What We Didnt Love About The Pit Boss Grills 820d3
- This pellet grill is very heavy and hard to move around.
- While the temperature range of 180 to 500 covers the range I would typically require of a pellet grill, I dont care for the pre-determined intervals from which I have to choose. For instance, theres no way to set this pellet grill to 275° and thats one of my favorite temperatures!
Is The Pit Boss 820 Easy To Setup
It didnt take me more than 40 minutes to set it up.
Using the instruction manual and the how to use a Pit Boss smoker resource. I got me through the entire setup quickly
If you are a complete meat smoking beginner please keep in mind that when assembling this grill following the instruction manual can eliminate a lot of stress and confusion.
The first time you use your Pit Boss grill you have to prime it before adding the pellets.
Time: You should set aside 30 1.5 hours to set up this unit. Or time for 5 or 6 beers.
What We Loved About The Pit Boss Grills 820d3
- I love that I can achieve instant direct or indirect heat with the innovative flame broiler lever. Putting a reverse sear on a thicker cut of meat is simple with the slide of a lever.
- The removable tray side shelf is pretty simple but a nice upgrade from the other pellet grills weve been looking at lately.
- The porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates are pretty substantial and sturdy when being cleaned.
- The color and smoke flavor we achieved on this grill were head and shoulders above the competition. The food cooked on the Pit Boss 820 looked and tasted substantially better than the food from the other grills.
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Assembling The 820 Wood Pellet Grill
When it came to assembly for this unit, we had friends of The Lab come and help us put this and the other units for the best pellet grill under $599 together, and the Pit Boss 820 was built by our friend Kevin. He said that it was a pretty easy build. All around it took about 90 minutes from box to ready to fire up. The only part where it was helpful to have another pair of hands was when we needed to turn the grill on its head to assemble the legs. One person steadying the grill while another puts each leg on was very helpful.
Pit Boss 72820 Deluxe
The heavy, 16-gauge steel construct and copper-finished lid make this model one of the most luxurious pellet grills on our list. With 820 square inches of grilling space and a temperature range of 180 to 500 degrees, it could be an excellent fit for larger families. Theres even a built-in bottle opener, since we all know that grilling can be a social event as much as a cooking technique. The chimney has a cool L-shaped design, and the cart-style design features two wheels and an efficient grease bucket.
Like the 700FB and the Classic 700, the 72820 Deluxe features a flame broiler for searing and a dial-in digital control panel with an LED readout screen. This grill gives slow-cooked foods a delectable smoky flavor, and a built-in meat probe allows you to see when the ingredients have reached their desired temperature. While it isnt as effective at low temperatures as it is at grilling, it does get the job done eventually. Wed recommend this grill to anyone who needs a minimum of 800 square inches of grilling space, and who would appreciate the raft of cosmetic features that it offers.
Pros:
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Is There A Difference Between A Pellet Grill And A Pellet Smoker
For all intents and purposes, the terms pellet grill and pellet smoker are interchangeable. If youre allured by the concept of a pellet grill, but youre not a big fan of that smoked-food flavor, not to worry. Most units will allow you to control the amount of wood flavor that you get, especially if you use high-heat cooking applications instead of smoking. You can also offset the intensity by shopping for mild-flavored pellets, such as alder or maple. Bear in mind that if you opt to purchase a Pit Boss grill, youll get the best results with Pit Boss pellets.
Social Proof: Firing Up The Pit Boss 820
In the interest of full disclosure, I decided to search the Web to find out what other consumers were saying about the Pit Boss 820. Throughout the course of this research, I came across a few reviews that corroborated my own findings.
More than one satisfied customer reported having superb luck when using the Pit Boss 820 for smoked meats, claiming that the temperature control was excellent once the unit had a chance to calibrate. Others praised the durability of its construction, especially given the relatively low price tag. A vocal faction of users reported excellent results with seared meats as well, saying that the unit was able to hold its heat for long periods of time.
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Pit Boss Competition Series 850 Wood Pellet Grill
SKU: 10922
Pit Boss 820 Deluxe Pellet Smoker Review
By: Max Good
Pit Boss by Dansons, makers of the popular Louisiana Grills, has moved quickly into the growing pellet smoker arena dominated by Traeger. Dansons strategy to create a likeness of Traeger at a much lower price apparently worked. Pit Boss offers respectable smokers that look and act a lot like Traegers at well below Traeger prices. For those who want a pellet smoker, but dont have a budget for Traeger, Pit Boss is a good option.
New to the pellet smoker BBQ revolution? Wanna know why they are worth the extra cost?
Pit Boss offers a Small 340, Medium 440 Deluxe, Large 820 and 820 Deluxe. The numbers indicate total cooking surface including warming racks. All are 16 gauge black powder coated steel with porcelain coated cast iron grates, coated steel rod secondary removable cooking racks, and coated wire lower shelves. A handle attached to the wood pellet hopper on the left enables you to easily lift Pit Boss and roll it around on two large steel wheels on the right. A handy bracket to wrap up the electric cord is also located on the hopper .
Pit Boss sent us their largest, top of the line 820 Deluxe model to test. Deluxe models have an attractive copper colored lid, neat stainless steel removable serving tray that also functions like a side shelf and built-in bottle opener. Standard models use a typical flame diffuser over the firepot and a flat drip pan right beneath the grates that is angled to divert drippings into a grease bucket hanging from the right side.
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Pit Boss 820 Build Quality
When we talk about the build quality of a grill, we like to look at how sturdy is it, what its made of and how well its put together. One of Pit Bosss slogans is Bigger, Hotter, Heavier and it rings true on this model. Using the digital caliper that we have here at The Lab, we measured 2.70mm for the door and 2.16mm for the grill body. Its by far the heaviest metal on a grill lid and body that weve seen at this price range.
The grill grates are porcelain-coated cast iron, and the main grates are HEAVY. Theyre wide enough to put on a good sear and the porcelain coating makes them incredibly easy to clean.
There is a foldable front shelf that comes standard with the 820, and thats pretty uncommon at this price point as well. The removable tray side shelf is also unique at this price point and we enjoyed the flexibility that it provided.
There are two wheels on the unit and two stationary legs, which means its incredibly sturdy and isnt going to move anywhere, even in the toughest of winds. The trade-off is that you have to lift a pretty heavy grill to maneuver it around the patio on just two wheels, but if youre just going to put it in place and leave it, theres not another grill Im aware of that will stay put like this Pit Boss wood pellet grill.
Pit Boss Lockhart Platinum Series
Traeger doesnt have any grills like the Lockhart, but its a fun grill so we thought we would include it anyway.
You get a fairly standard pellet grill on the bottom, with a double-door smoke cabinet stuck on top.
This gives you an insane 2136 square inches of cooking space, all within a fairly moderate footprint .
You get a large 40 lb hopper to keep you cooking, and two probes are included although you can add up to four total.
Its a fun, unique smoker that doesnt fit into the same mold as 99% of the other pellet grills you see out there.
Its a good choice for anyone that wants to feed a crowd, without spending too much money.
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Pit Boss Vs Traeger: Which Pellet Grill Should You Buy
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So youve decided to invest in a wood pellet grill but still havent decided which brand to buy.
Traeger and make some of the most popular pellet grills on the market today.
If you ask around youll get plenty of opinions about which is better.
The problem is, people always end up defending the grill they bought and slamming the competition so its hard to get an objective opinion.
In this guide, we break down the differences between Traeger and Pit Boss and look at some of the top grills from each company to help you decide which pellet grill is right for you.
- Great size for the price
- Porcelain-coated cast iron grates perform well
- Includes front and side shelves
Cons:
- Accurate PID controller for stable temperatures
- Excellent App and WiFi connectivity
Cons:
Not sold on Pit Boss or Traeger? Z Grills are a popular new brand that sells grills like the popular 700D4E which are of similar quality but at a lower price point. Check out our full Z Grills review.
Another Budget Alternative Z Grills
If your primary reason for considering a Pit Boss is price, then you might want to give Z Grills a look.
These guys are very new to selling to consumers but theyve actually been building pellet grills for other companies for many years.
You can definitely see the resemblance when you look at the design. Everything is similar except for the high price tag.
The most popular model is the Z Grills 700D4E which is a recent upgrade over the popular 700E and now comes with a PID temperature controller, better screen, and easy pellet clean-up features.
Weve cooked a lot of food on the 700D4E and think its a fantastic pellet grill. It doesnt have quite as many features as a grill likes the Traeger Pro 575 , but it does have a proper cabinet which is great for storage.
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Pit Boss Pellet Grill Reviews: Top 6 Grills
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the BEST Pit Boss pellet grill is, then we recommend the Classic 700 as the best one.
Pit Boss has been in the pellet-grilling game since 1999. In the intervening years, founder Dan Thiessen and his sons, Jeff and Jordan, have cultivated a reputation for quality grills and personalized customer service. How well do their products hold up to industry standards? Heres a handy list of Pit Boss pellet grill reviews to help you find out the answer.
In this article, were going to review the following Pit Boss pellet grills:
Pit Boss Vs Traeger Wood Pellet Grill Head To Head
I always try and avoid coming out and saying one grill is definitely better than another.
Its very hard to compare grills fairly. For example, if one gill costs $500 and another costs $1000, is it fair to say that the $1000 grill is better?
Youve also got a situation where each brand is constantly updating its line-up and grill construction.
So a review you read might be talking about the 2016 Pit Boss which is no longer sold.
So with that caveat in mind, here are some general differences between Traeger and Pit Boss that most people agree on.
- Pit Boss grills utilize a slide and sear system to give you a small searing zone directly above the fire pot.
Now that you know a little more about both brands, youre best option is to narrow down which Traeger or Pit Boss model you would buy, and then you can compare the features of each specific grill.
I suggest comparing grills in these 6 categories:
With the Traeger Pro 575 you will be paying more for a smaller grill, but you get the WiFIRE system to control the grill via an App, plus a more advanced control system.
With the Pit Boss Sportsman 820 you save a bit of money, get a larger grill which has some nice usability features like the slide plate for grilling and removable side shelf to help with prep work.
In the next section, we go into a bit more detail about the two brands, or you can skip ahead to see our break down of all the most popular grills from each company.
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What Should I Look For When Shopping For A Pellet Grill
To help you get started, heres a list of the most pertinent features and benefits of a pellet smoker. Bear in mind that some of these qualities are subjective. For example, the amount of grilling space should be proportionate to the size of your group, or how often you grill. A couple who rarely entertains will have no need of a grill with 800 square inches of cooking space, whereas a larger family would have a more difficult time with a smaller unit.
- ValueConsider how much youre willing and able to spend on a pellet grill
- DurabilityPay close attention to the quality of the materials, as well as the efficiency of the overall construction
- Pellet EfficiencyTake note of how quickly the auger component feeds pellets into the chamber
- SizeThe amount of grilling space thats available
- Type of Control PanelLook for sophisticated technology that makes for a largely hands-free operation
- Temperature ProbesThe best grills will offer dual probes that report the internal temperature of the meat, as well as the cooking chamber itself
- Ease of SetupAssembly should take no more than two hours for a single person
- Ease of UseOperation should be straightforward and efficient, with minimal cleanup duties required
Is The Pit Boss 820 Easy To Use
Using the 820 is an absolute pleasure.
Just see how to start a Pit Boss grill and youll be a grill master in no time
After you assemble it, the cooking part is simple.
I just filled it with pellets into the large pellet hopper and did the burnoff as instructed.
Then it was easy to get started thanks to the auto-ignition, then I was ready to go!
No messing about with dirty charcoal or lighter fluid. I was then able to monitor the cook using the Smoke it App, which was handy when I wanted to stay inside and watch the game.
Once I was done cooking cleaning up was simple.
I just let it cool, then I wiped it and empty the grease bucket .
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The Pit Boss 820 Review
When it comes to finding the right grill, the options can seem endless!!
There are a lot of different grill styles, types, and brands out there. but which one is for you?
I have the Pit Boss 820 and want to tell you about the main features, specifications, and what I liked about it.
One of my favorite things is the SPACE!I like having a BIG grill for big cookouts.
I was able to feed 18 hungry adults and 5 kids at my wifes 40th birthday party.
I also thought it was easy to clean. Plus it was easy to control the temperature with the built-in thermometer
Want to know more? Continue reading my Pit Boss 820 deluxe review!
Whats The Best Way To Use A Pellet Grill Or Smoker
Since these units allow you to set it and forget it, theyre ideal for low-and-slow cooking applications such as smoking, braising, and barbecuing. To give you some idea of how this process works, take a look at this YouTube video on how to use a Pit Boss pellet grill to make smoked ribs:
Though a pellet grill will yield excellent results at low temperatures, the sky is the limit. You can also use these units to turn out grilled burgers and dogs for the neighborhood barbecue prepare prosciutto-wrapped asparagus for a quick side dish or bake a pan of cookies for dessert.
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