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 2024
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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
gary grant : Great smoker for the money.
Had a electric wood chip smoker at first which I bought during warmer months and it was great, but once winter hit the wood chip smoker failed to get hot enough. Did a lot of research on pellet smokers, plus my neighbors have a Treager, so the smells coming over the fence was incredible. Decided to go with this smoker due to being so much cheaper than the big name brands. The first use of this smoker, the neighbors came over to see what the incredible smells coming over the fence were. Gets up to 400 even at below zero and has opened up so many opportunities for great tasting food. Just had great smoked ravioli, love this smoker. I did find that all pellets are not equal in taste and smoke intensity. Best I have found so far is Lowes competition blend.
Josef : Almost every single part was damaged. DO NOT BUY
Grill lasted just over a month before complete failure of pellet auger. DO NOT BUY
I opened the grill this morning so far I have noted. Scratch on big drum, chipped paint on lid, giant dent in hopper box, both handle grommets deformed, and no wheel nut covers that were supposed to be in the box. So far even with ease of assembly I am very disappointed.
*update*
While it is ugly with all the dents and dings all over it works as expected, still leaving at 1 star due to the damage to it.
*2nd update* Manufacturer will not send replacement parts for damage, instead they offered me three bags of pellets. If I could give less than a 1 star I would . This has been a nightmare since I hit buy. From the shipping being delayed multiple times to the price dropping before I received it, to it being damaged and neither amazon or the manufacturer will make it right
*3rd* update* manufacturer will be sending replacement parts.
*4th* update, Zgrills is no longer sending me replacement parts, the grill is out side the return window and no longer functioning. DO NOT BUY
I opened the grill this morning so far I have noted. Scratch on big drum, chipped paint on lid, giant dent in hopper box, both handle grommets deformed, and no wheel nut covers that were supposed to be in the box. So far even with ease of assembly I am very disappointed.
*update*
While it is ugly with all the dents and dings all over it works as expected, still leaving at 1 star due to the damage to it.
*2nd update* Manufacturer will not send replacement parts for damage, instead they offered me three bags of pellets. If I could give less than a 1 star I would . This has been a nightmare since I hit buy. From the shipping being delayed multiple times to the price dropping before I received it, to it being damaged and neither amazon or the manufacturer will make it right
*3rd* update* manufacturer will be sending replacement parts.
*4th* update, Zgrills is no longer sending me replacement parts, the grill is out side the return window and no longer functioning. DO NOT BUY
Josef : Almost every single part was damaged. DO NOT BUY
Grill lasted just over a month before complete failure of pellet auger. DO NOT BUY
I opened the grill this morning so far I have noted. Scratch on big drum, chipped paint on lid, giant dent in hopper box, both handle grommets deformed, and no wheel nut covers that were supposed to be in the box. So far even with ease of assembly I am very disappointed.
*update*
While it is ugly with all the dents and dings all over it works as expected, still leaving at 1 star due to the damage to it.
*2nd update* Manufacturer will not send replacement parts for damage, instead they offered me three bags of pellets. If I could give less than a 1 star I would . This has been a nightmare since I hit buy. From the shipping being delayed multiple times to the price dropping before I received it, to it being damaged and neither amazon or the manufacturer will make it right
*3rd* update* manufacturer will be sending replacement parts.
*4th* update, Zgrills is no longer sending me replacement parts, the grill is out side the return window and no longer functioning. DO NOT BUY
I opened the grill this morning so far I have noted. Scratch on big drum, chipped paint on lid, giant dent in hopper box, both handle grommets deformed, and no wheel nut covers that were supposed to be in the box. So far even with ease of assembly I am very disappointed.
*update*
While it is ugly with all the dents and dings all over it works as expected, still leaving at 1 star due to the damage to it.
*2nd update* Manufacturer will not send replacement parts for damage, instead they offered me three bags of pellets. If I could give less than a 1 star I would . This has been a nightmare since I hit buy. From the shipping being delayed multiple times to the price dropping before I received it, to it being damaged and neither amazon or the manufacturer will make it right
*3rd* update* manufacturer will be sending replacement parts.
*4th* update, Zgrills is no longer sending me replacement parts, the grill is out side the return window and no longer functioning. DO NOT BUY
Aaron : Great for low and slow cooking
I had been thinking for a while about getting a smoker, and I bought this not quite knowing what to expect. Here are my impressions after using it this past summer.
This grill was heavier than I expected, and my initial impression was that it is well built. The cooking racks are good quality. Assembly was very straight forward with all parts clearly labeled and pretty decent instructions. After putting everything together it was time to fire it up.
Follow the instructions for priming the auger and lighting the grill the first time. It's important to burn off the oils from the manufacturing process before cooking on it. The instructions for this were a little less clear, but I was able to follow along.
Cooking on this pellet smoker is great as long as you know what to expect. This smoker is very good at maintaining constant low temperatures in the 180 to 275 F range. Don't expect to be running it at high temperatures for searing meats, etc. The maximum I could get my grill up to was about 420 F, and then during the shutdown cycle the pellets in the auger caught on fire from the residual heat. In hindsight, I should have backed the temperature down to 250 for a half hour or so before shutting it down to prevent this.
The bottom line here is that the quality is on a par with some name brand pellet grills but at half the price. Stick to the low and slow BBQ temperature range, and this little smoker works like a champ!
This grill was heavier than I expected, and my initial impression was that it is well built. The cooking racks are good quality. Assembly was very straight forward with all parts clearly labeled and pretty decent instructions. After putting everything together it was time to fire it up.
Follow the instructions for priming the auger and lighting the grill the first time. It's important to burn off the oils from the manufacturing process before cooking on it. The instructions for this were a little less clear, but I was able to follow along.
Cooking on this pellet smoker is great as long as you know what to expect. This smoker is very good at maintaining constant low temperatures in the 180 to 275 F range. Don't expect to be running it at high temperatures for searing meats, etc. The maximum I could get my grill up to was about 420 F, and then during the shutdown cycle the pellets in the auger caught on fire from the residual heat. In hindsight, I should have backed the temperature down to 250 for a half hour or so before shutting it down to prevent this.
The bottom line here is that the quality is on a par with some name brand pellet grills but at half the price. Stick to the low and slow BBQ temperature range, and this little smoker works like a champ!
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.
James : Beware. !! Not a good China product.
Not bad to put together. The problems came on start-up. On the initial break-in, it says to put it on Hi. The unit went to 550* and shut off for safety. That’s scarey. After many tries, I got ahold of support at ZGrills. I was told by a nice young girl to just keep using the unit and it would adjust. It didn’t. While cooking I set the unit at Smoke and it went to 300+, at 225*, it went to 400*...at least by their LED temp. I dont have a thermometer to measure their LED. Sorry, not a professional griller, just a guy replacing my gas grill. I will contact their support again and update this if there is a solution.
As of 7/05/19... I contacted ZGrills,after many tries.....they said "they would refund my money. If they do, I’ll review this process further. That would be great.
....I also contacted Amazon many hours ago. They said they would contact ZGrills, which would not answer their phone, they said they would get back to me. After 6 hrs, Nothing from them either. I’ll update this when someone finally stands behind their product. Until then, don’t buy this grill.
......as of 07/08/19...nothing from Amazon or ZGrills. I called ZGrills again, they promised that a refund is happening. I’ll update this if their customer service is correct.
As of 7/05/19... I contacted ZGrills,after many tries.....they said "they would refund my money. If they do, I’ll review this process further. That would be great.
....I also contacted Amazon many hours ago. They said they would contact ZGrills, which would not answer their phone, they said they would get back to me. After 6 hrs, Nothing from them either. I’ll update this when someone finally stands behind their product. Until then, don’t buy this grill.
......as of 07/08/19...nothing from Amazon or ZGrills. I called ZGrills again, they promised that a refund is happening. I’ll update this if their customer service is correct.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!!
John Smith : Instructions suck
Well. It got here fast. The simple instructions say use a screw here and there. But it doesn't say which one. There's 5 different screw bolts and washer setups but it never really (beyond the package) tell you what screw goes where. Infact the instructions miss several steps that you just have to do. Such as hinges and handles. The tools they give you are not even the right size. At least the wrench. Gotta use your own or it's a bust. But I hope it can cook well.
Cooks good.
Cooks good.
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.
James : Beware. !! Not a good China product.
Not bad to put together. The problems came on start-up. On the initial break-in, it says to put it on Hi. The unit went to 550* and shut off for safety. That’s scarey. After many tries, I got ahold of support at ZGrills. I was told by a nice young girl to just keep using the unit and it would adjust. It didn’t. While cooking I set the unit at Smoke and it went to 300+, at 225*, it went to 400*...at least by their LED temp. I dont have a thermometer to measure their LED. Sorry, not a professional griller, just a guy replacing my gas grill. I will contact their support again and update this if there is a solution.
As of 7/05/19... I contacted ZGrills,after many tries.....they said "they would refund my money. If they do, I’ll review this process further. That would be great.
....I also contacted Amazon many hours ago. They said they would contact ZGrills, which would not answer their phone, they said they would get back to me. After 6 hrs, Nothing from them either. I’ll update this when someone finally stands behind their product. Until then, don’t buy this grill.
......as of 07/08/19...nothing from Amazon or ZGrills. I called ZGrills again, they promised that a refund is happening. I’ll update this if their customer service is correct.
As of 7/05/19... I contacted ZGrills,after many tries.....they said "they would refund my money. If they do, I’ll review this process further. That would be great.
....I also contacted Amazon many hours ago. They said they would contact ZGrills, which would not answer their phone, they said they would get back to me. After 6 hrs, Nothing from them either. I’ll update this when someone finally stands behind their product. Until then, don’t buy this grill.
......as of 07/08/19...nothing from Amazon or ZGrills. I called ZGrills again, they promised that a refund is happening. I’ll update this if their customer service is correct.
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.
TLT3GA : DO NOT BUY THIS!
I have had the biggest headache with this grill! The first one I received I assembled it exactly as the instructions detailed. Once assembled I went through all of the pre-cooking instructions to prepare the grill. The very last step did not work. I contacted the company and they said it might be the temperature probe - they sent me a how-to video in Chinese (I don't speak Chinese). I then had Amazon send me a replacement - which they did. After assembling it the very same problem occurred at the last step. After 45 minutes set on HIGH it was less than 100*.
Now I am having to deal with two defective grills. I was told (in writing) I didn't have to send the first grill back. Now they want both grills back - fine - they are defective. But now I am being told the only way to receive my refund is once they have confirmation the grills are on the way. But I HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE AND REPACKAGE THEM (which is impossible). So, now I am out my money, have two defective grills and am being further inconvenienced by having to try and figure out how to send these back. DO NOT BUY THIS GRILL!
Now I am having to deal with two defective grills. I was told (in writing) I didn't have to send the first grill back. Now they want both grills back - fine - they are defective. But now I am being told the only way to receive my refund is once they have confirmation the grills are on the way. But I HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE AND REPACKAGE THEM (which is impossible). So, now I am out my money, have two defective grills and am being further inconvenienced by having to try and figure out how to send these back. DO NOT BUY THIS GRILL!
ccwinnies : Almost zero support (update: Contacted)
Grill is well built, was packaged well, and works somewhat like expected. Thats where the good part ends. I have tried to contact the company with a simple request, Is there optional equipment (a perforated drain pan for searing) available for the 450A? I received an email with 2 pictures of the pellet burn box and its cover.(Picture)With no explination or any comments, Just the picture, and it Had nothing to do with my question. The grill might be perfectly fine and last a long time, but without support, I can not recommend it at this time.
If anything changes, I will update my review.
Update: Finally was contacted by ZGrills. The Perforated drip pan that is shown in installation video on YT is not available. Had I known this, I would have gone with a brand that offered one. Though they clearly state you can sear with this smoker, Dont count on it being much of a sear without the searing holes in the drip pan. The smoker is good for smoking and broiling, but if you are looking for something that will sear, keep looking.
If anything changes, I will update my review.
Update: Finally was contacted by ZGrills. The Perforated drip pan that is shown in installation video on YT is not available. Had I known this, I would have gone with a brand that offered one. Though they clearly state you can sear with this smoker, Dont count on it being much of a sear without the searing holes in the drip pan. The smoker is good for smoking and broiling, but if you are looking for something that will sear, keep looking.
Paul H. : keep your grill clean and covered waterproof cover
When I first got the grill I found that it was easy to assemble, everything shipped and was packed very good.
Just make sure you follow the directions closely sit down and pre-read them before assembling so you understand lay out the parts get to know what is what most important take your time think it out.
after I assemble the grill I was anxious to go ahead and get it fired up.
I found that I needed to take the switch and move it to shut down and then back to smoke to get the fan to start once I figured this out it was easy to operate.
this is not a high-end Grill but A-Affordable grill.
and for me it is perfect I have a small family so I do not need a large Grill.
So overall I say this is a very good purchase the quality seems to be very good no problem so far have done many cooks.
Definitely invest in a cover to keep it dry.
Just make sure you follow the directions closely sit down and pre-read them before assembling so you understand lay out the parts get to know what is what most important take your time think it out.
after I assemble the grill I was anxious to go ahead and get it fired up.
I found that I needed to take the switch and move it to shut down and then back to smoke to get the fan to start once I figured this out it was easy to operate.
this is not a high-end Grill but A-Affordable grill.
and for me it is perfect I have a small family so I do not need a large Grill.
So overall I say this is a very good purchase the quality seems to be very good no problem so far have done many cooks.
Definitely invest in a cover to keep it dry.
Alvin Marquez : First time smoker here ;)
Hopefully I will receive a new grill without dents. If I do, I will assemble and use it, then I will update my review.
UPDATE: Received my new grill and without dents!
Assembly took about an hour by myself. Assembling the legs requires the unit to be turned upside down... I just flipped it over in the box with the styrofoam on the bottom So I wouldn’t damage the unit.
Followed start up instructions and smoked some ribs for 4 hours! Followed Aaron Franklin’s tutorial and they came out beautifully! Looking forward to smoking a nice brisket!
So far so good! 4 stars!
Diane Jett : Electric grill. Should be in big letters
Make sure you understand that this is an electric grill. I had no idea. Bought it for my son’s birthday. Only knew when we saw the cord. That should be the first thing on the description. Very disappointed. I would not have purchased this.
Holly : Please don’t waste your money
Bought this a year ago. Did not have much success the entire season. Read some reviews and I have to agree with a lot. Mine is never consistent. Sometimes it works. Most of the time it does not. I paid over $400 less than a year ago for a piece of junk. I don’t know what my options are. Who repairs them ? Will they give me a refund.
Do not buy. Horrible decision. Bad product and it looks like the problems are consistent with other bad reviews
Do not buy. Horrible decision. Bad product and it looks like the problems are consistent with other bad reviews
Dan V. : An amazing outdoor crockpot - Great Barbecue, not an awesome grill
This is touted as an all-in-one solution for smoking, grilling, backing, and barbecuing. A hot smoker, outdoor oven, and barbecue it is for sure, but a grill, well... it falls a little short (and that is OK!). The difference between smoking, barbecuing, and grilling is the temperature you cook at. Cold smoking is preserving food using salts and smoke without actually cooking them (temperatures around 100 degrees F). Hot smoking and barbecuing is generally done between 175-225 degrees F, and grilling requires temperatures upwards of 450 degrees F (with 600 degrees being necessary for a good sear!).
I can't say enough how convenient it is to be able to set-it-and-forget-it while you go on with your day. I used to smoke in a wood-fired offset smoker. While I loved it, it required constant monitoring and a lot of beer to get through a long cook. It was also possible to oversmoke foods to where they'd be bitter if you weren't careful. With this, just set your temperature and check it every now and then (more towards the end of your cook so you don't overdo it of course). I've even topped off the hopper right before bed and let it cook all night.
As a hot smoker and barbecue it is downright amazing, and why I touted it as an outdoor crockpot... "low-and-slow" cooking requires some planning as well as choosing your cuts of meat. You don't want to try grilling a brisket at high temperature unless you feel like burning more calories chewing than you get from eating. Likewise, you have to be pretty careful smoking thin, lean cuts of meat like pork chops (though thick-cut pork chops turn out great if done carefully). The ability to set a low temperature (I do the majority of my barbecuing/hot smoking right at 225), load up the hopper with pellets, and basically ignore this thing for 2-8 hours is pretty incredible. I've done cooks as long as 14 hours, and it holds an accurate temperature that never seems to deviate more than 10 degrees in either direction. Boneless turkey breasts, 12+ pound briskets, beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, pork shoulder for pulled pork, cornish hens, roaster chickens... they come out simply amazing. Since it is digital, it doesn't need to be babysat, so plan your timing accordingly, throw your meal on, and then head off to do something else for a few hours. Throw some vegetables (asparagus is particularly good) or seasoned, halved potatoes on during the last 30-90 minutes of your cook and you end up with a delicious and healthy meal with virtually no cleanup. Its like being able to throw dinner in the slow-cooker and leave for work, but this is SO much better.
You know what else is delicious? Wood-fired baked goods! The local discount grocery store sells frozen pizzas for $3.99. Take one of those, add a little extra cheese and some turkey pepperoni (cuts down on the grease) and bake in your preheated grill (375 for around 22 minutes in my case). The result is that you'll possibly never want to pay the ridiculous cost to have a pizza delivered again. It is that good. Or, get some take-and-bake baguettes or ciabatta and throw it on for 8-10 minutes, and the results will blow you away. If you do a long cook of some delicious meat, when you take it off to rest, turn your grill up to 375 and let it preheat for a few minutes, and you have just the right amount of time to have hot bread alongside your meal.
Breakfast foods? You can do that too... Preheat to 350 and melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet while it preheats on the grill. Throw on some turkey kielbasa while the skillet preheats and cook onions in the skillet. Throw the kielbasa in the skillet when the onions are done, and pour in some seasoned eggs and cheese. Close the lid and come back 40 minutes later. You'll have a breakfast fritata that disappears in a hurry, and by the time it is done cooking, your breakfast dishes will already be done. Big win.
Do you like to save money? I am pretty sure that this grill has paid for itself by way of my grocery bill. Instead of buying expensive cuts of meat for grilling, now I purchase bulk, on-sale cuts that would be less-than-ideal in other situations. I've found whole briskets for under $4/lb, and chicken quarters and pork for just slightly over $1. I've even purchased entire beef tenderloins (the cut that filet mignon comes from) for $5/lb and smoked the entire thing (amazing). I can load up, smoke everything at once, and freeze a big portion of the leftovers. Most smoked foods are delicious at room temperature, so I'll portion into ~3 meals and freeze. Take a bag out of the freezer and thaw in the fridge for a couple days, and then when I want to eat it I will just let it sit out for a little while.
As a grill, well, it is just OK. It does get to a temperature of 450 degrees which is sufficient for hot-and-fast cooking, but it doesn't get hot enough to sear. You'll either need to sear some other way (a blazing cast-iron skillet works, or you can use a propane grill if you have one). By the time you put a few grill marks on your meat it is going to be well-done. Don't get me wrong - the wood-fired taste is pretty amazing, but you just don't get that lovely brown, delicious surface of properly seared meat. I'm experimenting with some whys to overcome this using cast-iron grates laid on top of the grate, or putting a skillet to preheat at 450, but so far the results are just OK.
The other issue with grilling on this - particularly when it comes to really fatty meats like burgers, is the grease fire. This thing gets HOT over the firebox, and if you throw on some 73-27 ground beef (the best kind, right?), in no time you are going to have a raging inferno, your grill is going to shut down, and you'll be finishing your burgers elsewhere if they aren't already ruined. Things like hotdogs and sausages seem to work better, but the very staples of grill cookery (burgers and steaks) just won't be at their best.
So why four stars? Well, everything is a compromise. This required a few adjustments coming from charcoal and propane, but once I did, I simply love the convenience and versatility. I don't have to stand over a grill flipping and moving things, the results are delicious, and I am saving hundreds of dollars by being able to buy cheap cuts of meat and turn them into something guests beg for. Kids especially love little cornish game hens. I can throw on just about anything that doesn't mind being cooked slow or baked, and carry on with my life before coming back to a hot meal (what a wonderful thing when you are a busy, single guy). The pellets are more convenient than playing with propane tanks and they sell them at the local hardware store. I can stock up when they are on sale, and as long as you keep them dry, they last forever. I'll probably add a propane grill for searing or burgers, but I don't think I'd ever go back to cooking solely over gas.
I can't say enough how convenient it is to be able to set-it-and-forget-it while you go on with your day. I used to smoke in a wood-fired offset smoker. While I loved it, it required constant monitoring and a lot of beer to get through a long cook. It was also possible to oversmoke foods to where they'd be bitter if you weren't careful. With this, just set your temperature and check it every now and then (more towards the end of your cook so you don't overdo it of course). I've even topped off the hopper right before bed and let it cook all night.
As a hot smoker and barbecue it is downright amazing, and why I touted it as an outdoor crockpot... "low-and-slow" cooking requires some planning as well as choosing your cuts of meat. You don't want to try grilling a brisket at high temperature unless you feel like burning more calories chewing than you get from eating. Likewise, you have to be pretty careful smoking thin, lean cuts of meat like pork chops (though thick-cut pork chops turn out great if done carefully). The ability to set a low temperature (I do the majority of my barbecuing/hot smoking right at 225), load up the hopper with pellets, and basically ignore this thing for 2-8 hours is pretty incredible. I've done cooks as long as 14 hours, and it holds an accurate temperature that never seems to deviate more than 10 degrees in either direction. Boneless turkey breasts, 12+ pound briskets, beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin, pork shoulder for pulled pork, cornish hens, roaster chickens... they come out simply amazing. Since it is digital, it doesn't need to be babysat, so plan your timing accordingly, throw your meal on, and then head off to do something else for a few hours. Throw some vegetables (asparagus is particularly good) or seasoned, halved potatoes on during the last 30-90 minutes of your cook and you end up with a delicious and healthy meal with virtually no cleanup. Its like being able to throw dinner in the slow-cooker and leave for work, but this is SO much better.
You know what else is delicious? Wood-fired baked goods! The local discount grocery store sells frozen pizzas for $3.99. Take one of those, add a little extra cheese and some turkey pepperoni (cuts down on the grease) and bake in your preheated grill (375 for around 22 minutes in my case). The result is that you'll possibly never want to pay the ridiculous cost to have a pizza delivered again. It is that good. Or, get some take-and-bake baguettes or ciabatta and throw it on for 8-10 minutes, and the results will blow you away. If you do a long cook of some delicious meat, when you take it off to rest, turn your grill up to 375 and let it preheat for a few minutes, and you have just the right amount of time to have hot bread alongside your meal.
Breakfast foods? You can do that too... Preheat to 350 and melt some butter in a cast-iron skillet while it preheats on the grill. Throw on some turkey kielbasa while the skillet preheats and cook onions in the skillet. Throw the kielbasa in the skillet when the onions are done, and pour in some seasoned eggs and cheese. Close the lid and come back 40 minutes later. You'll have a breakfast fritata that disappears in a hurry, and by the time it is done cooking, your breakfast dishes will already be done. Big win.
Do you like to save money? I am pretty sure that this grill has paid for itself by way of my grocery bill. Instead of buying expensive cuts of meat for grilling, now I purchase bulk, on-sale cuts that would be less-than-ideal in other situations. I've found whole briskets for under $4/lb, and chicken quarters and pork for just slightly over $1. I've even purchased entire beef tenderloins (the cut that filet mignon comes from) for $5/lb and smoked the entire thing (amazing). I can load up, smoke everything at once, and freeze a big portion of the leftovers. Most smoked foods are delicious at room temperature, so I'll portion into ~3 meals and freeze. Take a bag out of the freezer and thaw in the fridge for a couple days, and then when I want to eat it I will just let it sit out for a little while.
As a grill, well, it is just OK. It does get to a temperature of 450 degrees which is sufficient for hot-and-fast cooking, but it doesn't get hot enough to sear. You'll either need to sear some other way (a blazing cast-iron skillet works, or you can use a propane grill if you have one). By the time you put a few grill marks on your meat it is going to be well-done. Don't get me wrong - the wood-fired taste is pretty amazing, but you just don't get that lovely brown, delicious surface of properly seared meat. I'm experimenting with some whys to overcome this using cast-iron grates laid on top of the grate, or putting a skillet to preheat at 450, but so far the results are just OK.
The other issue with grilling on this - particularly when it comes to really fatty meats like burgers, is the grease fire. This thing gets HOT over the firebox, and if you throw on some 73-27 ground beef (the best kind, right?), in no time you are going to have a raging inferno, your grill is going to shut down, and you'll be finishing your burgers elsewhere if they aren't already ruined. Things like hotdogs and sausages seem to work better, but the very staples of grill cookery (burgers and steaks) just won't be at their best.
So why four stars? Well, everything is a compromise. This required a few adjustments coming from charcoal and propane, but once I did, I simply love the convenience and versatility. I don't have to stand over a grill flipping and moving things, the results are delicious, and I am saving hundreds of dollars by being able to buy cheap cuts of meat and turn them into something guests beg for. Kids especially love little cornish game hens. I can throw on just about anything that doesn't mind being cooked slow or baked, and carry on with my life before coming back to a hot meal (what a wonderful thing when you are a busy, single guy). The pellets are more convenient than playing with propane tanks and they sell them at the local hardware store. I can stock up when they are on sale, and as long as you keep them dry, they last forever. I'll probably add a propane grill for searing or burgers, but I don't think I'd ever go back to cooking solely over gas.
Amazon Customer : This company needs to address this grill
Terrible grill/smoker it has two settings basically high and low. You set it to any other temps on the dial and it just still goes up to 450-500 degrees. Smoke setting runs between 150-180 degrees. If you do not know how to cook but by timer you better leave this thing alone as you are going to get sick. I been cooking professionally for years and if you do not babysit this thing you're going to end up with inconsistent food. I've tried every trick in the book to get this thing to actually cook evenly but it runs way to hot to even attempt. There are numerous complaints here that this company needs to address but ignores so this is obviously a money scam and amazon is backing them up by still selling it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
JT : Update: Its now working well after following customer service trouble shoot recommendations.
Updated review:
Working great now. Holding temps within +- 10 degrees F.
Talked to customer service. They reiterated how important it is to empty out the ash from the fire box. I cleaned it out. I let it warm up and stabilize over the course of an hour. I kept it in the shade. After the cleaning and moving to the shade it is holding temps like a champ. Did ribs this morning and over the course of 6 hours it held temps within 10 degrees of target. Double checked with external temperature probe.
I wish they would emphasize in the instructions how important it is to clean out the ash after each extended use.
Upgraded to 4 stars. It would get 5 stars if it was a little more convenient than cleaning out ash every cook, I also wish the trays were larger. They are pretty much decorative. If those to things were fixed it would get 5 stars from me. Great price for a pellet grill.
I am leaving the original review below in case anyone has the same issues and needs to see my solution above.
Bought primarily for smoking. It can't hold a temperature under 240 degrees which is way to hot for fish and most meats.
Smoke setting I am getting about 240.
At the 180 setting, 250
At 225, it's reading 275
Above that it is reading accurately. I double checked it with an external probe thermometer. The temperature is accurate but at those high temps smoking is impossible. I plan to contact customer service and if they can't fix it I'll return the unit in the next 2 weeks.
I'll update if it gets fixed. I gave two stars since it holds temps really well at 350-450 degrees.
Working great now. Holding temps within +- 10 degrees F.
Talked to customer service. They reiterated how important it is to empty out the ash from the fire box. I cleaned it out. I let it warm up and stabilize over the course of an hour. I kept it in the shade. After the cleaning and moving to the shade it is holding temps like a champ. Did ribs this morning and over the course of 6 hours it held temps within 10 degrees of target. Double checked with external temperature probe.
I wish they would emphasize in the instructions how important it is to clean out the ash after each extended use.
Upgraded to 4 stars. It would get 5 stars if it was a little more convenient than cleaning out ash every cook, I also wish the trays were larger. They are pretty much decorative. If those to things were fixed it would get 5 stars from me. Great price for a pellet grill.
I am leaving the original review below in case anyone has the same issues and needs to see my solution above.
Bought primarily for smoking. It can't hold a temperature under 240 degrees which is way to hot for fish and most meats.
Smoke setting I am getting about 240.
At the 180 setting, 250
At 225, it's reading 275
Above that it is reading accurately. I double checked it with an external probe thermometer. The temperature is accurate but at those high temps smoking is impossible. I plan to contact customer service and if they can't fix it I'll return the unit in the next 2 weeks.
I'll update if it gets fixed. I gave two stars since it holds temps really well at 350-450 degrees.
G. Snyder : Set it and forget it (mostly): so easy to cook meat outdoors, minimal checking, great results.
My husband loves his meat. He must eat large amounts of it at every meal, but cooking that much meat in the kitchen causes odors to build up and even with vent running some grease builds up on surfaces. He tried a regular BBQ but it required him to tend the fire and keep checking the meat. So when he asked for this grill for his birthday, I was curious how it worked.
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
G. Snyder : Set it and forget it (mostly): so easy to cook meat outdoors, minimal checking, great results.
My husband loves his meat. He must eat large amounts of it at every meal, but cooking that much meat in the kitchen causes odors to build up and even with vent running some grease builds up on surfaces. He tried a regular BBQ but it required him to tend the fire and keep checking the meat. So when he asked for this grill for his birthday, I was curious how it worked.
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
Assembly: I helped him assemble it. It only took a few minutes. Instructions were good. No parts missing or damaged.
Initial set up: You will need to run it once before you use it to cook food, I assume to cook off any impurities in the paint/metal and to test it. Instructions were pretty easy on how to do this.
Use: Set it and forget it (mostly). Fill the hopper with pellets. Warm it. Then he adds whatever meat he wants. He can leave it alone for an hour or two, or sometimes more. Maybe all he does is wrap the item in aluminum foil. Let it cook awhile longer.
Results: he's been VERY happy with everything he's tried so far - ham, pork cuts, hamburger, you name it.
PROS
- So easy to use. The only cooking method that is less work for meat is probably a slow cooker. Very minimal checking.
- We've used it a month so far, cooking on it about 2x a week. So far no problems.
- For a smoker, it doesn't produce much visible smoke -- good if you have a tiny yard. And even if you're one of those who doesn't like the smell of all meats cooking, what you can smell is a mild wood scent.
- Included cover is very nice
- My house smells so much better because the meat is cooked outside. No greasy pans to clean up. Any grease that does come off the food is neatly captured in the little pail (included)
CONS
- Pellets are expensive, if you can't find them locally. We got lucky and found them at our local Walmart & Lowes. Walmart's brand worked out to be a third of the price of what I paid on Amazon for the first 20lb bag.
- Remember : this is still an outdoor product. Do not run it in a garage or any enclosed space. Yeah, I know it should be obvious. But with the electronic parts on it, there is the worry if rain is predicted it might get damaged.
- My personal worry: It does have electronics and a motor. Even with a cover, it's usually kept outdoors (in humidity and in temp extremes). I don't know yet if it will last as long as a regular propane or charcoal grill. It might... might not ...???
Ken M : Good value for a pellet smoker
Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model
The main grill is approximately 15.5 by 21 inches. There is a secondary ‘warming’ grill that is about 6 by 21 inches (with my measurements). The warming grill is above the level of the exhaust, so cooking meat on it is probably not a good idea. You can put veggies up there and just wait until they are done. The warming grill sits in a stationary position in the back, about 4 inches above the main grill. If you are cooking a large roast, the warming grill might need to be removed. I have to give a -1 star for the evasive advertisement of the (450 sq. in.) cooking area. Other than that, I love this thing.
I own a wood fired, offset grill, that cooks great with lots of attention. I wanted a smallish smoker that would not waste fuel on cooking just one roast. This grill/smoker cooks great without much attention at all. In my case, it is also much cheaper to burn pellets for 8 or 10 hours than to keep a charcoal fire going for that long. I have also owned a propane grill. Propane seemed good for chicken but other meats did not have much flavor. Your results may vary.
The temperature control is a switch calibrated in temperature increments. The settings are ‘Shut Down’, ‘Smoke’, 180, then 225-375 degrees in 25 degree steps. The last selection is ‘High’, which I think is 450. I normally only do 225 degree smoking.
The temperature appears to be controlled by a combination of fan and auger speed. The temperature sensor is about at grill level on the hotter end of the unit.
I could set 225F and after a 30 minute warm up measured (without meat) 224 on the left, 224 at center and 233 on the right. For a wood fired grill that is close to perfect. Depending on the meats and local weather conditions, the temperature may vary. On a large pork roast I saw temperatures between 200 and 240 when set at 225 on a 60 degree windy day. Mostly it stays around what you have set.
This thing is really heavy, over 85 pounds. The only plastic parts I could see are the wheels. More metal usually means better cooking for an oven. I have no complaints.
I've done some pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, and beef tri tip. all with expected good results. This past weekend, I decided to try a pork butt, without using a Texas crutch. Eighteen hours later at 225F, I had some really good roast. It used about 20 pounds of pellets over the 18 hours, all at 225. I would never had attempted that with my charcoal smoker. Too much time and money evolved in keeping a charcoal fire going that long.
These pellet smokers do not add an overpowering smoke flavor. If you like extra smokey meats, you can get a pellet fired smoke tube that will provide more than enough extra smoke for under $20.
Updated 6SEP20:
I've been using this grill almost daily for six months now and fell in love with it, I kicked my rating from 4, up to 5 stars. It is so darned easy to use and clean, keep foil on the drip tray thing and life is good. You will need to vacuum out the fire pot at about every 20-30 pounds of pellets (or sooner). I found I can get 40 pound bags of pellets at the local hardware store for around $15, not the super deluxe pellets, but good just the same. Way cheaper than using charcoal. The only thing I miss is the ability to sear over an open flame. This grill will heat up to over 420 degrees so it is possible to simulate that flame grilled finish.
The main grill is approximately 15.5 by 21 inches. There is a secondary ‘warming’ grill that is about 6 by 21 inches (with my measurements). The warming grill is above the level of the exhaust, so cooking meat on it is probably not a good idea. You can put veggies up there and just wait until they are done. The warming grill sits in a stationary position in the back, about 4 inches above the main grill. If you are cooking a large roast, the warming grill might need to be removed. I have to give a -1 star for the evasive advertisement of the (450 sq. in.) cooking area. Other than that, I love this thing.
I own a wood fired, offset grill, that cooks great with lots of attention. I wanted a smallish smoker that would not waste fuel on cooking just one roast. This grill/smoker cooks great without much attention at all. In my case, it is also much cheaper to burn pellets for 8 or 10 hours than to keep a charcoal fire going for that long. I have also owned a propane grill. Propane seemed good for chicken but other meats did not have much flavor. Your results may vary.
The temperature control is a switch calibrated in temperature increments. The settings are ‘Shut Down’, ‘Smoke’, 180, then 225-375 degrees in 25 degree steps. The last selection is ‘High’, which I think is 450. I normally only do 225 degree smoking.
The temperature appears to be controlled by a combination of fan and auger speed. The temperature sensor is about at grill level on the hotter end of the unit.
I could set 225F and after a 30 minute warm up measured (without meat) 224 on the left, 224 at center and 233 on the right. For a wood fired grill that is close to perfect. Depending on the meats and local weather conditions, the temperature may vary. On a large pork roast I saw temperatures between 200 and 240 when set at 225 on a 60 degree windy day. Mostly it stays around what you have set.
This thing is really heavy, over 85 pounds. The only plastic parts I could see are the wheels. More metal usually means better cooking for an oven. I have no complaints.
I've done some pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, and beef tri tip. all with expected good results. This past weekend, I decided to try a pork butt, without using a Texas crutch. Eighteen hours later at 225F, I had some really good roast. It used about 20 pounds of pellets over the 18 hours, all at 225. I would never had attempted that with my charcoal smoker. Too much time and money evolved in keeping a charcoal fire going that long.
These pellet smokers do not add an overpowering smoke flavor. If you like extra smokey meats, you can get a pellet fired smoke tube that will provide more than enough extra smoke for under $20.
Updated 6SEP20:
I've been using this grill almost daily for six months now and fell in love with it, I kicked my rating from 4, up to 5 stars. It is so darned easy to use and clean, keep foil on the drip tray thing and life is good. You will need to vacuum out the fire pot at about every 20-30 pounds of pellets (or sooner). I found I can get 40 pound bags of pellets at the local hardware store for around $15, not the super deluxe pellets, but good just the same. Way cheaper than using charcoal. The only thing I miss is the ability to sear over an open flame. This grill will heat up to over 420 degrees so it is possible to simulate that flame grilled finish.
Vegas Local : BEST GRILL (and customer service) EVER
I love this grill. Had it for nearly a year and use it weekly. often more.
The hopper is big enough for a 18hr cook on a brisket. The best part about the z grill is their customer service. When mine was deliver it had a bent grill plate a quick email and a few pics and the shipped me a new one right away. I also had a component go faulty nearly a year after purchase and they shipped me that within 3 days. No hassle.
The only draw back about this model is probably the size. Plenty big enough for my fam. but i start running out of room when i’m feeding more than 8-9. esp with ribs and wings. So i’d be tempted to get a bigger one.
Also the pellets sometimes struggle ‘falling’ into the auger and can create a chasm or sorts. So you can have a hopper that is 3/4 full and nothing feeding the auger. Simple solution is to check it every few hours and make sure the pellets are sliding in well.
I use a external digital thermometer the measure temps so don’t see the need for the built in one. I would say that getting one with a bluetooth connect could be good. So if the above problem happens and your pellets quit flowing, you’ll get a man alert that there is a drop in temp. but that’s a lot of extra cash for that peace of mind.
Otherwise. BEST GRILL EVER. and the price!!!!!
The hopper is big enough for a 18hr cook on a brisket. The best part about the z grill is their customer service. When mine was deliver it had a bent grill plate a quick email and a few pics and the shipped me a new one right away. I also had a component go faulty nearly a year after purchase and they shipped me that within 3 days. No hassle.
The only draw back about this model is probably the size. Plenty big enough for my fam. but i start running out of room when i’m feeding more than 8-9. esp with ribs and wings. So i’d be tempted to get a bigger one.
Also the pellets sometimes struggle ‘falling’ into the auger and can create a chasm or sorts. So you can have a hopper that is 3/4 full and nothing feeding the auger. Simple solution is to check it every few hours and make sure the pellets are sliding in well.
I use a external digital thermometer the measure temps so don’t see the need for the built in one. I would say that getting one with a bluetooth connect could be good. So if the above problem happens and your pellets quit flowing, you’ll get a man alert that there is a drop in temp. but that’s a lot of extra cash for that peace of mind.
Otherwise. BEST GRILL EVER. and the price!!!!!
Aaron : Let the smoke roll!
First pellet grill I’ve ever used and heard about the value. Assembly took about 20 minutes or so. Start up took about an hour after letting it burn off. I then filled it with mesquite pellets and the smoke started rolling! First night I made smoked bourbon salmon and it turned out great. Tonight and tomorrow is a 12 pound brisket! It takes awhile to adjust and level off temp but it holds nicely. I have an aftermarket thermometer and it also double checks the temperature control. It’s a blast to cook on! I have the 550 2h and it fits a whole 12 pound brisket and there’s some room left over. Perfect for a family of four and can probably do 5 racks of ribs.
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.
Bing : Exceeded my expectations. Great grill. Looks nice, too.
I’ve only had this a little over a week, but I have to say how happy I am with this smoker/grill! I was reluctant to buy a smoker...I had purchased a Traeger about five years ago through Costco, but did not like that it just couldn’t get hot enough to cook meat the way I liked, so I returned it. I received this one as a birthday present, so I had to keep it! Put it together the day I got it. It is no “easy” snap together job, but the instructions are clear, the packaging is, if anything, over done. In fact removing all the parts from packaging was probably the most difficult part of assembly! As a novice “smoker” the startup procedure and the precautions were a bit concerning and intimidating, but I gathered the patience and followed them closely. In the end, everything went very smoothly, all pieces fit perfectly, there was exactly one extra screw, as promised. By the third time I used it, all was second nature. The best part is the food! I bought a 20 pound bag of Oak pellets from ZGrills. That is the only type I have used so far, but I see no reason that any flavor wood would not work. I plan to use other types next. The first thing I smoked was a ham for Easter. I used a Traeger recipe I found online for a pineapple glaze and it was fantastic. So easy. Just set the temperature and let it smoke, opening every ten minutes or so to mop on some more glaze. The Smokey sweet flavor was delicious. I had read that the temperature variations were too wild on the ZGrills, but I don’t think they matter...they center around the desired/set temp, and of course they will vary and take time to correct just because of the lag time for feeding and igniting the pellets. The heat transfer rate to the food smooths the electronically measured air temperature. Anyway, the big ham was perfectly done. The other extreme I have cooked was a pizza from Papa Murphy’s. After starting, I turned the temp to “Max”. The grill quickly...five minutes or so...reached 450 degrees and I inserted the pizza on its paper tray. I turned the temp down to 375 after about five minutes because it was staying up around 450 and the pizza instructions were to cook at 400. After ten minutes I checked for bubbles in the crust and there were none and the crust was beginning to brown. I rotated the pizza 90 degrees and let it cook 8 more minutes. (We are at 4000 feet, so cooking anything takes about 10% longer than at sea level.). The crust was crisp and brown, the smoke infusion added a dimension that was far better than I expected, and the company raved about the great pizza! Don’t even think about it! Buy this grill.
vincent : Easy to assemble. Just don’t rush :)
I assembled just over an hour . It would be easier with 2 people but 1 person can do it. I smoked my first ribs after researching it for days. I learned the 4-1-1 method dried out my ribs because I think my smoker runs hot since it’s a smaller unit. The temperature control ran great it’s just the way the smoker is. I was able to play with the smoke stack lid to get my correct temperature . You can adjust the cap up and down which heat or cools the interior and you can get it to match the digital temperature control knob. My next ribs will be the 3-2-1 method which should keep my ribs more moist on the bark. The smoker is a great deal and I read many reviews trying to pick what I need and can afford. It’s a perfect family smoker . If you plan on smoking for big groups or parties then get the bigger smokers . The quality Of materials was excellent and the free cover was a plus. I’m sure I’ll have many years of service with this smoker .
Lane : Food is amazing, but its not perfect
Hopper design is poor; when you're grilling, the pellets dont fall in like they should. There will be a hole right in the middle and the outside pellets wont fall in like they should. Also the temperature regulation is all over the place. For example, you'll set the temp to 225 and it'll go way up to almost 400 if you dont keep an eye on it. Other than that, all the food I've cooked on it has been amazing. But you can't set it and forget it like you should be able to for the price.
John Smith : Instructions suck
Well. It got here fast. The simple instructions say use a screw here and there. But it doesn't say which one. There's 5 different screw bolts and washer setups but it never really (beyond the package) tell you what screw goes where. Infact the instructions miss several steps that you just have to do. Such as hinges and handles. The tools they give you are not even the right size. At least the wrench. Gotta use your own or it's a bust. But I hope it can cook well.
Cooks good.
Cooks good.
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.
Apasionado : Excitement turned to absolute disappointment.
I bought this grill in 2019. I was so excited to use this grill and the first two times I used it, it worked perfectly. Well, the next two times I used it, it didn’t go so well. The temp control doesn’t work. It never hits or gets close to the target temp and even when it gets kinda close, it starts to lose temp. I thought it was user error, so I pulled out all the pellets, cleaned out the burn box real good and tried again.. nope, exact same problem. I’m so very disappointed. I went from telling all my friends how awesome it worked to telling them it broke on me and I’m guessing I’m out hundreds of dollars.
So then I get on Amazon to see what the details say about warranty. Well well well, I see the new 2020 model FIXED a known problem which happens to be the exact problem I’m having. Wow! I truly hope they make this right for me somehow. I can’t afford to toss a grill that cost me a few hundred dollars.
So then I get on Amazon to see what the details say about warranty. Well well well, I see the new 2020 model FIXED a known problem which happens to be the exact problem I’m having. Wow! I truly hope they make this right for me somehow. I can’t afford to toss a grill that cost me a few hundred dollars.
John Smith : Instructions suck
Well. It got here fast. The simple instructions say use a screw here and there. But it doesn't say which one. There's 5 different screw bolts and washer setups but it never really (beyond the package) tell you what screw goes where. Infact the instructions miss several steps that you just have to do. Such as hinges and handles. The tools they give you are not even the right size. At least the wrench. Gotta use your own or it's a bust. But I hope it can cook well.
Cooks good.
Cooks good.
Geoffrey A. Sergeant : If you just want a pellet smoker this thing is perfect.
This Z grills works great. I've made, beef brisket, pork belly burnt ends, pulled pork, beef jerky and smoked turkey so far. I bought this back in January.
This grill will not get much hotter than 400 degrees, so if you're looking for something that gets 500+ you should expect to spend a couple hundred more. I already have a propane grill for higher temps.
Some tips, buy a pellet tube, a blow torch, heavy duty aluminum foil and a Thermoworks Thermometer and some BBQ gloves and a shop vac, and a water proof bucket.
Always clean up after each use, line your drip pan with foil and with a shop vac it'll be a fast cleanup.
Water proof bucket protects your pellets, blow torch lights your pellet tube quickly and they're fun and the pellet tube allows you to cold smoke fish or just get more smoke.
My grill has already survived cold weather and fired up like new. Treat it right and it should last a long time.
This grill will not get much hotter than 400 degrees, so if you're looking for something that gets 500+ you should expect to spend a couple hundred more. I already have a propane grill for higher temps.
Some tips, buy a pellet tube, a blow torch, heavy duty aluminum foil and a Thermoworks Thermometer and some BBQ gloves and a shop vac, and a water proof bucket.
Always clean up after each use, line your drip pan with foil and with a shop vac it'll be a fast cleanup.
Water proof bucket protects your pellets, blow torch lights your pellet tube quickly and they're fun and the pellet tube allows you to cold smoke fish or just get more smoke.
My grill has already survived cold weather and fired up like new. Treat it right and it should last a long time.
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.
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. :)
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.
Tim hackett : Australian Junk
Was excited to receive this grill as I have been eying it for quite some time. I ordered it the grill arrived in a few days on my porch. Opened it up found directions to put this hunk of copper trash together. Instructions were easy to follow setup took maybe 30 min. Junk the tools they give you and get some real ones off the shelf. In the box you will find the start up instructions simple to follow straight forward. There is a break in period to burn all the packing grease kangraroo droppings etc. Great that’s expected. After maybe 5 minutes into the break in period I noticed there was no smoke coming from the grill maybe no big deal it was set at 450 degrees per the instructions no one cooks anything at that temp anyways let it go through its break in time shut down the grill per the instructions. Several hours later I’m ready to cook so I follow the start up instructions the initial smoke setting it says to leave the grill open until you observe smoke then close the lid and set to your desired cook temp pretty normal. Within 2 minutes the grill stops producing smoke the heat stayed constant but no smoke. I followed the shut down procedure gave it an hour and repeated this twice same thing I even let the grill run for several hours to see if it would produce smoke and nothing. I contacted the manufacturer several times each time I was told that due to the liberal lefts pandemic they were not able to handle calls. Don’t waste your time on this oven of sorts that will clutter up your grill area and leave room for an American made product.
Aaron : Let the smoke roll!
First pellet grill I’ve ever used and heard about the value. Assembly took about 20 minutes or so. Start up took about an hour after letting it burn off. I then filled it with mesquite pellets and the smoke started rolling! First night I made smoked bourbon salmon and it turned out great. Tonight and tomorrow is a 12 pound brisket! It takes awhile to adjust and level off temp but it holds nicely. I have an aftermarket thermometer and it also double checks the temperature control. It’s a blast to cook on! I have the 550 2h and it fits a whole 12 pound brisket and there’s some room left over. Perfect for a family of four and can probably do 5 racks of ribs.
Brian Adamchuk : Updated: Nice introduction to the Pellet Smoker world...
The first unit that came in was defective. The seller was fast to ship out a replacement. The second unit has worked well the 3-4 times it's been used. Temperature has stayed consistent throughout the cooking time.
So far I'm happy with the purchase.
5/14: sometimes you get what you pay for...
Love the idea of a pellet grill for the price of this grill. As can be read above first unit came in defective. Second unit does function but is HORRIBLY inaccurate for temperature and never puts outs smoke. As can be seen in the photo, I have grill set for 375, temp on grill led is 477, actual temperature on grate is 283. The 283 temperature was verified with an infrared thermometer.
So far I'm happy with the purchase.
5/14: sometimes you get what you pay for...
Love the idea of a pellet grill for the price of this grill. As can be read above first unit came in defective. Second unit does function but is HORRIBLY inaccurate for temperature and never puts outs smoke. As can be seen in the photo, I have grill set for 375, temp on grill led is 477, actual temperature on grate is 283. The 283 temperature was verified with an infrared thermometer.
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.
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
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.
Amazon Customer : This company needs to address this grill
Terrible grill/smoker it has two settings basically high and low. You set it to any other temps on the dial and it just still goes up to 450-500 degrees. Smoke setting runs between 150-180 degrees. If you do not know how to cook but by timer you better leave this thing alone as you are going to get sick. I been cooking professionally for years and if you do not babysit this thing you're going to end up with inconsistent food. I've tried every trick in the book to get this thing to actually cook evenly but it runs way to hot to even attempt. There are numerous complaints here that this company needs to address but ignores so this is obviously a money scam and amazon is backing them up by still selling it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
I gave this two stars because it is well built so i can probably convert it into a real smoker. I would return it but it weighs over 100 pounds and I would need to assemble a new one and I'm not about to do that again with this thing. Buyers beware its not at all as advertised and the company does not address the issues with it.
Tessawessa : Terrible experience, broken grill. DO NOT BUY.
I bought this smoker for my husband for Christmas after researching multiple different websites for making the best BBQ. He is a carpenter and very good with tools. He assembled the grill and the auger wouldn't spin. We called ZGrills and they said we had to let it run longer so we did and it didn’t work. We called again and then they sent us a new motor without instructions??! Then they sent us a video on how to replace the motor but it was for a different model. They do not offer in person or on the phone support. They rarely answer the phone. The only person who answers the phone is a young woman with an accent who acted as though she has never heard of us or our problem every time I spoke to her. We ended up returning it to Amazon but was stuck with a $75 restocking fee. The seemingly only have one employee and she is incompetent, mouthy, and worthless. She offered to reimburse us for our troubles with a bag of pellets?? People without functional grills do not need pellets. She literally asked me if I would give her a good review if she sent us a check for the $75 restocking fee.
High Fi : Smokey & the Budget..
I purchased this grill so that I could kind of start getting into the world of pellet smoking. I didn't know if I would like it so I didn't want to spend $1,000 right out of the gate. I had to add a gasket around the door but other than that I've gotten fantastic results every time I've used it. If I had any critiques it would be that the temperature control would be nicer if it had smaller increments but it's still well worth the price. If this one goes out I'll buy another but I've done about 20 Cooks on it and with regular cleaning it's holding up just as good as the day I bought it.
bigbearsfan : First time with a smoker
I've never had a pellet smoker before. It's always been something I've wanted to try since seeing a demonstration of one in a big box store many years ago. When this grill went on deep discount a couple months ago, I snapped one up.
First impressions is that it's easy to put together if you follow the instructions. It should take less than an hour because all you're doing is assembling the legs, handles, front tray, and chimney. The barrel itself is already assembled and it takes a couple of minutes to put in the fire box cover, drip tray and grills.
The size of the smoker is a double edged sword, This is a super small smoker. The small barrell size makes it impossible to get a lot of meat on it, but that small size also makes it a great beginner smoker. When I used it over father's day weekend, I got a 4 pound pork shoulder, a 3 pound whole chicken and a water pan on the bottom grate. On the top grate, I was able to put 6 brats at an angle. Things were mostly ok. The smoker did it's job very well. Everything cooked in the time one would expect. The smoker held its temp very consistently and that's what helped me to be better anticipate and trust when things would be done. I figure I'll keep this for another year or so, figure out how to master it, then move up to an upright smoker with more room. Now that I know the smoker can maintain temp, I know how to start it and shut it down, it's up to me to figure out which rubs and smoking patterns creates meats my family would want to eat.
Having only used it once, I can't speak to durability or longevity but it seems sturdy and worth the money if you can get it on sale like I did. If I'd paid anywhere near full price, I would be disappointed with the purchase based on size.
First impressions is that it's easy to put together if you follow the instructions. It should take less than an hour because all you're doing is assembling the legs, handles, front tray, and chimney. The barrel itself is already assembled and it takes a couple of minutes to put in the fire box cover, drip tray and grills.
The size of the smoker is a double edged sword, This is a super small smoker. The small barrell size makes it impossible to get a lot of meat on it, but that small size also makes it a great beginner smoker. When I used it over father's day weekend, I got a 4 pound pork shoulder, a 3 pound whole chicken and a water pan on the bottom grate. On the top grate, I was able to put 6 brats at an angle. Things were mostly ok. The smoker did it's job very well. Everything cooked in the time one would expect. The smoker held its temp very consistently and that's what helped me to be better anticipate and trust when things would be done. I figure I'll keep this for another year or so, figure out how to master it, then move up to an upright smoker with more room. Now that I know the smoker can maintain temp, I know how to start it and shut it down, it's up to me to figure out which rubs and smoking patterns creates meats my family would want to eat.
Having only used it once, I can't speak to durability or longevity but it seems sturdy and worth the money if you can get it on sale like I did. If I'd paid anywhere near full price, I would be disappointed with the purchase based on size.
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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