Whether you have the best pellet grill under $500 or a high-end one that costs a grand, grilling is undeniably easier using a pellet grill. It also has advanced features such as cooking convenience, temperature control, and versatility.

As pellet grills become increasingly popular, the question remains: are you really cooking your meat to its best potential? To help you answer this, we’ve prepared the top 7 pellet grill tips and tricks for an improved grilling experience.

1. Know the Meat You’re Cooking

Not all meat is created equal. They can differ in muscle type, cut texture, temperature range, proper pellet pairing, and muscle-to-fat composition, so you must study them before cooking.

Check the optimal temperature to smoke it at, the final temperature, the tenderness level you want, and other cooking modifications such as the right sauce and wrapping methods. 

2. Use a Thermometer When Grilling

Using a meat thermometer to check the heat regularly is also better than checking it by looking or using a timer. Although some still prefer using timers when cooking, there are still high chances of overcooking since they’ve built this assumption on previous experience.

Furthermore, grilling experts claim that regularly opening your pellet grill to check your meat lessens the taste. Once heat escapes, the cooking process has already been affected, leaving you with imperfectly grilled meat.

3. Cold Meat Before Cooking Tastes Smokier

Putting cold meat (not frozen) that you seasoned overnight directly on your pellet grill is excellent, especially for large chunks of meat you want to smoke more, such as chuck roast or beef brisket.

This will give you a little more time for the smoke to take effect since smoke prefers cold meats as they condense on the surface more quickly than heated ones. As a result, the colder it gets, the more likely the smoke will attach to it.

You should also set your grill to a low smoking temperature and give it more time with the smoke to achieve a more pronounced smoke flavor. However, note that this technique tends to make your meat less evenly cooked if improperly utilized.

4. Try the Reverse Searing Technique

The reverse searing technique ensures well-cooked meat without leaving it chewy. It also gives you that smokey and nicely seared medium-rare edge-to-edge finish.

Below are the steps to reverse sears your steak. Note that this procedure works well with beef slices 4-5 cm thick.

First, remove the meat from the freezer and let it defrost thoroughly (do not let it go to room temperature). Then, dry your beef with water-absorbing cooking paper.

After that, preheat the grill to 446 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius). Then add sauce, salt, and other seasonings to the dish.

Wait around 20 minutes for the meat to absorb more of the marinade. Afterward, throw the beef on the pellet grill for 6-8 minutes to get medium-rare (54.4 Celsius/130 Fahrenheit).

Then remove the meat and set it aside for 5-7 minutes. Finally, half-fry the meat for up to 90 seconds on each side for 45 minutes.

5. Use High-Quality Wood Pellets

Although you don’t need to spend much on wood pellets, you do need to select top-quality pellets that will bring out your food’s most incredible flavors.

You should also try experimenting to see which wood pellet flavors go best with which meats. Try also to keep a stock of different pellet flavors in case your guests like to try them.

Furthermore, ensure that you keep your pellets dry and well-stored. If moisture gets into them, they can clog your auger, crumble, and cause several other problems. 

6. Treat Your Pellet Grill Like an Oven

Using your pellet grill as an oven is a fantastic way to step up your cooking game. Although we can agree that not every dish tastes fantastic when smoked, you’ll be surprised at how many of them do.

With some imagination, your pellet grill can handle almost any recipe for baking or roasting. Just set it at the same amount of time and temperature, and you’re good to go.

Alternatively, you can look at other people’s testimonials before trying an oven recipe with your pellet grill if you’re still unsure about it.

7. Keep Your Grill Clean

You must keep a pellet grill nice and clean after use. After all, who wants to eat food cooked from a dirty grill? 

A clean grill can also produce smokier and tastier meals since it has fewer contaminants that can affect your food. 

We generally recommend cleaning your grill thoroughly after two months, while a simple cleaning will suffice after every use. For waste or mold growth, you should also inspect the racks, rims, and corners.

Grill Better, Eat Better

Having a pellet grill is fun. It comes with lots of advantages, with minimal drawbacks.

However, like every other grill, you should follow some tips and tricks to achieve your meat’s optimum taste. 

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