Wood pellet grills may be the most sizzling development barbecue aficionados have seen since the invention of the gas-powered grill!

Thinking about purchasing a new grill? If you’re a barbecue fiend, take a few minutes to read below and see if wood pellet grills are right for you.

Pellet grills are unique because they’re fueled by pellets made from compressed sawdust of different types of wood that give the barbecue chef many options in terms of flavor profiles and cooking styles. Converts will tell you that they offer you the best features of both smokers and grills with a few other perks thanks to the digital age.

Here are a few of the best features:  

• Easy to use and requires less attention
• Fires up quickly
• Digital controllers allow better control over the cooking temperature
• Flexibility to grill, smoke, sear, braise, bake and roast
• Convection heating process creates even heat distribution
• Mix and match wood pellets to come up with endless flavor combinations
• Gives food the smoky aroma that barbecue lovers crave
• Less mess with no charcoal ash

“They’re easy to use! Just set the temperature and then leave it,” said HPM Lumber Buyer Brian Brokaw.

The various types of wood pellets available allow for different flavor combinations so you can change up your go-to recipes with a new taste.

Brian said his favorite things to throw on his pellet grill right now are tri-tip steak and turkey. “But I haven’t found anything that wasn’t good yet,” he said. “And did I mention that it smells amazing?”

Bill Brooks, HPM purchasing director, recently bought his second pellet grill, a Camp Chef that he calls “a game changer.”

It’s easy to use and, through a convenient phone app, lets the chef track the temperature of the unit as well the meat, Bill said.

“These smokers are the real deal and produce amazing meat and flavor with little work.” Pellet grills can cost a little more to purchase than your garden variety hibachi, but the dramatic advantages make it worth the price, said Lee Wilson, director of HPM’s retail program.

“Once you use one, you can’t go back!”