No but I wish they would offer me the survey!
what's your favorite pellet and why
- Thread starter MKinHB
- Start date
Edchad
Well-known member
Ok found another favorite for my list. The best for the wife and I have been The Kingsford 100% hickory and The PB charcoal. For awhile now I’ve been using the charcoal in other hopper for fuel. And the Kingsford hickory sometimes mixed with the charcoal in the hopper. But more often in a tube staggered and packed with real hickory chips. Sounds crazy but it works for me. I like to pack em fairly right with a steel rod but learned to not overdo and smash the pellets in there. We kinda got in a routine of doing that but decided it was time to try some of the others I’ve accumulated. Bear Mountain seems to get a lot of attention from folks in here. So that was my pick. I have the Gourmet the hickory and oak.
I’ve never even used oak not even in my wood and chip
smokers. I emptied my hopper and vacuumed out all I could see down in the auger. Was doing a very small and quick cook of about a tray of chicken breast pieces. Also for the first time in awhile no smoke tube. I really wanted a good test. The first thing I noticed was a strong smell when I opened the bag. Next thing was a very strong Smokey smell. Probably the 'strongest "we’ve used so far.
I expected a pretty Smokey flavor. Well when I took em out I munched on one of course. And the wife grabbed one when I walked in the kitchen with them. She immediately commented she could taste the smoke. Well that’s what I go by. Lol. If mama tastes, smells, and comments on the smoke ……. Well it made the cut.
it was a new different taste to me. But I said I’d never used oak before. But it was flavorful and fairly strong. Actually I can’t imagine using a tube with it. So Bear Mountain Oak made our list today. Several have recommended them. I’ll probably try their Hickory and Gourmet next.
got high hopes for em. Somewhere soon I need to try PB Competition.
.
I’ve never even used oak not even in my wood and chip
smokers. I emptied my hopper and vacuumed out all I could see down in the auger. Was doing a very small and quick cook of about a tray of chicken breast pieces. Also for the first time in awhile no smoke tube. I really wanted a good test. The first thing I noticed was a strong smell when I opened the bag. Next thing was a very strong Smokey smell. Probably the 'strongest "we’ve used so far.
I expected a pretty Smokey flavor. Well when I took em out I munched on one of course. And the wife grabbed one when I walked in the kitchen with them. She immediately commented she could taste the smoke. Well that’s what I go by. Lol. If mama tastes, smells, and comments on the smoke ……. Well it made the cut.
it was a new different taste to me. But I said I’d never used oak before. But it was flavorful and fairly strong. Actually I can’t imagine using a tube with it. So Bear Mountain Oak made our list today. Several have recommended them. I’ll probably try their Hickory and Gourmet next.
got high hopes for em. Somewhere soon I need to try PB Competition.
.
Yeah, I like the Bear Mountain Oak. Our Tractor Supply has a limited supply of Bear Mountain pellets and all they have are oak. I need to go ahead and grab another bag.
Edchad
Well-known member
Now that I know we like em I need to check our TS as well. I only have the one opened bag. Hoping the hickory and gourmet are good for us. Got one bag each.
Right now using up a bag of Pecan Bear Mountain. Mainly I have used them on the gas grill, throwing a handful on top from time to time (I have a Charbroil Infrared so the pellets don't fall down between the grates). Want to try the Pecan on some pork but it has just been too hot lately for long cooks.
Edchad
Well-known member
Yes sir I agree on one thing for sure. Too darn hot. I mean it’s like every day is love to be cooking something on something. Lol. Grill, smokers etc
But I can’t take the heat anymore. It’s awful.
OP
OP
I love the Oak pellets, before I had a pellet smoker that's all I used was Oak wood chunks.
I have not had good luck with Bear Mtn. gourmet but the Oak was great. I picked up two more on the last BOGO sale.
Edchad
Well-known member
Hey MK. Seems I remember you saying you had problems with the gourmet. Was it just dusty busted etc. Or something else.
OP
OP
I could not get much smoke or flavor from the gourmet blend, they gave me a free bag for replacement but it was the same.
I do like their Oak pellets!
I did use some gourmet blend on the controller trial and they did smoke better than before but I won't be buying them any more.
I do like their Oak pellets!
I did use some gourmet blend on the controller trial and they did smoke better than before but I won't be buying them any more.
Edchad
Well-known member
Thanks for the info. And you’re right about the Oak. Awesome flavor fairly strong smoke. Without doubt the strongest one we’ve tried.
What about their hickory? I got a bag of gourmet and hickory as well sitting out there. I’m wondering how it will stack up against the Kingsford.
OP
OP
I like the Kingsford Hickory, have used a couple bags, I have their classic blend too but haven't tried yet.
I am staying away from the Pit Boss, Traeger, and any brand that hides the ingredients. If they don't say what's in it then they are hiding something right? I don't think Pit Boss is using oak as a filler, maybe alder. Who knows? The bags don't say what's in it. Only blends.
Edchad
Well-known member
The only Pit Boss I’m using is the charcoal. Reason being I use it in the hopper for fuel and use chips packed in tubes for the smoke.
ive tried 2-3 of the PB and frankly we didn’t like em. The charcoal doesn’t really have much taste. But that’s cool cause that’s what I use the chips in the tubes for.
Btw the Oak Bear and Kingsford Hickory are the only ones I can get any kind of taste without a tube.
You mentioned Traeger. Let’s put it this way. I got 2 or 3 bags I’m gonna give away or toss. Those and some other has some kind of chemical smell. Taste.
they were highly recommended but we hate em. Lol.
Dennis F
New member
Bear mountain!!!! Always fresh, Little ash with a pretty good burn rate. Gourmet Blend is awesome! They carry Bear Mountain at Tractor Supply around 10$ for 20# bags. I use the smoke setting on p6 for an hour or 2 with a pellet tube and have been getting great smoke in my slow cooks.
Edchad
Well-known member
Alrighty now. We be on a roll! Adding another to the list. While testing app again mama insisted we throw something in there. Had a rack of St Louies so trimmed em up rubbed em down and tossed em in.
the pellet that had the honor today:
Pit Boss Competition!
Yup first time run. After being disappointed in some of the other PB pellets these things rocked. Got the big thumbs up from the wife so they have officially made the list. And btw no wood chips in a tube while I’ve been testing the last two or three. Just pellets in the hopper. I was actually surprised myself. Wasn’t an overwhelming flavor but pretty good. And smooth.
DISCLAIMER: I have to point out something that dawned on me yesterday. When I was really disappointed when I first started, well I wasn’t doing like MikeinFla, MK, and some of these other guys were trying to make me understand. For anyone new researching info about more smoke flavor and pellets etc. You cannot discount the importance of a low temp start for your smoke session. I was trying to do like all of my other smokers and it just don’t work. The day I finally said the heck with it I’m gonna leave it alone was there day my smoke and flavor improved.
I have learned to love my S setting.
the pellet that had the honor today:
Pit Boss Competition!
Yup first time run. After being disappointed in some of the other PB pellets these things rocked. Got the big thumbs up from the wife so they have officially made the list. And btw no wood chips in a tube while I’ve been testing the last two or three. Just pellets in the hopper. I was actually surprised myself. Wasn’t an overwhelming flavor but pretty good. And smooth.
DISCLAIMER: I have to point out something that dawned on me yesterday. When I was really disappointed when I first started, well I wasn’t doing like MikeinFla, MK, and some of these other guys were trying to make me understand. For anyone new researching info about more smoke flavor and pellets etc. You cannot discount the importance of a low temp start for your smoke session. I was trying to do like all of my other smokers and it just don’t work. The day I finally said the heck with it I’m gonna leave it alone was there day my smoke and flavor improved.
I have learned to love my S setting.
Edchad
Well-known member
One more for the Pit Boss Competition. Got a spatchcock yard bird today. Nothing fancy. Just cut and rubbed with a bbq seasoning the wife had handy. I wasn’t planning on cooking again today but she had different ideas. Lol. Came out great. I can’t believe I had that big bag of pellets so long and hadn’t tried them sooner.
Defiantly on the list.
Defiantly on the list.
