We also liked that the digital control panel used temperature increments of five degrees, allowing us to create more precise temperatures. The grill also allows for an extra smoke mode, with settings that range from 1 to 10. The WiFi- and Bluetooth-connected app was great for changing and monitoring both grill temperature and the four thermometer ports, too. Hi, I’m Lindsay Mattison, a trained professional chef and a barbecue weekend warrior. You’ll find me outside almost every weekend, cooking over an open fire pit or smoking on a pellet grill. I’ve tested over three dozen grills over the years for Reviewed, so I’ve learned a thing or two about what works (and what doesn’t).
From discounts on multi-burner gas grills to small pellet grills, these deals might help make barbecuing even more enjoyable. At low temperatures, the pellets will smoke without creating a large fire. That infuses smoky flavors into the food, similar to what you’ll find when grilling over wood or charcoal. When set to higher temperatures, less smoke is produced, cuisinart pots and pans set and the fire pot focuses on creating heat. Since the heat deflector plate prevents direct searing and grill marks, the food crisps up like it would when roasted inside a high-temperature oven. We wanted to see how each pellet grill could handle low smoking temperatures and tough cuts of meat with a lot of intramuscular fat and connective tissue.
Learn how to get the best out of your wood cooker with our step-by-step guide to using a pellet smoker grill. These grills are not only wonderful for grillers of all skill levels, but they produce food that tastes as good as anything cooked over wood or charcoal. For a long time, the only downfall cuisinart pots and pans set was that pellet grills could only provide indirect heat—so they were great for low-and-slow smoking but not searing. Many of today’s pellet grills have changed that stereotype, providing a built-in sear plate that transforms a pellet grill from a smoker to a multi-functional grill.
Other top factors are None, Polyester and Cover. Having tested Woodcreek’s searing ability with charcoal, it was time to test the sear power of the ceramic insert. Cuisinart claims that you can, “Sear any steak to perfection with the ceramic briquet insert that allows for high temperatures.” Not so. Crank the controller to SEAR and It takes twice as long for the ceramic briquet side to reach the same 550°F temp as the drip plate side on the left. There is no appreciable difference between leaving the right side drip plate in place or replacing it with the briquet insert. It looks interesting but actually delays your cooking session without any benefit.
While there was a lot to like about the Camp Chef Woodwind 24 with Sear Box, we found it lacking in performance—especially given its high price tag. The grill itself has ample surface area for all your grilling needs. It’s more compact than some of the other grills we tested, but it contains dual racks inside, each boasting roughly 400 square inches of grilling surface area. There’s plenty of room to grill several briskets, pork shoulders, or racks of ribs in this grill.
I began writing about Barbecue & Grilling in 1997 with one mission, to help the backyard chef have the best experience possible. Whether it is deciding which grill or smoker to buy or how to get that perfect steak, this is why this site exists. Join me and be the best outdoor cook you can be. This is where the Cuisinart Clermont actually has a one-up over the Pit Boss Lockhart which only currently features Bluetooth connectivity.