As a passionate BBQ enthusiast, I have tried and tested many wood pellets for smoking over the years, but my favorite has always been the Traeger Grills Hickory Wood Pellets. I love these pellets because they are made of high-quality natural hardwoods blended to produce the perfect balance of flavor, aroma, and smoke.
However, I have experimented with a dozen more pellet brands as a daring pitmaster. With years of experience under my belt, I have a good understanding of what makes a great wood pellet.
So, in this article, I will discuss the six best wood pellets that are perfect for smoking. I am confident that my recommendations will help you find the perfect pellets for your next BBQ session.
Editor’s Choice
Traeger Wood Pellets are a top choice for those who love variety. What I like about Traeger pellets is that they are made of 100% all-natural hardwood, which ensures consistency in size and shape.
They produce a high heat output over a long burn time, making them ideal for cold and hot smoking. They are also great at infusing dishes with a depth of flavor, thanks to their aromatic properties.
Traeger spent a lot of time getting their moisture ratio correct. So you always experience low ash build-up with Traeger pellets. They’re also made in the USA and have quite a variety of flavors. Traeger has about six different flavors, from hickory to apple, cherry, mesquite, pecan, and signature blends. So, they cater to different tastes.
Despite having these amazing qualities, Traeger wood pellets are more affordable than top products in the same 20-pound variety like the Bear Mountain or Pit Boss wood pellets. This is another plus in my book.
Runner-up
The main standout feature of the Pit Boss pellets is their real wood flavor. This product has a blend of natural fruitwood pellets that produce clean smoke.
Pit Boss also offers many other varieties and flavors of wood pellets, from the Apple Blend to Charcoal Blend, Classic Blend, Competition Blend, and more.
However, I have noticed that these pellets create quite a lot of ash after using them for smoking.
This is sometimes caused by too much moisture in the pellets and, oftentimes, the build-up of pellet dust in the bottom of the pellet bags. After all, pellets are made from sawdust. So you have to watch out for that as you’re pouring them into your pellet smoker.
If you’re up for it, some folks suggest taking out the pellets from the bag and vacuuming the dust.
By the way, Pit Boss smoking pellets are also made in the United States. Despite this, they fall on just about the cheapest you can get.
Best All-natural Hardwood Pellets
I recently purchased the Camp Chef Competition Wood Pellets for my pellet smoker, and I am quite impressed. These pellets are made of 100% all-natural hardwood. Knowing that I am not exposing my family to harmful chemicals gives me peace of mind.
Its heat output and long burn time make it easy for me to maintain the temperature in my pellet smoker. For me, this is essential when smoking meat. The pellets also add incredible flavor and aroma to my dishes.
Camp Chef Competition blend combines hickory, cherry, and maple. However, it still has single-flavored products, from apple to mesquite, hickory, and cherry charcoal.
The company advertises that these pellets burn very efficiently. I have also found that, unlike the Pot Boss, these smoking pellets have less pellet dust and ash build-up. So, you don’t have to do a lot of cleanup after each smoking session.
Also, Camp Chef Competition Blend is not expensive. I’ve found them for usually under $13 for a 20-pound bag, of course without the shipping fees. Overall, I would definitely recommend these pellets to anyone looking for quality and affordability.
Best Value for Money
The Royal Oak 100 Percent Hardwood Charcoal Pellet is popular among pellet grill and smoker enthusiasts for its quality and versatility.
The pellets are made from 100% hardwood and do not contain additives, fillers, or binders. This results in a pure, authentic wood-fired flavor that is perfect for barbecuing, grilling, smoking, or roasting.
The pellets produce a consistent and stable heat source, making them easy to achieve the desired temperature for cooking and maintaining it for hours on end.
In terms of smoke production, the Royal Oak 100 Percent Hardwood Charcoal Pellets deliver a rich and flavorful smoke that infuses your food with a delicious smoky taste. The pellets are also low in ash and produce minimal waste, making cleanup a breeze. They’re water-resistant and will not clog your pellet smoker’s augers.
Best Premium Wood Pellets
Bear Mountain wood pellets are made from 100 percent hardwoods too. The smoker pellets have no fillers, and there are no oils.
Another cool thing about Bear Mountain is that every bag of the Gourmet Blend pellets includes a blend of hickory, maple, cherry, and oak. So the taste of the food it’s made from will be more balanced.
As far as cost goes, the Bear Mountain pellets are not the cheapest on the market and are even more expensive than the Traegers.
Bear Mountain pellets traditionally come in a 20-pound bag, with a couple of products in a 40-pound bag. This includes the Gourmet Blend and hickory flavor.
Speaking of blends, that’s one of the cons of Bear Mountain, as there’s not a ton of variety. However, most of what they offer is good for just about anything you want to smoke.
Best Special Pellets
These pellets are made using wood charcoal derived from premium oak and flavored with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey.
These whiskey-flavored pellets are made in the USA. They are, however, on the more expensive side.
They sell just a bit under $30 per 20-pound bag. However, if you like wood pellets infused with the aroma of whiskey, that’s exactly what you’ll get with these Jack Daniels pellets.
Next, I’ll run you through some of the most popular types of wood pellets for smoking.
Hardwoods are popular wood grilling pellets due to their rich flavor and long burn time. Different types of hardwoods can be used for smoking, each with unique characteristics and tastes.
Hardwood pellets are an excellent choice for smoking BBQs due to their rich taste and longer burn time. Whether you prefer the subtle sweetness of maple, the fruity taste of cherry wood pellets, or the bold, smoky flavor of hickory, there’s a hardwood perfect for your cooking needs.
Softwoods are less commonly used wood pellets for smoking BBQs. This is because most have a high resin content that can give off an acrid and unpleasant flavor when burned.
This resin can also create a thick smoke that can coat the meat and leave a bitter taste.
However, here are some of the most popular softwoods that are sometimes used for cooking and how you should or should not use them:
Blends of different types of wood are becoming increasingly popular for smoking BBQ. Blended pellets offer a combination of aromas that can enhance the taste of your food. Here are some popular blends for smoking BBQ:
Apple and cherry are fruity, sweet woods often used together to create a great taste profile.
These blended pellets are ideal for smoking poultry, fish, and pork because they provide a light, sweet smoke. And they’re perfect for adding sweetness to your BBQs on your pellet grill.
Oak and hickory are two of the most popular hardwoods for smoking BBQ, and they are often used to create a balanced taste.
This blend is perfect for smoking meat, poultry, and game, as it provides a bold, smoky tang that is perfect for instilling your food with a rich, smoky flavor.
Maple and cherry are two fruity, sweet woods used together in BBQs. They have a mild, sweet, and slightly nutty smell that pairs well with poultry, pork, and seafood.
Both cherry and maple wood pellets are versatile options for smoking barbecue and can be used alone or blended with other types of wood pellets to create unique flavor profiles.
Blending mesquite wood pellets and oak wood pellets creates a balanced flavor that combines the strong taste of mesquite with the mild and slightly sweet characteristics of oak. This blend adds depth and complexity to the meat’s natural taste.
This blend is ideal for smoking beef, poultry, and game, as it gives a bold, smoky taste.
For the ultimate barbecue experience, using a combination of oak and cherry wood is the way to go.
The strong smoke presence, dark brown color, and cherry fruity notes make for a delicious flavor for smoked pork ribs.
Blends of different types of wood can provide a unique and complex flavor profile for your BBQ. So, try to experiment with different blends to find the ideal combination of flavors.
Flavored wood pellets are a great way to add extra depth and complexity to your barbecue. These pellets are made from natural hardwoods infused with various flavorings like fruit, herbs, and spices.
Meanwhile, some woods are naturally known as flavored wood pellets due to their sweet-smelling/tasting nature.
Some popular flavored wood pellets include apple, hickory, pecan, cherry, alder, maple, and mesquite.
In addition, some brands like to blend the previously mentioned flavorings into the wood pellets.
Those who want pellets with no extra flavoring, additives, or fillers often use just wood pellets like the Bear Mountain Premium.
However, if you want pellets with no fillers or artificially added flavorings, then choose naturally flavored wood pellets such as apple, hickory, and the like. These will help to create a unique and delicious taste.
Whether you’re smoking meats, poultry, or fish, these wood pellets can add some extra sensation to your barbecue.
Specialty wood pellets are a unique type of wood pellet designed for specific cooking styles or flavors.
These pellets are made of various kinds of wood and can be blended with other ingredients. Here are some popular specialty wood pellets for smoking BBQ:
The best wood pellets for smoking should have the following characteristics:
Pecan, hickory, and mesquite are some of the best wood types for giving a solid smoky taste to food. These woods are known for their distinct and intense smoke, making them a favorite among BBQ enthusiasts. In addition, each wood has its distinct aroma, with hickory providing a slightly sweet and smoky taste, mesquite a strong, earthy flavor, and pecan a mild and nutty taste.
Personally, hickory, pecan, and apple wood pellets are my favorites for smoking pulled pork. However, if you like blends, then I’d suggest you try oak and hickory. They are a top blend choice for smoking pulled pork due to their moderately intense flavor.
All the pellets mentioned provides a rich and smoky taste that complements the savory taste of pulled pork. Hickory wood pellets impart a strong, slightly sweet smokiness, pecan offers a mild and nutty taste, and apple gives a delicate sweetness with a light fruity aroma. Experimenting with different wood pellets is a great way to find the flavor profile that best suits your taste preferences.
No, it’s not recommended to smoke BBQ with softwood pellets. Softwoods, such as pine and fir, release resins and soot that can give food a bitter taste. They also tend to burn hot and fast, which is not ideal for smoking.
However, some people still use softwood because it’s often cheaper and easier to work with than hardwood. Additionally, some people may prefer the strong, smoky flavor that softwood imparts, despite the potential risks.
Regardless, I always recommend the use of hardwoods, such as hickory, mesquite, apple, or cherry, for smoking BBQ. They produce a milder flavor and burn at a lower temperature for a longer period.
Heating pellets are used for heating homes and buildings while smoking wood pellets are used for cooking and smoking food in outdoor wood pellet grills and smokers. Heating pellets are made from compressed sawdust and other organic materials.
On the other hand, smoking wood pellets are made from various types of wood and are infused with various flavorings, such as mesquite, hickory, apple, or cherry.
However, it’s good to know that heating pellets typically burn longer than smoking wood pellets. Heating pellets have an average burn time of 24 to 48 hours per 20 lb bag, depending on the size of the stove or furnace. Smoking wood pellets, on the other hand, burn for a shorter duration, typically ranging from 6 to 20 hours, depending on the cooking temperature and the size of the smoker or grill.
Whether you prefer hardwoods, softwoods, fruit woods, blends, flavored pellets, or specialty pellets, choosing the right pellets for your needs is essential. Experimenting with different types of pellets and blends will help you find the perfect combination of tastes for your meats.
One of my top picks for the best pellets for smoking is the Traeger Grills Hardwood Pellets. These pellets are made of 100% pure hardwood, with no fillers or binders, and are known for their consistent burn and superior flavor. Whether you’re smoking brisket, ribs, or chicken, these pellets will take your BBQ to the next level. Happy smoking!
