Ditch the gas grill for a pellet grill and find out why Pellet grilling is far superior! Below, I’ve listed 10 reasons why a pellet grill (smoker) is better than a gas grill.
Pellet Grilling is Far Superior to Gas Grilling
I get it; that’s a pretty strong statement, but with over 35+ years of pit and grill master experience, I stand by what I said.
Pellet Grilling delivers a far better overall flavor and is easier to use. It’s more precise, offers a vast flavor variety, and is truly versatile. Let me show you why you should ditch that clunky gas grill and switch over to a Yoder Smokers YS640 pellet grill (and smoker!) or any other of their pellet grills.
I want you to understand something. I’m not saying gas grills are terrible; not at all. I’m just saying that, given my experience, a pellet grill will outperform a gas grill.
Can A Pellet Grill Do Everything a Gas Grill Can?
It’s a resounding YES! and so much MORE! Now, I’m not knocking anyone who has a gas grill; heck, my house came with a built-in one. But it’s not the same as cooking with wood (pellets) or charcoal.
Even so, if I had to choose between wood or charcoal, hands down, it’s wood. I can go into that in another post if you are curious why. But back to a Pellet grill…
On my Yoder Smokers YS640 Pellet Smoker (which is a grill), I’ve made:
- …the list is endless
Advantages of a Yoder Smokers Pellet Grill / Smoker
This post could be pages long as to why, but I’ll give you my top 10 reasons why you should make the switch:
- Authentic Smoke Flavor: You cannot get this on a gas grill. And I’m sure you may say, “But my gas grill has a wood pellet tray.” Um… if that’s the case, why didn’t you get a real wood pellet grill in the first place? This type of hybrid grills exist but
- Consistent Even Cook: Gas or propane makes it way harder to maintain a steady temperature, especially on a longer cook. I can’t even fathom using my gas grill to make pulled pork. Seriously, that just made me shudder in terror.
- Varieties of Flavor: Just like using a wood-fired pizza oven or cooking over a campfire, different wood pellets are an additional way to customize the taste of your food.
- Easier to Use: Add your pellets, set your temperature, and add your food, and it’s pretty much hands-off until you have to flip it, wrap it, or take it out to serve.
- Works as a Convection Oven: You can sustain a consistently lower temperature over more extended periods.
- No Flareups: The biggest issue with gas grills is the flareups. With a Yoder Smokers Pellet Grill, you pretty much don’t have to worry about them. The only time you might have to pay a bit more attention is when you’re doing a reverse sear over direct flame. And even at that, you’re not going to walk away when you’re doing this.
- Pizza Oven Temps: My YS640 temperature readout will say 600F, but when I use the Pizza Oven attachment, the temperature can exceed 720F. I can make a true, authentic wood-fired pizza on my Pellet Grill. I’m sorry, but your gas grill can’t. This attachment can also act as a hotbox oven (like your home oven) and make casseroles, breads, sheet-pan meals, etc.
- High-Heat Searing: The YS640 also allows for high-heat searing, such as reverse-searing a steak to give it that gorgeous crust and grill marks.
- Easier Maintenance: Since the ash and grease are collected in a designated area, cleanup is a breeze! On my YS640, I only have to sweep out the ash and clean off the grates. If I’m doing a particularly long or high-fat cook (pork, for example, or poultry), I’ll heat it too high, burn off the build-up, wipe it down, and re-season it like you would a cast-iron pan.
- Eco-Friendly: Since pellet grills run on renewable fuel, they are much cleaner, thus reducing the emission of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.
Your Yoder Smokers Grill Is Another Oven
Living in Arizona, my house oven is unused from May to October. It’s way too hot for that. I’d burn up my AC units and go broke to keep my house cool.
From breads to desserts, pizzas to steaks, burgers to pulled pork, my pellet grill does it all!
Did I mention that you can also cold smoke cheese on a Yoder Smokers grill? Try doing that on a gas grill easily. It’s a PITA to be honest.
What are Wood Pellets Made From?
Now, there are different brands out there that sell them, so please make sure you buy from a well-known company that uses REAL wood and not fillers. A true wood pellet is made from:
- Wood Shavings
- Sawdust
- Wood Chips and Slabs
- and other pieces of actual wood that can’t be used for lumber
How are Wood Pellets Made?
I could create an entire post about this, but in layman’s terms, wood fibers/pieces are ground into dust and then compressed into small cylinders.
Heat is applied to the cylinders, which causes a natural polymer (lignin) reaction. Essentially, that polymer (glue reaction) helps the compressed particles hold together, and voila! You have wood pellets.
How to Adust The Smoke Amount
What you can’t do on a gas grill is adjust how much smoke you want to impart on your food. That’s where the Yoder Smoker YS640 is incredible!
- Adjust the damper to fine-tune the airflow and smoke output
- Use high-quality pellets
Are There Any Drawbacks to Using a Pellet Grill?
Honestly, no*. Gas grills have a place, BUT if given a choice, I’d choose my Yoder Smokers Pellet Grill / Smoker every time.
*That being said, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—price. There’s a reason why Yoder Smokers are elite. They are American-made machines built to last. Now, yes, just like a car or anything you purchase, you do have to maintain it. Why buy something if you’re not going to maintain it?
- Price – These grills/smokers are made with superior products and require motors, fans, equipment, computer chips/boards, etc. A gas grill is pretty basic. Sure, some may have digital displays or lights, but few gas grills (if any) offer sophisticated temperature controls or integrated features.
- Additional Power Source—You need an electrical outlet to run them. Natural gas grills need a gas line to run them, and propane gas grills need a tank.
Yoder Smokers Pellet Grill Recipes To Try
If you check out my recipe index, you’ll see I have a category titled BBQ/Grill/Open Fire. I have all of my recipes there. Plus, if you see a recipe of mine that only shows conventional home oven instructions, you can make it in the Yoder Smokers YS640 with a couple of minor tweaks (to the smoker). Either comment on the recipe, asking how to make it on the grill, or email me!
Proteins To Make on a Pellet Grill
Make your holiday turkey on the smoker! My hotdog and brisket burger recipes go viral because they are THE BEST!
And if you want to master the art of smoked pork butt, I’m sharing my trade secrets!
Seriously, The Best Smoked Brisket Burgers
If you crave a juicy and crispy burger, I have the recipe for you! Smoking ground brisket combined with a reverse sear method makes for the most amazing burger you’ll ever have!
Spatchcock Smoked Cherry Habanero Turkey
With simple ingredients and easy steps, you can serve up a juicy, flavorful turkey that will impress your guests and make you feel like a seasoned pitmaster in no time!
How to Smoke The Best Picanha (Top Sirloin Cap)
Just a few ingredients are needed for one of the beefiest, most incredible cuts of smoked beef you’ll ever sink your teeth into!
The Best BBQ Brisket Smoked Individual Meatloaves
BBQ brisket smoked meatloaves are a game changer. They are flavorful, super tender, and smoked to perfection while being basted in a lip-smacking BBQ sauce, making them perfect for any night of the week.
Snacks Made on a Pellet Grill
For more recipes, check out this link: BBQ/Grill/Open Fire.
Caramelized Vidalia Onion Dip Made On The Smoker
Delicious dips can elevate any gathering, and a caramelized Vidalia onion dip made on the smoker takes it to a whole new level. This smoky caramelized onion dip is truly an irresistible snacking favorite!
Elevate Your Grill Game with Flame Kissed Cheesy Jalapeño Poppers
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with a fiery explosion of flavor! Flame-kissed cheesy jalapeño poppers, oozing with melted cheese and savory bacon, are always a huge crowd favorite.
The Best Smoked Hatch Chile Salsa
Smoking your vegetables is the secret ingredient you’ve been missing to elevate your salsa to something truly outstanding. Adding a smoky twist can transform your hatch chile salsa into a flavor fiesta like no other!
The Best Smoked Garlic Onion Parmesan Potato Chips
Elevate your boring potato chips by seasoning them with garlic and onion powder, coating them in Parmesan cheese, and smoking them to perfection!
Leave a Reply