and brown sugar. Wrap and smoke another 2 hours. Then remove foil and turn smoker up to 225 putting them on the smoker for another hour with BBQ sauce. Perfect! I also put a rub on mine when I first put the ribs on. This is the 3-2-1 method. Can’t go wrong.
Answer: I used the 3-2-1 method at 250 degrees. They came out great.
Q:
Does this grill have the pellet purge door so I can change out he type of pellets? If not it is a 100% no go.
Answer: I don't think it has a purge door. I don't recall seeing anything in the manual about it either.
Answer: no you need to scoop out the pellets and let it run to burn out what is in auger that has been only thing i don't like otherwise love it
Answer: Looks like it is a "No Go"
Answer: not that I am aware of.
Answer: No, it does not
Q:
can you cold smoke on this grill?
Answer: No, I’m not sure if they make a box that would go between the smoker and the chimney.
Answer: Probably not.
Q:
Does the zpg-450a have a sear mode that heats over 450f? what's the max sear temperature?
Answer: No
Q:
What is the big difference between the older model and the one with the 2019 upgrade?
Answer: Not sure because I don’t have but one grill.
Q:
Which is cheaper to run, charcoal or pellets?
Answer: I bought 40 pounds of pellets at Walmart for $16.95 when I first got my grill. I have cooked 5 times on it with an average of 1 1/2 hours each time. I still have about 20 pounds (half a sack) of pellet and my pellet bin on my pit is still about half full. So I would definitely say that the pellets are cheaper overall. Most of my cooking was around 350 degrees. If you could at higher temperatures of course it will burn more pellets. Hope this helps.
Answer: It's not about price, although price of pellets per bag is $14 lasts longer than charcoal brickets. I fill the smoker hopper full and it takes about 1/3 bag, but when smoking it will burn all night long and you don't have to tend it.
Answer: I would say pellets, it is very economical on pellets. But you are missing the point. The pellet grill maintains the temp effortlessly. It makes it SO EASY to cook what ever. I cooked everything in it, brisket, turkey, chicken, ribs, port shoulder, prime rib, tritip, grilled steaks much easier than with my CharGriller with a Texas firebox. I've used it every week since before thanksgiving. Highly recommneded.
Answer: Pellets $15.00 for 40#
Answer: Charcoal is always cheaper, but the flavor for wood pellets when cooking is the best...shop around for pellets to get better deals
Answer: Thus far, I would have to say pellets. In addition, the pellets are no mess to clean up and a much cleaner process through out. I love it!
Q:
What’s does the “Deal” specify
Answer: You get the grill, that you need to assemble, and an all weather cover to protect it when it's not in use. The assembly is easy to follow. There is also the warranty you get for the grill.
Q:
Are the hood hinges reversible?
Answer: No they are hinges
Q:
How wide is the smoker with the shelf down?
Answer: 480 sq inches of cooking surface
Answer: Zgrills suck
Q:
Is this easily portable for camping?
Answer: No... it was hard to put together and would not be easy to disassemble for camping. Also it has to be plugged into a 110 v. power to run.
Answer: If you can lift 80lbs into your rig or trailer or camper, and have access to 110 electricity, you'll be good to go.
Answer: No
Answer: No, it is quite heavy and awkward.
Q:
What is the wattage of the electric motor to operate?
Q:
What is the dimension difference between the 450 grill size and the 550 grill size? I know one is 450 sq. & the other is 550 sq. Inches, so actual dim
Answer: ZPG-450A
Q:
Is this a propane grill?
Answer: This is an electric grill.
Answer: No. It is a pellet grill.
Answer: No it's electric and uses pellets
Answer: No, electric.
Answer: Electric
Q:
How well does this work for standard grilling, i.e steaks and burgers?
Answer: I find that if you are going to do a steak, use a standard grill. I did one last night and at 350 for about 15 min it ruined the steak, made it to tough, but maybe I need to adj. how I do it. I will still stick to the grill.
Answer: Personally I love my ZGrill. I have both smoked and grilled on it. Two problems, you have to keep a eye on the pellet hopper and if you want a Char on your burgers & steaks it won’t give you the same as a gas/charcoal grill. My wife loves a deep char so I bought a small grill to throw her steaks in for that. Bottom line for the price it’s a great grill. Suggestion get a remote thermometer to monitor internal meat temperature and inside grill temperature. The readout on the grill can be off as much as 25°.
Answer: It seems to work pretty well. On high I get to 500+ which is plenty to sear. What is a bit different is you do not get the char (or burning) from a direct flame.
Answer: STAY AWAY FROM ZGRILLS. Spend a few bucks more and get a grill that actually works
Answer: it is great for common grilling the only problem I am having is I am on my third temperature controler
Answer: no flame but smoke flavor. y
Q:
It’s made in the usa? one picture showing its highlights, number 6 in particular says it “keeps crease away...” really? at least proofread
Answer: all pellet grills are designed so as the grease funnells into a small pale . It works as described. Made in the USA??? I have my doubts. But the workmanship is of very good quality and assembling the unit was not too challenging.
Q:
Is it wifi?
Answer: Not my model.
Q:
Is the smoke setting for smoking or just preheat?
Answer: It’s for smoke also. Sits about 165-170 degrees
Q:
Is the zgc-02b grill cover compatible with the zpg-550b wood pellet grill?
Answer: No idea
Q:
How big of a brisket will this fit?
Answer: had a 10 pound brisket in mine. would probably take a 15 pound ok
Answer: It was a tight fit but I managed to smoke a 17 pound brisket.
Answer: It will hold a full-size brisket without the top rack
Q:
There is another similar one on Amazon for $100 more. The only difference are the words 2018 and upgrade. What's the difference?
Answer: The only difference is the the upgraded model has locking wheels. The actual grill is exactly the same , no difference! Buy it , it's a really good smoker grill and this one is a hundred bucks less than what I payed for mine
Answer: Not sure. All I know is that I have used mine more than anything else this last summer and it is great.
Q:
Can you use pit boss pellets in this?
Answer: Yes. I frequently use Pit Boss pellets in my smoker.
Answer: you can use any wood food pellet you want to
Answer: All pellets are basically made the same, if you exclude the flavor of the wood.
Answer: yes i use them all the time comp. pellets.
Answer: Pretty sure the pellets are all the same size
Answer: I would compare them and as long as there is not much difference they night be ok. However if you stick with what's recommended by the grill nanufacture the they can stand behind the warranty and cooking times. Any time you stray from the mfg recommended fuel how can you expect them to stand behind the product. Follow the directions until you are certain you can vary.
Answer: yes. i do with no problems.
Q:
Why does one description say, 20lb hopper capacity and the other says 15lb hopper capacity?
Answer: Theres screwed up info on both the new model and the old. The older model had a 10lb hopper but I believe the new model has a 15lb hopper. You wont be disappointed with the grill though.
Q:
It only works with hard wood pellets? I can only find pellets from pine wood or eucaliptus, use for heating systems. Those work too?
Answer: soft wood pellets will work, they will burn a little faster, with a different smoke flavor versa a hard wood pellet.
Answer: Most likely not, especially not the pine.
Answer: no wood pellets for home heating or full of plastic and glue do not use them in your barbecue grill
Q:
I purchased the 450a model. can anyone explain how the grease pan sits in the unit? i see there are two slots on one end. where does it sit?
Answer: You'll see a tab on the left hand side of your grill. The grease pan tabs fit in the end of this tab. This lets the grease pan sit with the tabbed end higher than the other so the grease will flow toward the bucket.
Answer: The slot go to the left, the notches fit into them. The pan does tilt downward to the right when you put it in.
Q:
What size tray liner should i purchase
Answer: Heavy weight aluminum foil works just fine.
Q:
can you cook on it like a normal grill for like burgers, hot dogs, food that does not take take time like smoking ribs, brisket etc
Answer: Yes, you can cook on it similar to a normal grill. The temperatures are not going to get as high as a gas or charcoal grill though.
Answer: You can cook anything you want on it, you will need to cook it on the pellets and not charcoal, but it's great with burgers and hot dogs.
Answer: Yes. Does not really get hot enough for searing steaks. (450 top temp) Other than that, it is wonderful.
Answer: Yes. It takes a little longer than a gas grill because of indirect heat but it will get to 450 degrees.
Answer: How long is the electrical cord?
Answer: yes you can
Answer: do you have to use a lighter to start this or what is the heat source that heats the wood pellets. Is it a gas flame, an electric coil or what?
Answer: O ya
Q:
What is the process to connect to natural gas ?
Answer: You can't hook to natural Gas. It uses wood pellets.
Q:
Does it a temperature probe to check temps on what your cooking?
Answer: No, you would get that separately. I got a 2 probe unit for about $25 as I recall. You can even get one that is blue tooth that reports to an app on your phone.
Answer: No I use my own Thermapen for meat but it has a temp probe for the interior or cavity monitor only. WHR
Answer: No
Answer: No
Q:
Where is this made?
Answer: They manufacture in china
Q:
New to barbecuing, completely. Can I use wood, no propane or gas, to Grill meats? If that's not possible with this unit, can you please recommend one?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: This grill uses "wood Pellets" to cook. It also uses 110V electric connection to run the feed auger and glow plug. It does not use any propane or other gas. add pellets plug in and set the temp.
Answer: This grill only uses wood pellets, 6mm in dia which any of the pellets for cooking are the correct size I’ve found. I’ve done it all gas, charcoal cooking so far I’m pretty excited about this grill not heavy on the smoke just right
Answer: This grill is electric and uses special wood pellets, you dont use any propane or gas. They sell them in different flavors.
Answer: This unit using 120V and wood pellets not wood chips.
Answer: This smoker uses pellets only , if you are looking for a smoker that uses wood chips this one is not for you.. Keep looking and you will find the right one for you.
Product reviews of Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze
Dbdata : I would not buy this product again
There are wild temperature fluctuations even when using high quality pellets. The lowest temp (160/Smoke) cannot be reached. After a 1.5 hour startup time the temp settled to 204 degrees. Setting the controls to 180 gave us between 200 and 215 fluctuating. Setting the temp to 225 yielded a constant fluctuation between 260 and 290 degrees.
There is nothing flawed in the design except perhaps if the auger fed smaller amounts of pellets at one time .... but the nature of fire-based cooking just seems to be this random.
The "final straw" was when tech Support told us we needed to buy Zgrill brand pellets because Trager pellets burned hotter and that was our problem. That of course defeats the entire purpose of a temperature controller in the first place - but we bought Zgrill pellets --- and it made no difference.
Conclusion: Spend the extra money and get a better product
There is nothing flawed in the design except perhaps if the auger fed smaller amounts of pellets at one time .... but the nature of fire-based cooking just seems to be this random.
The "final straw" was when tech Support told us we needed to buy Zgrill brand pellets because Trager pellets burned hotter and that was our problem. That of course defeats the entire purpose of a temperature controller in the first place - but we bought Zgrill pellets --- and it made no difference.
Conclusion: Spend the extra money and get a better product
Tessawessa : Terrible experience, broken grill. DO NOT BUY.
I bought this smoker for my husband for Christmas after researching multiple different websites for making the best BBQ. He is a carpenter and very good with tools. He assembled the grill and the auger wouldn't spin. We called ZGrills and they said we had to let it run longer so we did and it didn’t work. We called again and then they sent us a new motor without instructions??! Then they sent us a video on how to replace the motor but it was for a different model. They do not offer in person or on the phone support. They rarely answer the phone. The only person who answers the phone is a young woman with an accent who acted as though she has never heard of us or our problem every time I spoke to her. We ended up returning it to Amazon but was stuck with a $75 restocking fee. The seemingly only have one employee and she is incompetent, mouthy, and worthless. She offered to reimburse us for our troubles with a bag of pellets?? People without functional grills do not need pellets. She literally asked me if I would give her a good review if she sent us a check for the $75 restocking fee.
Aaron : Great for low and slow cooking
I had been thinking for a while about getting a smoker, and I bought this not quite knowing what to expect. Here are my impressions after using it this past summer.
This grill was heavier than I expected, and my initial impression was that it is well built. The cooking racks are good quality. Assembly was very straight forward with all parts clearly labeled and pretty decent instructions. After putting everything together it was time to fire it up.
Follow the instructions for priming the auger and lighting the grill the first time. It's important to burn off the oils from the manufacturing process before cooking on it. The instructions for this were a little less clear, but I was able to follow along.
Cooking on this pellet smoker is great as long as you know what to expect. This smoker is very good at maintaining constant low temperatures in the 180 to 275 F range. Don't expect to be running it at high temperatures for searing meats, etc. The maximum I could get my grill up to was about 420 F, and then during the shutdown cycle the pellets in the auger caught on fire from the residual heat. In hindsight, I should have backed the temperature down to 250 for a half hour or so before shutting it down to prevent this.
The bottom line here is that the quality is on a par with some name brand pellet grills but at half the price. Stick to the low and slow BBQ temperature range, and this little smoker works like a champ!
This grill was heavier than I expected, and my initial impression was that it is well built. The cooking racks are good quality. Assembly was very straight forward with all parts clearly labeled and pretty decent instructions. After putting everything together it was time to fire it up.
Follow the instructions for priming the auger and lighting the grill the first time. It's important to burn off the oils from the manufacturing process before cooking on it. The instructions for this were a little less clear, but I was able to follow along.
Cooking on this pellet smoker is great as long as you know what to expect. This smoker is very good at maintaining constant low temperatures in the 180 to 275 F range. Don't expect to be running it at high temperatures for searing meats, etc. The maximum I could get my grill up to was about 420 F, and then during the shutdown cycle the pellets in the auger caught on fire from the residual heat. In hindsight, I should have backed the temperature down to 250 for a half hour or so before shutting it down to prevent this.
The bottom line here is that the quality is on a par with some name brand pellet grills but at half the price. Stick to the low and slow BBQ temperature range, and this little smoker works like a champ!
Tim hackett : Australian Junk
Was excited to receive this grill as I have been eying it for quite some time. I ordered it the grill arrived in a few days on my porch. Opened it up found directions to put this hunk of copper trash together. Instructions were easy to follow setup took maybe 30 min. Junk the tools they give you and get some real ones off the shelf. In the box you will find the start up instructions simple to follow straight forward. There is a break in period to burn all the packing grease kangraroo droppings etc. Great that’s expected. After maybe 5 minutes into the break in period I noticed there was no smoke coming from the grill maybe no big deal it was set at 450 degrees per the instructions no one cooks anything at that temp anyways let it go through its break in time shut down the grill per the instructions. Several hours later I’m ready to cook so I follow the start up instructions the initial smoke setting it says to leave the grill open until you observe smoke then close the lid and set to your desired cook temp pretty normal. Within 2 minutes the grill stops producing smoke the heat stayed constant but no smoke. I followed the shut down procedure gave it an hour and repeated this twice same thing I even let the grill run for several hours to see if it would produce smoke and nothing. I contacted the manufacturer several times each time I was told that due to the liberal lefts pandemic they were not able to handle calls. Don’t waste your time on this oven of sorts that will clutter up your grill area and leave room for an American made product.
Joey : Easy to install & Temperature accurate & Yummy bbq
Attracted by the cute look of Z Grills ZPG-450A, I clicked into this item and found it seemed a high-tech smoker. Got annoyed with my old Charcoal grill since it's slow and hard to control & clean. Z Grills, by contrast, uses the 'Wood fire' technology to reach target temperature extremely fast & accurate. Also, the grease doesn't build up for the sake of the grease collector. The wheels make it easier to move the smoker around in my yard. And need to say that installing this smart machine took me only 1 hour, with all tools needed in the box.
I tried salmon and lamb with pecan wood pellet. It works like a charm. The meat was so tender and got the sweet flavors deep inside.
It's time to say goodbye to my old Charcoal grill.
I tried salmon and lamb with pecan wood pellet. It works like a charm. The meat was so tender and got the sweet flavors deep inside.
It's time to say goodbye to my old Charcoal grill.
gary grant : Great smoker for the money.
Had a electric wood chip smoker at first which I bought during warmer months and it was great, but once winter hit the wood chip smoker failed to get hot enough. Did a lot of research on pellet smokers, plus my neighbors have a Treager, so the smells coming over the fence was incredible. Decided to go with this smoker due to being so much cheaper than the big name brands. The first use of this smoker, the neighbors came over to see what the incredible smells coming over the fence were. Gets up to 400 even at below zero and has opened up so many opportunities for great tasting food. Just had great smoked ravioli, love this smoker. I did find that all pellets are not equal in taste and smoke intensity. Best I have found so far is Lowes competition blend.
Swick Nation : Great pellet smoker
Wanted an inexpensive first pellet smoker and am definitely satisfied with Z-grills. For being a sub $400 grill I was impressed with how well it maintained the temp and I smoked two baby back racks on it that came out delicious. Followed the instructions for the initial setup and let her run. To top it off, the box indicated it came from my hometown so it was an all around good sign. I am glad I went with this over a high priced Traeger, (nothing against them as I have never used one), but Z Grills should definitely be considered a formidable rival. :)
Daedalus : Great starter smoker, but I regret not buying a larger one.
Very good starter smoker. If you want to get into smoking meats and you don’t have the time or desire to monitor the fire/temp for 8 hours, this is a great way to go. Easy to assemble, the instructions could be better, but it’s not hard to figure out. Extremely easy to use, but be sure you check out a few videos on how to set it up for the first time, which isn’t clearly explained in the instructions. Run it on high for 45 minutes to burn off factory oils. My only regret is that I didn’t buy a bigger model. 450 sq inches includes the tiny little 2nd tier rack. I was able to fit a full brisket packer in it, but nothing else. It’s worth the extra money to get a larger smoker.
Terry & Christina McDaniel : Replaced controller, Do Research.
I gave 3 stars, do your research. I really like this grill. I wish I would of got the bigger one. But the electronics are junk. I tried to do 3 different cooks. 1st was ribs smoked they came out good not great, second tried as a grill didn’t work temp wouldn’t even get to grill temp. The 3rd was another rack of ribs 3-2-1 method. Grill wouldn’t keep temp, hopper was full but kept running out of Pellets would not feed correctly. The problem is not the smoker itself it’s electronic controller is flawed during the last cook I kept getting low temp errors which means below 60 degrees, I’m in the Galveston, tx area the temp that day was in the mid 90’s. So I modified the smoker first I replaced the controller temp issues fixed. The feeder issue is a safety grate I guess it’s there so you can’t put your fingers in the auger hole. Now it feeds properly. So if you buy I suggest replacing the controller board first. From research I did I found that most of the grills out don’t work properly. Hope it helps.
D. S. Thorell : DO NOT BUY THIS!!!! Amazon should stop selling this
The temperature just keeps going up until it shuts itself off. There are many reviews with the same problem. Wasted an hour and a half assembling this and now have to figure out how to take it apart, repackage it and send it back. DO NOT BUY THIS.
patrick chang : Had great promise and potential but flopped
I bought this grill about 6 months ago. Specifically I got the newer 2018 model thinking they had solved some of their past issues. The 2 main cons or issues I have been having are the temp control unit as the temperatures have been off by 50 degrees or more and the pellet hopper doesnt feed properly causing the grill to stall.
I contacted z grills support but they haven't been very helpful. They recommended that I stir the pellets so they will not stall during feeding? Am I suppose to stand their all day?
I contacted z grills support but they haven't been very helpful. They recommended that I stir the pellets so they will not stall during feeding? Am I suppose to stand their all day?
Amazon Customer : This company needs to address this grill
Terrible grill/smoker it has two settings basically high and low. You set it to any other temps on the dial and it just still goes up to 450-500 degrees. Smoke setting runs between 150-180 degrees. If you do not know how to cook but by timer you better leave this thing alone as you are going to get sick. I been cooking professionally for years and if you do not babysit this thing you're going to end up with inconsistent food. I've tried every trick in the book to get this thing to actually cook evenly but it runs way to hot to even attempt. There are numerous complaints here that this company needs to address but ignores so this is obviously a money scam and amazon is backing them up by still selling it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
James : Beware. !! Not a good China product.
Not bad to put together. The problems came on start-up. On the initial break-in, it says to put it on Hi. The unit went to 550* and shut off for safety. That’s scarey. After many tries, I got ahold of support at ZGrills. I was told by a nice young girl to just keep using the unit and it would adjust. It didn’t. While cooking I set the unit at Smoke and it went to 300+, at 225*, it went to 400*...at least by their LED temp. I dont have a thermometer to measure their LED. Sorry, not a professional griller, just a guy replacing my gas grill. I will contact their support again and update this if there is a solution.
As of 7/05/19... I contacted ZGrills,after many tries.....they said "they would refund my money. If they do, I’ll review this process further. That would be great.
....I also contacted Amazon many hours ago. They said they would contact ZGrills, which would not answer their phone, they said they would get back to me. After 6 hrs, Nothing from them either. I’ll update this when someone finally stands behind their product. Until then, don’t buy this grill.
......as of 07/08/19...nothing from Amazon or ZGrills. I called ZGrills again, they promised that a refund is happening. I’ll update this if their customer service is correct.
As of 7/05/19... I contacted ZGrills,after many tries.....they said "they would refund my money. If they do, I’ll review this process further. That would be great.
....I also contacted Amazon many hours ago. They said they would contact ZGrills, which would not answer their phone, they said they would get back to me. After 6 hrs, Nothing from them either. I’ll update this when someone finally stands behind their product. Until then, don’t buy this grill.
......as of 07/08/19...nothing from Amazon or ZGrills. I called ZGrills again, they promised that a refund is happening. I’ll update this if their customer service is correct.
Alvin Marquez : First time smoker here ;)
Hopefully I will receive a new grill without dents. If I do, I will assemble and use it, then I will update my review.
UPDATE: Received my new grill and without dents!
Assembly took about an hour by myself. Assembling the legs requires the unit to be turned upside down... I just flipped it over in the box with the styrofoam on the bottom So I wouldn’t damage the unit.
Followed start up instructions and smoked some ribs for 4 hours! Followed Aaron Franklin’s tutorial and they came out beautifully! Looking forward to smoking a nice brisket!
So far so good! 4 stars!
Janet Lowe : Use the chimney stack.
So been tinkering with this thing all day, and based on the reviews I thought it may be hit or miss, but here is what I have found.
1. Lower the chimney stack pretty low. With it barely on, or a lot of space between the smoke exhaust port and the chimney stack, the temp is very high. Lowering the chimney stack lowers the internal cooking temperature.
2. Kinda a pain to put together. Not horrid, but not great. Typical 'oh man, I gotta assemble this' kinda thing.
3. Once you get the chimney stack where you like it, this thing is pretty boss.
I have a old school thermometer, and the one that comes with the unit, and they are very close on temperature gauges, within 10 degrees of each other.
The pellets form a well, so you need to check them about every 45 minutes and restir the pellets.
After adjusting the chimney stack, I get about a solid 225F at the 180F setting. Chimney stack adjustments could be finer tuned, but will take some time if desired. 225F is perfect for most of the low and slow I do. I do about 5 turns on the chimney stack, then wait a few minutes for the temp to adjust. A little up or down goes a decent ways, so don't turn too much.
This is a pretty solid little unit. This is day one, but I have a pork butt smoking as I type. And it is the first pellet smoker I have ever had. But overall, I am pleased with the price and performance.
It takes a little work, but any smoker around this price should, and should be expected. Can't wait to see how this future pulled pork comes out. :)
1. Lower the chimney stack pretty low. With it barely on, or a lot of space between the smoke exhaust port and the chimney stack, the temp is very high. Lowering the chimney stack lowers the internal cooking temperature.
2. Kinda a pain to put together. Not horrid, but not great. Typical 'oh man, I gotta assemble this' kinda thing.
3. Once you get the chimney stack where you like it, this thing is pretty boss.
I have a old school thermometer, and the one that comes with the unit, and they are very close on temperature gauges, within 10 degrees of each other.
The pellets form a well, so you need to check them about every 45 minutes and restir the pellets.
After adjusting the chimney stack, I get about a solid 225F at the 180F setting. Chimney stack adjustments could be finer tuned, but will take some time if desired. 225F is perfect for most of the low and slow I do. I do about 5 turns on the chimney stack, then wait a few minutes for the temp to adjust. A little up or down goes a decent ways, so don't turn too much.
This is a pretty solid little unit. This is day one, but I have a pork butt smoking as I type. And it is the first pellet smoker I have ever had. But overall, I am pleased with the price and performance.
It takes a little work, but any smoker around this price should, and should be expected. Can't wait to see how this future pulled pork comes out. :)
Alvin Marquez : First time smoker here ;)
Hopefully I will receive a new grill without dents. If I do, I will assemble and use it, then I will update my review.
UPDATE: Received my new grill and without dents!
Assembly took about an hour by myself. Assembling the legs requires the unit to be turned upside down... I just flipped it over in the box with the styrofoam on the bottom So I wouldn’t damage the unit.
Followed start up instructions and smoked some ribs for 4 hours! Followed Aaron Franklin’s tutorial and they came out beautifully! Looking forward to smoking a nice brisket!
So far so good! 4 stars!
Amazon Customer : This company needs to address this grill
Terrible grill/smoker it has two settings basically high and low. You set it to any other temps on the dial and it just still goes up to 450-500 degrees. Smoke setting runs between 150-180 degrees. If you do not know how to cook but by timer you better leave this thing alone as you are going to get sick. I been cooking professionally for years and if you do not babysit this thing you're going to end up with inconsistent food. I've tried every trick in the book to get this thing to actually cook evenly but it runs way to hot to even attempt. There are numerous complaints here that this company needs to address but ignores so this is obviously a money scam and amazon is backing them up by still selling it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
Ryan : Solid Grill, but one design flaw killed it for me.
I got this grill (ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade) as my first pellet barbecue and was very excited about it. Everything worked great, I smoked and grilled several things, but then we got rain. Even with the cover on and extra cover, the hopper let water get right into the dry pellets. Given that I live in the PNW, this is a deal-breaker for me. I ended up picking up the next model up has a different hopper design that will protect the pellets much better where I live.
So, this was a great grill, just not if you live in a wet climate or cannot roll it into full coverage during rain.
So, this was a great grill, just not if you live in a wet climate or cannot roll it into full coverage during rain.
Ryan : Solid Grill, but one design flaw killed it for me.
I got this grill (ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade) as my first pellet barbecue and was very excited about it. Everything worked great, I smoked and grilled several things, but then we got rain. Even with the cover on and extra cover, the hopper let water get right into the dry pellets. Given that I live in the PNW, this is a deal-breaker for me. I ended up picking up the next model up has a different hopper design that will protect the pellets much better where I live.
So, this was a great grill, just not if you live in a wet climate or cannot roll it into full coverage during rain.
So, this was a great grill, just not if you live in a wet climate or cannot roll it into full coverage during rain.
bigbearsfan : First time with a smoker
I've never had a pellet smoker before. It's always been something I've wanted to try since seeing a demonstration of one in a big box store many years ago. When this grill went on deep discount a couple months ago, I snapped one up.
First impressions is that it's easy to put together if you follow the instructions. It should take less than an hour because all you're doing is assembling the legs, handles, front tray, and chimney. The barrel itself is already assembled and it takes a couple of minutes to put in the fire box cover, drip tray and grills.
The size of the smoker is a double edged sword, This is a super small smoker. The small barrell size makes it impossible to get a lot of meat on it, but that small size also makes it a great beginner smoker. When I used it over father's day weekend, I got a 4 pound pork shoulder, a 3 pound whole chicken and a water pan on the bottom grate. On the top grate, I was able to put 6 brats at an angle. Things were mostly ok. The smoker did it's job very well. Everything cooked in the time one would expect. The smoker held its temp very consistently and that's what helped me to be better anticipate and trust when things would be done. I figure I'll keep this for another year or so, figure out how to master it, then move up to an upright smoker with more room. Now that I know the smoker can maintain temp, I know how to start it and shut it down, it's up to me to figure out which rubs and smoking patterns creates meats my family would want to eat.
Having only used it once, I can't speak to durability or longevity but it seems sturdy and worth the money if you can get it on sale like I did. If I'd paid anywhere near full price, I would be disappointed with the purchase based on size.
First impressions is that it's easy to put together if you follow the instructions. It should take less than an hour because all you're doing is assembling the legs, handles, front tray, and chimney. The barrel itself is already assembled and it takes a couple of minutes to put in the fire box cover, drip tray and grills.
The size of the smoker is a double edged sword, This is a super small smoker. The small barrell size makes it impossible to get a lot of meat on it, but that small size also makes it a great beginner smoker. When I used it over father's day weekend, I got a 4 pound pork shoulder, a 3 pound whole chicken and a water pan on the bottom grate. On the top grate, I was able to put 6 brats at an angle. Things were mostly ok. The smoker did it's job very well. Everything cooked in the time one would expect. The smoker held its temp very consistently and that's what helped me to be better anticipate and trust when things would be done. I figure I'll keep this for another year or so, figure out how to master it, then move up to an upright smoker with more room. Now that I know the smoker can maintain temp, I know how to start it and shut it down, it's up to me to figure out which rubs and smoking patterns creates meats my family would want to eat.
Having only used it once, I can't speak to durability or longevity but it seems sturdy and worth the money if you can get it on sale like I did. If I'd paid anywhere near full price, I would be disappointed with the purchase based on size.
Amy J. Lindsey : Nothing but problems
We have had nothing but problems. We have used only 3-4 times since purchase in April. The company does answer eventually, but not satisfactorily in my opinion. And more problems keep popping up. Instructions were not complete for starting it -company responded by acknowledging that some steps missing. Thermometer not working - will send parts and a video for us to fix. Excessive smoking (see the pictures) -company offered to send part and a how to video. EITHER this unit defective, OR this is just a really sub-par grill.
G. Snyder : Set it and forget it (mostly): so easy to cook meat outdoors, minimal checking, great results.
My husband loves his meat. He must eat large amounts of it at every meal, but cooking that much meat in the kitchen causes odors to build up and even with vent running some grease builds up on surfaces. He tried a regular BBQ but it required him to tend the fire and keep checking the meat. So when he asked for this grill for his birthday, I was curious how it worked.
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
RandyMarsh : The under & over compensation is true. Do not buy unless you want an inconsistent experience
Have been looking for a first time smoker for several weeks now and saw this on a deal for $295. Read other Amazon reviews about how this machine will underheat then overcompensate and YEP. If you set it at 225 (or any temp for the matter) it will start by going up to 300 then drops down to 190. Then does the process on repeat. Not very happy that I can't have a consistent temperature for making all these different kinds of food.
Thought "every product has a lemon the couple 1 stars are off cases" then get the exact issues the others have commented. DO NOT buy this grill if you care about a consistent cooking experience. Instructions on top of it all were not even the least bit useful. Had to watch a video from z grill which even then was not specific on which bolts and the products in the video for my 450a were different than what mine has such as the Greece bucket and heat shield dissapator.
Wish I would of bought a pit boss or traeger.
Thought "every product has a lemon the couple 1 stars are off cases" then get the exact issues the others have commented. DO NOT buy this grill if you care about a consistent cooking experience. Instructions on top of it all were not even the least bit useful. Had to watch a video from z grill which even then was not specific on which bolts and the products in the video for my 450a were different than what mine has such as the Greece bucket and heat shield dissapator.
Wish I would of bought a pit boss or traeger.
Kevin : Entry level grill. (but?)
I've had smokers propane and electric. I did a alot of research before purchase. 3 year warranty and for 21.00 more I got 4 more? 7 years! I cook brisket, chicken, sausage, ribs and burgers with this thing . I can't wait to smoke a turkey. Its big enough as far as square per inch for plenty. Some things you need to seer, but if you already know that, you already know. Buy it and don't look back.
Dan V. : An amazing outdoor crockpot - Great Barbecue, not an awesome grill
This is touted as an all-in-one solution for smoking, grilling, backing, and barbecuing. A hot smoker, outdoor oven, and barbecue it is for sure, but a grill, well... it falls a little short (and that is OK!). The difference between smoking, barbecuing, and grilling is the temperature you cook at. Cold smoking is preserving food using salts and smoke without actually cooking them (temperatures around 100 degrees F). Hot smoking and barbecuing is generally done between 175-225 degrees F, and grilling requires temperatures upwards of 450 degrees F (with 600 degrees being necessary for a good sear!).
I can't say enough how convenient it is to be able to set-it-and-forget-it while you go on with your day. I used to smoke in a wood-fired offset smoker. While I loved it, it required constant monitoring and a lot of beer to get through a long cook. It was also possible to oversmoke foods to where they'd be bitter if you weren't careful. With this, just set your temperature and check it every now and then (more towards the end of your cook so you don't overdo it of course). I've even topped off the hopper right before bed and let it cook all night.
As a hot smoker and barbecue it is downright amazing, and why I touted it as an outdoor crockpot... "low-and-slow" cooking requires some planning as well as choosing your cuts of meat. You don't want to try grilling a brisket at high temperature unless you feel like burning more calories chewing than you get from eating. Likewise, you have to be pretty careful smoking thin, lean cuts of meat like pork chops (though thick-cut pork chops turn out great if done carefully). The ability to set a low temperature (I do the majority of my barbecuing/hot smoking right at 225), load up the hopper with pellets, and basically ignore this thing for 2-8 hours is pretty incredible. I've done cooks as long as 14 hours, and it holds an accurate temperature that never seems to deviate more than 10 degrees in either direction. Boneless turkey breasts, 12+ pound briskets, beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, pork shoulder for pulled pork, cornish hens, roaster chickens... they come out simply amazing. Since it is digital, it doesn't need to be babysat, so plan your timing accordingly, throw your meal on, and then head off to do something else for a few hours. Throw some vegetables (asparagus is particularly good) or seasoned, halved potatoes on during the last 30-90 minutes of your cook and you end up with a delicious and healthy meal with virtually no cleanup. Its like being able to throw dinner in the slow-cooker and leave for work, but this is SO much better.
You know what else is delicious? Wood-fired baked goods! The local discount grocery store sells frozen pizzas for $3.99. Take one of those, add a little extra cheese and some turkey pepperoni (cuts down on the grease) and bake in your preheated grill (375 for around 22 minutes in my case). The result is that you'll possibly never want to pay the ridiculous cost to have a pizza delivered again. It is that good. Or, get some take-and-bake baguettes or ciabatta and throw it on for 8-10 minutes, and the results will blow you away. If you do a long cook of some delicious meat, when you take it off to rest, turn your grill up to 375 and let it preheat for a few minutes, and you have just the right amount of time to have hot bread alongside your meal.
Breakfast foods? You can do that too... Preheat to 350 and melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet while it preheats on the grill. Throw on some turkey kielbasa while the skillet preheats and cook onions in the skillet. Throw the kielbasa in the skillet when the onions are done, and pour in some seasoned eggs and cheese. Close the lid and come back 40 minutes later. You'll have a breakfast fritata that disappears in a hurry, and by the time it is done cooking, your breakfast dishes will already be done. Big win.
Do you like to save money? I am pretty sure that this grill has paid for itself by way of my grocery bill. Instead of buying expensive cuts of meat for grilling, now I purchase bulk, on-sale cuts that would be less-than-ideal in other situations. I've found whole briskets for under $4/lb, and chicken quarters and pork for just slightly over $1. I've even purchased entire beef tenderloins (the cut that filet mignon comes from) for $5/lb and smoked the entire thing (amazing). I can load up, smoke everything at once, and freeze a big portion of the leftovers. Most smoked foods are delicious at room temperature, so I'll portion into ~3 meals and freeze. Take a bag out of the freezer and thaw in the fridge for a couple days, and then when I want to eat it I will just let it sit out for a little while.
As a grill, well, it is just OK. It does get to a temperature of 450 degrees which is sufficient for hot-and-fast cooking, but it doesn't get hot enough to sear. You'll either need to sear some other way (a blazing cast-iron skillet works, or you can use a propane grill if you have one). By the time you put a few grill marks on your meat it is going to be well-done. Don't get me wrong - the wood-fired taste is pretty amazing, but you just don't get that lovely brown, delicious surface of properly seared meat. I'm experimenting with some whys to overcome this using cast-iron grates laid on top of the grate, or putting a skillet to preheat at 450, but so far the results are just OK.
The other issue with grilling on this - particularly when it comes to really fatty meats like burgers, is the grease fire. This thing gets HOT over the firebox, and if you throw on some 73-27 ground beef (the best kind, right?), in no time you are going to have a raging inferno, your grill is going to shut down, and you'll be finishing your burgers elsewhere if they aren't already ruined. Things like hotdogs and sausages seem to work better, but the very staples of grill cookery (burgers and steaks) just won't be at their best.
So why four stars? Well, everything is a compromise. This required a few adjustments coming from charcoal and propane, but once I did, I simply love the convenience and versatility. I don't have to stand over a grill flipping and moving things, the results are delicious, and I am saving hundreds of dollars by being able to buy cheap cuts of meat and turn them into something guests beg for. Kids especially love little cornish game hens. I can throw on just about anything that doesn't mind being cooked slow or baked, and carry on with my life before coming back to a hot meal (what a wonderful thing when you are a busy, single guy). The pellets are more convenient than playing with propane tanks and they sell them at the local hardware store. I can stock up when they are on sale, and as long as you keep them dry, they last forever. I'll probably add a propane grill for searing or burgers, but I don't think I'd ever go back to cooking solely over gas.
I can't say enough how convenient it is to be able to set-it-and-forget-it while you go on with your day. I used to smoke in a wood-fired offset smoker. While I loved it, it required constant monitoring and a lot of beer to get through a long cook. It was also possible to oversmoke foods to where they'd be bitter if you weren't careful. With this, just set your temperature and check it every now and then (more towards the end of your cook so you don't overdo it of course). I've even topped off the hopper right before bed and let it cook all night.
As a hot smoker and barbecue it is downright amazing, and why I touted it as an outdoor crockpot... "low-and-slow" cooking requires some planning as well as choosing your cuts of meat. You don't want to try grilling a brisket at high temperature unless you feel like burning more calories chewing than you get from eating. Likewise, you have to be pretty careful smoking thin, lean cuts of meat like pork chops (though thick-cut pork chops turn out great if done carefully). The ability to set a low temperature (I do the majority of my barbecuing/hot smoking right at 225), load up the hopper with pellets, and basically ignore this thing for 2-8 hours is pretty incredible. I've done cooks as long as 14 hours, and it holds an accurate temperature that never seems to deviate more than 10 degrees in either direction. Boneless turkey breasts, 12+ pound briskets, beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, pork shoulder for pulled pork, cornish hens, roaster chickens... they come out simply amazing. Since it is digital, it doesn't need to be babysat, so plan your timing accordingly, throw your meal on, and then head off to do something else for a few hours. Throw some vegetables (asparagus is particularly good) or seasoned, halved potatoes on during the last 30-90 minutes of your cook and you end up with a delicious and healthy meal with virtually no cleanup. Its like being able to throw dinner in the slow-cooker and leave for work, but this is SO much better.
You know what else is delicious? Wood-fired baked goods! The local discount grocery store sells frozen pizzas for $3.99. Take one of those, add a little extra cheese and some turkey pepperoni (cuts down on the grease) and bake in your preheated grill (375 for around 22 minutes in my case). The result is that you'll possibly never want to pay the ridiculous cost to have a pizza delivered again. It is that good. Or, get some take-and-bake baguettes or ciabatta and throw it on for 8-10 minutes, and the results will blow you away. If you do a long cook of some delicious meat, when you take it off to rest, turn your grill up to 375 and let it preheat for a few minutes, and you have just the right amount of time to have hot bread alongside your meal.
Breakfast foods? You can do that too... Preheat to 350 and melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet while it preheats on the grill. Throw on some turkey kielbasa while the skillet preheats and cook onions in the skillet. Throw the kielbasa in the skillet when the onions are done, and pour in some seasoned eggs and cheese. Close the lid and come back 40 minutes later. You'll have a breakfast fritata that disappears in a hurry, and by the time it is done cooking, your breakfast dishes will already be done. Big win.
Do you like to save money? I am pretty sure that this grill has paid for itself by way of my grocery bill. Instead of buying expensive cuts of meat for grilling, now I purchase bulk, on-sale cuts that would be less-than-ideal in other situations. I've found whole briskets for under $4/lb, and chicken quarters and pork for just slightly over $1. I've even purchased entire beef tenderloins (the cut that filet mignon comes from) for $5/lb and smoked the entire thing (amazing). I can load up, smoke everything at once, and freeze a big portion of the leftovers. Most smoked foods are delicious at room temperature, so I'll portion into ~3 meals and freeze. Take a bag out of the freezer and thaw in the fridge for a couple days, and then when I want to eat it I will just let it sit out for a little while.
As a grill, well, it is just OK. It does get to a temperature of 450 degrees which is sufficient for hot-and-fast cooking, but it doesn't get hot enough to sear. You'll either need to sear some other way (a blazing cast-iron skillet works, or you can use a propane grill if you have one). By the time you put a few grill marks on your meat it is going to be well-done. Don't get me wrong - the wood-fired taste is pretty amazing, but you just don't get that lovely brown, delicious surface of properly seared meat. I'm experimenting with some whys to overcome this using cast-iron grates laid on top of the grate, or putting a skillet to preheat at 450, but so far the results are just OK.
The other issue with grilling on this - particularly when it comes to really fatty meats like burgers, is the grease fire. This thing gets HOT over the firebox, and if you throw on some 73-27 ground beef (the best kind, right?), in no time you are going to have a raging inferno, your grill is going to shut down, and you'll be finishing your burgers elsewhere if they aren't already ruined. Things like hotdogs and sausages seem to work better, but the very staples of grill cookery (burgers and steaks) just won't be at their best.
So why four stars? Well, everything is a compromise. This required a few adjustments coming from charcoal and propane, but once I did, I simply love the convenience and versatility. I don't have to stand over a grill flipping and moving things, the results are delicious, and I am saving hundreds of dollars by being able to buy cheap cuts of meat and turn them into something guests beg for. Kids especially love little cornish game hens. I can throw on just about anything that doesn't mind being cooked slow or baked, and carry on with my life before coming back to a hot meal (what a wonderful thing when you are a busy, single guy). The pellets are more convenient than playing with propane tanks and they sell them at the local hardware store. I can stock up when they are on sale, and as long as you keep them dry, they last forever. I'll probably add a propane grill for searing or burgers, but I don't think I'd ever go back to cooking solely over gas.
JWT : Get this junk out of my yard.
2 stars is being nice. But after my first 2hr experience cooking some chicken breasts I figured I would start simple and make a video of a simple grill cook of standard link sausage. I will post this 22 min video of over an hour of cooking time on You Tube. I wanted to give this thing a second chance which is what I did.----First off the temperature is all over the place with this thing and NEVER stays steady at all at any one point. You lose so much heat when you open the lid. I no I am not opening the lid all the time. Smoke setting doesnt smoke. Temp gets way to high for smoking meat on the smoking setting. Does not continue to smoke. High temp of what I would normal use to grill a burger gets too hot apparently and will shut off with an error. ---------Really really disappointed in this purchase. Thank gosh I still have my Weber but it comes down to this. Dont waste your money. This technology just isnt there yet for me. Im not going risk a Tregger just to get the same result. Basically. I dont need to be baby sitting my grill all the time and the food thats on it. Sorry ZGrills. Its Big fat 0 for me if I could give it.
JWT : Get this junk out of my yard.
2 stars is being nice. But after my first 2hr experience cooking some chicken breasts I figured I would start simple and make a video of a simple grill cook of standard link sausage. I will post this 22 min video of over an hour of cooking time on You Tube. I wanted to give this thing a second chance which is what I did.----First off the temperature is all over the place with this thing and NEVER stays steady at all at any one point. You lose so much heat when you open the lid. I no I am not opening the lid all the time. Smoke setting doesnt smoke. Temp gets way to high for smoking meat on the smoking setting. Does not continue to smoke. High temp of what I would normal use to grill a burger gets too hot apparently and will shut off with an error. ---------Really really disappointed in this purchase. Thank gosh I still have my Weber but it comes down to this. Dont waste your money. This technology just isnt there yet for me. Im not going risk a Tregger just to get the same result. Basically. I dont need to be baby sitting my grill all the time and the food thats on it. Sorry ZGrills. Its Big fat 0 for me if I could give it.
Randy : "set it and forget it" does not exist. Junk.
DO NOT BUY THIS IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON BEING AWAY FROM THE GRILL FOR HOURS, like putting something on at night and going to sleep. You'll wake up to a hopper full of pellets and an error message on the grill thermometer.
Also, every time you cook something, prepare for 30 minutes of setup and pre-heating, and it doesn't help any.
The pellet feed system is trash and does not pull from the whole hopper, it just pulls pellets from the center and runs out after a couple of hours if you're not there to mix them around. It ends up looking like an ant hill. Garbage. I figured I was in for some trouble when I saw that they spelled "wrap" wrong in their instructions.
So, the smoke mode doesn't work for long term cooking. With a full hopper enough for 10+ hours it'll use about 1 to 2 hours worth of the pellets before it gives you an error because the feeder system doesn't work. It burns through the ones it does use too quickly.
The temp does not hold at all because the feeder system is broken. It constantly fluctuates at huge variables of temperatures +/- 100+ degrees, which makes it absolutely useless for open top cooking and mostly useless for closed lid. You can't cook chicken well when you have it set at high and one moment the temp is 80 degrees and two minutes later it's 320 degrees, just to change to 120 degrees a minute after that. It's a constant struggle. Totally useless for open top cooking IMO. I cooked frozen 1/4lb burger patties open top on high for 35 minutes and they were rare. Not medium rare... Rare. 35 minutes. About the same thing I'd expect from 6 to 8 minutes on a charcoal grill.
This is a piece of garbage, do not buy. I'm glad I have a $50 little tiny round grill for charcoal still that can hold a consistent temperature, I was hoping this would replace the large gas grill I sold, it didn't.
Even though this thing claims 6+ cooking methods, I can only recommend this for large pieces of smoked meat like brisket or ribs, and that's all, and that's assuming you're going to be around to keep watch on it and slow cooking, because I had the hopper catch on fire the second time I used it even after following all the instructions.
Don't get me wrong, slow cooked smoked meat is great and this can do this decently well, but you have to adjust the time for the uneven temperature, and constantly having to stir the pellets because this thing can't properly feed them is beyond frustrating. If you're going to spend this type of money, spend an extra $50 and go with a better brand. Absolutely do not recommend this junk.
Also, every time you cook something, prepare for 30 minutes of setup and pre-heating, and it doesn't help any.
The pellet feed system is trash and does not pull from the whole hopper, it just pulls pellets from the center and runs out after a couple of hours if you're not there to mix them around. It ends up looking like an ant hill. Garbage. I figured I was in for some trouble when I saw that they spelled "wrap" wrong in their instructions.
So, the smoke mode doesn't work for long term cooking. With a full hopper enough for 10+ hours it'll use about 1 to 2 hours worth of the pellets before it gives you an error because the feeder system doesn't work. It burns through the ones it does use too quickly.
The temp does not hold at all because the feeder system is broken. It constantly fluctuates at huge variables of temperatures +/- 100+ degrees, which makes it absolutely useless for open top cooking and mostly useless for closed lid. You can't cook chicken well when you have it set at high and one moment the temp is 80 degrees and two minutes later it's 320 degrees, just to change to 120 degrees a minute after that. It's a constant struggle. Totally useless for open top cooking IMO. I cooked frozen 1/4lb burger patties open top on high for 35 minutes and they were rare. Not medium rare... Rare. 35 minutes. About the same thing I'd expect from 6 to 8 minutes on a charcoal grill.
This is a piece of garbage, do not buy. I'm glad I have a $50 little tiny round grill for charcoal still that can hold a consistent temperature, I was hoping this would replace the large gas grill I sold, it didn't.
Even though this thing claims 6+ cooking methods, I can only recommend this for large pieces of smoked meat like brisket or ribs, and that's all, and that's assuming you're going to be around to keep watch on it and slow cooking, because I had the hopper catch on fire the second time I used it even after following all the instructions.
Don't get me wrong, slow cooked smoked meat is great and this can do this decently well, but you have to adjust the time for the uneven temperature, and constantly having to stir the pellets because this thing can't properly feed them is beyond frustrating. If you're going to spend this type of money, spend an extra $50 and go with a better brand. Absolutely do not recommend this junk.
Joel S : Pellet feeding issues
Amazon got it here just a day and a half after I ordered! Was shocked to see it delivered so fast and 1 day ahead of earliest delivery. So far seems great. Came missing. Gasket for the smoke stack but not a huge deal. The temperature does jump around a little but for the price cant complain.
Update
Reducing to 3 stars. I have run into this reoccurring issue with the hopper. I fill the hopper for an overnight smoke and every 3 to 4 hours I have to get up to adjust the pellets or they will create a cavity and stop feeding. What's the point of a hopper size if it doesn't feed properly? Very frustrating if you miss fixing the pellets it may take a half hour or longer for the auger to catch up leading to low temps for half an hour or longer. Bad design very bad design.
Update
Reducing to 3 stars. I have run into this reoccurring issue with the hopper. I fill the hopper for an overnight smoke and every 3 to 4 hours I have to get up to adjust the pellets or they will create a cavity and stop feeding. What's the point of a hopper size if it doesn't feed properly? Very frustrating if you miss fixing the pellets it may take a half hour or longer for the auger to catch up leading to low temps for half an hour or longer. Bad design very bad design.
Carol L. Alvarez : UPDATED review 10/19
UPDATED REVIEW: Originally I gave this 5 stars b/c we love the taste that wood burning gives food. EXCEPT, the starter/ignition quit working after 6 months. Upon reading reviews further, I found many that had the same problems. I wouldn't buy this again. ORIGINAL REVIEW: It took about an hour to assemble, but the instructions were clear and concise. We watched a YouTube video on how to do the first burn correctly. I would highly recommend doing that. Also, a valuable tip: Don't turn directly off after using on a high setting. Turn to 180, let the temp drop to around 250 before turning off completely. This will avoid "back burning" of your pellets. Now to the good stuff. We've been using a gas grill forever. I forgot how great wood burning BBQ tastes. We did ribeye cap steaks the first day we put it together and they were the best I've ever eaten. The taste was amazing. Highly recommend this grill. MUCH cheaper than a Traeger (which we bought first and returned b/c pieces were missing and broken and discovered their customer service and standing by their product are non-existent) and works excellently! You won't go wrong with this.
UPDATE: We use this grill almost every night. We LOVE it. It is a great purchase. Food tastes so much better than gas/charcoal grills, and it's really easy to use, and cooks food fast without sacrificing flavor or texture. A meat thermometer is a must.
UPDATE: We use this grill almost every night. We LOVE it. It is a great purchase. Food tastes so much better than gas/charcoal grills, and it's really easy to use, and cooks food fast without sacrificing flavor or texture. A meat thermometer is a must.
bigbearsfan : First time with a smoker
I've never had a pellet smoker before. It's always been something I've wanted to try since seeing a demonstration of one in a big box store many years ago. When this grill went on deep discount a couple months ago, I snapped one up.
First impressions is that it's easy to put together if you follow the instructions. It should take less than an hour because all you're doing is assembling the legs, handles, front tray, and chimney. The barrel itself is already assembled and it takes a couple of minutes to put in the fire box cover, drip tray and grills.
The size of the smoker is a double edged sword, This is a super small smoker. The small barrell size makes it impossible to get a lot of meat on it, but that small size also makes it a great beginner smoker. When I used it over father's day weekend, I got a 4 pound pork shoulder, a 3 pound whole chicken and a water pan on the bottom grate. On the top grate, I was able to put 6 brats at an angle. Things were mostly ok. The smoker did it's job very well. Everything cooked in the time one would expect. The smoker held its temp very consistently and that's what helped me to be better anticipate and trust when things would be done. I figure I'll keep this for another year or so, figure out how to master it, then move up to an upright smoker with more room. Now that I know the smoker can maintain temp, I know how to start it and shut it down, it's up to me to figure out which rubs and smoking patterns creates meats my family would want to eat.
Having only used it once, I can't speak to durability or longevity but it seems sturdy and worth the money if you can get it on sale like I did. If I'd paid anywhere near full price, I would be disappointed with the purchase based on size.
First impressions is that it's easy to put together if you follow the instructions. It should take less than an hour because all you're doing is assembling the legs, handles, front tray, and chimney. The barrel itself is already assembled and it takes a couple of minutes to put in the fire box cover, drip tray and grills.
The size of the smoker is a double edged sword, This is a super small smoker. The small barrell size makes it impossible to get a lot of meat on it, but that small size also makes it a great beginner smoker. When I used it over father's day weekend, I got a 4 pound pork shoulder, a 3 pound whole chicken and a water pan on the bottom grate. On the top grate, I was able to put 6 brats at an angle. Things were mostly ok. The smoker did it's job very well. Everything cooked in the time one would expect. The smoker held its temp very consistently and that's what helped me to be better anticipate and trust when things would be done. I figure I'll keep this for another year or so, figure out how to master it, then move up to an upright smoker with more room. Now that I know the smoker can maintain temp, I know how to start it and shut it down, it's up to me to figure out which rubs and smoking patterns creates meats my family would want to eat.
Having only used it once, I can't speak to durability or longevity but it seems sturdy and worth the money if you can get it on sale like I did. If I'd paid anywhere near full price, I would be disappointed with the purchase based on size.
Bing : Exceeded my expectations. Great grill. Looks nice, too.
I’ve only had this a little over a week, but I have to say how happy I am with this smoker/grill! I was reluctant to buy a smoker...I had purchased a Traeger about five years ago through Costco, but did not like that it just couldn’t get hot enough to cook meat the way I liked, so I returned it. I received this one as a birthday present, so I had to keep it! Put it together the day I got it. It is no “easy” snap together job, but the instructions are clear, the packaging is, if anything, over done. In fact removing all the parts from packaging was probably the most difficult part of assembly! As a novice “smoker” the startup procedure and the precautions were a bit concerning and intimidating, but I gathered the patience and followed them closely. In the end, everything went very smoothly, all pieces fit perfectly, there was exactly one extra screw, as promised. By the third time I used it, all was second nature. The best part is the food! I bought a 20 pound bag of Oak pellets from ZGrills. That is the only type I have used so far, but I see no reason that any flavor wood would not work. I plan to use other types next. The first thing I smoked was a ham for Easter. I used a Traeger recipe I found online for a pineapple glaze and it was fantastic. So easy. Just set the temperature and let it smoke, opening every ten minutes or so to mop on some more glaze. The Smokey sweet flavor was delicious. I had read that the temperature variations were too wild on the ZGrills, but I don’t think they matter...they center around the desired/set temp, and of course they will vary and take time to correct just because of the lag time for feeding and igniting the pellets. The heat transfer rate to the food smooths the electronically measured air temperature. Anyway, the big ham was perfectly done. The other extreme I have cooked was a pizza from Papa Murphy’s. After starting, I turned the temp to “Max”. The grill quickly...five minutes or so...reached 450 degrees and I inserted the pizza on its paper tray. I turned the temp down to 375 after about five minutes because it was staying up around 450 and the pizza instructions were to cook at 400. After ten minutes I checked for bubbles in the crust and there were none and the crust was beginning to brown. I rotated the pizza 90 degrees and let it cook 8 more minutes. (We are at 4000 feet, so cooking anything takes about 10% longer than at sea level.). The crust was crisp and brown, the smoke infusion added a dimension that was far better than I expected, and the company raved about the great pizza! Don’t even think about it! Buy this grill.
Aaron : Great for low and slow cooking
I had been thinking for a while about getting a smoker, and I bought this not quite knowing what to expect. Here are my impressions after using it this past summer.
This grill was heavier than I expected, and my initial impression was that it is well built. The cooking racks are good quality. Assembly was very straight forward with all parts clearly labeled and pretty decent instructions. After putting everything together it was time to fire it up.
Follow the instructions for priming the auger and lighting the grill the first time. It's important to burn off the oils from the manufacturing process before cooking on it. The instructions for this were a little less clear, but I was able to follow along.
Cooking on this pellet smoker is great as long as you know what to expect. This smoker is very good at maintaining constant low temperatures in the 180 to 275 F range. Don't expect to be running it at high temperatures for searing meats, etc. The maximum I could get my grill up to was about 420 F, and then during the shutdown cycle the pellets in the auger caught on fire from the residual heat. In hindsight, I should have backed the temperature down to 250 for a half hour or so before shutting it down to prevent this.
The bottom line here is that the quality is on a par with some name brand pellet grills but at half the price. Stick to the low and slow BBQ temperature range, and this little smoker works like a champ!
This grill was heavier than I expected, and my initial impression was that it is well built. The cooking racks are good quality. Assembly was very straight forward with all parts clearly labeled and pretty decent instructions. After putting everything together it was time to fire it up.
Follow the instructions for priming the auger and lighting the grill the first time. It's important to burn off the oils from the manufacturing process before cooking on it. The instructions for this were a little less clear, but I was able to follow along.
Cooking on this pellet smoker is great as long as you know what to expect. This smoker is very good at maintaining constant low temperatures in the 180 to 275 F range. Don't expect to be running it at high temperatures for searing meats, etc. The maximum I could get my grill up to was about 420 F, and then during the shutdown cycle the pellets in the auger caught on fire from the residual heat. In hindsight, I should have backed the temperature down to 250 for a half hour or so before shutting it down to prevent this.
The bottom line here is that the quality is on a par with some name brand pellet grills but at half the price. Stick to the low and slow BBQ temperature range, and this little smoker works like a champ!
Walter : Bad Hopper
I have used this grill 5 times and have experimented with all different types of meat. I love the grill but the hopper is poorly designed. The pellets form a hole right above the auger and stop dropping in. There is a small ledge at the bottom of the hopper and ultimately if you do not continue to check it the grill will stop burning. This model is no longer available and if you check the Z-grills website you'll see that they changed the hopper design.
Great cooking and temp control but you can't leave this on all night or for hours without checking the pellets.
Great cooking and temp control but you can't leave this on all night or for hours without checking the pellets.
Mike : Disappointed
Bought grill/smoker two weeks ago. Was impressed initially by ease of assembly. Product seemed well made. After 3 uses it no longer worked. Customer support is nonexistent. Message states hours of operation, I was well within stated hours. Says leave message but that line just rings. Returning grill to Amazon. Will spend more money to get a grill that will last.
Erin : Do not buy! Not worth it!
Worst pellet grill ever! I wish I would have spent the extra money and got a Traeger or spent the same amount of money and got a Pit Boss. Have had it 3 months and have had multiple temperature malfunctions. Contacted Z Grills, they sent a new controller, still didn't fix the problem. Contacted Z Grills to let them know still not working. They said they would send a new hopper after the weekend. 3 weeks go by and I still haven't gotten to hopper, so I contact Z Grills again and the hoppers are out of stock. It is even more frustrating that $45 briskets and racks of ribs are getting ruined because of this. They will not send me a new grill or refund me.
country5 : holds temp consistenly
The grill came promptly and in good condition. I have some assembly experience so putting it together was not hard; having two people is a big help. The instruction are clear with lots of pictures and all the hard ware is clearly labeled and the grill came with all the tools needed to put it together. This is my first pellet grill so I cannot compare it to others but my cooking experiences have been very positive. Cooking the meat low and slow along with a good level of smoke has made for delicious meals. I have kept a close eye on the temperature the swings are easily within ten degrees. I have found that stepping up the temperature in increment works best. For reference I put a full untrimmed rack of pork ribs and two 1.5 lb ropes of sausage on the grill and it was full. ( 540 sq in grill size) The grill is built well and easy to use I would buy another Z Grill. The only frustration I found was there is no hole for a meat probe so I took a 3/16 drill bit and made my own. Hope I did not void my warranty of increase the risk of rust where I drilled.
Ken M : Good value for a pellet smoker
Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model
The main grill is approximately 15.5 by 21 inches. There is a secondary ‘warming’ grill that is about 6 by 21 inches (with my measurements). The warming grill is above the level of the exhaust, so cooking meat on it is probably not a good idea. You can put veggies up there and just wait until they are done. The warming grill sits in a stationary position in the back, about 4 inches above the main grill. If you are cooking a large roast, the warming grill might need to be removed. I have to give a -1 star for the evasive advertisement of the (450 sq. in.) cooking area. Other than that, I love this thing.
I own a wood fired, offset grill, that cooks great with lots of attention. I wanted a smallish smoker that would not waste fuel on cooking just one roast. This grill/smoker cooks great without much attention at all. In my case, it is also much cheaper to burn pellets for 8 or 10 hours than to keep a charcoal fire going for that long. I have also owned a propane grill. Propane seemed good for chicken but other meats did not have much flavor. Your results may vary.
The temperature control is a switch calibrated in temperature increments. The settings are ‘Shut Down’, ‘Smoke’, 180, then 225-375 degrees in 25 degree steps. The last selection is ‘High’, which I think is 450. I normally only do 225 degree smoking.
The temperature appears to be controlled by a combination of fan and auger speed. The temperature sensor is about at grill level on the hotter end of the unit.
I could set 225F and after a 30 minute warm up measured (without meat) 224 on the left, 224 at center and 233 on the right. For a wood fired grill that is close to perfect. Depending on the meats and local weather conditions, the temperature may vary. On a large pork roast I saw temperatures between 200 and 240 when set at 225 on a 60 degree windy day. Mostly it stays around what you have set.
This thing is really heavy, over 85 pounds. The only plastic parts I could see are the wheels. More metal usually means better cooking for an oven. I have no complaints.
I've done some pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, and beef tri tip. all with expected good results. This past weekend, I decided to try a pork butt, without using a Texas crutch. Eighteen hours later at 225F, I had some really good roast. It used about 20 pounds of pellets over the 18 hours, all at 225. I would never had attempted that with my charcoal smoker. Too much time and money evolved in keeping a charcoal fire going that long.
These pellet smokers do not add an overpowering smoke flavor. If you like extra smokey meats, you can get a pellet fired smoke tube that will provide more than enough extra smoke for under $20.
Updated 6SEP20:
I've been using this grill almost daily for six months now and fell in love with it, I kicked my rating from 4, up to 5 stars. It is so darned easy to use and clean, keep foil on the drip tray thing and life is good. You will need to vacuum out the fire pot at about every 20-30 pounds of pellets (or sooner). I found I can get 40 pound bags of pellets at the local hardware store for around $15, not the super deluxe pellets, but good just the same. Way cheaper than using charcoal. The only thing I miss is the ability to sear over an open flame. This grill will heat up to over 420 degrees so it is possible to simulate that flame grilled finish.
The main grill is approximately 15.5 by 21 inches. There is a secondary ‘warming’ grill that is about 6 by 21 inches (with my measurements). The warming grill is above the level of the exhaust, so cooking meat on it is probably not a good idea. You can put veggies up there and just wait until they are done. The warming grill sits in a stationary position in the back, about 4 inches above the main grill. If you are cooking a large roast, the warming grill might need to be removed. I have to give a -1 star for the evasive advertisement of the (450 sq. in.) cooking area. Other than that, I love this thing.
I own a wood fired, offset grill, that cooks great with lots of attention. I wanted a smallish smoker that would not waste fuel on cooking just one roast. This grill/smoker cooks great without much attention at all. In my case, it is also much cheaper to burn pellets for 8 or 10 hours than to keep a charcoal fire going for that long. I have also owned a propane grill. Propane seemed good for chicken but other meats did not have much flavor. Your results may vary.
The temperature control is a switch calibrated in temperature increments. The settings are ‘Shut Down’, ‘Smoke’, 180, then 225-375 degrees in 25 degree steps. The last selection is ‘High’, which I think is 450. I normally only do 225 degree smoking.
The temperature appears to be controlled by a combination of fan and auger speed. The temperature sensor is about at grill level on the hotter end of the unit.
I could set 225F and after a 30 minute warm up measured (without meat) 224 on the left, 224 at center and 233 on the right. For a wood fired grill that is close to perfect. Depending on the meats and local weather conditions, the temperature may vary. On a large pork roast I saw temperatures between 200 and 240 when set at 225 on a 60 degree windy day. Mostly it stays around what you have set.
This thing is really heavy, over 85 pounds. The only plastic parts I could see are the wheels. More metal usually means better cooking for an oven. I have no complaints.
I've done some pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, and beef tri tip. all with expected good results. This past weekend, I decided to try a pork butt, without using a Texas crutch. Eighteen hours later at 225F, I had some really good roast. It used about 20 pounds of pellets over the 18 hours, all at 225. I would never had attempted that with my charcoal smoker. Too much time and money evolved in keeping a charcoal fire going that long.
These pellet smokers do not add an overpowering smoke flavor. If you like extra smokey meats, you can get a pellet fired smoke tube that will provide more than enough extra smoke for under $20.
Updated 6SEP20:
I've been using this grill almost daily for six months now and fell in love with it, I kicked my rating from 4, up to 5 stars. It is so darned easy to use and clean, keep foil on the drip tray thing and life is good. You will need to vacuum out the fire pot at about every 20-30 pounds of pellets (or sooner). I found I can get 40 pound bags of pellets at the local hardware store for around $15, not the super deluxe pellets, but good just the same. Way cheaper than using charcoal. The only thing I miss is the ability to sear over an open flame. This grill will heat up to over 420 degrees so it is possible to simulate that flame grilled finish.
abc-ct : We use this thing alot, never using a gas grill again..
So we got this grill, after a few weeks I sold my gas grill. These pellet grills are great. The Zgrill has worked just fine, and comes with a cover. Make sure you clean the ash out of the bottom as required. I did not on an overnight brisket and had to move it to the oven while I waited for the grill to cool down so I could clean the ash and restart. If you get the ER2 message on the display it means a probe error and you might not have been on the right setting when you turned it on. Their Customer Service was quick and sent me this message regarding the ER2 message:
If the ER2 disappears after these steps, there is nothing to worry about as this is just a default setting by the manufacturer.
To resolve the ER2 error on your first initiation of the grill.
1. Plug it in
2. Dial should be on SMOKE by default
3. Flip the switch and the display shows "ER2"
4. Turn the dial back to SHUT DOWN CYCLE and turn it back to SMOKE setting
5. Error code should be gone and the grill starts working
If the ER2 disappears after these steps, there is nothing to worry about as this is just a default setting by the manufacturer.
To resolve the ER2 error on your first initiation of the grill.
1. Plug it in
2. Dial should be on SMOKE by default
3. Flip the switch and the display shows "ER2"
4. Turn the dial back to SHUT DOWN CYCLE and turn it back to SMOKE setting
5. Error code should be gone and the grill starts working
Amazon Customer : This company needs to address this grill
Terrible grill/smoker it has two settings basically high and low. You set it to any other temps on the dial and it just still goes up to 450-500 degrees. Smoke setting runs between 150-180 degrees. If you do not know how to cook but by timer you better leave this thing alone as you are going to get sick. I been cooking professionally for years and if you do not babysit this thing you're going to end up with inconsistent food. I've tried every trick in the book to get this thing to actually cook evenly but it runs way to hot to even attempt. There are numerous complaints here that this company needs to address but ignores so this is obviously a money scam and amazon is backing them up by still selling it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
RandyMarsh : The under & over compensation is true. Do not buy unless you want an inconsistent experience
Have been looking for a first time smoker for several weeks now and saw this on a deal for $295. Read other Amazon reviews about how this machine will underheat then overcompensate and YEP. If you set it at 225 (or any temp for the matter) it will start by going up to 300 then drops down to 190. Then does the process on repeat. Not very happy that I can't have a consistent temperature for making all these different kinds of food.
Thought "every product has a lemon the couple 1 stars are off cases" then get the exact issues the others have commented. DO NOT buy this grill if you care about a consistent cooking experience. Instructions on top of it all were not even the least bit useful. Had to watch a video from z grill which even then was not specific on which bolts and the products in the video for my 450a were different than what mine has such as the Greece bucket and heat shield dissapator.
Wish I would of bought a pit boss or traeger.
Thought "every product has a lemon the couple 1 stars are off cases" then get the exact issues the others have commented. DO NOT buy this grill if you care about a consistent cooking experience. Instructions on top of it all were not even the least bit useful. Had to watch a video from z grill which even then was not specific on which bolts and the products in the video for my 450a were different than what mine has such as the Greece bucket and heat shield dissapator.
Wish I would of bought a pit boss or traeger.
Apasionado : Excitement turned to absolute disappointment.
I bought this grill in 2019. I was so excited to use this grill and the first two times I used it, it worked perfectly. Well, the next two times I used it, it didn’t go so well. The temp control doesn’t work. It never hits or gets close to the target temp and even when it gets kinda close, it starts to lose temp. I thought it was user error, so I pulled out all the pellets, cleaned out the burn box real good and tried again.. nope, exact same problem. I’m so very disappointed. I went from telling all my friends how awesome it worked to telling them it broke on me and I’m guessing I’m out hundreds of dollars.
So then I get on Amazon to see what the details say about warranty. Well well well, I see the new 2020 model FIXED a known problem which happens to be the exact problem I’m having. Wow! I truly hope they make this right for me somehow. I can’t afford to toss a grill that cost me a few hundred dollars.
So then I get on Amazon to see what the details say about warranty. Well well well, I see the new 2020 model FIXED a known problem which happens to be the exact problem I’m having. Wow! I truly hope they make this right for me somehow. I can’t afford to toss a grill that cost me a few hundred dollars.
Charles Brueck : Best Grill Investment EVER!
I'm not really sure what to say about this grill other than it's taken my outdoor cooking to ANOTHER LEVEL. I love everything about it and at a fraction of the cost of other grills I have purchased over the years. Throw away the charcoal, propane and eggs. Don't believe me here's a testimonial from my finicky 15 yrld daughter..."dad these are the best ribs EVER." My response "the best I have ever cooked?" Her "NO the best ribs I have ever tasted in my life."
If that's not enough to sell you on this grill, how about after several months of wonderful service you come out and the grill just won't come on? Trouble shooting down to the master control unit. Email customer service and immediately get a response. After a couple of back and forth, "try this, try that emails, they ship FREE OF CHARGE a new control unit. 5 minute install later and grill is back to 100% operational.
GREAT GRILL, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
If that's not enough to sell you on this grill, how about after several months of wonderful service you come out and the grill just won't come on? Trouble shooting down to the master control unit. Email customer service and immediately get a response. After a couple of back and forth, "try this, try that emails, they ship FREE OF CHARGE a new control unit. 5 minute install later and grill is back to 100% operational.
GREAT GRILL, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Mike : Disappointed
Bought grill/smoker two weeks ago. Was impressed initially by ease of assembly. Product seemed well made. After 3 uses it no longer worked. Customer support is nonexistent. Message states hours of operation, I was well within stated hours. Says leave message but that line just rings. Returning grill to Amazon. Will spend more money to get a grill that will last.
john e. harvey : This is a find
Saw some negative reviews on older models but this was an upgrade to 2020. I took a chance and ordered one. I have really enjoyed this pellet smoker. It's a perfect size for my use, but may be a bit small if you entertain larger crowds. I only gave 4 stars for temperature control, but at 350 and below is does well and smokes like crazy. Ribs, burgers and steaks are so good. I still haven't challenged a brisket or pork butt, but have no doubt this grill will handle it!!!!
Tessawessa : Terrible experience, broken grill. DO NOT BUY.
I bought this smoker for my husband for Christmas after researching multiple different websites for making the best BBQ. He is a carpenter and very good with tools. He assembled the grill and the auger wouldn't spin. We called ZGrills and they said we had to let it run longer so we did and it didn’t work. We called again and then they sent us a new motor without instructions??! Then they sent us a video on how to replace the motor but it was for a different model. They do not offer in person or on the phone support. They rarely answer the phone. The only person who answers the phone is a young woman with an accent who acted as though she has never heard of us or our problem every time I spoke to her. We ended up returning it to Amazon but was stuck with a $75 restocking fee. The seemingly only have one employee and she is incompetent, mouthy, and worthless. She offered to reimburse us for our troubles with a bag of pellets?? People without functional grills do not need pellets. She literally asked me if I would give her a good review if she sent us a check for the $75 restocking fee.
Geoffrey A. Sergeant : If you just want a pellet smoker this thing is perfect.
This Z grills works great. I've made, beef brisket, pork belly burnt ends, pulled pork, beef jerky and smoked turkey so far. I bought this back in January.
This grill will not get much hotter than 400 degrees, so if you're looking for something that gets 500+ you should expect to spend a couple hundred more. I already have a propane grill for higher temps.
Some tips, buy a pellet tube, a blow torch, heavy duty aluminum foil and a Thermoworks Thermometer and some BBQ gloves and a shop vac, and a water proof bucket.
Always clean up after each use, line your drip pan with foil and with a shop vac it'll be a fast cleanup.
Water proof bucket protects your pellets, blow torch lights your pellet tube quickly and they're fun and the pellet tube allows you to cold smoke fish or just get more smoke.
My grill has already survived cold weather and fired up like new. Treat it right and it should last a long time.
This grill will not get much hotter than 400 degrees, so if you're looking for something that gets 500+ you should expect to spend a couple hundred more. I already have a propane grill for higher temps.
Some tips, buy a pellet tube, a blow torch, heavy duty aluminum foil and a Thermoworks Thermometer and some BBQ gloves and a shop vac, and a water proof bucket.
Always clean up after each use, line your drip pan with foil and with a shop vac it'll be a fast cleanup.
Water proof bucket protects your pellets, blow torch lights your pellet tube quickly and they're fun and the pellet tube allows you to cold smoke fish or just get more smoke.
My grill has already survived cold weather and fired up like new. Treat it right and it should last a long time.
Yu : Nice to have for first time buyers
It’s our first time to buy a grill. We thought it would be pretty hard to ensemble but it turned out straight forward! It has wheels on one side and it is easy to be moved around. Besides all the cool features a grill could possibly has, it also looks great! Also it has a nice cover that we can put on to prevent dust and stuff. All in all, this is a great grill and it’s portable, nice and neat, easy to assemble, etc. Strongly recommend it if you are looking for a great grill!
Hugh Ashburn : Best grill purchase we’ve ever made
We’ve had our Z Grill ZPG-450A pellet grill for a little over two weeks. It was relatively easy to put together, with 2 of us. (Wife and I)
The grill seems well built and heavy duty. I followed the start-up directions, and then cooked chicken on it that evening. We’ve since cooked burgers, pork chops, meat loaf, and steak on the Z Grill and love it. I’ve used a hardwood mix (per my Son-in-Laws recommendation) and we are very happy. Like cooking in an outside oven with a nice smoky taste. This is a perfect size for the two of us, and would probably work fine for a small family also.
All the things we have cooked have kept their moisture, and remained juicy. No burning on one side!
My next challenge will be a brisket. We highly recommend the Z Grill 450A, so far. Hopefully they did get whatever “bugs” fixed from previous models (per the description on Amazon). I’ll update our review after a few months.
The grill seems well built and heavy duty. I followed the start-up directions, and then cooked chicken on it that evening. We’ve since cooked burgers, pork chops, meat loaf, and steak on the Z Grill and love it. I’ve used a hardwood mix (per my Son-in-Laws recommendation) and we are very happy. Like cooking in an outside oven with a nice smoky taste. This is a perfect size for the two of us, and would probably work fine for a small family also.
All the things we have cooked have kept their moisture, and remained juicy. No burning on one side!
My next challenge will be a brisket. We highly recommend the Z Grill 450A, so far. Hopefully they did get whatever “bugs” fixed from previous models (per the description on Amazon). I’ll update our review after a few months.
john e. harvey : This is a find
Saw some negative reviews on older models but this was an upgrade to 2020. I took a chance and ordered one. I have really enjoyed this pellet smoker. It's a perfect size for my use, but may be a bit small if you entertain larger crowds. I only gave 4 stars for temperature control, but at 350 and below is does well and smokes like crazy. Ribs, burgers and steaks are so good. I still haven't challenged a brisket or pork butt, but have no doubt this grill will handle it!!!!
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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