The Rider 900 has a three-piece, porcelain-coated, cast-iron grate that has plenty of mass and helps maintain a steady temperature. We smoked brisket in the lower range and grilled chicken in the low end of the grilling range. The unconventional control was odd but delivered delicious results. The 772 square inches give you sufficient space to cook a large chicken upright or 5 racks of ribs.
It has one of the largest cooking spaces for any pellet grill under $1,000. It comes with 4 probe inputs, a double-door smoking box, a large hopper, ash cleaning system, touch screen display controller, and Bluetooth connectivity. From this point forward, I pretty much think any pellet grill/smoker over $500 should feature a PID control panel. Though as I’ve said above, I do like the general functionality of the control panel with its easy to read screen, control dial and high location on the grill. I do also like the built-in surrounding work surface, that could be very handy for food prep and the sear zone is a good feature to have. So cuisinart soup maker the good things first, I do like the large screen on the Clermont providing clear temperature information etc.
So the good things first, I do like the large screen on the Clermont providing clear temperature information etc. Well, a 40 lb hopper will therefore last 20 hours. In general, most pellet cookers will use between 1-2 lbs per hour when smoking. With insulated pellet cookers such as the Kamado Joe Pellet Joe, pellet consumption while smoking could actually be under 1lb per hour.
I was able to fit 10 racks of ribs and 4 pork shoulders. However, they are now many, many more brands to look into. Some may be what are commonly referred to as ‘Traeger clones’, but many others are offering their own unique designs and features.
I tested the Clermont with some massive beef shanks on a cold and windy day (-20°C / -4°F). In order to achieve a perfect fall-off-the-bone result, I had to keep the smoker temperature at 275°F for 10 consecutive hours, aiming an internal temperature of 203°F to 205°F. Throughout the cooking process, the Clermont maintained a temperature between 255°F and 285°F, which is much better than I expected in such poor weather conditions. Wow, that is an insanely good price given the MSRP on their website.
I’ve gone into detail in my previous article on pellet usage/consumption, but I’ll briefly explain here why a 40lb hopper is overkill. The Woodcreek, in particular, offers a lot for under $500. The Pellet Grill is designed to operate with the doors closed. ●Access to product manuals, quick start guides and consumer care.
Top this up with its superior performance, and you have got the pellet grill with the best value for money. The reason why there is such a large variance in temperature between the bottom grill and top cabinet is that the bottom grill is where the smoke and heat are produced. So the top cabinet can only reach 110°F max, which works cuisinart clermont cover for cold smoking but is not ideal for other forms of cooking. If you love lots of smoke, you’ll enjoy setting your smoke levels. Then activate shut-down mode when the smoking is done by tapping on the grill’s controller. The height (5.5” inches) between the racks is large enough so you can cook bulky food in the upright position.
No one should be leaving their pellet smoker unattended for 20 hours even with WiFi functionality, more on that below. First off, there are very few cuts of meat that would require a 20 hour+ cook time. Furthermore, even if they did, without attending the meat over that period of time there is a chance the pellet smoke could dry out the meat. Where the Cuisinart Clermont is now competitive with the Pit Boss Lockhart unlike the Cuisinart Woodcreek is with offering direct-flame access.
If the grill is stored outside during the rainy season, care should be taken to ensure that water does not get into the pellet hopper. Wood pellets, when wet, expand greatly and will jam your auger. This grill is equipped with a pellet hopper sensor. “LOW PELLET” will start fl ashing on the controller and it will start beeping once the pellets are below the sensor.
Technology is top-notch as well with connectivity to Camp Chef’s own smartphone app. From the app, you can monitor and control the grill, but it’ll also let you schedule an automatic shut off when your meat is done cooking. If you’re intimidated at the prospect of having a smoker, Cuisinart’s Clermont is the ideal tool. It’s easy to use, incredibly simple to clean, and it even has notches to hold your cooking tools and paper towels. It’ll quickly become a staple piece of your backyard, and the results will speak for themselves.