What are the benefits of using a pellet grill over a gas grill?

Choosing between a pellet grill vs. gas grill is an easier decision than you may think. While traditional gas grills are considered easy to cook with, the pellet grill is even easier, plus it requires no propane tank and boasts the wood-fired flavor you love. Still can’t decide? From temperature control to versatility to smoky flavor, and more, here are the benefits of a pellet grill.

What is a pellet grill?

A pellet grill is a popular outdoor cooking tool that is powered by electricity. It uses 100% compressed hardwood pellets for fuel and runs according to your settings. 

The result is easy to use, efficient, and delivers the delicious flavor of hardwood without the hard work.

How does a pellet grill work? 

Pellet grills follow a simple process that’s part electric grill, part smoker, and all delicious.

1. Hardwood pellets are stored in a pellet hopper

2. Using a digital controller, you start the pellet grill, and set your desired temp and smoke settings

3. An electric-powered auger (a motorized, corkscrew-shaped metal rod) automatically feeds the pellets from the hopper into the firepot (a.k.a. firebox)

4. An electric igniter rod (a.k.a. hot rod) ignites the pellets to produce smoke, while a fan moves air to the firebox and circulates smoke around the food 

The pellet grill maintains your desired temp and smoke settings, until the food is done cooking. As long as the pellet grill has power and there are pellets in the hopper, it will continue to operate without you having to do anything. 

The Benefits of Pellet Grills Over Gas

Now that you know what a pellet grill is and how it works, let’s take a look at its many benefits vs. a traditional propane gas grill.

Real wood-fired flavor vs. propane

Propane grills are known for being easy to cook with, but that comes at a cost – a mild flavor that doesn’t add much to the food. Pellet grills are much different. Not only are they easy to use, they elevate whatever it is you’re cooking. Pellet grills enhance meats and veggies with the rich, smoky, wood-fired flavor you’d expect from an offset or drum smoker but with none of the work maintaining the fuel or fire. 

Versatility: Grill, smoke, bake, braise, roast, sear

Pit Boss pellet grills aren't just for grilling. They're built for every way you want to cook. Smoke ribs low and slow for competition-worthy BBQ. Sear a ribeye at high heat. Bake a turkey for Thanksgiving, roast a prime rib for the holidays, or braise short ribs until they fall apart. Gas grills simply can't match that kind of range. With a Pit Boss, one grill replaces many — and every cook is backed by real, wood-fired flavor. 

Pit Boss Flame Broiler

One of the biggest advantages Pit Boss has over other pellet grills — and gas grills — is the exclusive Flame Broiler™ Lever. With a simple slide, you can switch from indirect heat to direct flame cooking without ever moving your food. Open it up when it's time to finish a steak, and you're working with direct flame heat up to 1,000°F — delivering the charred, flavorful crust you'd expect from charcoal, with all the precision and control of a pellet grill.

Wide temp range 

From low-and-slow smoking at 180°F to high-heat grilling at 500°F, Pit Boss pellet grills give you full control over every cook. Want to smoke a pork shoulder for 12 hours? Done. Need to sear a steak at the end? Crank it up. And because every temperature setting is powered by real hardwood, your food picks up genuine smoke flavor no matter how you're cooking. Set it, step away, and come back to results you can be proud of.

Smart features

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any easier, many of our pellet grills are also Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® enabled. Now you can monitor or adjust your temp throughout and get notified when your food is ready. The pellet grill does the work for you; all you have to do is enjoy.

No propane tanks to refill 

Pellet grills are powered by electricity, so you never have to refill a propane tank or risk running out of fuel in the middle of a cook. Just make sure your pellet hopper is full and you’re good to go. As long as you have power, you can cook. For the best performance, be sure to pick up your pellets from us.

Conclusion

Easy to use. Superior temperature control. Wood-fired flavor. There are so many benefits to pellet grills vs. gas grills. So now the only decision is – which one? 

With Pit Boss, you certainly have options. 

• If you’re new to the pellet grill game, the Carbon Series 700 is a beginner-friendly choice, with great performance at a welcoming price. 

• For more cooking space (849 sq. in.) and more features (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth control board), the Sportsman 850 Wood Pellet Grill is a great upgrade. 

• If you’re after the ultimate in innovative features and premium performance, the Navigator 1300 Connected Grill boasts 1,329 sq. in. of cooking space, digital touchscreen control, 5°F increment control, and more.

FAQs

Q. What are the best wood pellet grills available for home use?

Whatever your outdoor cooking style or setup, the lineup of Pit Boss pellet grills deliver bold, wood-fired flavor, unmatched ease of use, and incredible versatility.

Q. How does a pellet grill work? 

Pellet grills are powered by electricity and use wood pellets for fuel. The wood pellets are stored in a hopper, and are automatically fed into a firebox by an auger. A hot rod ignites the pellets, while a fan circulates smoke around the food for cooking. The auger continues to push pellets into the fire as needed. All of this happens automatically, using a controller with your preset temperature and smoke settings. 

Q. Is a pellet grill the same as an electric pellet smoker? 

No, pellet grills and electric pellet smokers are similar, but different, in the same way traditional grills and smokers are different. Pellet grills are highly versatile and can work as both grills and smokers for outdoor cooking. However, electric pellet smokers are best suited for the heavy-duty, “low-and-slow” cooking favored by BBQ enthusiasts and competitors.

Q. Do pellet grills give food a smoky, wood-fired flavor? 

Yes, pellet grills are popular for giving food the smoky, wood-fired flavor typically associated with smokers – but without the hard work of lighting and maintaining the fire throughout the cook. 

Q. Can you sear a steak on a pellet grill like you can on a gas grill?

Absolutely — and with Pit Boss, you can actually take it further than a gas grill. At 500°F, a pellet grill already delivers a serious sear with real wood-fired flavor built in. But the exclusive Flame Broiler™ Lever takes it to another level. Slide it open to expose your steak to direct flame heat up to 1,000°F, and you get the kind of savory crust and juicy, charred flavor you'd expect from charcoal — no extra equipment needed, and no need to move your food.