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
gadget geek : Almost perfect with one design flaw [REVISED]
[REVISED]
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
Dbone : This grill and the company support are both terrible!
Latest Adventure:
Over the course of the 10 hour smoke with the grill set on 180 I had to fight with the unit sometimes getting as high as 325. And to add to this, I ran an internal probe on the grill during the smoke and it often read between 15 and 30 degrees above the temperature indicated on the controller for the grill. So not only is the grill having a temperature variance of +145 degrees but it's actually running 15 to 30 hotter than the controller is indicating.
Support is slow to nearly nonexistent. At one point I was asked to remedy my temperature issues by shutting the grill down when it gets too hot and simply starting over. I've been going back and forth with emails for the last 3 months and they seem to only follow a cookie cutter set of responses. At one point I waited over a week for a response to be given a set of instructions that they knew wouldn't work for the model of grill that I have. So they pay little attention to the details that you put in the emails. Also, good luck getting them to answer the phone.
I will never recommend this grill (ZPG-450A) to anyone...nor would I wish it on my worst enemies. If you are considering this item, don't do it. Run away...far far away.
Over the course of the 10 hour smoke with the grill set on 180 I had to fight with the unit sometimes getting as high as 325. And to add to this, I ran an internal probe on the grill during the smoke and it often read between 15 and 30 degrees above the temperature indicated on the controller for the grill. So not only is the grill having a temperature variance of +145 degrees but it's actually running 15 to 30 hotter than the controller is indicating.
Support is slow to nearly nonexistent. At one point I was asked to remedy my temperature issues by shutting the grill down when it gets too hot and simply starting over. I've been going back and forth with emails for the last 3 months and they seem to only follow a cookie cutter set of responses. At one point I waited over a week for a response to be given a set of instructions that they knew wouldn't work for the model of grill that I have. So they pay little attention to the details that you put in the emails. Also, good luck getting them to answer the phone.
I will never recommend this grill (ZPG-450A) to anyone...nor would I wish it on my worst enemies. If you are considering this item, don't do it. Run away...far far away.
john e. harvey : This is a find
Saw some negative reviews on older models but this was an upgrade to 2020. I took a chance and ordered one. I have really enjoyed this pellet smoker. It's a perfect size for my use, but may be a bit small if you entertain larger crowds. I only gave 4 stars for temperature control, but at 350 and below is does well and smokes like crazy. Ribs, burgers and steaks are so good. I still haven't challenged a brisket or pork butt, but have no doubt this grill will handle it!!!!
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.
gadget geek : Almost perfect with one design flaw [REVISED]
[REVISED]
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
Laramie : LOVE LOVE LOVE this grill!
A visited a friend in Dallas who has had a Z Grill for 6 months. He was raving about it. He cooked Steaks, Chicken, and Pork Chops (5 meals) and all were awesome. I'm a finicky steak cooker. Seared and rare is all I ask. He put on some huge rib eyes the first night. He told me it would take a little over an hour. All I could think of was hating well done meat; and looking in the fridge to see what options they had. The meat was perfect; tender; very juicy; smoke complementing the flavor; delicious. Same experience with the pork chops; pork tenderloin; and Strip steaks. All perfect. I was sold. Ordered one after I got home doing a fair amount of research. The Treager seemed to be closest pellet grill based on reviews from customers and rating agencies. This is so much easier far more dependable than my Komodo grill. Try one, you'll buy one. Z Grill rocks.
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.
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
Goob : Great for a month than up in flames. Updated!
This is my first Z Grill and 3rd pellet grill. Worked perfectly for a month. Today the grill went up in flames 3 hours into a cook. After the fire was put out and I gave it time to cool. I checked and it caught fire up the auger and started up into the hopper. The hopper fan is still currently working (so that shouldn't of happened) and I do exactly as instructions say to start it every time and I keep it clean. Now, I'm seeing error code 2 and HEr when just starting the grill. I wouldn't recommend this grill due to it being a hazard, I leave it on while we sleep at times, pretty scary it could of made us lose everything. Almost $400 down the drain. Before the major dangerous failure, it worked great, kept temp within 10 degrees of set temp. I had zero issues with it before today and would of given it a 5 star review.
(Update) I purchased a aftermarket temp probe from amazon which turned out to be much better made than the stock one that came with the z grill. Since installing this aftermarket temp probe, I have not had any issues. I updated my overall rating to 4 stars. Great product outside of the temp probe that comes with the grill, I recommend replacing it right away and enjoy your cooking because everything else about this grill is pretty awesome. I really enjoy using it.
(Update) I purchased a aftermarket temp probe from amazon which turned out to be much better made than the stock one that came with the z grill. Since installing this aftermarket temp probe, I have not had any issues. I updated my overall rating to 4 stars. Great product outside of the temp probe that comes with the grill, I recommend replacing it right away and enjoy your cooking because everything else about this grill is pretty awesome. I really enjoy using it.
JWT : Get this junk out of my yard.
2 stars is being nice. But after my first 2hr experience cooking some chicken breasts I figured I would start simple and make a video of a simple grill cook of standard link sausage. I will post this 22 min video of over an hour of cooking time on You Tube. I wanted to give this thing a second chance which is what I did.----First off the temperature is all over the place with this thing and NEVER stays steady at all at any one point. You lose so much heat when you open the lid. I no I am not opening the lid all the time. Smoke setting doesnt smoke. Temp gets way to high for smoking meat on the smoking setting. Does not continue to smoke. High temp of what I would normal use to grill a burger gets too hot apparently and will shut off with an error. ---------Really really disappointed in this purchase. Thank gosh I still have my Weber but it comes down to this. Dont waste your money. This technology just isnt there yet for me. Im not going risk a Tregger just to get the same result. Basically. I dont need to be baby sitting my grill all the time and the food thats on it. Sorry ZGrills. Its Big fat 0 for me if I could give it.
Edwin K. Ferguson : Initial Review of the ZPG 450E
This is my first pellet smoker and I think I have a LOT to learn, but here's my initial impression.
My grill came on time. While there were a few dents in the box, the contents were perfect. Assembly was straight forward so long as you take the time to read the instructions in the manual as well as use the illustrations (packed separately). Remember this though- there are absolutely NO SPARE PARTS, screws, bolts, washers, nuts, etc. so be careful not to lose any.
As I said, the assembly went well- everything fit as they should and the finished product is sturdy and seemingly well constructed. I would advise that you check twice to be sure this grill is large enough for your needs. It is smaller than I had imagined, partly because the second tray adds to their sq. inches claim of 450. The actual measurement of the main grill is 15 1/2" X21 1/4." Big enough for us, most of the time but if you're planning on a large turkey, for instance, get a larger grill.
I did an initial break-in and that went well with the exception that this grill, while having a limit of 450º only got up to 406º. The weather was cold and wet (my grill is on a covered deck). I contacted Zgrills support and was informed that in weather such as this the grill would not make it all the way to 450º. While that will work ok for me it might not get warm enough (in cold weather) for you so keep that in mind although I understand that this is a fairly common occurrence with other brands as well.
My first (and only use so far) was simply some hotdogs and sausage... grilled fine with a little bit of smoky flavor.
To wrap this up, I'd say I'm satisfied with the new grill so far.
My grill came on time. While there were a few dents in the box, the contents were perfect. Assembly was straight forward so long as you take the time to read the instructions in the manual as well as use the illustrations (packed separately). Remember this though- there are absolutely NO SPARE PARTS, screws, bolts, washers, nuts, etc. so be careful not to lose any.
As I said, the assembly went well- everything fit as they should and the finished product is sturdy and seemingly well constructed. I would advise that you check twice to be sure this grill is large enough for your needs. It is smaller than I had imagined, partly because the second tray adds to their sq. inches claim of 450. The actual measurement of the main grill is 15 1/2" X21 1/4." Big enough for us, most of the time but if you're planning on a large turkey, for instance, get a larger grill.
I did an initial break-in and that went well with the exception that this grill, while having a limit of 450º only got up to 406º. The weather was cold and wet (my grill is on a covered deck). I contacted Zgrills support and was informed that in weather such as this the grill would not make it all the way to 450º. While that will work ok for me it might not get warm enough (in cold weather) for you so keep that in mind although I understand that this is a fairly common occurrence with other brands as well.
My first (and only use so far) was simply some hotdogs and sausage... grilled fine with a little bit of smoky flavor.
To wrap this up, I'd say I'm satisfied with the new grill so far.
Tyler Peterson : Wish I had a working grill
Ordered 1st grill and it arrived damaged. Received the 2nd grill and setup for 2 hours, followed the page long instructions to turn on and it doesn’t even work! It only runs at 500 degrees and doesn’t go to the 350 degree preset temperature. I called their customer service for assistance and they said it needs to heat up to 500 degrees first then after running for about an hour it’ll cool down to the 350 degree preset temperature. It’s been over an hour and it’s still at 507 degrees. Not worth buying, should’ve gone with Traeger.
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!!!!!
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.
patrick chang : Had great promise and potential but flopped
I bought this grill about 6 months ago. Specifically I got the newer 2018 model thinking they had solved some of their past issues. The 2 main cons or issues I have been having are the temp control unit as the temperatures have been off by 50 degrees or more and the pellet hopper doesnt feed properly causing the grill to stall.
I contacted z grills support but they haven't been very helpful. They recommended that I stir the pellets so they will not stall during feeding? Am I suppose to stand their all day?
I contacted z grills support but they haven't been very helpful. They recommended that I stir the pellets so they will not stall during feeding? Am I suppose to stand their all day?
JC : Poor temperature control.
Daedalus : Great starter smoker, but I regret not buying a larger one.
Very good starter smoker. If you want to get into smoking meats and you don’t have the time or desire to monitor the fire/temp for 8 hours, this is a great way to go. Easy to assemble, the instructions could be better, but it’s not hard to figure out. Extremely easy to use, but be sure you check out a few videos on how to set it up for the first time, which isn’t clearly explained in the instructions. Run it on high for 45 minutes to burn off factory oils. My only regret is that I didn’t buy a bigger model. 450 sq inches includes the tiny little 2nd tier rack. I was able to fit a full brisket packer in it, but nothing else. It’s worth the extra money to get a larger smoker.
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!
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.
drgrenthum : It cooks and adds a little smoke flavor, I do mean little
I really want to like this grill, I do, It just doesn't do anything great.
I had $150 propane smoker that I was able to produce amazing stuff with. It rusted out and a friend told me I needed to get a traeger. Being that this company used to make some of traeger stuff and it's a PIV grill, I figured I'd give it a go. Problem I'm having is it doesn't want to sear very well It just doesn't get hot enough. Next issue I have is it doesn't smoke very well. What used to take me 12 to 14 hours for a great product, I now put on the day before and cook for probably closer to 20 and still don't get a good bark.
I do like the flavor it gives chicken. It is very easy to turn on and very easy to clean. It's just not a good grill or smoker, it's something in between.
I had $150 propane smoker that I was able to produce amazing stuff with. It rusted out and a friend told me I needed to get a traeger. Being that this company used to make some of traeger stuff and it's a PIV grill, I figured I'd give it a go. Problem I'm having is it doesn't want to sear very well It just doesn't get hot enough. Next issue I have is it doesn't smoke very well. What used to take me 12 to 14 hours for a great product, I now put on the day before and cook for probably closer to 20 and still don't get a good bark.
I do like the flavor it gives chicken. It is very easy to turn on and very easy to clean. It's just not a good grill or smoker, it's something in between.
Edwin K. Ferguson : Initial Review of the ZPG 450E
This is my first pellet smoker and I think I have a LOT to learn, but here's my initial impression.
My grill came on time. While there were a few dents in the box, the contents were perfect. Assembly was straight forward so long as you take the time to read the instructions in the manual as well as use the illustrations (packed separately). Remember this though- there are absolutely NO SPARE PARTS, screws, bolts, washers, nuts, etc. so be careful not to lose any.
As I said, the assembly went well- everything fit as they should and the finished product is sturdy and seemingly well constructed. I would advise that you check twice to be sure this grill is large enough for your needs. It is smaller than I had imagined, partly because the second tray adds to their sq. inches claim of 450. The actual measurement of the main grill is 15 1/2" X21 1/4." Big enough for us, most of the time but if you're planning on a large turkey, for instance, get a larger grill.
I did an initial break-in and that went well with the exception that this grill, while having a limit of 450º only got up to 406º. The weather was cold and wet (my grill is on a covered deck). I contacted Zgrills support and was informed that in weather such as this the grill would not make it all the way to 450º. While that will work ok for me it might not get warm enough (in cold weather) for you so keep that in mind although I understand that this is a fairly common occurrence with other brands as well.
My first (and only use so far) was simply some hotdogs and sausage... grilled fine with a little bit of smoky flavor.
To wrap this up, I'd say I'm satisfied with the new grill so far.
My grill came on time. While there were a few dents in the box, the contents were perfect. Assembly was straight forward so long as you take the time to read the instructions in the manual as well as use the illustrations (packed separately). Remember this though- there are absolutely NO SPARE PARTS, screws, bolts, washers, nuts, etc. so be careful not to lose any.
As I said, the assembly went well- everything fit as they should and the finished product is sturdy and seemingly well constructed. I would advise that you check twice to be sure this grill is large enough for your needs. It is smaller than I had imagined, partly because the second tray adds to their sq. inches claim of 450. The actual measurement of the main grill is 15 1/2" X21 1/4." Big enough for us, most of the time but if you're planning on a large turkey, for instance, get a larger grill.
I did an initial break-in and that went well with the exception that this grill, while having a limit of 450º only got up to 406º. The weather was cold and wet (my grill is on a covered deck). I contacted Zgrills support and was informed that in weather such as this the grill would not make it all the way to 450º. While that will work ok for me it might not get warm enough (in cold weather) for you so keep that in mind although I understand that this is a fairly common occurrence with other brands as well.
My first (and only use so far) was simply some hotdogs and sausage... grilled fine with a little bit of smoky flavor.
To wrap this up, I'd say I'm satisfied with the new grill so far.
P. Moody : Great entry level pellet grill
I got this as a step up from a electric smoker. I've wanted a better smoker, preferably pellet, for a while and finally got my chance to grab it, so I did.
I've used it a good amount so far. Pulled pork, burnt ends, hamburgers, hot dogs. Everything came out with great flavor. Heats up pretty quickly compared to what I expected and maintains temperature control within 10 degrees, usually closer to 5.
I saw many of the older reviews and was a bit worried, but it looks like they fixed the problems in this iteration. I can't stress enough to drop the temp a few times before going to the shut down cycle. Already had one burn back. But that I'll chalk up to my personal learning curve.
I wish I was able to get a larger one, just because. But for the money, I'm extremely happy with this one.
I've used it a good amount so far. Pulled pork, burnt ends, hamburgers, hot dogs. Everything came out with great flavor. Heats up pretty quickly compared to what I expected and maintains temperature control within 10 degrees, usually closer to 5.
I saw many of the older reviews and was a bit worried, but it looks like they fixed the problems in this iteration. I can't stress enough to drop the temp a few times before going to the shut down cycle. Already had one burn back. But that I'll chalk up to my personal learning curve.
I wish I was able to get a larger one, just because. But for the money, I'm extremely happy with this one.
Brad Groux : The Z GRILLS ZPG-550B 2019 is an amazing smoker/grill for the price!
I've had this grill for a little over the week and am loving it. The assembly took about an hour, and that was only because I put the legs on the wrong way so the shelf holes were pointing out. Make sure you're in a well lit room, unlike me and you shouldn't make this mistake. The included "startup list" steps you through the first startup and tests perfectly, so make sure you follow the list and you'll be cooking in no-time!
The attached pictures are prime cut beef ribs I smoked on 275°F for 6 hours, and choice cut pork ribs I smoked for 4 hours on 275°F - they both came out amazing! I've also used the grill to reverse-seer prime NY Strip steaks, by cooking on 225°F for 45 minutes, then cranking up to high (nearly 500°F) and seering for 90 seconds on each side for a PERFECT medium-rare steak.
I've cooked beef and pork ribs many, many times and I've reverse seered NY Strips countless times, and the best I've ever cooked them all was on this grill, NO JOKE! It truly makes grilling and smoking idiot proof, just get yourself a nice digital thermometer and you'll never mess up. The perfect mix pellets also give a great flavor that isn't too overpowering like a 100% hickory or mesquite.
$9.99 Smoker Thermometer - https://amzn.to/2Gt9iRH
$37.00 40lb bag of Perfect Mix Pellets - https://amzn.to/2XdLcjg
$13.99 Grill Cover works great - https://amzn.to/2IrDS02
You could certainly pay more for a name brand grill, but with the extended warranty and a cheap grill cover, I should more than get my money out of it. I'm also happy with the overall size, as it fits nicely on my covered second story patio.
The attached pictures are prime cut beef ribs I smoked on 275°F for 6 hours, and choice cut pork ribs I smoked for 4 hours on 275°F - they both came out amazing! I've also used the grill to reverse-seer prime NY Strip steaks, by cooking on 225°F for 45 minutes, then cranking up to high (nearly 500°F) and seering for 90 seconds on each side for a PERFECT medium-rare steak.
I've cooked beef and pork ribs many, many times and I've reverse seered NY Strips countless times, and the best I've ever cooked them all was on this grill, NO JOKE! It truly makes grilling and smoking idiot proof, just get yourself a nice digital thermometer and you'll never mess up. The perfect mix pellets also give a great flavor that isn't too overpowering like a 100% hickory or mesquite.
$9.99 Smoker Thermometer - https://amzn.to/2Gt9iRH
$37.00 40lb bag of Perfect Mix Pellets - https://amzn.to/2XdLcjg
$13.99 Grill Cover works great - https://amzn.to/2IrDS02
You could certainly pay more for a name brand grill, but with the extended warranty and a cheap grill cover, I should more than get my money out of it. I'm also happy with the overall size, as it fits nicely on my covered second story patio.
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.
Tellitlikeitis : Doesn't get hot enough to sear meat but otherwise excellent.
What I like is it came very well packaged and suffered no damage despite obvious rough handling that damaged the package. It was very easy to assemble using the excellent instructions. It even came with two wrenches and a screwdriver so no other tools were required for assembly. All the nuts screws and washers were in separate labelled blister pack sections instead of just thrown in a bag.
The grille is all heavy gauge metal, there's nothing flimsy anywhere on this grill so it should last. It came with an excellent heavy fabric fitted cover. Everything is better than I expected, almost like it didn't come from China at all. Clearly it was strictly designed in the U.S.A. and manufactured to a high standard.
I fired it up and ran it through all the temperature settings and found that it kept a steady temperature within 10 degrees of selected temp up to 350 degrees. For settings above that it seemed to struggle to achieve the set temperature at the surface of the grille using a separate thermometer.
The maximum temperature it was able to achieve was 410 degrees at the center of the grill on a sunny day at 70 degrees outside temperature and a light breeze blowing. Not hot enough to sear the hamburgers I cooked on it. Hopefully it will do better on summer days ahead but it's somewhat disappointing on an otherwise excellent product so I took away one star for that alone.
The grille is all heavy gauge metal, there's nothing flimsy anywhere on this grill so it should last. It came with an excellent heavy fabric fitted cover. Everything is better than I expected, almost like it didn't come from China at all. Clearly it was strictly designed in the U.S.A. and manufactured to a high standard.
I fired it up and ran it through all the temperature settings and found that it kept a steady temperature within 10 degrees of selected temp up to 350 degrees. For settings above that it seemed to struggle to achieve the set temperature at the surface of the grille using a separate thermometer.
The maximum temperature it was able to achieve was 410 degrees at the center of the grill on a sunny day at 70 degrees outside temperature and a light breeze blowing. Not hot enough to sear the hamburgers I cooked on it. Hopefully it will do better on summer days ahead but it's somewhat disappointing on an otherwise excellent product so I took away one star for that alone.
country5 : holds temp consistenly
The grill came promptly and in good condition. I have some assembly experience so putting it together was not hard; having two people is a big help. The instruction are clear with lots of pictures and all the hard ware is clearly labeled and the grill came with all the tools needed to put it together. This is my first pellet grill so I cannot compare it to others but my cooking experiences have been very positive. Cooking the meat low and slow along with a good level of smoke has made for delicious meals. I have kept a close eye on the temperature the swings are easily within ten degrees. I have found that stepping up the temperature in increment works best. For reference I put a full untrimmed rack of pork ribs and two 1.5 lb ropes of sausage on the grill and it was full. ( 540 sq in grill size) The grill is built well and easy to use I would buy another Z Grill. The only frustration I found was there is no hole for a meat probe so I took a 3/16 drill bit and made my own. Hope I did not void my warranty of increase the risk of rust where I drilled.
gadget geek : Almost perfect with one design flaw [REVISED]
[REVISED]
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
Erin : Do not buy! Not worth it!
Worst pellet grill ever! I wish I would have spent the extra money and got a Traeger or spent the same amount of money and got a Pit Boss. Have had it 3 months and have had multiple temperature malfunctions. Contacted Z Grills, they sent a new controller, still didn't fix the problem. Contacted Z Grills to let them know still not working. They said they would send a new hopper after the weekend. 3 weeks go by and I still haven't gotten to hopper, so I contact Z Grills again and the hoppers are out of stock. It is even more frustrating that $45 briskets and racks of ribs are getting ruined because of this. They will not send me a new grill or refund me.
Tellitlikeitis : Doesn't get hot enough to sear meat but otherwise excellent.
What I like is it came very well packaged and suffered no damage despite obvious rough handling that damaged the package. It was very easy to assemble using the excellent instructions. It even came with two wrenches and a screwdriver so no other tools were required for assembly. All the nuts screws and washers were in separate labelled blister pack sections instead of just thrown in a bag.
The grille is all heavy gauge metal, there's nothing flimsy anywhere on this grill so it should last. It came with an excellent heavy fabric fitted cover. Everything is better than I expected, almost like it didn't come from China at all. Clearly it was strictly designed in the U.S.A. and manufactured to a high standard.
I fired it up and ran it through all the temperature settings and found that it kept a steady temperature within 10 degrees of selected temp up to 350 degrees. For settings above that it seemed to struggle to achieve the set temperature at the surface of the grille using a separate thermometer.
The maximum temperature it was able to achieve was 410 degrees at the center of the grill on a sunny day at 70 degrees outside temperature and a light breeze blowing. Not hot enough to sear the hamburgers I cooked on it. Hopefully it will do better on summer days ahead but it's somewhat disappointing on an otherwise excellent product so I took away one star for that alone.
The grille is all heavy gauge metal, there's nothing flimsy anywhere on this grill so it should last. It came with an excellent heavy fabric fitted cover. Everything is better than I expected, almost like it didn't come from China at all. Clearly it was strictly designed in the U.S.A. and manufactured to a high standard.
I fired it up and ran it through all the temperature settings and found that it kept a steady temperature within 10 degrees of selected temp up to 350 degrees. For settings above that it seemed to struggle to achieve the set temperature at the surface of the grille using a separate thermometer.
The maximum temperature it was able to achieve was 410 degrees at the center of the grill on a sunny day at 70 degrees outside temperature and a light breeze blowing. Not hot enough to sear the hamburgers I cooked on it. Hopefully it will do better on summer days ahead but it's somewhat disappointing on an otherwise excellent product so I took away one star for that alone.
country5 : holds temp consistenly
The grill came promptly and in good condition. I have some assembly experience so putting it together was not hard; having two people is a big help. The instruction are clear with lots of pictures and all the hard ware is clearly labeled and the grill came with all the tools needed to put it together. This is my first pellet grill so I cannot compare it to others but my cooking experiences have been very positive. Cooking the meat low and slow along with a good level of smoke has made for delicious meals. I have kept a close eye on the temperature the swings are easily within ten degrees. I have found that stepping up the temperature in increment works best. For reference I put a full untrimmed rack of pork ribs and two 1.5 lb ropes of sausage on the grill and it was full. ( 540 sq in grill size) The grill is built well and easy to use I would buy another Z Grill. The only frustration I found was there is no hole for a meat probe so I took a 3/16 drill bit and made my own. Hope I did not void my warranty of increase the risk of rust where I drilled.
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!!!!!
Terry & Christina McDaniel : Replaced controller, Do Research.
I gave 3 stars, do your research. I really like this grill. I wish I would of got the bigger one. But the electronics are junk. I tried to do 3 different cooks. 1st was ribs smoked they came out good not great, second tried as a grill didn’t work temp wouldn’t even get to grill temp. The 3rd was another rack of ribs 3-2-1 method. Grill wouldn’t keep temp, hopper was full but kept running out of Pellets would not feed correctly. The problem is not the smoker itself it’s electronic controller is flawed during the last cook I kept getting low temp errors which means below 60 degrees, I’m in the Galveston, tx area the temp that day was in the mid 90’s. So I modified the smoker first I replaced the controller temp issues fixed. The feeder issue is a safety grate I guess it’s there so you can’t put your fingers in the auger hole. Now it feeds properly. So if you buy I suggest replacing the controller board first. From research I did I found that most of the grills out don’t work properly. Hope it helps.
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
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.
Real48 : Caution tape needed
I bought my grill on July 17 this year and the grill malfunctioned and caused the grill temp to go up. Could not control the temp and the grill caught fire. The problem is the temperature control The temp is all over the place. The temperature is set at 180 and it jumps to 325 to 400. This last time the temperature got so hot the inside for the grill burned up and had to use a extinguisher to put it out. The other problem is zgrill customers service,It is the worst. They don’t return calls or emails.
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.
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.
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.
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!
RandyMarsh : The under & over compensation is true. Do not buy unless you want an inconsistent experience
Have been looking for a first time smoker for several weeks now and saw this on a deal for $295. Read other Amazon reviews about how this machine will underheat then overcompensate and YEP. If you set it at 225 (or any temp for the matter) it will start by going up to 300 then drops down to 190. Then does the process on repeat. Not very happy that I can't have a consistent temperature for making all these different kinds of food.
Thought "every product has a lemon the couple 1 stars are off cases" then get the exact issues the others have commented. DO NOT buy this grill if you care about a consistent cooking experience. Instructions on top of it all were not even the least bit useful. Had to watch a video from z grill which even then was not specific on which bolts and the products in the video for my 450a were different than what mine has such as the Greece bucket and heat shield dissapator.
Wish I would of bought a pit boss or traeger.
Thought "every product has a lemon the couple 1 stars are off cases" then get the exact issues the others have commented. DO NOT buy this grill if you care about a consistent cooking experience. Instructions on top of it all were not even the least bit useful. Had to watch a video from z grill which even then was not specific on which bolts and the products in the video for my 450a were different than what mine has such as the Greece bucket and heat shield dissapator.
Wish I would of bought a pit boss or traeger.
Customer4K : So far, not a Traeger replacement!
So far, the best thing about this grill was assembly. The instructions were thorough and everything needed for assembly was included in the box. It was immediately evident while putting the grill together that the grill is of high quality.
I'm coming from a Traeger Tailgater so pellet cooking isn't new to me. However, once the auger in my Traeget began to show signs of breakdown i decided to replace with a bigger and more accessorized Zgrill and save a couple hundred dollars in the process.
So far, I've cooked pork chops, hot dogs, steaks, and chicken kabobs. All were decent but the smoky flavor I'm used to was lacking. Also, the temp swings are REAL as I'm experiencing +20 degrees at times. The temp always return to or returns close to the set temp, but the swings are concerning.
I will keep a lil while longer........probably try different pellets to see if smokiness improves before sending back. In all fairness, it took awhile to find the "right" pellets for an optimum cook in the Traeger.
I'm coming from a Traeger Tailgater so pellet cooking isn't new to me. However, once the auger in my Traeget began to show signs of breakdown i decided to replace with a bigger and more accessorized Zgrill and save a couple hundred dollars in the process.
So far, I've cooked pork chops, hot dogs, steaks, and chicken kabobs. All were decent but the smoky flavor I'm used to was lacking. Also, the temp swings are REAL as I'm experiencing +20 degrees at times. The temp always return to or returns close to the set temp, but the swings are concerning.
I will keep a lil while longer........probably try different pellets to see if smokiness improves before sending back. In all fairness, it took awhile to find the "right" pellets for an optimum cook in the Traeger.
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.
Kevin : Entry level grill. (but?)
I've had smokers propane and electric. I did a alot of research before purchase. 3 year warranty and for 21.00 more I got 4 more? 7 years! I cook brisket, chicken, sausage, ribs and burgers with this thing . I can't wait to smoke a turkey. Its big enough as far as square per inch for plenty. Some things you need to seer, but if you already know that, you already know. Buy it and don't look back.
Jacob : Awful temperature control and terrible customer service
Do not even think about buying this. Get a Traeger. From the start had outrageous temperature swings ex. Dial set to 180, temperature would get above 400. Three weeks after buying it the controls stopped working to where whatever temp it was set to, it would only select 325. Customer support was very unhelpful and kept telling me to clean out the fire pot for an obvious electronics issue. Then after 4 weeks it won’t even turn on. Returning immediately. Do not even think about buying this.
Tyler Peterson : Wish I had a working grill
Ordered 1st grill and it arrived damaged. Received the 2nd grill and setup for 2 hours, followed the page long instructions to turn on and it doesn’t even work! It only runs at 500 degrees and doesn’t go to the 350 degree preset temperature. I called their customer service for assistance and they said it needs to heat up to 500 degrees first then after running for about an hour it’ll cool down to the 350 degree preset temperature. It’s been over an hour and it’s still at 507 degrees. Not worth buying, should’ve gone with Traeger.
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.
gadget geek : Almost perfect with one design flaw [REVISED]
[REVISED]
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
I now think this grill is not worth the trouble. And their technical support is non responsive. You have to watch this grill like a hawk to make sure the pellets don't run out even though you have a full chute of pellets. Basically, a huge sinkhole opens up and starves the grill for pellets because the chute is badly designed.
Don't buy a Z-Grill. Their support sucks and after ruining 3 meals for me, I am done with it.
[OLD REVIEW]
Great pellet grill for the money. The only complaint I have is that the hopper design is flawed. You will load it up with 10 lbs of pellets and walk away feeling pretty good about your cook... then.... you come back... and it's starved for pellets because the hopper does not feed the pellets properly and just creates a 'sink hole' around the auger feeder. The grill will still have 8 lbs of pellets, but will refuse to feed them because of this.
I have to figure out a way to re-engineer this.
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?
Janet Lowe : Use the chimney stack.
So been tinkering with this thing all day, and based on the reviews I thought it may be hit or miss, but here is what I have found.
1. Lower the chimney stack pretty low. With it barely on, or a lot of space between the smoke exhaust port and the chimney stack, the temp is very high. Lowering the chimney stack lowers the internal cooking temperature.
2. Kinda a pain to put together. Not horrid, but not great. Typical 'oh man, I gotta assemble this' kinda thing.
3. Once you get the chimney stack where you like it, this thing is pretty boss.
I have a old school thermometer, and the one that comes with the unit, and they are very close on temperature gauges, within 10 degrees of each other.
The pellets form a well, so you need to check them about every 45 minutes and restir the pellets.
After adjusting the chimney stack, I get about a solid 225F at the 180F setting. Chimney stack adjustments could be finer tuned, but will take some time if desired. 225F is perfect for most of the low and slow I do. I do about 5 turns on the chimney stack, then wait a few minutes for the temp to adjust. A little up or down goes a decent ways, so don't turn too much.
This is a pretty solid little unit. This is day one, but I have a pork butt smoking as I type. And it is the first pellet smoker I have ever had. But overall, I am pleased with the price and performance.
It takes a little work, but any smoker around this price should, and should be expected. Can't wait to see how this future pulled pork comes out. :)
1. Lower the chimney stack pretty low. With it barely on, or a lot of space between the smoke exhaust port and the chimney stack, the temp is very high. Lowering the chimney stack lowers the internal cooking temperature.
2. Kinda a pain to put together. Not horrid, but not great. Typical 'oh man, I gotta assemble this' kinda thing.
3. Once you get the chimney stack where you like it, this thing is pretty boss.
I have a old school thermometer, and the one that comes with the unit, and they are very close on temperature gauges, within 10 degrees of each other.
The pellets form a well, so you need to check them about every 45 minutes and restir the pellets.
After adjusting the chimney stack, I get about a solid 225F at the 180F setting. Chimney stack adjustments could be finer tuned, but will take some time if desired. 225F is perfect for most of the low and slow I do. I do about 5 turns on the chimney stack, then wait a few minutes for the temp to adjust. A little up or down goes a decent ways, so don't turn too much.
This is a pretty solid little unit. This is day one, but I have a pork butt smoking as I type. And it is the first pellet smoker I have ever had. But overall, I am pleased with the price and performance.
It takes a little work, but any smoker around this price should, and should be expected. Can't wait to see how this future pulled pork comes out. :)
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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