Step 2 Open Ash Clean-out to remove all pellets and ash from the fi re pot. Step 6 Fill the pellet hopper with cooking pellets. NEVER USE HEATING FUEL PELLETS AS THEY ARE NOT SAFE FOR COOKING. Step 5 Look inside the fi re pot and make sure the ignitor is getting hot. It will take a couple of minutes for the ignitor to glow red.
If it doesn’t come together correctly, the automated pellet delivery system will fail to deliver pellets to the fire pot, and the grill won’t reach appropriate heat levels. Worse yet, the grill could turn off mid-session, or the ignited pellets can back up into the hopper, creating cuisinart pots and pans set a fire hazard. Wood pellet grills have been around since the mid-1980s when a wood-pellet stove manufacturer thought to use the technology to fuel grills. The biggest name in pellet grills is Traeger, the original manufacturer, and they were the only game in town for decades.
Your directions for how to do the initial start up were so much clearer and accurate than in the manual. Suggestion for others new to pellet grilling — follow the directions here and watch the youtube video by Cuisinart on how to start up the Grill. Overall, we were happy with the outcome and hopeful we will get good milage and use. When I cooked over the sear zone, I set the grill temp to 500F and moved the searing knob to the right to expose the flames. I also elevated the adjustable racks to the two highest levels, so I had room to work the meat.
There are only three features that I would adjust, if I ruled the world. Use the center area for your primary sear location, and then move your meat or veg to the left or right for indirect high heat. The fire pot in the Clermont is in the center of the grill. This is great placement, because it helps ensure that the temperature is going to be more even throughout the grill. As with any new grill, there are some steps you need to take before your first cook. These steps are important to make sure the grill is functioning properly and that any manufacturing residue is burned off.
But, the grill exhaust flows out the back, so you shouldn’t park the grill too close to a wall anyways. The drip shield I mentioned above plays an important role, because it routes the grease to the grease tray. This prevents flare ups and bitter the aroma that can occur when grease burns. There are two thermometer probe jacks located inside the grill on the right. This is a smart placement, because you don’t have to run wires outside.
Fortunately, the Clermont has one of the best price-to-performance ratios among comparable pellet smokers. It’s actually one of the most affordable pellet grill on the market, available at Walmart for just under $700. If you are looking for a versatile, reliable, and fun smoker, I highly recommend it, and if you are already convinced, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
It doesn’t display an accurate grill temperature, instead displaying the same number as the grill’s set temperature most of the time. That meant we had to rely on our ambient probe to trust the actual temp. Pellet grills are the ideal choice for anyone looking for an easy way to produce high-quality barbecue.
When set to 450°F, the right side of the grill was significantly hotter than the left side, burning the wings on part of the grill before the other side cooked. When it came to performance, the Pit Boss tended to range in temperature between cuisinart pots and pans set 20°F to 25°F from the set temp. That made it difficult to maintain low smoking temperatures without constant adjustment. While cooking at high temperatures, the range widened. When set to 475°F, the grill ranged from 490°F to 580°F.