Best BBQ grills UK 2022: outdoor pellet barbecues from Traeger, Broil King, and Weber
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What are pellet grill BBQs?
If you’re a terrible barbecue cook who either burns food to a crisp or doesn’t cook it well enough, a pellet grill may change your al fresco life. The system was originally invented by an American called Joe Traeger who wanted a ‘set it and forget it’ method of grilling and smoking food outdoors, one that didn’t require constant attention or indeed any expertise in the art of barbecuing or smoking.
But above all, a BBQ system that infused food with an authentically woody flavour and aroma. All pellet grills you buy today based on his original invention.
Why are they so easy to use?
The best thing about modern pellet grills is that they’re controlled by a computer – like an electric indoor oven, when you set your preferred grilling temperature, the enclosed interior stays at that temperature for the entire duration of the cooking process.
The system is so reliable that you can quite literally put the food on, close the lid, go and chat to your guests, returning only once or twice to turn the food. Everything cooks to succulent, crispy perfection pretty much every time. And more importantly, the food rarely burns because there are never any flare-ups.
What can a pellet grill do?
Pellet grills don’t just grill – they also roast, bake and are among the very best solutions for ‘slow and low’ eight-hour smoking sessions of brisket, ribs, gammon and lamb, etc.
How does a pellet grill work?
Pellet grills burn small compressed wood pellets that are fed from a large hopper to a mini fire pot by an electricity powered auger (basically a large corkscrew). A computer processor, accessed via an LCD display, monitors the entire process and ensures that the right amount of pellets are distributed to maintain the set temperature.
The grill temperature itself is regulated using an internal thermometer and a fan that switches itself on and off as required. To prevent flare-ups and increase flavour, a sloping metal heat deflector-cum fat catcher is placed between the fire pot and the grill grate.
What’s so good about using pellets?
The first time you fire up a pellet grill it smells like a real campfire and that’s because the fuel it burns is pure wood in compressed form. There are numerous types of wood you can use and they all impart their own unique characteristics on the food being cooked.
Pellets usually come in 9kg bags (around £18 a hit) and there’s a wide variety of types available, from cherry, apple and mesquite to pecan, maple and oak.
An average 9kg bag will last about six hours if used at high heat and about nine hours when smoking low and slow. Be mindful that wood pellets aren’t as readily available as charcoal or even gas so make sure you have enough stock to hand.
Key specs – Grills for: Up to ten; Weight: 67.5kg; Wifi connectivity: Yes
The Ironwood 650 is part of Traeger’s mid-price range and is the perfect choice for grill size, cooking options and high-tech features.
The build quality throughout is first class – everything fits perfectly together and the legs are strong enough to hold up a house. The short assembly process was an enjoyable breeze and when you’ve built it, the box itself is designed to be turned into a playhouse for the kids.
This model has a large 650 square inch grill – good for eight small chickens and goodness knows what else – and double side walls for extra insulation.
Like all pellet grills, the Ironwood 650 is equipped with a built in computer that keeps tabs on the entire grilling process and, in this instance, an excellent user interface display with handy extras like a ‘Keep warm’ function and ‘Super Smoke’ button for low and slow grilling sessions. It also features a pellet sensor to let you know when it’s time for a top up. Like all Traegers, this model also ships with a single meat probe for super accurate cooking.
However, one of the very best things about this back yard beauty is that, like quite a few pellet grills, it can be connected to your home wifi and used in conjunction with an app.
The Traeger app is a marvel of design and function that provides a seemingly endless variety of exciting recipes, including smoked brisket, marinated beef ribs, roasted beer can chicken and sweet smoked salmon jerky. Simply select a recipe of choice and read the prep instructions.
Now tap ‘Make Now’ and the grill will automatically heat up to the correct temperature and tell you when to put the food on, when to turn it and when to take it off. As this grill can reach 500˚F (260˚C), it will also sear steaks.
The pellet grill was designed specifically to make the act of outdoor grilling as effortless and failsafe as possible. In this respect the Traeger Ironwood 650 passes with flying colours. Highly recommended.
Key specs – Grills for: Up to eight; Weight: 70.3kg; Wifi connectivity: Yes
Weber is arguably the most famous brand in barbecue land and this is the US company’s first pellet grill-cum-smoker. The Smokefire is available in two sizes: the smaller EX4 reviewed here and its larger stablemate, the EX6.
The EX4’s stainless steel grate has 661 square inches of dual cooking space – enough meal estate for a party of eight – and it’s also compatible with Weber’s interchangeable Gourmet barbecue system of different accessory inserts. Rather uniquely, it also comes with four meat probe ports and a single probe to start you off.