Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | Z GRILLS |
| Model Name | 2020 Upgrade |
| Power Source | Wood Pellet |
| Color | 450 sq in Bronze |
| Item Weight | 84 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 45 x 28 x 49 inches |
| Fuel Type | Electric, Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- ★ ULTIMATE 8-IN-1 (Cover included): Barbecue wood fire pellet grill: bbq✓bake✓roast✓braise✓smoke✓grill✓sear✓char-grill
- ★ Pellet Grill Technology: There isn't an easier way to get wood-smoked flavors than with a pellet grill. Try it, and you'll taste the difference from a GAS or CHARCOAL grill
- ★ Set the Temperature, Relax, and Enjoy: Z Grills pellet grills will do all the work for you once you set the temperature. No labor-intensive start-up. No babysitting the grill. Enjoy the cooking!
- ★ Consistent Results Every Time: The PID technology holds the tightest temperature possible throughout your cooking for consistent results.
- ★Smoke, Grill, and Everything in Between: With its 180° to 450° F temperature range, this pellet grill has 8-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill with incredible hardwood flavor.
- ★Designed for Small Families, yet Big on Flavor: Perfectly sized for small households, the 450A features 452 sq. in of cooking space while infusing big flavors into your food.
- ★Built to Last: Sturdy steel construction with a high-temperature powder coating finish makes the pellet grill long-lasting, bringing you years of ultimate wood-fired grilling experience.
- ★Less Pellet Filling, More Smoking: The 15 lbs large-capacity pellet hopper offers longer cooking time, eliminating the need to refill the hopper constantly.
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
The ULTIMATE 8-in-1 Grill & Smoker
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Advanced Wood Fire TechnologyZ Grills wood pellet technology gets you wood fire flavor at the convenience of propane or gas. You can cook for about 20 hours per 20 lbs. of pellets. Super versatile and wide temperature range from 180 to 450 degrees to grill, smoke, bake,roast, braise or BBQ. | Z Grills TechnologyWood pellet grills are taking off in the market and quickly becoming the preferred choice over charcoal, propane, and gas grills. Z Grills stands out in the taste, versatility, and consistency among all the grills. | Consistent & PreciselyDigital temperature control automatically adds pellets as needed to regulate the temperature. Most stay within 10 degrees of the set temperature. Convection heat distribution technology ensures food gets cooked evenly to perfection. | Huge Grilling Area & Hopper Capacity450 Square inches grilling area; 15-pound hopper capacity. Foldable working shelf. Heavy duty all terrain wheels. Rust proof cover & racks. |
WOOD PELLET GRILLS VS.TRADITIONAL GRILLS
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The FlavorThe reason professional barbecue chefs use wood is that it provides the best flavor. Pellet grills use all-natural hardwood as fuel, delivering unmatched pure, hardwood taste. Try it and taste the difference. | The VersatilityUnlike gas or charcoal grills, pellet grills have an adjustable, wide temperature range, allowing for 8-in-1 versatility. That means you can smoke a rack of ribs low and slow, or grill a wood-fired pizza hot & fast, and even bake a berry cobbler, all with the same grill. | Cost-EffectivePellet cooking typically costs less than a comparably sized gas grill. A bag of pellets (20 lbs) costs about 25 dollars and can burn up to 50 hours. While propane gas tanks are usually 30 dollars for a full tank, and you’ll typically get 20 hours of cook time even when cooking on low. |
| Total Cooking Area | 452 sq in | 538 sq in | 601 sq in | 694 sq in | 694 sq in | 1060 sq in |
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| Main Cooking Area | 324 sq in 21.5" * 15.5" | 399 sq in 26.1" * 15.1" | 350 sq in 32.5" * 10.8" | 504 sq in 19.2" * 26" | 504 sq in 19.2" * 26" | 432 sq in |
| Warming Rack Area | 128 sq in 22.6" * 5.3" | 139 sq in 27.4" * 5.1" | 251 sq in 21.3" * 11.8" | 190 sq in 6.9" * 27.5" | 190 sq in 6.9" * 27.5" | 374 + 255 sq in |
| Hopper Capacity | 15 lbs | 10 lbs | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | 20 lbs | 20 lbs |
| Assembled Weight | 84 lbs | 84 lbs | 83 lbs | 112 lbs | 146 lbs | 145 lbs |
| Assembled Dimensions | 45" x 28" x 49" | 47" x 20" x 45" | 47" x 21" x 49" | 48" x 22" x 51" | 48" x 22" x 51" | 54" x 25" x 53" |
| Package | one package | one package | one package | one package | two packages | two packages |
| Cooking Grids | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron | Porcelain Coated Cast Iron |
product description
Style:ZPG-450A
SMART SMOKE TECHNOLOGY --- Set it and forget it, Automated electric feed system maintains temperature from 180ºF to 450ºF, Smart Digital Controller keeps temps within +/- 20 degrees F and makes setting the grill temperature as easy as turning a dial HUGE GRILLING AREA & HOPPRT CAPACITY--- Great for Home, party, and Tailgating: 450 Square inches grilling area; 15-pound hopper capacity. Foldable working shelf; heavy duty all terrain wheels ULTIMATE 8 IN 1 BARBECUE WOOD FIRE PELLET GRILL ---Grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, barbeque food all in one grill . GREAT SMOKE FAVOR NOT ONLY GRILL EASIER--Fueled by premium 100% hardwood pellets to generate heat and smoke, infusing your food with a savory wood-fire taste that’ll make your taste buds sing 3 YEARS WARRANTY -- We GUARANTEE you that our grills are made from top quality materials.
product details
important information
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Questions about Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze
Q:
Is the grill water proof, would it be ok to use in the rain?
Answer: The hopper is sealed, but I would not use it in the rain, in fear that the pellets would get wet. I suspect that trying to clean the hopper of wet and deteriorated pellets would be extremely time consuming.
Answer: It is not waterproof.
Q:
What is the lowest temp you can smoke at?
Answer: When I turn my ZGrill to smoke it averages from 190-220 degrees. It will produce a lot of smoke at first, then it will cycle smoke every 10 minutes or so. I have cooked all kinds of meat on the grill, and it works good on ribs using the 3-2-1 routine. (3 hrs smoke, 2 hrs wrapped, 1 hr with sauce)
Answer: Smoke setting is around 125. Just a hint, I found mine was cooking uneven but by screwing the chimney cap up or down, depending on what side was cooking hotter, I could even it out. My temps are now pretty consistent throughout the grill.
Answer: 125 for smoke only. 200+ for everything else
Answer: There is a smoke setting and it''s below . It runs at around 125.
Answer: 140 to 150
Answer: 250 degrees
Q:
Has anyone had trouble with the grill tripping a circuit breaker or GF outlet?
Answer: Never has happened to me. Try another supply and see what happens. GFI's are sometimes kinda finicky, but if it's tripping a circuit, it could be a bad smoker, or a weak circuit breaker.
Answer: It isn't your grill. GFI outlets are known to trip. I have changed my outlet out and have had no further issues.
Answer: Yes, but not on this specific unit. I ended up having to replace a faulty igniter.
Answer: No problems at all i Love the smoker
Answer: Nope
Q:
What are the grill grate measurements?
Answer: 15.5” x 21”
Q:
Does the z grill 550a have a removable heat diffuser for griling and smoking?
Answer: No, there is a dial that you set for smoking and then turn up the temp dial for grilling. If you don’t want smoke you put food in after the temp is turned up. Directions advise to start on smoke setting and from there dial in your selections on temperature.
Answer: Yes, the diffuser can be removed.
Q:
If you buy extended warranty for 4 years does that start after 3yr manufacturer warranty?
Answer: not sure, I'll have to check that out.
Q:
I've never owned a pellet wood smoker before. What are the differences between these and charcoal smokers? Besides wood and charcoal.
Answer: charcoal is harder to regulate temperature and cook times. with wood pellets its a breeze. even though wood pellets are more expensive u only use what u need so is cheaper in long run
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: No flare ups, even heating, and the ability to smoke and grill. Different pellets can produce different tastes dependent upon what meat, fish, poultry you are cooking. Set the temp, walk away.
Answer: Also, unlike the others, you have to plug the WP Grill into an external electrical outlet which is not that convenient. But the taste is much better so it's worth it. You have to plan on where to place it so it's close to an outlet or you'll be running extension cords.
Q:
ZPG 550B outside dementions
Answer: Per the data in the product description, 45" x 28" x 49"
Q:
I want to place this on a table top with no legs and let the pellet box hang off the edge of the concrete table. Will this work?
Answer: Since the leg mounts are flat and below the round bottom this possibly could work. But the concrete could crack from the heat if there is mosture in it.
Q:
I have a wing and drumstick rack that measures 18"x7.5"high x 6"w. will this fit inside?
Answer: No, it will not fit inside. I just measured how high my drumstick and wing rack is and it's just under 6" high and makes it inside the Z-Grill with less than 1/2" to spare. My wing and drumstick rack measures 14"x5.5"high x 6"w
Answer: Inside dimensions 21” wide, 15” deep, 7” from grate to highest point.
Answer: Yes. it will be fit inside.
Answer: I don’t think so, I just measured from grill to top of smoker and it measures less than 7 inches tall.
Q:
Has anyone else had on going issues with the pellet auger constantly jamming?
Answer: Never had that issue and been using it almost weekly since before Thanksgiving. Gone through over 100 lbs of pellets. Contact their support for assistance.
Answer: When you add pellets be certain that you do not add the powdery dust from the bottom of the bag. You might try cleaning as others have suggested. Then scoop pellets from bag and add to the hopper. When you near the bottom of the bag, if it has powder, discard or use a slotted spoon to seperate the pellets from the powder.
Answer: I've used my Z-Grill for close to a year now, and never had any hang ups. Make sure you're using the recommended pellets. I ordered my pellets when I ordered my smoker from Amazon.
Answer: We are having that issue now. How did you fix it??
Answer: So far no issues with auger here.
Answer: No. You need to vacuum it out occasionally. You probably have something clogging it up
Q:
Is the 450A large enough to smoke a full sized brisket?
Answer: Yes. You can remove the small, upper rack and fit one in there. Awesome grill!
Q:
Do these not have a temperature gauge on them?
Answer: Digital readout on heat setting but no temperature probe.
Answer: Yes they do. With optional meat probe. Follow directions during initial setup, then afterwards its set tbe temp and wslk away.
Answer: Yes, it does. It's a digital temp reading. Works great. This is an awesome grill.
Answer: It has a digital temp Guage by the temp control knob
Answer: It does not have a built in thermometer for probing.
Q:
Hi. Can you build one with 220-240 volt power rating. shipping to Singapore. Thanks.
Answer: I have no idea but DO NOT BUY this grill! I bought and returned to of them for the exact same problem. I bought a Pit Boss instead.
Q:
What temperature will grill stay at on the smoke setting ?
Answer: 180°
Q:
does this have a PID controller?
Answer: Yes
Q:
How long should this take to reach maximum temperature? It’s already been 20 minutes and it’s only at 325°
Answer: My husband uses this to smoke briskets. He usually fills the hopper with the pellets and turns it on to preheat, which usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour. When he puts the brisket in, he inserts a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature of the meat. Close the door and do not open until it is done. You have to periodically check the hopper and level out the pellets and add more if necessary throughout the cooking process. Smoking is a slow process. My husband usually smokes our briskets for 8-10 hours, depending on the size of the brisket. Hope this helps.
Q:
There is a tan wire/cable/cord (very thin) between the hopper and the grill chamber. What is this? There is no mention of it in the instructions?
Answer: Temperature Sensor.
Q:
My grill will not hardly make any temperature above 250 and takes forever to get there. What Is wrong?
Answer: Be sure to start on smoke setting for 15 minutes with lid open, close lid. Set temp.. also be sure there is nothing causing the pellets to enter the hot box...
Q:
Z Gills vs Treager Grill, which’s one is better?
Answer: I haven't used Traeger, but our Z Grill is fantastic!
Answer: We have a ZGRILL and a Pit Boss the ZGrill is compatible, cooks well.
Q:
what tempdo you smoke ribs?
Answer: 200 for about 3 hours then I wrap with foil and use butter, apple cider, and brown sugar. Wrap and smoke another 2 hours. Then remove foil and turn smoker up to 225 putting them on the smoker for another hour with BBQ sauce. Perfect! I also put a rub on mine when I first put the ribs on. This is the 3-2-1 method. Can’t go wrong.
Answer: I used the 3-2-1 method at 250 degrees. They came out great.
Q:
Does this grill have the pellet purge door so I can change out he type of pellets? If not it is a 100% no go.
Answer: I don't think it has a purge door. I don't recall seeing anything in the manual about it either.
Answer: no you need to scoop out the pellets and let it run to burn out what is in auger that has been only thing i don't like otherwise love it
Answer: Looks like it is a "No Go"
Answer: not that I am aware of.
Answer: No, it does not
Q:
can you cold smoke on this grill?
Answer: No, I’m not sure if they make a box that would go between the smoker and the chimney.
Answer: Probably not.
Q:
Does the zpg-450a have a sear mode that heats over 450f? what's the max sear temperature?
Answer: No
Q:
What is the big difference between the older model and the one with the 2019 upgrade?
Answer: Not sure because I don’t have but one grill.
Q:
Which is cheaper to run, charcoal or pellets?
Answer: I bought 40 pounds of pellets at Walmart for $16.95 when I first got my grill. I have cooked 5 times on it with an average of 1 1/2 hours each time. I still have about 20 pounds (half a sack) of pellet and my pellet bin on my pit is still about half full. So I would definitely say that the pellets are cheaper overall. Most of my cooking was around 350 degrees. If you could at higher temperatures of course it will burn more pellets. Hope this helps.
Answer: It's not about price, although price of pellets per bag is $14 lasts longer than charcoal brickets. I fill the smoker hopper full and it takes about 1/3 bag, but when smoking it will burn all night long and you don't have to tend it.
Answer: I would say pellets, it is very economical on pellets. But you are missing the point. The pellet grill maintains the temp effortlessly. It makes it SO EASY to cook what ever. I cooked everything in it, brisket, turkey, chicken, ribs, port shoulder, prime rib, tritip, grilled steaks much easier than with my CharGriller with a Texas firebox. I've used it every week since before thanksgiving. Highly recommneded.
Answer: Pellets $15.00 for 40#
Answer: Charcoal is always cheaper, but the flavor for wood pellets when cooking is the best...shop around for pellets to get better deals
Answer: Thus far, I would have to say pellets. In addition, the pellets are no mess to clean up and a much cleaner process through out. I love it!
Q:
What’s does the “Deal” specify
Answer: You get the grill, that you need to assemble, and an all weather cover to protect it when it's not in use. The assembly is easy to follow. There is also the warranty you get for the grill.
Q:
Are the hood hinges reversible?
Answer: No they are hinges
Q:
How wide is the smoker with the shelf down?
Answer: 480 sq inches of cooking surface
Answer: Zgrills suck
Q:
Is this easily portable for camping?
Answer: No... it was hard to put together and would not be easy to disassemble for camping. Also it has to be plugged into a 110 v. power to run.
Answer: If you can lift 80lbs into your rig or trailer or camper, and have access to 110 electricity, you'll be good to go.
Answer: No
Answer: No, it is quite heavy and awkward.
Q:
What is the wattage of the electric motor to operate?
Q:
What is the dimension difference between the 450 grill size and the 550 grill size? I know one is 450 sq. & the other is 550 sq. Inches, so actual dim
Answer: ZPG-450A
Q:
Is this a propane grill?
Answer: This is an electric grill.
Answer: No. It is a pellet grill.
Answer: No it's electric and uses pellets
Answer: No, electric.
Answer: Electric
Q:
How well does this work for standard grilling, i.e steaks and burgers?
Answer: I find that if you are going to do a steak, use a standard grill. I did one last night and at 350 for about 15 min it ruined the steak, made it to tough, but maybe I need to adj. how I do it. I will still stick to the grill.
Answer: Personally I love my ZGrill. I have both smoked and grilled on it. Two problems, you have to keep a eye on the pellet hopper and if you want a Char on your burgers & steaks it won’t give you the same as a gas/charcoal grill. My wife loves a deep char so I bought a small grill to throw her steaks in for that. Bottom line for the price it’s a great grill. Suggestion get a remote thermometer to monitor internal meat temperature and inside grill temperature. The readout on the grill can be off as much as 25°.
Answer: It seems to work pretty well. On high I get to 500+ which is plenty to sear. What is a bit different is you do not get the char (or burning) from a direct flame.
Answer: STAY AWAY FROM ZGRILLS. Spend a few bucks more and get a grill that actually works
Answer: it is great for common grilling the only problem I am having is I am on my third temperature controler
Answer: no flame but smoke flavor. y
Q:
It’s made in the usa? one picture showing its highlights, number 6 in particular says it “keeps crease away...” really? at least proofread
Answer: all pellet grills are designed so as the grease funnells into a small pale . It works as described. Made in the USA??? I have my doubts. But the workmanship is of very good quality and assembling the unit was not too challenging.
Q:
Is it wifi?
Answer: Not my model.
Q:
Is the smoke setting for smoking or just preheat?
Answer: It’s for smoke also. Sits about 165-170 degrees
Q:
Is the zgc-02b grill cover compatible with the zpg-550b wood pellet grill?
Answer: No idea
Q:
How big of a brisket will this fit?
Answer: had a 10 pound brisket in mine. would probably take a 15 pound ok
Answer: It was a tight fit but I managed to smoke a 17 pound brisket.
Answer: It will hold a full-size brisket without the top rack
Q:
There is another similar one on Amazon for $100 more. The only difference are the words 2018 and upgrade. What's the difference?
Answer: The only difference is the the upgraded model has locking wheels. The actual grill is exactly the same , no difference! Buy it , it's a really good smoker grill and this one is a hundred bucks less than what I payed for mine
Answer: Not sure. All I know is that I have used mine more than anything else this last summer and it is great.
Q:
Can you use pit boss pellets in this?
Answer: Yes. I frequently use Pit Boss pellets in my smoker.
Answer: you can use any wood food pellet you want to
Answer: All pellets are basically made the same, if you exclude the flavor of the wood.
Answer: yes i use them all the time comp. pellets.
Answer: Pretty sure the pellets are all the same size
Answer: I would compare them and as long as there is not much difference they night be ok. However if you stick with what's recommended by the grill nanufacture the they can stand behind the warranty and cooking times. Any time you stray from the mfg recommended fuel how can you expect them to stand behind the product. Follow the directions until you are certain you can vary.
Answer: yes. i do with no problems.
Q:
Why does one description say, 20lb hopper capacity and the other says 15lb hopper capacity?
Answer: Theres screwed up info on both the new model and the old. The older model had a 10lb hopper but I believe the new model has a 15lb hopper. You wont be disappointed with the grill though.
Q:
It only works with hard wood pellets? I can only find pellets from pine wood or eucaliptus, use for heating systems. Those work too?
Answer: soft wood pellets will work, they will burn a little faster, with a different smoke flavor versa a hard wood pellet.
Answer: Most likely not, especially not the pine.
Answer: no wood pellets for home heating or full of plastic and glue do not use them in your barbecue grill
Q:
I purchased the 450a model. can anyone explain how the grease pan sits in the unit? i see there are two slots on one end. where does it sit?
Answer: You'll see a tab on the left hand side of your grill. The grease pan tabs fit in the end of this tab. This lets the grease pan sit with the tabbed end higher than the other so the grease will flow toward the bucket.
Answer: The slot go to the left, the notches fit into them. The pan does tilt downward to the right when you put it in.
Q:
What size tray liner should i purchase
Answer: Heavy weight aluminum foil works just fine.
Q:
can you cook on it like a normal grill for like burgers, hot dogs, food that does not take take time like smoking ribs, brisket etc
Answer: Yes, you can cook on it similar to a normal grill. The temperatures are not going to get as high as a gas or charcoal grill though.
Answer: You can cook anything you want on it, you will need to cook it on the pellets and not charcoal, but it's great with burgers and hot dogs.
Answer: Yes. Does not really get hot enough for searing steaks. (450 top temp) Other than that, it is wonderful.
Answer: Yes. It takes a little longer than a gas grill because of indirect heat but it will get to 450 degrees.
Answer: How long is the electrical cord?
Answer: yes you can
Answer: do you have to use a lighter to start this or what is the heat source that heats the wood pellets. Is it a gas flame, an electric coil or what?
Answer: O ya
Q:
What is the process to connect to natural gas ?
Answer: You can't hook to natural Gas. It uses wood pellets.
Q:
Does it a temperature probe to check temps on what your cooking?
Answer: No, you would get that separately. I got a 2 probe unit for about $25 as I recall. You can even get one that is blue tooth that reports to an app on your phone.
Answer: No I use my own Thermapen for meat but it has a temp probe for the interior or cavity monitor only. WHR
Answer: No
Answer: No
Q:
Where is this made?
Answer: They manufacture in china
Q:
New to barbecuing, completely. Can I use wood, no propane or gas, to Grill meats? If that's not possible with this unit, can you please recommend one?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: This grill uses "wood Pellets" to cook. It also uses 110V electric connection to run the feed auger and glow plug. It does not use any propane or other gas. add pellets plug in and set the temp.
Answer: This grill only uses wood pellets, 6mm in dia which any of the pellets for cooking are the correct size I’ve found. I’ve done it all gas, charcoal cooking so far I’m pretty excited about this grill not heavy on the smoke just right
Answer: This grill is electric and uses special wood pellets, you dont use any propane or gas. They sell them in different flavors.
Answer: This unit using 120V and wood pellets not wood chips.
Answer: This smoker uses pellets only , if you are looking for a smoker that uses wood chips this one is not for you.. Keep looking and you will find the right one for you.
Product reviews of Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker 6 in 1 BBQ Grill Auto Temperature Control, 450 Sq in Bronze
Dbdata : I would not buy this product again
There are wild temperature fluctuations even when using high quality pellets. The lowest temp (160/Smoke) cannot be reached. After a 1.5 hour startup time the temp settled to 204 degrees. Setting the controls to 180 gave us between 200 and 215 fluctuating. Setting the temp to 225 yielded a constant fluctuation between 260 and 290 degrees.
There is nothing flawed in the design except perhaps if the auger fed smaller amounts of pellets at one time .... but the nature of fire-based cooking just seems to be this random.
The "final straw" was when tech Support told us we needed to buy Zgrill brand pellets because Trager pellets burned hotter and that was our problem. That of course defeats the entire purpose of a temperature controller in the first place - but we bought Zgrill pellets --- and it made no difference.
Conclusion: Spend the extra money and get a better product
There is nothing flawed in the design except perhaps if the auger fed smaller amounts of pellets at one time .... but the nature of fire-based cooking just seems to be this random.
The "final straw" was when tech Support told us we needed to buy Zgrill brand pellets because Trager pellets burned hotter and that was our problem. That of course defeats the entire purpose of a temperature controller in the first place - but we bought Zgrill pellets --- and it made no difference.
Conclusion: Spend the extra money and get a better product
JC : Poor temperature control.
Swick Nation : Great pellet smoker
Wanted an inexpensive first pellet smoker and am definitely satisfied with Z-grills. For being a sub $400 grill I was impressed with how well it maintained the temp and I smoked two baby back racks on it that came out delicious. Followed the instructions for the initial setup and let her run. To top it off, the box indicated it came from my hometown so it was an all around good sign. I am glad I went with this over a high priced Traeger, (nothing against them as I have never used one), but Z Grills should definitely be considered a formidable rival. :)
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.
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!!!!!
Aaron : Let the smoke roll!
First pellet grill I’ve ever used and heard about the value. Assembly took about 20 minutes or so. Start up took about an hour after letting it burn off. I then filled it with mesquite pellets and the smoke started rolling! First night I made smoked bourbon salmon and it turned out great. Tonight and tomorrow is a 12 pound brisket! It takes awhile to adjust and level off temp but it holds nicely. I have an aftermarket thermometer and it also double checks the temperature control. It’s a blast to cook on! I have the 550 2h and it fits a whole 12 pound brisket and there’s some room left over. Perfect for a family of four and can probably do 5 racks of ribs.
Frank lowrance : Big let down
Big disappointment won't hold a temp runs away over 500 degrees I've yet to enjoy it. Looks great we'll it used to, it go so hot it burned the finish off the front of it customer service says they'll send me new control panel and temp prob great they don't have any there on back order they will send one and a free bag a pellets whene the come in .WOW I've spent a good chunk of money on something that's to hazardous to use that I have to then repair myself the people at customer service are nice and but what happened to if I sent you a piece of junk we'll replace it man major buyers remorse
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.
Diane Jett : Electric grill. Should be in big letters
Make sure you understand that this is an electric grill. I had no idea. Bought it for my son’s birthday. Only knew when we saw the cord. That should be the first thing on the description. Very disappointed. I would not have purchased this.
gary grant : Great smoker for the money.
Had a electric wood chip smoker at first which I bought during warmer months and it was great, but once winter hit the wood chip smoker failed to get hot enough. Did a lot of research on pellet smokers, plus my neighbors have a Treager, so the smells coming over the fence was incredible. Decided to go with this smoker due to being so much cheaper than the big name brands. The first use of this smoker, the neighbors came over to see what the incredible smells coming over the fence were. Gets up to 400 even at below zero and has opened up so many opportunities for great tasting food. Just had great smoked ravioli, love this smoker. I did find that all pellets are not equal in taste and smoke intensity. Best I have found so far is Lowes competition blend.
Drew : Awesome!
We purchased a smoker that uses the logs and it is so uneven in it's cooking and was super smokey. This smoker is the best! After reading the reviews was so excited to try it once it finally arrived and it does not disappoint. It cooks everything perfect from meats, to fish, to veggies. We use it about 5 times a week. My only recommendation is do not try to speed up the cooking by turning the temp up. Low and slow works best.
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.
Randy : "set it and forget it" does not exist. Junk.
DO NOT BUY THIS IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON BEING AWAY FROM THE GRILL FOR HOURS, like putting something on at night and going to sleep. You'll wake up to a hopper full of pellets and an error message on the grill thermometer.
Also, every time you cook something, prepare for 30 minutes of setup and pre-heating, and it doesn't help any.
The pellet feed system is trash and does not pull from the whole hopper, it just pulls pellets from the center and runs out after a couple of hours if you're not there to mix them around. It ends up looking like an ant hill. Garbage. I figured I was in for some trouble when I saw that they spelled "wrap" wrong in their instructions.
So, the smoke mode doesn't work for long term cooking. With a full hopper enough for 10+ hours it'll use about 1 to 2 hours worth of the pellets before it gives you an error because the feeder system doesn't work. It burns through the ones it does use too quickly.
The temp does not hold at all because the feeder system is broken. It constantly fluctuates at huge variables of temperatures +/- 100+ degrees, which makes it absolutely useless for open top cooking and mostly useless for closed lid. You can't cook chicken well when you have it set at high and one moment the temp is 80 degrees and two minutes later it's 320 degrees, just to change to 120 degrees a minute after that. It's a constant struggle. Totally useless for open top cooking IMO. I cooked frozen 1/4lb burger patties open top on high for 35 minutes and they were rare. Not medium rare... Rare. 35 minutes. About the same thing I'd expect from 6 to 8 minutes on a charcoal grill.
This is a piece of garbage, do not buy. I'm glad I have a $50 little tiny round grill for charcoal still that can hold a consistent temperature, I was hoping this would replace the large gas grill I sold, it didn't.
Even though this thing claims 6+ cooking methods, I can only recommend this for large pieces of smoked meat like brisket or ribs, and that's all, and that's assuming you're going to be around to keep watch on it and slow cooking, because I had the hopper catch on fire the second time I used it even after following all the instructions.
Don't get me wrong, slow cooked smoked meat is great and this can do this decently well, but you have to adjust the time for the uneven temperature, and constantly having to stir the pellets because this thing can't properly feed them is beyond frustrating. If you're going to spend this type of money, spend an extra $50 and go with a better brand. Absolutely do not recommend this junk.
Also, every time you cook something, prepare for 30 minutes of setup and pre-heating, and it doesn't help any.
The pellet feed system is trash and does not pull from the whole hopper, it just pulls pellets from the center and runs out after a couple of hours if you're not there to mix them around. It ends up looking like an ant hill. Garbage. I figured I was in for some trouble when I saw that they spelled "wrap" wrong in their instructions.
So, the smoke mode doesn't work for long term cooking. With a full hopper enough for 10+ hours it'll use about 1 to 2 hours worth of the pellets before it gives you an error because the feeder system doesn't work. It burns through the ones it does use too quickly.
The temp does not hold at all because the feeder system is broken. It constantly fluctuates at huge variables of temperatures +/- 100+ degrees, which makes it absolutely useless for open top cooking and mostly useless for closed lid. You can't cook chicken well when you have it set at high and one moment the temp is 80 degrees and two minutes later it's 320 degrees, just to change to 120 degrees a minute after that. It's a constant struggle. Totally useless for open top cooking IMO. I cooked frozen 1/4lb burger patties open top on high for 35 minutes and they were rare. Not medium rare... Rare. 35 minutes. About the same thing I'd expect from 6 to 8 minutes on a charcoal grill.
This is a piece of garbage, do not buy. I'm glad I have a $50 little tiny round grill for charcoal still that can hold a consistent temperature, I was hoping this would replace the large gas grill I sold, it didn't.
Even though this thing claims 6+ cooking methods, I can only recommend this for large pieces of smoked meat like brisket or ribs, and that's all, and that's assuming you're going to be around to keep watch on it and slow cooking, because I had the hopper catch on fire the second time I used it even after following all the instructions.
Don't get me wrong, slow cooked smoked meat is great and this can do this decently well, but you have to adjust the time for the uneven temperature, and constantly having to stir the pellets because this thing can't properly feed them is beyond frustrating. If you're going to spend this type of money, spend an extra $50 and go with a better brand. Absolutely do not recommend this junk.
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.
Yuan Cao : Great product, easy assembling
I decided to buy this one after I compared with other products and read all the reviews. It turns out to be a great buy. it’s such an amazing grill, very easy to assemble, and easy to use. Assembling only takes 1 hr. It has a modern look, pretty unique among all the grills. I really like the glow on the metal, absolutely an eye catching. It can also be easily moved to other place coz of the two wheels. It comes with a cover to keep it clean and waterproof, definitely a very considerate accessory.
I would definitely recommend it to other people.
I am so looking forward to the BBQ party next summer.
I would definitely recommend it to other people.
I am so looking forward to the BBQ party next summer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!!!
JWT : Get this junk out of my yard.
2 stars is being nice. But after my first 2hr experience cooking some chicken breasts I figured I would start simple and make a video of a simple grill cook of standard link sausage. I will post this 22 min video of over an hour of cooking time on You Tube. I wanted to give this thing a second chance which is what I did.----First off the temperature is all over the place with this thing and NEVER stays steady at all at any one point. You lose so much heat when you open the lid. I no I am not opening the lid all the time. Smoke setting doesnt smoke. Temp gets way to high for smoking meat on the smoking setting. Does not continue to smoke. High temp of what I would normal use to grill a burger gets too hot apparently and will shut off with an error. ---------Really really disappointed in this purchase. Thank gosh I still have my Weber but it comes down to this. Dont waste your money. This technology just isnt there yet for me. Im not going risk a Tregger just to get the same result. Basically. I dont need to be baby sitting my grill all the time and the food thats on it. Sorry ZGrills. Its Big fat 0 for me if I could give it.
Tessawessa : Terrible experience, broken grill. DO NOT BUY.
I bought this smoker for my husband for Christmas after researching multiple different websites for making the best BBQ. He is a carpenter and very good with tools. He assembled the grill and the auger wouldn't spin. We called ZGrills and they said we had to let it run longer so we did and it didn’t work. We called again and then they sent us a new motor without instructions??! Then they sent us a video on how to replace the motor but it was for a different model. They do not offer in person or on the phone support. They rarely answer the phone. The only person who answers the phone is a young woman with an accent who acted as though she has never heard of us or our problem every time I spoke to her. We ended up returning it to Amazon but was stuck with a $75 restocking fee. The seemingly only have one employee and she is incompetent, mouthy, and worthless. She offered to reimburse us for our troubles with a bag of pellets?? People without functional grills do not need pellets. She literally asked me if I would give her a good review if she sent us a check for the $75 restocking fee.
Joey : Easy to install & Temperature accurate & Yummy bbq
Attracted by the cute look of Z Grills ZPG-450A, I clicked into this item and found it seemed a high-tech smoker. Got annoyed with my old Charcoal grill since it's slow and hard to control & clean. Z Grills, by contrast, uses the 'Wood fire' technology to reach target temperature extremely fast & accurate. Also, the grease doesn't build up for the sake of the grease collector. The wheels make it easier to move the smoker around in my yard. And need to say that installing this smart machine took me only 1 hour, with all tools needed in the box.
I tried salmon and lamb with pecan wood pellet. It works like a charm. The meat was so tender and got the sweet flavors deep inside.
It's time to say goodbye to my old Charcoal grill.
I tried salmon and lamb with pecan wood pellet. It works like a charm. The meat was so tender and got the sweet flavors deep inside.
It's time to say goodbye to my old Charcoal grill.
Joel S : Pellet feeding issues
Amazon got it here just a day and a half after I ordered! Was shocked to see it delivered so fast and 1 day ahead of earliest delivery. So far seems great. Came missing. Gasket for the smoke stack but not a huge deal. The temperature does jump around a little but for the price cant complain.
Update
Reducing to 3 stars. I have run into this reoccurring issue with the hopper. I fill the hopper for an overnight smoke and every 3 to 4 hours I have to get up to adjust the pellets or they will create a cavity and stop feeding. What's the point of a hopper size if it doesn't feed properly? Very frustrating if you miss fixing the pellets it may take a half hour or longer for the auger to catch up leading to low temps for half an hour or longer. Bad design very bad design.
Update
Reducing to 3 stars. I have run into this reoccurring issue with the hopper. I fill the hopper for an overnight smoke and every 3 to 4 hours I have to get up to adjust the pellets or they will create a cavity and stop feeding. What's the point of a hopper size if it doesn't feed properly? Very frustrating if you miss fixing the pellets it may take a half hour or longer for the auger to catch up leading to low temps for half an hour or longer. Bad design very bad design.
Michael Hotze : Rust and paint pealing after 4 uses.
Poor quality but does cook some yummy food. After performing the included start up process I got to cooking the next day. I cooked some hamburger at 375, next was a tri-tip at 275, then some wings at 300, and lastly Ribeyes at 275. After theses uses I noticed paint pealing around the fire pot as seen in the picture. Costumer service at zgills says this is normal, so I must conclude this grill is disposable and only for limited time use. If you expect it to last I would buy another brand.
I will say the food has been well cooked and temperature is held well by the control.
I will say the food has been well cooked and temperature is held well by the control.
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.
Lorrie : Pleased after the learning curve
I've had this for a little over a month and it's been pretty good. I've used it at least 6 times with good results. It does have some issues with temperature control, but I've learned not to open the lid as much and that helps. I've also learned not to let the pellets run out or you'll have to take 40 minutes to restart and get the darned thing back up to temperature. I dislike that the pellets kind of do a "sink hole" effect directly over the auger and will cause it to stop working. The pellets don't shift on their own very well, so you have to keep stirring them around every hour or so to keep them directly over the auger opening. They should redesign the hopper with sides that slope in to mimic a funnel and avoid that problem. Also, make it easier to empty so you can change pellet "flavors" with less hassle. How about making it with a removable box that you can pull out? Similar to how one removes and reattaches a dust bin on a bagless vacuum?
Bing : Exceeded my expectations. Great grill. Looks nice, too.
I’ve only had this a little over a week, but I have to say how happy I am with this smoker/grill! I was reluctant to buy a smoker...I had purchased a Traeger about five years ago through Costco, but did not like that it just couldn’t get hot enough to cook meat the way I liked, so I returned it. I received this one as a birthday present, so I had to keep it! Put it together the day I got it. It is no “easy” snap together job, but the instructions are clear, the packaging is, if anything, over done. In fact removing all the parts from packaging was probably the most difficult part of assembly! As a novice “smoker” the startup procedure and the precautions were a bit concerning and intimidating, but I gathered the patience and followed them closely. In the end, everything went very smoothly, all pieces fit perfectly, there was exactly one extra screw, as promised. By the third time I used it, all was second nature. The best part is the food! I bought a 20 pound bag of Oak pellets from ZGrills. That is the only type I have used so far, but I see no reason that any flavor wood would not work. I plan to use other types next. The first thing I smoked was a ham for Easter. I used a Traeger recipe I found online for a pineapple glaze and it was fantastic. So easy. Just set the temperature and let it smoke, opening every ten minutes or so to mop on some more glaze. The Smokey sweet flavor was delicious. I had read that the temperature variations were too wild on the ZGrills, but I don’t think they matter...they center around the desired/set temp, and of course they will vary and take time to correct just because of the lag time for feeding and igniting the pellets. The heat transfer rate to the food smooths the electronically measured air temperature. Anyway, the big ham was perfectly done. The other extreme I have cooked was a pizza from Papa Murphy’s. After starting, I turned the temp to “Max”. The grill quickly...five minutes or so...reached 450 degrees and I inserted the pizza on its paper tray. I turned the temp down to 375 after about five minutes because it was staying up around 450 and the pizza instructions were to cook at 400. After ten minutes I checked for bubbles in the crust and there were none and the crust was beginning to brown. I rotated the pizza 90 degrees and let it cook 8 more minutes. (We are at 4000 feet, so cooking anything takes about 10% longer than at sea level.). The crust was crisp and brown, the smoke infusion added a dimension that was far better than I expected, and the company raved about the great pizza! Don’t even think about it! Buy this grill.
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.
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.
JT : Update: Its now working well after following customer service trouble shoot recommendations.
Updated review:
Working great now. Holding temps within +- 10 degrees F.
Talked to customer service. They reiterated how important it is to empty out the ash from the fire box. I cleaned it out. I let it warm up and stabilize over the course of an hour. I kept it in the shade. After the cleaning and moving to the shade it is holding temps like a champ. Did ribs this morning and over the course of 6 hours it held temps within 10 degrees of target. Double checked with external temperature probe.
I wish they would emphasize in the instructions how important it is to clean out the ash after each extended use.
Upgraded to 4 stars. It would get 5 stars if it was a little more convenient than cleaning out ash every cook, I also wish the trays were larger. They are pretty much decorative. If those to things were fixed it would get 5 stars from me. Great price for a pellet grill.
I am leaving the original review below in case anyone has the same issues and needs to see my solution above.
Bought primarily for smoking. It can't hold a temperature under 240 degrees which is way to hot for fish and most meats.
Smoke setting I am getting about 240.
At the 180 setting, 250
At 225, it's reading 275
Above that it is reading accurately. I double checked it with an external probe thermometer. The temperature is accurate but at those high temps smoking is impossible. I plan to contact customer service and if they can't fix it I'll return the unit in the next 2 weeks.
I'll update if it gets fixed. I gave two stars since it holds temps really well at 350-450 degrees.
Working great now. Holding temps within +- 10 degrees F.
Talked to customer service. They reiterated how important it is to empty out the ash from the fire box. I cleaned it out. I let it warm up and stabilize over the course of an hour. I kept it in the shade. After the cleaning and moving to the shade it is holding temps like a champ. Did ribs this morning and over the course of 6 hours it held temps within 10 degrees of target. Double checked with external temperature probe.
I wish they would emphasize in the instructions how important it is to clean out the ash after each extended use.
Upgraded to 4 stars. It would get 5 stars if it was a little more convenient than cleaning out ash every cook, I also wish the trays were larger. They are pretty much decorative. If those to things were fixed it would get 5 stars from me. Great price for a pellet grill.
I am leaving the original review below in case anyone has the same issues and needs to see my solution above.
Bought primarily for smoking. It can't hold a temperature under 240 degrees which is way to hot for fish and most meats.
Smoke setting I am getting about 240.
At the 180 setting, 250
At 225, it's reading 275
Above that it is reading accurately. I double checked it with an external probe thermometer. The temperature is accurate but at those high temps smoking is impossible. I plan to contact customer service and if they can't fix it I'll return the unit in the next 2 weeks.
I'll update if it gets fixed. I gave two stars since it holds temps really well at 350-450 degrees.
caser : Small Economical pellet grill ** Food is delicious
Likes: Easy to assemble, Free Cover, Front Table, Easy To move Around, Sturdy Feel, Food Tastes Wonderful. Easy to clean.
Dislikes: It's hard to be negative at this price point. I Chose small and should have purchased the larger size (Who knew I would love smoking food this much). The barrel is shallow/ compact and easy to burn hands on.(Again a matter of choice as there is a larger model). Easy Assembly but an extra screw or two would have been nice. I either lost one or one was missing fortunately I had a replacement screw in my tool shed. (so now I am nit picking) The temperature swings +/- 15 degrees - this was not from opening the grill. I suspect it is partially due to weather such as mild wind and California sunshine... But also has to do with the way the pellets drop. Still for the most part it stayed in the temperature range to cook the food well. I checked the thermostat with other digital thermometers and they agreed within 1 to 2 degrees. Let it would be nice to have a way to change out the pellets. I sent an email to the company to ask a question about the temperature - they did not respond. I think it is better to call this company email does not seem to be their thing. I got my answer from other sources.
Overall I still gave this unit 5 stars because it was so inexpensive and did a great job making the best ribs ever!
Dislikes: It's hard to be negative at this price point. I Chose small and should have purchased the larger size (Who knew I would love smoking food this much). The barrel is shallow/ compact and easy to burn hands on.(Again a matter of choice as there is a larger model). Easy Assembly but an extra screw or two would have been nice. I either lost one or one was missing fortunately I had a replacement screw in my tool shed. (so now I am nit picking) The temperature swings +/- 15 degrees - this was not from opening the grill. I suspect it is partially due to weather such as mild wind and California sunshine... But also has to do with the way the pellets drop. Still for the most part it stayed in the temperature range to cook the food well. I checked the thermostat with other digital thermometers and they agreed within 1 to 2 degrees. Let it would be nice to have a way to change out the pellets. I sent an email to the company to ask a question about the temperature - they did not respond. I think it is better to call this company email does not seem to be their thing. I got my answer from other sources.
Overall I still gave this unit 5 stars because it was so inexpensive and did a great job making the best ribs ever!
Lane : Food is amazing, but its not perfect
Hopper design is poor; when you're grilling, the pellets dont fall in like they should. There will be a hole right in the middle and the outside pellets wont fall in like they should. Also the temperature regulation is all over the place. For example, you'll set the temp to 225 and it'll go way up to almost 400 if you dont keep an eye on it. Other than that, all the food I've cooked on it has been amazing. But you can't set it and forget it like you should be able to for the price.
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.
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.
ernest lovell : Z Grills joke
Temp all messes up turn on 225 or 185 shows way higher than what is. Called about it talk to foreign lady said take month to get part. Then said new grill have to get broke in before work right. New grill never heard of breaking in grill for it to work right. Or wait on part for a month to get to fix it. Z Grills not nothing but joke. Don’t buy one.
JWT : Get this junk out of my yard.
2 stars is being nice. But after my first 2hr experience cooking some chicken breasts I figured I would start simple and make a video of a simple grill cook of standard link sausage. I will post this 22 min video of over an hour of cooking time on You Tube. I wanted to give this thing a second chance which is what I did.----First off the temperature is all over the place with this thing and NEVER stays steady at all at any one point. You lose so much heat when you open the lid. I no I am not opening the lid all the time. Smoke setting doesnt smoke. Temp gets way to high for smoking meat on the smoking setting. Does not continue to smoke. High temp of what I would normal use to grill a burger gets too hot apparently and will shut off with an error. ---------Really really disappointed in this purchase. Thank gosh I still have my Weber but it comes down to this. Dont waste your money. This technology just isnt there yet for me. Im not going risk a Tregger just to get the same result. Basically. I dont need to be baby sitting my grill all the time and the food thats on it. Sorry ZGrills. Its Big fat 0 for me if I could give it.
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
Big Daddy Glover : Great little Smoker! (Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020)
I have had this grill since April and think now is a good time to write a review. I had a slight hiccup when I first received my grill. Watched the contract delivery person from Amazon literally drop it off a 4 foot bed truck. Not wanting to risk it, i called and had Amazon schedule to pick that one up and send me a new one which arrived two days later. I had a laugh when the escalation person asked if it had damage. I asked for him to produce the manufacturer spec on 4 foot drops and i would gladly accept this one and since i'm no grill mechanic, he promptly sent the new one. I digress.
I have used this grill quite a few times over the past couple of months. If you are one of those folks that love lightly smoked foods and not the stuff some of my redneck buddies absolutely murders in smoke, then this is for you. I have been using pecan pellets in it from day one and really like the product. If you watch it while it's working, you may think that it's not really smoking but trust me, it is. Assembly is fairly straight forward and had no surprises which was pleasant. I am used to holes not lining up and prayed i didn't have that issue and i did not.
I have cooked the following on it and i will rate each one:
Burgers: would rate these 3/5 for flavor but beyond that, you may just want to stick with a grill because the sear feature on this is severely lacking. it just wont get hot enough and maintain that heat when it's open.
Sausage: 4/5 for smoke but again, it leaves a bit to be desired if you are wanting to get some char on them.
Boudin: 5/5 for everything! I run these on the top rack for 30 minutes then crank it up to 325/350 to get some snap to the skin. Honestly, it couldn't be any easier!
Turkey: 5/5 for everything! i removed the top rack and just barely squeezed a 14 lb bird in there! I did not run it on the smoke setting but ran it around 325 and waited for the internals to get to temp. Be sure to use oil in your spray and be generous as the skin will need to cook out.
Whole chicken: 2/5 but pretty sure it was my fault. I let the skin get away from me and got bullet proof rubber for skin and tough meat. Flavor was on point! Stuffed the bird with boudin and that was amazing!
The temp jumps around quite a bit on the probe and the machine is constantly adjusting itself. If I set it on 325, it will range between 300 and 350 at times. Not sure if this is a game changer for anyone because keeping a smoker to temp by hand would be around the same swing given the thickness of the materials of the grill. The hottest i have had this grill at is 420ish but like I stated earlier, it doesn't hold that temp well and will fall off once you open the lid.
Bottom line is that this 2020 updated grill has given me know issues thus far and has been great. Don't toss your grill just yet as you will primarily use this as a simple smoker as it will not do things that a grill will do. As a basic set it and forget it smoker, this thing hits the nail on the head! For the price, you can't got wrong! I have recommended this to all my friends but been honest about it's short comings! Now I've got more time for beer!
I have used this grill quite a few times over the past couple of months. If you are one of those folks that love lightly smoked foods and not the stuff some of my redneck buddies absolutely murders in smoke, then this is for you. I have been using pecan pellets in it from day one and really like the product. If you watch it while it's working, you may think that it's not really smoking but trust me, it is. Assembly is fairly straight forward and had no surprises which was pleasant. I am used to holes not lining up and prayed i didn't have that issue and i did not.
I have cooked the following on it and i will rate each one:
Burgers: would rate these 3/5 for flavor but beyond that, you may just want to stick with a grill because the sear feature on this is severely lacking. it just wont get hot enough and maintain that heat when it's open.
Sausage: 4/5 for smoke but again, it leaves a bit to be desired if you are wanting to get some char on them.
Boudin: 5/5 for everything! I run these on the top rack for 30 minutes then crank it up to 325/350 to get some snap to the skin. Honestly, it couldn't be any easier!
Turkey: 5/5 for everything! i removed the top rack and just barely squeezed a 14 lb bird in there! I did not run it on the smoke setting but ran it around 325 and waited for the internals to get to temp. Be sure to use oil in your spray and be generous as the skin will need to cook out.
Whole chicken: 2/5 but pretty sure it was my fault. I let the skin get away from me and got bullet proof rubber for skin and tough meat. Flavor was on point! Stuffed the bird with boudin and that was amazing!
The temp jumps around quite a bit on the probe and the machine is constantly adjusting itself. If I set it on 325, it will range between 300 and 350 at times. Not sure if this is a game changer for anyone because keeping a smoker to temp by hand would be around the same swing given the thickness of the materials of the grill. The hottest i have had this grill at is 420ish but like I stated earlier, it doesn't hold that temp well and will fall off once you open the lid.
Bottom line is that this 2020 updated grill has given me know issues thus far and has been great. Don't toss your grill just yet as you will primarily use this as a simple smoker as it will not do things that a grill will do. As a basic set it and forget it smoker, this thing hits the nail on the head! For the price, you can't got wrong! I have recommended this to all my friends but been honest about it's short comings! Now I've got more time for beer!
Michael Hotze : Rust and paint pealing after 4 uses.
Poor quality but does cook some yummy food. After performing the included start up process I got to cooking the next day. I cooked some hamburger at 375, next was a tri-tip at 275, then some wings at 300, and lastly Ribeyes at 275. After theses uses I noticed paint pealing around the fire pot as seen in the picture. Costumer service at zgills says this is normal, so I must conclude this grill is disposable and only for limited time use. If you expect it to last I would buy another brand.
I will say the food has been well cooked and temperature is held well by the control.
I will say the food has been well cooked and temperature is held well by the control.
Tessawessa : Terrible experience, broken grill. DO NOT BUY.
I bought this smoker for my husband for Christmas after researching multiple different websites for making the best BBQ. He is a carpenter and very good with tools. He assembled the grill and the auger wouldn't spin. We called ZGrills and they said we had to let it run longer so we did and it didn’t work. We called again and then they sent us a new motor without instructions??! Then they sent us a video on how to replace the motor but it was for a different model. They do not offer in person or on the phone support. They rarely answer the phone. The only person who answers the phone is a young woman with an accent who acted as though she has never heard of us or our problem every time I spoke to her. We ended up returning it to Amazon but was stuck with a $75 restocking fee. The seemingly only have one employee and she is incompetent, mouthy, and worthless. She offered to reimburse us for our troubles with a bag of pellets?? People without functional grills do not need pellets. She literally asked me if I would give her a good review if she sent us a check for the $75 restocking fee.
Ken M : Good value for a pellet smoker
Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model
The main grill is approximately 15.5 by 21 inches. There is a secondary ‘warming’ grill that is about 6 by 21 inches (with my measurements). The warming grill is above the level of the exhaust, so cooking meat on it is probably not a good idea. You can put veggies up there and just wait until they are done. The warming grill sits in a stationary position in the back, about 4 inches above the main grill. If you are cooking a large roast, the warming grill might need to be removed. I have to give a -1 star for the evasive advertisement of the (450 sq. in.) cooking area. Other than that, I love this thing.
I own a wood fired, offset grill, that cooks great with lots of attention. I wanted a smallish smoker that would not waste fuel on cooking just one roast. This grill/smoker cooks great without much attention at all. In my case, it is also much cheaper to burn pellets for 8 or 10 hours than to keep a charcoal fire going for that long. I have also owned a propane grill. Propane seemed good for chicken but other meats did not have much flavor. Your results may vary.
The temperature control is a switch calibrated in temperature increments. The settings are ‘Shut Down’, ‘Smoke’, 180, then 225-375 degrees in 25 degree steps. The last selection is ‘High’, which I think is 450. I normally only do 225 degree smoking.
The temperature appears to be controlled by a combination of fan and auger speed. The temperature sensor is about at grill level on the hotter end of the unit.
I could set 225F and after a 30 minute warm up measured (without meat) 224 on the left, 224 at center and 233 on the right. For a wood fired grill that is close to perfect. Depending on the meats and local weather conditions, the temperature may vary. On a large pork roast I saw temperatures between 200 and 240 when set at 225 on a 60 degree windy day. Mostly it stays around what you have set.
This thing is really heavy, over 85 pounds. The only plastic parts I could see are the wheels. More metal usually means better cooking for an oven. I have no complaints.
I've done some pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, and beef tri tip. all with expected good results. This past weekend, I decided to try a pork butt, without using a Texas crutch. Eighteen hours later at 225F, I had some really good roast. It used about 20 pounds of pellets over the 18 hours, all at 225. I would never had attempted that with my charcoal smoker. Too much time and money evolved in keeping a charcoal fire going that long.
These pellet smokers do not add an overpowering smoke flavor. If you like extra smokey meats, you can get a pellet fired smoke tube that will provide more than enough extra smoke for under $20.
Updated 6SEP20:
I've been using this grill almost daily for six months now and fell in love with it, I kicked my rating from 4, up to 5 stars. It is so darned easy to use and clean, keep foil on the drip tray thing and life is good. You will need to vacuum out the fire pot at about every 20-30 pounds of pellets (or sooner). I found I can get 40 pound bags of pellets at the local hardware store for around $15, not the super deluxe pellets, but good just the same. Way cheaper than using charcoal. The only thing I miss is the ability to sear over an open flame. This grill will heat up to over 420 degrees so it is possible to simulate that flame grilled finish.
The main grill is approximately 15.5 by 21 inches. There is a secondary ‘warming’ grill that is about 6 by 21 inches (with my measurements). The warming grill is above the level of the exhaust, so cooking meat on it is probably not a good idea. You can put veggies up there and just wait until they are done. The warming grill sits in a stationary position in the back, about 4 inches above the main grill. If you are cooking a large roast, the warming grill might need to be removed. I have to give a -1 star for the evasive advertisement of the (450 sq. in.) cooking area. Other than that, I love this thing.
I own a wood fired, offset grill, that cooks great with lots of attention. I wanted a smallish smoker that would not waste fuel on cooking just one roast. This grill/smoker cooks great without much attention at all. In my case, it is also much cheaper to burn pellets for 8 or 10 hours than to keep a charcoal fire going for that long. I have also owned a propane grill. Propane seemed good for chicken but other meats did not have much flavor. Your results may vary.
The temperature control is a switch calibrated in temperature increments. The settings are ‘Shut Down’, ‘Smoke’, 180, then 225-375 degrees in 25 degree steps. The last selection is ‘High’, which I think is 450. I normally only do 225 degree smoking.
The temperature appears to be controlled by a combination of fan and auger speed. The temperature sensor is about at grill level on the hotter end of the unit.
I could set 225F and after a 30 minute warm up measured (without meat) 224 on the left, 224 at center and 233 on the right. For a wood fired grill that is close to perfect. Depending on the meats and local weather conditions, the temperature may vary. On a large pork roast I saw temperatures between 200 and 240 when set at 225 on a 60 degree windy day. Mostly it stays around what you have set.
This thing is really heavy, over 85 pounds. The only plastic parts I could see are the wheels. More metal usually means better cooking for an oven. I have no complaints.
I've done some pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, and beef tri tip. all with expected good results. This past weekend, I decided to try a pork butt, without using a Texas crutch. Eighteen hours later at 225F, I had some really good roast. It used about 20 pounds of pellets over the 18 hours, all at 225. I would never had attempted that with my charcoal smoker. Too much time and money evolved in keeping a charcoal fire going that long.
These pellet smokers do not add an overpowering smoke flavor. If you like extra smokey meats, you can get a pellet fired smoke tube that will provide more than enough extra smoke for under $20.
Updated 6SEP20:
I've been using this grill almost daily for six months now and fell in love with it, I kicked my rating from 4, up to 5 stars. It is so darned easy to use and clean, keep foil on the drip tray thing and life is good. You will need to vacuum out the fire pot at about every 20-30 pounds of pellets (or sooner). I found I can get 40 pound bags of pellets at the local hardware store for around $15, not the super deluxe pellets, but good just the same. Way cheaper than using charcoal. The only thing I miss is the ability to sear over an open flame. This grill will heat up to over 420 degrees so it is possible to simulate that flame grilled finish.
Brian Adamchuk : Updated: Nice introduction to the Pellet Smoker world...
The first unit that came in was defective. The seller was fast to ship out a replacement. The second unit has worked well the 3-4 times it's been used. Temperature has stayed consistent throughout the cooking time.
So far I'm happy with the purchase.
5/14: sometimes you get what you pay for...
Love the idea of a pellet grill for the price of this grill. As can be read above first unit came in defective. Second unit does function but is HORRIBLY inaccurate for temperature and never puts outs smoke. As can be seen in the photo, I have grill set for 375, temp on grill led is 477, actual temperature on grate is 283. The 283 temperature was verified with an infrared thermometer.
So far I'm happy with the purchase.
5/14: sometimes you get what you pay for...
Love the idea of a pellet grill for the price of this grill. As can be read above first unit came in defective. Second unit does function but is HORRIBLY inaccurate for temperature and never puts outs smoke. As can be seen in the photo, I have grill set for 375, temp on grill led is 477, actual temperature on grate is 283. The 283 temperature was verified with an infrared thermometer.
G. Snyder : Set it and forget it (mostly): so easy to cook meat outdoors, minimal checking, great results.
My husband loves his meat. He must eat large amounts of it at every meal, but cooking that much meat in the kitchen causes odors to build up and even with vent running some grease builds up on surfaces. He tried a regular BBQ but it required him to tend the fire and keep checking the meat. So when he asked for this grill for his birthday, I was curious how it worked.
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
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
Aaron : Let the smoke roll!
First pellet grill I’ve ever used and heard about the value. Assembly took about 20 minutes or so. Start up took about an hour after letting it burn off. I then filled it with mesquite pellets and the smoke started rolling! First night I made smoked bourbon salmon and it turned out great. Tonight and tomorrow is a 12 pound brisket! It takes awhile to adjust and level off temp but it holds nicely. I have an aftermarket thermometer and it also double checks the temperature control. It’s a blast to cook on! I have the 550 2h and it fits a whole 12 pound brisket and there’s some room left over. Perfect for a family of four and can probably do 5 racks of ribs.
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!
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.
Lane : Food is amazing, but its not perfect
Hopper design is poor; when you're grilling, the pellets dont fall in like they should. There will be a hole right in the middle and the outside pellets wont fall in like they should. Also the temperature regulation is all over the place. For example, you'll set the temp to 225 and it'll go way up to almost 400 if you dont keep an eye on it. Other than that, all the food I've cooked on it has been amazing. But you can't set it and forget it like you should be able to for the price.
Ryan : Solid Grill, but one design flaw killed it for me.
I got this grill (ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade) as my first pellet barbecue and was very excited about it. Everything worked great, I smoked and grilled several things, but then we got rain. Even with the cover on and extra cover, the hopper let water get right into the dry pellets. Given that I live in the PNW, this is a deal-breaker for me. I ended up picking up the next model up has a different hopper design that will protect the pellets much better where I live.
So, this was a great grill, just not if you live in a wet climate or cannot roll it into full coverage during rain.
So, this was a great grill, just not if you live in a wet climate or cannot roll it into full coverage during rain.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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