These Pellet smokers are a type of fuel used in pellet grills and smokers. They come in many different sizes, shapes, and flavors. The biggest difference between pellets and wood chunks is that these are compressed into briquettes, so they burn very efficiently.

If you like the idea of using something other than wood to make your food taste good, then you should definitely try out a pellet grill. There’s no reason why you can’t use it for everything from steaks and ribs to chicken and fish, all without having to worry about them drying out or getting too hot.

But since pellet grills aren’t exactly known for making their food taste great (especially compared to gas grills), there are steps you need to take to get more smoke flavor from them. Here’s how to do just that.

What Are Pellets?

Before we get into how to get more smoke flavor from your pellet grill, let’s first talk about what pellets are. These are little pieces of compressed sawdust, shavings, and other similar materials that have been coated with either vegetable oil or paraffin wax. When you light one up inside your grill, it ignites on contact with oxygen.

This means that they burn very quickly, which makes them perfect for cooking meats because they don’t dry out as quickly. And since they give off less heat, they also require much lower temperatures when cooking. This means that you won’t have to wait as long for your food to be done, and as a result, you can cook more food at once.

Most people start off by purchasing bags of “smokeless” pellets, but if you want to add some additional flavor to your food, then you’ll probably want to go ahead and get some flavored pellets instead. Some popular options include maple, mesquite, hickory, oak, cherry, apple, and even fruitwood.

However, before you start loading up your pellet grill and filling it with whatever pellets you think will work best for your food, you’re going to want to make sure that you know what each one does, and what kind of cooking style it will suit best.

Which Pellets Should You Use For Your Pellet Grill?

The answer to this question depends largely on whether you want to use a pellet smoker on its own, or if you plan on upgrading your current setup to a pellet grill. If you already have an existing grill, you’ll probably be better off sticking to the basic types.

So here are the most common pellet types that you’ve got available right now:

Hickory –

Hickory is generally considered to be the king of woods, giving off rich aromas and flavors that complement steak and pork perfectly.

Apple –

Apple wood provides a slight hint of sweetness to food cooked over it, and it’s often used for sauces and marinades.

Maple –

Maple wood burns fast, which is great for things such as burgers and brats. It also has a strong maple scent that complements sweet foods well.

Mesquite –

Mesquite wood is extremely hardy, meaning that it can withstand extreme temperature changes quite easily. As a result, it’s great for roasts, poultry, and slow-cooked dishes.

Peanut –

Peanut wood is known to impart a nutty aroma and flavor to foods cooked over it, making it ideal for beef or chicken.

Cherry/Fruitwood –
Fruitwoods are usually made of dried fruit, which gives them a fruity smell and taste. They are primarily used for chicken and fish. However, depending on how much time you spend on the grill with them, you might notice some slight burning.

Now that you know what pellets you should look for, it’s time to move onto the next step: learning how to get more smoke flavor from your pellet grill.

What You Can Do With Your Pellet Grill

As you may have guessed, the main function of a pellet grill is to cook meat. That said, you can actually put it to use for pretty much anything else you’d normally cook on your traditional grill, including smoking, baking, broiling, and searing. So if you’re looking to add some extra flavor to your food, then you’ll want to learn a few tricks and techniques that will help you get more smoke flavor from your pellet grill.

Here are three things you can do to get more smoke flavor from your pellet grill:

1. Start off by adding a little bit of your favorite sauce to your food while it cooks. Not only will it help keep the drippings from dripping down onto your meat, but it will also create a lot more smoke flavor overall.

2. Be careful not to overcook your food. In fact, you should always set your thermostat to around 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything above that temperature, and your food will begin to dry out and become tough to eat.

3. Don’t forget to clean your grill after every session! Every single piece of food that goes through your grill needs to be cleaned thoroughly before being placed back on the rack. Remember, the grease that comes off of the food will stick to your grill grate, which is the part of the grill where the flames come up from.