Since they first showed up in the 1980s, pellet grills have been bridging the gap between two approaches to outdoor cooking ...

Get the Traeger Pro Series 34 pellet grill and smoker at Amazon, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, BBQGuys, Best Buy, or Traeger. Jump to Our Top Picks How We Chose the Best Pellet Grills and Smokers.

Ultimately, she recommends pellet grills for most amateur smokers. “For a straight out-of-the-box experience, a moderately priced pellet grill will actually be more cost-effective,” she says.

We've been testing the best pellet grills for years, and while the shortcomings of budget options were quick to show, the Z Grill 450B didn't have the same trouble regulating temperature that we ...

But smokers, pellet or otherwise, don’t have direct access to the flames for cooking -- the Yoder YS640s does. Modern smokers use a heat deflector to help distribute heat evenly across the grill.

Ultimately, she recommends pellet grills for most amateur smokers. “For a straight out-of-the-box experience, a moderately priced pellet grill will actually be more cost-effective,” she says.

Winner: Pellet grills have a lower initial price than offset smokers, though high-end models of both can cost thousands of dollars. Traeger Woodridge Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill: was $1,149 now ...