THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN USING A PELLET GRILL

CONSIDER THE STEAKS

While pellet grills are brilliant for general grilling and long five- to 12-hour smoking sessions, certain models aren’t really suitable for searing steaks because a) they don’t reach a high enough temperature and b) they have a heat reflector panel positioned between the pellet burn pot and the grill grate. However, some models of pellet grill – like the Weber SmokeFire – are designed to sear over a naked flame as well as grill and smoke.

GET THE LEAD OUT

All pellet grills require an electricity source to operate the auger and a built-in fan to keep the pellets burning so you may need to purchase a long 13-amp extension lead unless you already have an electricity outlet that is plumbed into the outside wall.

COOL YOUR JETS

Rather like a nuclear reactor, pellet grills need to go through a ‘shut down’ sequence at the end of each barbecuing session and this can take up to 20 minutes to complete. Do not unplug the unit from the mains until the interface tells you to.

KEEP ’EM CLEAN

All barbecues require a good clean from time to time but a pellet grill requires a bit more maintenance to keep it ticking over. This is because the spent pellets produce a lot of ash, which gathers in and around the burn pot. In some models the ash can mix with fats to form a gloopy mess that in extremely rare cases has been known to catch fire. But cleaning ash from a pellet BBQ is simply a case of reaching for a handheld vacuum cleaner.

BEWARE THE WET

Pellet grills must also be protected from the elements with a robust cover when not in use. Also, during winter months, the pellets should ideally removed from the hopper – all models have a release hatch – to prevent them from swelling in damp conditions.