<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThere is a more significant learning curve to charcoal grills. As it has such a basic design, you have to expend more effort in lighting the fire, getting it to stay lit, and managing the temperature. Thus, it can take time to learn how to master such a grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Temperature Range<\/h3>\n\n\n\n When it comes to pellet grills, the range does depend on the brand and the model. More often than not, though, a pellet grill will not go over 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Charcoal grills, on the other hand, can easily get to over 650 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, the trick with the charcoal grill is trying to maintain a lower temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are looking to sear meat, then a charcoal grill is the way to go. On the other hand, if low and slow cooking is what you are looking for, a pellet grill will be of better service to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Temperature Control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Temperature control with pellet grills is undoubtedly easier. In fact, all you have to do is turn the dial and it is all set. With a digital pellet smoker, you will be able to see your desired temperature and the actual temperature inside the cooking chamber to understand the cooking temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With charcoal grilling, there is no real way to know what temperature your grill actually is. Thus, you have to carefully check how much fuel is in the grill and how alight they are to estimate the temperature. You will often have to hold your hand over the grill grates to determine the exact level of heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attaching a hood thermometer to a charcoal grill may overcome this issue, but there is still plenty of discrepancy that you will need to watch out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure that you don’t burn certain foods too quickly, you have to create two cooking zones – one where the coals are situated directly under the grates and the other where there are no coals at all. This creates direct and indirect zones of cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Added Flavor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n One of the reasons that both of these grills are so popular is because their fuel sources add flavor to the wood. So, what can you expect here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, with charcoal grills, you get a char flavor and a strong smoky flavor as well. In general, when cooking on these grills, your food is strongly flavored. It is due to this that you should take care to avoid using lighter fluid with these grills as it can end up being infused into the food as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for a pellet grill, the smoke flavor isn’t as notable here – instead, you will find a strong wood flavor. In fact, change wood flavors and you will be able to alter the taste infusing your food as well. For instance, fruit woods like cherry will make your food taste sweeter while hickory can have a stronger, smokier taste to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cooking Versatility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n So, which grill produces more versatile results? Well, this all depends on what you mean by versatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charcoal grills are great if you want to cook foods at either lower or higher temperatures. So, if you want to cook a wider variety of foods at various temperatures, then then this is the grill for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, a pellet grill is far more suitable at offering versatile flavors. Just choose a different type of wood and you will be able to enjoy an entirely new taste. To add to this, it is far more easier to use this type of grill for smoking as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Portability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Now, portability isn’t just about how light or easy a grill is. This will often vary quite a bit in between models. So, you cant really determine whether a pellet or charcoal grill may be more portable. In general, though, charcoal designs are smaller and lighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nNevertheless, charcoal grills are seen as being more portable simply because unlike the pellet version, they don’t need to be hooked up to electricity. In fact, they don’t require any kind of power source. As such, you can easily drag them out into the middle of nowhere and set them up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maintenance and Cleaning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n I would argue that most grills are a pain to clean, but which one is trickier? Unfortunately, charcoal grills lose out here. This is because coals and their ash can leave behind quite a mess. Thus, getting rid of them can be rather tricky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, with most pellet grills, the ashes are neatly contained with a section. As such, a shop vacuum or brush is often enough to clean this mess up. I should warn you that this can depend on the make and the model of the grill, though. While some are incredibly easy to clean, others can involve a messier process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pellet vs. Charcoal vs. Gas Grill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Just for the sake of being thorough, I would also like to discuss the difference between pellet, charcoal, and gas grills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main difference, of course, is the fuel sources – gas grill can be run on natural gas or propane. Although these types of grills are found in most homes, they aren’t the preferred option for most pitmasters. They are easy to use, but they dont offer up the same flavor as a pellet or charcoal grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
1. Do Pellet Grills Taste Like Charcoal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n No, they taste more like wood as they use wood pellets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Are Pellet Grills Safer Than Charcoal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n There is no evidence to suggest that one type of grill is safer or more dangerous than the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Can Charcoal Be Used in a Pellet Grill?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n No, charcoal can’t be used in a pellet grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Do Pellet Grills Make Good BBQ?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n If you like a wood flavor and low and slow cooking, yes this can make good barbecue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Final Verdict – Are Pellet Grills Better than Charcoal?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n I would argue that there is no real winner in this showdown. This is because, in the end, it is all down to preference. What flavors and cooking styles do you prefer? Are you old school or do you prefer a machine that is quick and easy to use?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that you are fully aware of the differences between each type of grill, you are better equipped determining which one is the right option for you. And, after using each grill for a while, you may come to a better understanding of your preferences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
These grills differ by fuel source type, price, how easy they are to use, temperature control, temperature range, and more! Growing up with BBQ addicts, I learned all about the real barbecue experience. This meant that I put a number of grills through their paces, figuring out exactly what made them tick and what separated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1402"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1402"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5603,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1402\/revisions\/5603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1402"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=1402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}