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
Paul H. : keep your grill clean and covered waterproof cover
When I first got the grill I found that it was easy to assemble, everything shipped and was packed very good.
Just make sure you follow the directions closely sit down and pre-read them before assembling so you understand lay out the parts get to know what is what most important take your time think it out.
after I assemble the grill I was anxious to go ahead and get it fired up.
I found that I needed to take the switch and move it to shut down and then back to smoke to get the fan to start once I figured this out it was easy to operate.
this is not a high-end Grill but A-Affordable grill.
and for me it is perfect I have a small family so I do not need a large Grill.
So overall I say this is a very good purchase the quality seems to be very good no problem so far have done many cooks.
Definitely invest in a cover to keep it dry.
Just make sure you follow the directions closely sit down and pre-read them before assembling so you understand lay out the parts get to know what is what most important take your time think it out.
after I assemble the grill I was anxious to go ahead and get it fired up.
I found that I needed to take the switch and move it to shut down and then back to smoke to get the fan to start once I figured this out it was easy to operate.
this is not a high-end Grill but A-Affordable grill.
and for me it is perfect I have a small family so I do not need a large Grill.
So overall I say this is a very good purchase the quality seems to be very good no problem so far have done many cooks.
Definitely invest in a cover to keep it dry.
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.
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.
John Phelps : Not top of the line but more than good enough
Several of my friends have Traeger Pellet Grills and the meat that comes off these things is fantastic. But I couldn't see spending that kind of money for something that I might use 3-4 times a month. So I found this Z Grillls pellet grilll that seems to be equivalent to my fiends Traegers but for about $200 less.
Assembly was pretty straightforward. Flipping the grill and attached hopper assembly upside down without any help was a challenge but overall, it was pretty easy to assemble.
The cooking surface is somewhat lower than what I'm used to - my Weber gas grill is quite a bit higher - and I feel like I'm being down when use it. Plus the inside feels a little cramped; especially when the upper rack is in place. And the temperature seems to vary more than I expected.
However, the bottom line is the food that comes off it. I started with two racks of ribs cooked the 3-2-1 method and even though one was kind of dried out, the taste was incredible. Each rack had a perfect smoke ring and was fall off the bone tender.
I've only used this once but I can't wait to try it again. This Z Grills unit was well worth the investment and I'd have no reservations recommending it to anyone looking for a smoker.
Assembly was pretty straightforward. Flipping the grill and attached hopper assembly upside down without any help was a challenge but overall, it was pretty easy to assemble.
The cooking surface is somewhat lower than what I'm used to - my Weber gas grill is quite a bit higher - and I feel like I'm being down when use it. Plus the inside feels a little cramped; especially when the upper rack is in place. And the temperature seems to vary more than I expected.
However, the bottom line is the food that comes off it. I started with two racks of ribs cooked the 3-2-1 method and even though one was kind of dried out, the taste was incredible. Each rack had a perfect smoke ring and was fall off the bone tender.
I've only used this once but I can't wait to try it again. This Z Grills unit was well worth the investment and I'd have no reservations recommending it to anyone looking for a smoker.
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.
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.
Joanna Basham : Cut off all the time,..error codes
It wasn't hard to assemble, fired up decently. I used about 6 times, each time it would cut off mid smoke. "Set it and forget it" wasn't really the case. Each time it happened it was a family gathering and I would scramble to get the meat done. I would leave it for an hour or two and when I came back, it was off with an error code By the time I realized it had cut off, the meat had dropped in temp so that was a pain. I contacted customer service via email, didnt get really helpful feedback . They made suggestions but in essence I was asked to take the thing apart and try to fix it. I regret not buying a Traeger or something better. I ended up selling it because was so disappointed
Laramie : LOVE LOVE LOVE this grill!
A visited a friend in Dallas who has had a Z Grill for 6 months. He was raving about it. He cooked Steaks, Chicken, and Pork Chops (5 meals) and all were awesome. I'm a finicky steak cooker. Seared and rare is all I ask. He put on some huge rib eyes the first night. He told me it would take a little over an hour. All I could think of was hating well done meat; and looking in the fridge to see what options they had. The meat was perfect; tender; very juicy; smoke complementing the flavor; delicious. Same experience with the pork chops; pork tenderloin; and Strip steaks. All perfect. I was sold. Ordered one after I got home doing a fair amount of research. The Treager seemed to be closest pellet grill based on reviews from customers and rating agencies. This is so much easier far more dependable than my Komodo grill. Try one, you'll buy one. Z Grill rocks.
Josef : Almost every single part was damaged. DO NOT BUY
Grill lasted just over a month before complete failure of pellet auger. DO NOT BUY
I opened the grill this morning so far I have noted. Scratch on big drum, chipped paint on lid, giant dent in hopper box, both handle grommets deformed, and no wheel nut covers that were supposed to be in the box. So far even with ease of assembly I am very disappointed.
*update*
While it is ugly with all the dents and dings all over it works as expected, still leaving at 1 star due to the damage to it.
*2nd update* Manufacturer will not send replacement parts for damage, instead they offered me three bags of pellets. If I could give less than a 1 star I would . This has been a nightmare since I hit buy. From the shipping being delayed multiple times to the price dropping before I received it, to it being damaged and neither amazon or the manufacturer will make it right
*3rd* update* manufacturer will be sending replacement parts.
*4th* update, Zgrills is no longer sending me replacement parts, the grill is out side the return window and no longer functioning. DO NOT BUY
I opened the grill this morning so far I have noted. Scratch on big drum, chipped paint on lid, giant dent in hopper box, both handle grommets deformed, and no wheel nut covers that were supposed to be in the box. So far even with ease of assembly I am very disappointed.
*update*
While it is ugly with all the dents and dings all over it works as expected, still leaving at 1 star due to the damage to it.
*2nd update* Manufacturer will not send replacement parts for damage, instead they offered me three bags of pellets. If I could give less than a 1 star I would . This has been a nightmare since I hit buy. From the shipping being delayed multiple times to the price dropping before I received it, to it being damaged and neither amazon or the manufacturer will make it right
*3rd* update* manufacturer will be sending replacement parts.
*4th* update, Zgrills is no longer sending me replacement parts, the grill is out side the return window and no longer functioning. DO NOT BUY
Chris F. : Can't beat it for the price
I waited a year to write this review. And let me say this was a fantastic investment. And that year span, I've deep cleaned it once, and cooked brisket, corned beef (also brisket), pork shoulders, ribs, steaks, chicken the list goes on. This thing handles everything I've thrown at it and then some. It smokes food beautifully. Bakes and grills wonderfully. It takes a minute to get the hang of especially coming from smoking foods the traditional way with wood and a firebox but it's by no means a steep learning curve. It has consistent temperature control which when you have small children to wrangle and other work to do means you can set it and forget it only checking on the food when necessary without also having to maintain a fire. If I remember I'll try and update yearly as we go along.
HF : A smoker it is not!
This is a pretty decent grill that burns wood pellets. It can cook juicy burgers and steaks just fine.
As a smoker, it falls way short. The temperature control is not perfect for smoking - 225 is more like anywhere between 230 and 260. But tuning around that, my biggest complaint is that id does not create enough smoke to smoke meats with flavor.
I'm coming from an electric smoker that burns wood ships to create smoke, and a charcoal smoker that does the same. If you want that smoked flavor in your pork spare ribs, get a _real_ smoker and pass on this. If you want a BBQ that burns wood pellets and has a slightly different flavor than a propane grill, then this might be for you.
As a smoker, it falls way short. The temperature control is not perfect for smoking - 225 is more like anywhere between 230 and 260. But tuning around that, my biggest complaint is that id does not create enough smoke to smoke meats with flavor.
I'm coming from an electric smoker that burns wood ships to create smoke, and a charcoal smoker that does the same. If you want that smoked flavor in your pork spare ribs, get a _real_ smoker and pass on this. If you want a BBQ that burns wood pellets and has a slightly different flavor than a propane grill, then this might be for you.
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.
John Smith : Instructions suck
Well. It got here fast. The simple instructions say use a screw here and there. But it doesn't say which one. There's 5 different screw bolts and washer setups but it never really (beyond the package) tell you what screw goes where. Infact the instructions miss several steps that you just have to do. Such as hinges and handles. The tools they give you are not even the right size. At least the wrench. Gotta use your own or it's a bust. But I hope it can cook well.
Cooks good.
Cooks good.
John Smith : Instructions suck
Well. It got here fast. The simple instructions say use a screw here and there. But it doesn't say which one. There's 5 different screw bolts and washer setups but it never really (beyond the package) tell you what screw goes where. Infact the instructions miss several steps that you just have to do. Such as hinges and handles. The tools they give you are not even the right size. At least the wrench. Gotta use your own or it's a bust. But I hope it can cook well.
Cooks good.
Cooks good.
Edwin K. Ferguson : Initial Review of the ZPG 450E
This is my first pellet smoker and I think I have a LOT to learn, but here's my initial impression.
My grill came on time. While there were a few dents in the box, the contents were perfect. Assembly was straight forward so long as you take the time to read the instructions in the manual as well as use the illustrations (packed separately). Remember this though- there are absolutely NO SPARE PARTS, screws, bolts, washers, nuts, etc. so be careful not to lose any.
As I said, the assembly went well- everything fit as they should and the finished product is sturdy and seemingly well constructed. I would advise that you check twice to be sure this grill is large enough for your needs. It is smaller than I had imagined, partly because the second tray adds to their sq. inches claim of 450. The actual measurement of the main grill is 15 1/2" X21 1/4." Big enough for us, most of the time but if you're planning on a large turkey, for instance, get a larger grill.
I did an initial break-in and that went well with the exception that this grill, while having a limit of 450º only got up to 406º. The weather was cold and wet (my grill is on a covered deck). I contacted Zgrills support and was informed that in weather such as this the grill would not make it all the way to 450º. While that will work ok for me it might not get warm enough (in cold weather) for you so keep that in mind although I understand that this is a fairly common occurrence with other brands as well.
My first (and only use so far) was simply some hotdogs and sausage... grilled fine with a little bit of smoky flavor.
To wrap this up, I'd say I'm satisfied with the new grill so far.
My grill came on time. While there were a few dents in the box, the contents were perfect. Assembly was straight forward so long as you take the time to read the instructions in the manual as well as use the illustrations (packed separately). Remember this though- there are absolutely NO SPARE PARTS, screws, bolts, washers, nuts, etc. so be careful not to lose any.
As I said, the assembly went well- everything fit as they should and the finished product is sturdy and seemingly well constructed. I would advise that you check twice to be sure this grill is large enough for your needs. It is smaller than I had imagined, partly because the second tray adds to their sq. inches claim of 450. The actual measurement of the main grill is 15 1/2" X21 1/4." Big enough for us, most of the time but if you're planning on a large turkey, for instance, get a larger grill.
I did an initial break-in and that went well with the exception that this grill, while having a limit of 450º only got up to 406º. The weather was cold and wet (my grill is on a covered deck). I contacted Zgrills support and was informed that in weather such as this the grill would not make it all the way to 450º. While that will work ok for me it might not get warm enough (in cold weather) for you so keep that in mind although I understand that this is a fairly common occurrence with other brands as well.
My first (and only use so far) was simply some hotdogs and sausage... grilled fine with a little bit of smoky flavor.
To wrap this up, I'd say I'm satisfied with the new grill so far.
Chico Dusty : Smoking made easy
I bought this grill after researching alot of other products and the price was to appealing, I took other complaints with a grain of salt just because I've seen grills 3x this price with very bad reviews, but I digress.
The grill was easy to assemble arrived undamaged (rare for something this big in today's climate) and fired it up for the initial burn in, I was blown away by how fast it got up to temp, the grill held temp perfectly at 450 and the shut down burned off the remaining ashes. I smoked some spare ribs and was amazed by the flavor of the pellets and how simple it was use the grill with no fuss. I'd def by it again if given the option too.
The temps did fluctuate but what grill doesn't, but the temps corrected and then stabilized. My complaint are the grill grates, they aren't cast iron but that's a simple upgrade.
The grill was easy to assemble arrived undamaged (rare for something this big in today's climate) and fired it up for the initial burn in, I was blown away by how fast it got up to temp, the grill held temp perfectly at 450 and the shut down burned off the remaining ashes. I smoked some spare ribs and was amazed by the flavor of the pellets and how simple it was use the grill with no fuss. I'd def by it again if given the option too.
The temps did fluctuate but what grill doesn't, but the temps corrected and then stabilized. My complaint are the grill grates, they aren't cast iron but that's a simple upgrade.
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.
Michael : OK grill, but poor pellet hopper design
The problems with the pellet hopper design make this smoker very problematic. Even with a ton of wood pellets in the hopper, it will stop. The design of the hopper lets pellets get stuck, and then the auger runs dry... it effectively shuts down, with no wood covered to the fire.
This makes for huge frustration if you're not checking it every couple of hours... so in the crucial overnight part. While we have made some good BBQ on this grill, and it's basically an OK one - I would keep looking and find one that does not have this same design flaw.
This makes for huge frustration if you're not checking it every couple of hours... so in the crucial overnight part. While we have made some good BBQ on this grill, and it's basically an OK one - I would keep looking and find one that does not have this same design flaw.
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.
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!
JP : Doesn’t hold temp. Auger broke after 5 uses. Compa
Used it 5 times and the auger broke. Took 2 weeks for the manufacturer to get back to me and all they said was to "try the troubleshooting in the manual." This would of required tearing the grill apart, and splicing wires, etc. The company is from China and answers you throughout the night, so you have to wait until the next day to hear back from them again (if you hear back at all). The grill itself is built very cheap, and is flimsy. It has trouble getting up to temperature, and will not hold the temp. Save yourself a huge headache and aggrevation, and get yourself another brand grill. Luckily, Amazon backed me and refunded me since the manufacturer was absolutely no help in this case.
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.
JP : Doesn’t hold temp. Auger broke after 5 uses. Compa
Used it 5 times and the auger broke. Took 2 weeks for the manufacturer to get back to me and all they said was to "try the troubleshooting in the manual." This would of required tearing the grill apart, and splicing wires, etc. The company is from China and answers you throughout the night, so you have to wait until the next day to hear back from them again (if you hear back at all). The grill itself is built very cheap, and is flimsy. It has trouble getting up to temperature, and will not hold the temp. Save yourself a huge headache and aggrevation, and get yourself another brand grill. Luckily, Amazon backed me and refunded me since the manufacturer was absolutely no help in this case.
Amazon Customer : Don’t get this grill.
I can’t even begin to describe how disappointed I am in this grill. I don’t often treat myself to things and it took me six months to pull the trigger on purchasing a wood pellet grill after my other one was damaged in a move. The grill arrived quickly there’s a ton of pieces but I guess all in all it wasn’t the worst to put together. The first time we go to use it after letting it preheat it started to make a horrible sound that was shaking my entire deck. The sound stopped after about five minutes. However, it took forever and I want to say 45 minutes to even hit up to 375°. The minute I open the lid to put food on… The temperature dropped dramatically. Figured there was ashes in there from doing the whole start up procedure so today I purchased a shop vac and vacuumed some of the ashes out. Gave it a try again tonight. This time the grill did heat up more quickly. However, it has significant troubles trying to hold the temperature. I preheated to 375 and the minute I opened it and put food on it dropped to about 50° below. I then upped the temperature because I want it at 375 currently set at 450 and the temperature is reading 375. Terrible. It’s taking forever to cook my food. I would not recommend this product to anyone
Amazon Customer : This grill is crap- don’t waste your money
This is the first review I’ve ever written. DO NOT BUY THIS GRILL. When I received the grill it was severely damaged. Customer service has had three months to make this right. They sent me a new barrel (one that the legs didn’t line up with the holes on the barrel). We went with it. The grill still shut off after a few minutes due to low temperature. So back on the phone with customer service they decided it needed a new digital panel. So we received that and took the grill completely apart again. Once apart you could actually see the all the inner workings and nearly every piece was damaged. I’m currently waiting on customer service AGAIN, hoping they will attempt to make it right. I’m tired of the hours we have spent assembling, disassembling, and assembling. Three months into owning this grill and I still haven’t got to use it. I REPEAT, do not buy this grill. I wish I had just spent the money to buy a pit boss or traeger. This one is crap.
Goldndoodle : Feeder hopper caught fire!
Went to use this for the second time this afternoon - started up per directions, put steak on grill when warmed up, went in the house to make a phone call - came out to the feeder hopper smoking like wild! Turned it off, pulled the pellets out of hopper - it continued to smoke wildly for about an hour. After that, I was afraid to use this! I don't need to have my house burned down because the hopper full of pellets bursts into flames. Returning it to Amazon!
Paul H. : keep your grill clean and covered waterproof cover
When I first got the grill I found that it was easy to assemble, everything shipped and was packed very good.
Just make sure you follow the directions closely sit down and pre-read them before assembling so you understand lay out the parts get to know what is what most important take your time think it out.
after I assemble the grill I was anxious to go ahead and get it fired up.
I found that I needed to take the switch and move it to shut down and then back to smoke to get the fan to start once I figured this out it was easy to operate.
this is not a high-end Grill but A-Affordable grill.
and for me it is perfect I have a small family so I do not need a large Grill.
So overall I say this is a very good purchase the quality seems to be very good no problem so far have done many cooks.
Definitely invest in a cover to keep it dry.
Just make sure you follow the directions closely sit down and pre-read them before assembling so you understand lay out the parts get to know what is what most important take your time think it out.
after I assemble the grill I was anxious to go ahead and get it fired up.
I found that I needed to take the switch and move it to shut down and then back to smoke to get the fan to start once I figured this out it was easy to operate.
this is not a high-end Grill but A-Affordable grill.
and for me it is perfect I have a small family so I do not need a large Grill.
So overall I say this is a very good purchase the quality seems to be very good no problem so far have done many cooks.
Definitely invest in a cover to keep it dry.
Brad Groux : The Z GRILLS ZPG-550B 2019 is an amazing smoker/grill for the price!
I've had this grill for a little over the week and am loving it. The assembly took about an hour, and that was only because I put the legs on the wrong way so the shelf holes were pointing out. Make sure you're in a well lit room, unlike me and you shouldn't make this mistake. The included "startup list" steps you through the first startup and tests perfectly, so make sure you follow the list and you'll be cooking in no-time!
The attached pictures are prime cut beef ribs I smoked on 275°F for 6 hours, and choice cut pork ribs I smoked for 4 hours on 275°F - they both came out amazing! I've also used the grill to reverse-seer prime NY Strip steaks, by cooking on 225°F for 45 minutes, then cranking up to high (nearly 500°F) and seering for 90 seconds on each side for a PERFECT medium-rare steak.
I've cooked beef and pork ribs many, many times and I've reverse seered NY Strips countless times, and the best I've ever cooked them all was on this grill, NO JOKE! It truly makes grilling and smoking idiot proof, just get yourself a nice digital thermometer and you'll never mess up. The perfect mix pellets also give a great flavor that isn't too overpowering like a 100% hickory or mesquite.
$9.99 Smoker Thermometer - https://amzn.to/2Gt9iRH
$37.00 40lb bag of Perfect Mix Pellets - https://amzn.to/2XdLcjg
$13.99 Grill Cover works great - https://amzn.to/2IrDS02
You could certainly pay more for a name brand grill, but with the extended warranty and a cheap grill cover, I should more than get my money out of it. I'm also happy with the overall size, as it fits nicely on my covered second story patio.
The attached pictures are prime cut beef ribs I smoked on 275°F for 6 hours, and choice cut pork ribs I smoked for 4 hours on 275°F - they both came out amazing! I've also used the grill to reverse-seer prime NY Strip steaks, by cooking on 225°F for 45 minutes, then cranking up to high (nearly 500°F) and seering for 90 seconds on each side for a PERFECT medium-rare steak.
I've cooked beef and pork ribs many, many times and I've reverse seered NY Strips countless times, and the best I've ever cooked them all was on this grill, NO JOKE! It truly makes grilling and smoking idiot proof, just get yourself a nice digital thermometer and you'll never mess up. The perfect mix pellets also give a great flavor that isn't too overpowering like a 100% hickory or mesquite.
$9.99 Smoker Thermometer - https://amzn.to/2Gt9iRH
$37.00 40lb bag of Perfect Mix Pellets - https://amzn.to/2XdLcjg
$13.99 Grill Cover works great - https://amzn.to/2IrDS02
You could certainly pay more for a name brand grill, but with the extended warranty and a cheap grill cover, I should more than get my money out of it. I'm also happy with the overall size, as it fits nicely on my covered second story patio.
Goldndoodle : Feeder hopper caught fire!
Went to use this for the second time this afternoon - started up per directions, put steak on grill when warmed up, went in the house to make a phone call - came out to the feeder hopper smoking like wild! Turned it off, pulled the pellets out of hopper - it continued to smoke wildly for about an hour. After that, I was afraid to use this! I don't need to have my house burned down because the hopper full of pellets bursts into flames. Returning it to Amazon!
Chris : Good but....
OK so, got the grill. Assembly was quick and easy. Did the first ignition as described in the manual. Went to use it the next day and that's when we had problems. When we set it on 180 the temp would stay above 220 and go as high as 250. It would never anywhere near 180.when we set it on 225 it would stay around 325 to 350. We called z grills and after 12 tries to get ahold of someone we finialy got a person. They said to loosen the smoke cap but that did no good. We even removed it with no luck. After 5 hours a rep from z grills called me back and said it was probably the controller but they were on back order and shipped from China. Not acceptable for me sorry. So I am still waiting on a call back for a resolution to this issue after 1 day. So I called the seller from Amazon and talked to a nice lady who initiated a return with no issusles what so ever. I'm going to wait one more day to see if u hear back from z grills before I disassemble the grill, try to get it back in the box and ship it back for a replacement. I hope z grills Valles back and fixes this problem. I really do not want to take it apart and shop it back. Would rather replace a part. Well see and I'll update the review as needed.
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.
PDT : A great BBQ once you learn how to operate it
I've wanted a Traeger for years, but after seeing this grill at the price offered, I immediately purchased it. The construction of this grill is heavy duty, and thicker and heavier than I expected. The legs seem a little flimsy compared to the rest of the unit, but are adequate. Assembly consists of attaching the legs, wheels, handles, tray, and vent pipe.
Having never used a pellet BBQ before, it took me a couple runs to figure out how to cook with it. This is more of a convection cooker than a direct heat cooker. I used Traeger brand pellets and found the heat to be extremely variable. It can vary 50+ degrees from the target temperature. Also, on the highest setting it will hit 550 degrees and the safety system will shut off the BBQ. I also tried the Zgrill brand pellets and found the temperature to be less variable, but still varies widely from the target temp. Overall I don't think this really matters, the food I was cooking came out terrific. A whole chicken with the temp set to 400 took about an hour and came out perfect. The temp showed between 400-500 during cooking, but the variance in indicated temperature did not seem to do anything negative to the cooking process.
I also smoked a sockeye salmon filet for about 4 hours. This came out perfect with a very mild smokey flavor. Again, on the smoke setting the indicated temperature varied by about 50 degrees, the smoke was intermittent, but it got the job done.
Overall I'd say this BBQ is some what quirky, but once you learn how to use it, it can produce some excellent grilled or smoked meats.
Having never used a pellet BBQ before, it took me a couple runs to figure out how to cook with it. This is more of a convection cooker than a direct heat cooker. I used Traeger brand pellets and found the heat to be extremely variable. It can vary 50+ degrees from the target temperature. Also, on the highest setting it will hit 550 degrees and the safety system will shut off the BBQ. I also tried the Zgrill brand pellets and found the temperature to be less variable, but still varies widely from the target temp. Overall I don't think this really matters, the food I was cooking came out terrific. A whole chicken with the temp set to 400 took about an hour and came out perfect. The temp showed between 400-500 during cooking, but the variance in indicated temperature did not seem to do anything negative to the cooking process.
I also smoked a sockeye salmon filet for about 4 hours. This came out perfect with a very mild smokey flavor. Again, on the smoke setting the indicated temperature varied by about 50 degrees, the smoke was intermittent, but it got the job done.
Overall I'd say this BBQ is some what quirky, but once you learn how to use it, it can produce some excellent grilled or smoked meats.
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!
Vegas Local : BEST GRILL (and customer service) EVER
I love this grill. Had it for nearly a year and use it weekly. often more.
The hopper is big enough for a 18hr cook on a brisket. The best part about the z grill is their customer service. When mine was deliver it had a bent grill plate a quick email and a few pics and the shipped me a new one right away. I also had a component go faulty nearly a year after purchase and they shipped me that within 3 days. No hassle.
The only draw back about this model is probably the size. Plenty big enough for my fam. but i start running out of room when i’m feeding more than 8-9. esp with ribs and wings. So i’d be tempted to get a bigger one.
Also the pellets sometimes struggle ‘falling’ into the auger and can create a chasm or sorts. So you can have a hopper that is 3/4 full and nothing feeding the auger. Simple solution is to check it every few hours and make sure the pellets are sliding in well.
I use a external digital thermometer the measure temps so don’t see the need for the built in one. I would say that getting one with a bluetooth connect could be good. So if the above problem happens and your pellets quit flowing, you’ll get a man alert that there is a drop in temp. but that’s a lot of extra cash for that peace of mind.
Otherwise. BEST GRILL EVER. and the price!!!!!
The hopper is big enough for a 18hr cook on a brisket. The best part about the z grill is their customer service. When mine was deliver it had a bent grill plate a quick email and a few pics and the shipped me a new one right away. I also had a component go faulty nearly a year after purchase and they shipped me that within 3 days. No hassle.
The only draw back about this model is probably the size. Plenty big enough for my fam. but i start running out of room when i’m feeding more than 8-9. esp with ribs and wings. So i’d be tempted to get a bigger one.
Also the pellets sometimes struggle ‘falling’ into the auger and can create a chasm or sorts. So you can have a hopper that is 3/4 full and nothing feeding the auger. Simple solution is to check it every few hours and make sure the pellets are sliding in well.
I use a external digital thermometer the measure temps so don’t see the need for the built in one. I would say that getting one with a bluetooth connect could be good. So if the above problem happens and your pellets quit flowing, you’ll get a man alert that there is a drop in temp. but that’s a lot of extra cash for that peace of mind.
Otherwise. BEST GRILL EVER. and the price!!!!!
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.
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
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
Carla : Great Pellet Grill
My husband has been wanting a Traeger for a while. I just couldn't see spending upwards of $1000 on one - at least not right now.
I found this on Amazon, and decided to give it a shot as a combination birthday/anniversary gift.
Smoking: We've really only done brisket on it so far, and have learned that it does smoke much faster than his old electric smoker. I also bought a wifi thermometer which helps him control the heat. The brisket has turned out fantastic.
Grilling: The first burgers and steaks we cooked were ok. The flavor was really good, but I was missing that sear. I've talked to a few people who have pellet grills, and it was not something we realized we would be giving up. We have a very small patio, and I bought the pellet grill to save space by combining our grill and smoker into one.
I did some research and found grill grates to go on top of the grates that come with the smoker that increase the surface temperature and we now have perfectly seared steaks and burgers, and good caramelization on BBQ chicken.
We've had the pellet smoker since April, and have not had any issues yet. There is a learning curve, but once you get past that, the food is absolutely delicious.
I found this on Amazon, and decided to give it a shot as a combination birthday/anniversary gift.
Smoking: We've really only done brisket on it so far, and have learned that it does smoke much faster than his old electric smoker. I also bought a wifi thermometer which helps him control the heat. The brisket has turned out fantastic.
Grilling: The first burgers and steaks we cooked were ok. The flavor was really good, but I was missing that sear. I've talked to a few people who have pellet grills, and it was not something we realized we would be giving up. We have a very small patio, and I bought the pellet grill to save space by combining our grill and smoker into one.
I did some research and found grill grates to go on top of the grates that come with the smoker that increase the surface temperature and we now have perfectly seared steaks and burgers, and good caramelization on BBQ chicken.
We've had the pellet smoker since April, and have not had any issues yet. There is a learning curve, but once you get past that, the food is absolutely delicious.
Sandi O : Looking forward to overcoming the learning curve
So far I’ve use basic pellets without any problems. Below is my review
Assembly; I easily assembled this alone. The “Quick” guide was useless as it offered no info on what screw, washers etc. we’re being used. The printed manual provided that info but due to poor print quality it was difficult to read. The inclusion of almost all the necessary tools was nice. I say almost as there was no wrench big enough for the wheel axels. Manual needs to be tweaked, it has you installing lid handles and then several steps later installing the lift handle??? The lack of a method to store the power cord when not in use was easily overcome with a Command Strip hook. Otherwise assembly was rather easy. I’m glad this unit included a cover. Living in SE AZ, I made not need it much, the question is, how long will it hold up in the AZ sun?
Startup; Followed instructions to the letter. One to two minutes for the pellets to reach the fire pot...... I didn’t time it, but it seemed like it was a lot longer than that. All went well and did the initial burn off as instructed. It does emit much more noise than I expected.
Actual use; Did. Say I there was a big learning curve? This is where things get frustrating. There is a big temp difference between the left and right side. Part of that could have been the unit not being level. Even after leveling, the temp swing was a bit much. Smoke leakage, yep leaks like mad via the lid. A starter roll of their high temp tape would have been nice. Temp front to back, not sure I want to check this as the grease pan is curved the higher temps will be in the middle. No problem due to the fan, you say, not sure I agree with that. Upper Rack, it’s there and mainly useless. If your cooking chicken or anything over a few inches high, it will need to be removed. Otherwise you cannot put much on it, what you can put on it has to be thin. Also this rack is s a little bothersome to put in and take out. The temp swing while cooking also varies widely. It could be that it’s spring and the wind is playing a bigger part than expected, even with a slight breeze. I haven’t tried smoking anything yet, but will very soon. Sadly I’m sure that will entail a somewhat complex and time consuming task of removing current pellets and refilling the hopper, yes I bought a basic model with no way to quickly change pellets, my bad. Smoking; haven’t tried it yet but I’m wondering, since the hat on the chimney is threaded can one adjust its height to help control the smoke and heat? I’ve seen such adjustments on other pellet smokers.
Speaking of all the wonderful functions this unit offers, how do you utilize them? I know I set the temp to what I want to in order to bake. What temp is recommended when grilling? Or the other functions? If the smoke is drastically reduced when the grill temp is over 180, how do you get the good smoky flavor? These questions should have already been answered in the manual, as we did buy a basic, beginners model smoker. Looking for some interesting recipes, they have them on their website with everything you need to know except the blend of pellets recommended to get the most flavor out of your food. Guess you need to check the pellet bags then do some trial and error.
With everything I’ve pointed out that may appear negative, I’m very happy with my ZGrill (Happy Birthday to me). Now if I could just get out of the habit of opening the lid while things are cooking.
Assembly; I easily assembled this alone. The “Quick” guide was useless as it offered no info on what screw, washers etc. we’re being used. The printed manual provided that info but due to poor print quality it was difficult to read. The inclusion of almost all the necessary tools was nice. I say almost as there was no wrench big enough for the wheel axels. Manual needs to be tweaked, it has you installing lid handles and then several steps later installing the lift handle??? The lack of a method to store the power cord when not in use was easily overcome with a Command Strip hook. Otherwise assembly was rather easy. I’m glad this unit included a cover. Living in SE AZ, I made not need it much, the question is, how long will it hold up in the AZ sun?
Startup; Followed instructions to the letter. One to two minutes for the pellets to reach the fire pot...... I didn’t time it, but it seemed like it was a lot longer than that. All went well and did the initial burn off as instructed. It does emit much more noise than I expected.
Actual use; Did. Say I there was a big learning curve? This is where things get frustrating. There is a big temp difference between the left and right side. Part of that could have been the unit not being level. Even after leveling, the temp swing was a bit much. Smoke leakage, yep leaks like mad via the lid. A starter roll of their high temp tape would have been nice. Temp front to back, not sure I want to check this as the grease pan is curved the higher temps will be in the middle. No problem due to the fan, you say, not sure I agree with that. Upper Rack, it’s there and mainly useless. If your cooking chicken or anything over a few inches high, it will need to be removed. Otherwise you cannot put much on it, what you can put on it has to be thin. Also this rack is s a little bothersome to put in and take out. The temp swing while cooking also varies widely. It could be that it’s spring and the wind is playing a bigger part than expected, even with a slight breeze. I haven’t tried smoking anything yet, but will very soon. Sadly I’m sure that will entail a somewhat complex and time consuming task of removing current pellets and refilling the hopper, yes I bought a basic model with no way to quickly change pellets, my bad. Smoking; haven’t tried it yet but I’m wondering, since the hat on the chimney is threaded can one adjust its height to help control the smoke and heat? I’ve seen such adjustments on other pellet smokers.
Speaking of all the wonderful functions this unit offers, how do you utilize them? I know I set the temp to what I want to in order to bake. What temp is recommended when grilling? Or the other functions? If the smoke is drastically reduced when the grill temp is over 180, how do you get the good smoky flavor? These questions should have already been answered in the manual, as we did buy a basic, beginners model smoker. Looking for some interesting recipes, they have them on their website with everything you need to know except the blend of pellets recommended to get the most flavor out of your food. Guess you need to check the pellet bags then do some trial and error.
With everything I’ve pointed out that may appear negative, I’m very happy with my ZGrill (Happy Birthday to me). Now if I could just get out of the habit of opening the lid while things are cooking.
Holly : Please don’t waste your money
Bought this a year ago. Did not have much success the entire season. Read some reviews and I have to agree with a lot. Mine is never consistent. Sometimes it works. Most of the time it does not. I paid over $400 less than a year ago for a piece of junk. I don’t know what my options are. Who repairs them ? Will they give me a refund.
Do not buy. Horrible decision. Bad product and it looks like the problems are consistent with other bad reviews
Do not buy. Horrible decision. Bad product and it looks like the problems are consistent with other bad reviews
Bridget Zaragoza : FAST SHIPPING
I got this for my husband. He was wanting this same one from Walmart but found it here on amazon for $20 less. PLUS it came with a cover. So I decided to purchase it. I ordered in the morning and by the afternoon the same day, I got a notification that it shipped! I thought that was pretty awesome. And it did arrive a day before it originally said it would. It took my husband a little over an hour to put together, he said the instructions were clear to understand. So far we are in love with this item. I will update my review after we get the chance to use it when the weather clears up where we live.
Sir Nitro : Smoking has never been so easy
I love this smoker, I wish I would have went bigger, but this one will suffice.
I had a nice huge brisket going, I started it late at night to let it burn through the wee hours. I went to check it as soon as I woke up and the unit was off and my half cooked brisket was cold. The hopper was half full of pellets, but it was like an invisible wall keeping them from entering in to the auger. I have had this happen several times, with various types of pellets, now though I just keep an eye on things closer. One reason I bought a pellet smoker was so I could set it and forget it, well can't do that with this one.
The only other issue I have is the lack of a way to clean the hopper out to change pellets, which I knew before purchasing it. Still makes it a pain to change pellets.
I had a nice huge brisket going, I started it late at night to let it burn through the wee hours. I went to check it as soon as I woke up and the unit was off and my half cooked brisket was cold. The hopper was half full of pellets, but it was like an invisible wall keeping them from entering in to the auger. I have had this happen several times, with various types of pellets, now though I just keep an eye on things closer. One reason I bought a pellet smoker was so I could set it and forget it, well can't do that with this one.
The only other issue I have is the lack of a way to clean the hopper out to change pellets, which I knew before purchasing it. Still makes it a pain to change pellets.
Goldndoodle : Feeder hopper caught fire!
Went to use this for the second time this afternoon - started up per directions, put steak on grill when warmed up, went in the house to make a phone call - came out to the feeder hopper smoking like wild! Turned it off, pulled the pellets out of hopper - it continued to smoke wildly for about an hour. After that, I was afraid to use this! I don't need to have my house burned down because the hopper full of pellets bursts into flames. Returning it to Amazon!
Tracy L. : CANT CONTROL THE TEMP!!! Gets so hot it errors!!!!
Bought for my home in SC assembly is pretty easy started the drill as directed on lowest setting grill got so hot it bubbled the paint shut dow done it again same thing well third time a charm NOT!! Called customer service Destiny returned my call she said they had some faulty control panels that went out and my serial number was one of them so they sent a replacement panel I install fairly simple started the grill and temp is all over the place this is the week of the fourth I called every day this week and no reply from Zgrills yet, I would not recommend this item to anyone due to its issues so I’m here now on the fourth with my old faithful Walmart 89,00 special that’s 10 years old never had a issue with grilling my burgers and dogs
vincent : Easy to assemble. Just don’t rush :)
I assembled just over an hour . It would be easier with 2 people but 1 person can do it. I smoked my first ribs after researching it for days. I learned the 4-1-1 method dried out my ribs because I think my smoker runs hot since it’s a smaller unit. The temperature control ran great it’s just the way the smoker is. I was able to play with the smoke stack lid to get my correct temperature . You can adjust the cap up and down which heat or cools the interior and you can get it to match the digital temperature control knob. My next ribs will be the 3-2-1 method which should keep my ribs more moist on the bark. The smoker is a great deal and I read many reviews trying to pick what I need and can afford. It’s a perfect family smoker . If you plan on smoking for big groups or parties then get the bigger smokers . The quality Of materials was excellent and the free cover was a plus. I’m sure I’ll have many years of service with this smoker .
gadget geek : Almost perfect with one design flaw [REVISED]
[REVISED]
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
cpreis : DANGER! Burned Out of Control on Fourth Use!
Grill was used to cook chicken twice and hamburgers once. My wife started the grill to use it a fourth time and it ran out of control with fire shooting out of the side of the grill before any meat was even put on it! The finish on the grill is ruined and components in side are damaged from the excessive heat. Fortunately, my deck and house were no damaged.
Unfortunately, we are a week outside of Amazon's return policy and so far Z-Grills has been completely unresponsive to phone calls and emails. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
Unfortunately, we are a week outside of Amazon's return policy and so far Z-Grills has been completely unresponsive to phone calls and emails. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
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
cpreis : DANGER! Burned Out of Control on Fourth Use!
Grill was used to cook chicken twice and hamburgers once. My wife started the grill to use it a fourth time and it ran out of control with fire shooting out of the side of the grill before any meat was even put on it! The finish on the grill is ruined and components in side are damaged from the excessive heat. Fortunately, my deck and house were no damaged.
Unfortunately, we are a week outside of Amazon's return policy and so far Z-Grills has been completely unresponsive to phone calls and emails. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
Unfortunately, we are a week outside of Amazon's return policy and so far Z-Grills has been completely unresponsive to phone calls and emails. VERY DISAPPOINTED!
John Smith : Instructions suck
Well. It got here fast. The simple instructions say use a screw here and there. But it doesn't say which one. There's 5 different screw bolts and washer setups but it never really (beyond the package) tell you what screw goes where. Infact the instructions miss several steps that you just have to do. Such as hinges and handles. The tools they give you are not even the right size. At least the wrench. Gotta use your own or it's a bust. But I hope it can cook well.
Cooks good.
Cooks good.
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