Spring is already around. Do you live in a southern state? Weather in Florida, Texas, and California become sunny and warm in some days. So, you start spending time on your patio. Cooking in your backyard is enjoyable. Grilled food is delicious and healthy.
Let’s compare Rec Tec vs Traeger vs Green Mountain. Which pellet grill is better? Benefits of the leading brands are obvious. Each of them offers a wide range of products and accessories. Are there any unique technologies and features? I’ll try to find it out.
Our Choice: Best Brand Smoker
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Top Top | Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill - DCWF | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top Top | Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Renegade Pro Pellet Grill and Smoke 380 Sq. in. Cooking Capacity, Black/Orange | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top Top | REC TEC Grills | RT-700 | Bundle | WiFi Enabled | Portable Wood Pellet Grill | Built in Meat Probes | Stainless Steel | 40lb Hopper | 6 Year Warranty | Hotflash Ceramic Ignition System | Prime | Check Price |
Benefits of Pellet Grills and Smokers
Weather is still unstable in April. It might be pretty cold and rainy, like here, in Michigan. Thunderstorms and snow-rain showers may happen this week. Rains are probable in many states, including Texas and Florida. So, you may have to celebrate Easter indoors.
It should not rain on your parade. Use your fish smoker in any weather. If it works on propane or natural gas, it’s possible. Do it in a covered patio or porch. Waterproof tarp or cover does the job too. Don’t forget about safety precautions.
- easy-to-use;
- versatile;
- time-saving.
Above all, they don’t take much time to heat up: 10 minutes are enough. Moreover, pellets are cost-effective and eco-friendly. To clarify, manufacturers produce them from renewable materials. Leading producers make their own pellets. Why do you prefer your best brand of pellets for smoking? They consist of 100% flavored wood. Flavor of the food depends on the wood type. For example, cherry pellets have a sweet, hearty fruit flavor. Use them for all types of meat, including pork, beef, and chicken. So, pellet devices let us cook delicious food.
Our Choice: Best Pellets for Smoking Brisket Meat or Chicken
| Image | Title | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Top Top | CookinPellets 40PM Perfect Mix | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top Top | RecTec Grills Ultimate Blend Pellets, 40lb, 40 lb | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top Top | Camp Chef Smoker Grill Competition Blend Hardwood Pellets, 20 lbs (2 Pack) | Prime | Check Price |
 Top Top | Traeger PEL319 Hickory 100% All-Natural Hardwood Grill Pellets | PrimeEligible | Check Price |
 Top Top | Lumber Jack BBQ 7 varieties BBQ Pellet Pack - 1 Pound Bags - 100 Percent (Apple, Cherry, Pecan, Hickory, Maple-Hickory-Cherry, Mesquite and Maple) - 2Day Shipping | Prime | Check Price |
Food Smoking vs Grilling
Gardening season positively opens late or early May. It depends on your climate. Why don’t you have a family barbeque in your patio? It’s fun. Grilling lets you cook healthy food that is:
- Juicy.
- Tasty.
- Flavorful.
- Rich in vitamins.
Grilled meat retains its nutrients. It’s less caloric than fried food. You don’t use oil or butter and consume less fats. Additionally, grilling takes much less time than baking or frying.
Pellet grill vs smoker uses high heat temperature. It reaches 500 °F. High temperature helps cooking meat and vegetables at a fast clip. Grilling lasts for 2-15 minutes, depending on the meat type and its thickness. Smoking uses low temperatures that don’t exceed 165-185 degrees. It takes 24-36 hours.
What is the Best Rated Pellet Grill to Buy?
Do you prefer grilling in spring? It’s time to choose a suitable device. Consider pros and cons of reliable, leading brands.
| Criteria | Traeger | RecTec | Green Mountain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded, year | 1985 | 2009 | 2007 |
| Location | Mt. Angel, Oregon | Evans, Georgia | Reno, Nevada |
| Grill size, sq. in. | 572-1300 | 340-2500 | 219-2988 |
| Temperature Range, °F | 450-500 | 180-500 | 150-550 |
| Warranty, years | 3 | 2-6 | 3 |
Which is better Green Mountain or Traeger? It depends on your needs. First Representative – Traeger is an experienced, well-known manufacturer. Its products are top-quality, durable. Second spokesman – Green Mountain uses 12-14 gauge steel. It’s strong and reliable. Devices of the third – Traeger are durable, well-built, as well as, are universal and easy to use. Large, heavy-duty casters enable their portability.
But Traeger grills are large. They are heavy-weight and heavy-duty. Are you going to have a small family party? 219-458 sq. in. cooking area could be enough. So, you may prefer the smallest GMG model (Davy Crockett). It’s lightweight, coming with foldable legs and several perfect features.
What Does Rec Tec Stand for?
RecTec is a new name in the world of pellet grills. Ron Cundy and Ray Carnes founded the company in 2009. What about the brand name? Only the founders know its background. Did they call their company after the meteorologist Ross Ellet? He might have stuck in their memory by reporting cold and clear weather.
Do you know who is Tracy, Eugen, and Cindy? I think that RecTec founders do. It sounds like Ray’s kids’ names. You may laugh at it, but they have invented the name and it’ head-turning. Are Rec Tec Grills any good? They stand out by:
- Smart grill processor.
- Modular construction.
- PID algorithm.
- 304-grade stainless steel hardware.
Is Rec Tec better than Traeger? All three leading manufacturers enable precise temperature control. It lets you set timer, using your smartphone. Speed of the auger is variable. So, you can cook your delicious food outdoor in any weather conditions. Traeger grills stand out by double-side walls. What is the material? It’s austenitic, 304 stainless steel. Insulated interior and airtight lid gasket maintain heat at any conditions.
How Does a Pellet Grill Work?
RecTec features a huge, 40-pound hopper. Their largest model does. Its rear position is beneficial. The hopper holds more pellets. They fall evenly. But you would need a cover to protect the pellets from elements. Capacity of the better part of Traeger and GMG models’ hoppers is 18 lbs. Dual meat probes of RecTecand their smart grill technology matter. It maintains the necessary temperature, measuring amount of pellets.
Pellet grill looks like a horizontal smoker. It’s simple by design, featuring a large cooking chamber. Offset smoker vs vertical smoker requires a lot of heat and fuel. It may come with a direct flame grilling option. It lets you cook a lot of meat simultaneously.
A pellet grill consists of:
- hopper;
- auger;
- firepot;
- fan.
Offset smokers come with fireboxes. Wood or other fuel burn in them.
In contrast with smokers, pellet grills feature internal firepots. Their location is within the grill, on the bottom. Hopper is a container to store pellets. Auger is a steel spiral that moves them. Digital controllers regulate its speed. Intake fan brings air inside the chamber, dispersing heat. This way, you cook your meat and vegetables evenly in the grill.
Overall Judgment: So, What is Better: Rec Tec vs Traeger vs Green Mountain
Do you prefer pellet grills? Spring is a good time to buy a suitable device. Which brand to select: RecTec, Traeger or GMG? All three of them are reliable. They offer a wide range of top-quality grills. Consider their sizes, portability, grilling areas. Temperature control and cooking features meet your expectations.
What do you think a good pellet smoker would be for the winter temps. I live in St. Louis area. I now have a GMG’s Davy Crockett and found that I struggled with temps until late spring. When cold Cold I didn’t even bother , small fire box I guess. So with the cooking area I now have, if I’m going to get another smoker I’m think I should increase the cooking area size also. So I’m considering a rec tea 700 or 590 or GMG’s Jim Bowie or Daniel Boone. Thanks
Hi Bruce,
I can advise you to pay attention to two interesting (for me personally) models of Ozark Grills and Z Grills smokehouses. But they are too big for me, unfortunately:)
The wood pellet smoker is the latest addition to the world of smoking. It’s the invention of a guy named Alan Bento who has spent years perfecting his design. He made sure that it is easy to use and easy to clean. He hasn’t compromised on quality. This smoker gives you the ability to smoke food from both inside or outside. The smoking process is 100% efficient. You are able to smoke fish, meat, veggies, and more. The smoker is light weight and has a durable construction. It has a large capacity.