Wood Pellet Grills

By now you have at least heard of a wood pellet grill. So, what the heck are they? How do they work? What about all the rumors I have heard online? Well, folks, I am here to spread the good word!

Wood pellet grills are just that. Grills (really cookers) that use wood pellets as the heat source to cook food.

How a wood pellet grill works is actually very simple. Every wood pellet grill has a hopper to hold the pellets, an auger to feed the pellets and a fire pot to burn the pellets. The hoppers hold anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds of pellets depending on the manufacturer. A digital control keeps an eye on the temperature of the grill. As the temps goes up, the auger motor slows down feeding less pellets causing the temperature to lower. Once it lowers, the digital controller tells the auger motor to move faster so more pellets dump causing the heat to go up and so on and so on. For this reason, NO WOOD PELLET GRILL ON THE MARKET WILL HOLD IT'S TEMPERATURE TO THE DEGREE. PERIOD. I don't care what anyone tells you, it is physically impossible to hold it to the degree. Most wood pellet grills fluctuate anywhere from 10 to 30 degrees. This is perfectly normal. 

As a result, you will see smoke during the downward cycle of above and little to no smoke on the upward cycle. Again, this is perfectly normal. I cannot stress enough that NO wood pellet grill on the market (even the ones with the PID digital controller) will hold it's temp to the degree. 

I have cooked food on so many models of grills and can also tell you that the food that comes off of a $300 dollar wood pellet grill tastes just the same as the food coming off of a $5000 dollar wood pellet grill. The difference in price is usually 1. the name of the manufacturer (Traeger has been riding on it's name for years), where the grill is made (US made grills tend to run $1200 and up), and lastly what "bells and whistles" it has on it. These are not required but sure make using your grill a lot easier. For example, once the pellets burn in the fire pot, just like a fireplace or a campfire, there will be ask left over in the pot. This needs to be cleaned every cook. On most wood pellet grills that means taking all the dirty guts out and sucking out the ash with a shop vac. Camp Chef changed the world a few years ago with their patented ash clean-out system. They put a slide out bottom to the pot and with one pull of a lever, your fire pot is cleaned. Done. 

While some of the other wood pellet grills do not have the ash clean out feature, they might have other features just as cool. The Green Mountain Grills have WiFi capable digital controllers which means you can literally control your grill from anywhere you have data connection on your phone. Many of the grills now actually offer grilling as well. Meaning, they have a feature that allows you to grill hot and fast directly over the fire pot. 

One rumor that drives me nuts is "people who use wood pellet grills are lazy" among other names thrown out. Listen people, if you want to stay up all night babysitting your smoker and watching temps and adding charcoal or wood, etc; then more power to you. No one is saying you cannot continue to do that. You can also continue to use an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing as well. :) In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with innovation. 

I have no problem watching the game, playing a quick round of golf or even sleeping while my barbecue is being cooked. 

Another rumor is that they do not produce a large amount of smoke. I like to use the analogy that about 70% of the public is good with the smoke a wood pellet grill produces, 20% do not think it is enough and maybe 10% think it's too much. The good thing is; if you are in that 20% that the smoke is not enough, there are some solutions. First of all, the wood you use. There is a huge difference between Oak wood and Pecan wood as an example. Usually just using a stronger wood solves the problem. If not, the next step that does not require a ton of investment is a smoke tube. These allow you to "infuse" more smoke into your cook. They are also great for adding an addition smoke flavor to your meat and; more importantly, they are awesome for cold smoking. 

The last rumor I have heard about wood pellet grills is that they are technically not smokers. This is actually true. If you use your wood pellet grill strictly as a smoker, you are missing out on so many culinary possibilities. I tell my customers that I have made cheesecake, cookies, cakes, brownies, cobbler, jerky, sausage, frozen lasagna, just to name a few. They are really "cookers". Anything you can do in your kitchen oven, you can do on a wood pellet grill.  Today, the wood pellet grills even offer direct grilling options which makes them more of an outdoor cooking station than anything. 

Have you heard more rumors? Have you been on social media? If yes, then stop in and talk to Dan or Daren about wood pellet grills and get the real truth about them. :) 

Dan M. 

Colorado BBQ Outfitters

Father's Day

I lost my father back in 2002 suddenly without warning. It devastated our family. At the same time, I have two wonderful boys who never fail to lift my spirits on that day as well. So the holiday is bitter sweet to some extent. 

Father's Day was first observed in Spokane, Washington in 1910 in church.  Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father who was a single parent and raised 5 children on his own after hearing a sermon about honoring mothers the year before. Sonoro's father was also a civil war veteran.  After hearing a sermon at her church the year before about Mother's Day, she approached her pastor about a holiday honoring fathers. She wanted it celebrated on June 5th which was her father's birthday; however, the pastor of her church could not prepare a sermon in time so the holiday was suggested to be on the 3rd Sunday of June. 

Sonora Smart Dodd

Part of the tradition of Father's Day, just as with Mother's Day, is to give a gift to our fathers as a way of saying thank you for all they do for us. Needless to say, this is a big holiday for us here at Colorado BBQ Outfitters. 

One of the most popular items we sell is simply a gift certificate. Many let Dad decide what he would like for his grilling/smoking set up. 

Father's Day is June 19th this year. Plenty of time to stop in the store and stock up on some fun ideas for Dad this holiday! 

Dan M. 

Colorado BBQ Outfitters

719-465-1041

Memorial weekend is coming!!!

Memorial Day is a federal holiday set aside to remember those that fought for our country and our freedom.

Many also know it as the unofficial beginning to summer! It is also known as a huge barbecue and grilling holiday weekend. (That is assuming the weather cooperates which those of us here in Colorado know is a toss up day to day!) 

We here at Colorado BBQ Outfitters are ready for one of the biggest grilling holidays during the year. Come in and check out our selection of wood pellet grills, ceramic grills, and electric smokers as well as many grilling/smoking accessories, bbq wood, charcoal, gourmet sauces and rubs just to name a few. 

We are very proud of our selection of Colorado based sauces and rubs. 

Even if you are not in need of any supplies, stop in and chat with Dan and Daren about all your grilling/smoking needs! We are a great resource of information! 

Dan M. 

Colorado BBQ Outfitters

719-465-1041

Patience everyone

If I had a dollar for every time a customer came into the store and said they don't barbecue because it takes too long or they don't use charcoal because it takes as long to light it as to cook the food; I would be a millionaire.

One thing about barbeque that I cannot stress enough is that it takes patience. Does that mean you have to take a huge chunk out of your life to do it? Of course not. It is all about planning and using the right accessories.

In today's world, there are so many accessories that will make your barbecuing experience so much faster and easier. For example, the Looftlighter will light charcoal in literally 30 seconds.

Lighting your charcoal in 30 seconds to 1 minute is less time than it takes to get your kitchen oven up to temp. Think about that. 

I teach my students in class that preparation is everything when it comes to barbecue. It isn't just pulling something out of the freezer and throwing it into the microwave. The preparation and effort in barbecue brings about except results. A few weeks ago I went to a local bbq place and ordered a brisket sandwich and a side of coleslaw. My order came to nearly 8 bucks and more after tip. It costs me a fraction of that to make that exact same dish at home and have leftovers to boot. 

Before you start your bbq venture, sit down and figure out what you want to cook. If the meat is frozen, pull it out of the freezer ahead of time to properly thaw it out. (Don't leave it out to thaw, leave it in water to thaw or use a microwave) Look for some pointers online for that specific type of meat unless you have done it a hundred times. You will be amazed at what you will find on the internet. Some people's creativity is amazing! 

When it comes to the actual cook, turn your smoker/grill on first. While that is warming up or getting to temp, now is your chance to take your meat out of the fridge and prepare it. Never let meat sit out and get to room temperature regardless of what you see on the internet. It is dangerous and, well, just plain stupid. Your meat will get to room temperature a lot faster in the grill/smoker. Here is a link to help with some meat myths: Meat myths

While your smoker/grill is getting up to temp, this is a good time to add more rub to y our meat, or cut up some veggies, etc, etc. 

The amount of heat source (charcoal, electricity, wood pellets, gas, etc) you use is the same whether y you have one food item cooking or several. Make the best use of your heat source. This is where a freezer and even a vacuum sealer really come into play. 

For as little as$150 bucks, these babies let you cook as much food as you like at any given time;  vacuum seal it, and store it in the freezer for years. I don't bbq every single day. I do it about once a month and then have enough to last for days. You can poke holes in it and warm it up in the microwave (yes, microwave) or drop the sealed food in boiling water to reheat it back up.Tastes just like it came off the smoker! 

With some minor planning, you can get the most "bang for your buck" when it comes to barbecuing. 

Dan MacDonald

Colorado BBQ Outfitters

Spring is here!

Spring is finally here! Well, sort of here in Colorado. :) 

Even though we here at Colorado BBQ Outfitters grill and barbecue year round, we understand that many of you only do so during the warmer summer months. 

That means it is time for you to dust off that grill or smoker and get it ready to use. 

If your grill looks like this poor guy, then it's time to just get a new one. 

That is an extreme case of course. Our landfills have so many old grills that people have thrown out that could be refurbished. Most are cheaper big box store grills. 

If yours is the latter, here are a few tips you can use to get your grill back to newer condition. 

1. If your grill has been in storage or has had a cover on it all winter, use a broom handle or something of the sort to poke your cover gently. This will scare any critters that may have taken up residence in your grill over the winter. (One year I had a nest of spiders in mine. Yikes!

2. For gas grills, it is very important to thoroughly inspect all hoses and connections for gas leaks. You can put some dish washing liquid in a small bowl of water and brush it around all the connections and hoses. If you see bubbles when you turn on your gas, you have a leak. you may or may not be able to smell leaks. 

3. Check your cooking grids for rust. Cooking grids are expensive to replace so it is recommended to try and clean your grids as best you can. If they are damaged beyond repair, DON'T THROW THEM OUT! If they still fit on your grill, you can purchase products such as Grill Grates that simply sit over your ruined grids and you can cook on those. Made of anodized aluminum, they keep the heat in their "fins" so the meat sits up out of the grease. The fins give you great grill marks on your steaks! Grill Grates are almost always cheaper than replacing your manufacturer's grids. 

4. Clean up your grill using a non toxic cleaner. We carry both interior and exterior cleaners by Citrusafe.  This product works great even on baked on tough stains. It is non toxic and pet friendly. Never use a corrosive cleaner on the inside or the outside of your grill!

5. If you have porcelain coated cooking grids, make sure you use a brush designed for porcelain. porcelain can chip and crack if you use the wrong type brush. Do not use cheaper bbq brushes on these types of grids. After cleaning your grids, I suggest you "season" them with a high temp burn rate oil. 

6. Always inspect the burners on gas grills and smokers. If they are horribly rusted or broken, replace them. If they are intact, simply use a the end of a coat hangar or something similar and clean out the holes in the burners. Make sure you clean out the bottom of your grill.

7. Use a common putty knife to get the hard baked on gunk from the inside of your grill.  I know it is gross and full of gunk but use your scraper and get that gunk out of there. 

8. Fill up your propane tank so you are all good to go and don't run out of gas on your first big cook out. 

9. Put everything back together, recheck your connections and go ahead and fire your grill up. Run it on high temperature for about 15 minutes to burn off any left over residue, cleaner, etc. 

10. Lastly and most importantly, come on down to Colorado BBQ Outfitters at 6850 N. Academy Blvd and pick up all your grilling and barbecuing needs! 

Dan MacDonald

Colorado BBQ Outfitters

Human Condition

I've said in the past and I will always say it; customers are the best reason to own your own business.

Chatting with customers, learning new techniques and listening to interesting stories never ceases to amaze me.

I had my buddy Galen come in today. Galen is an older gentleman who served in the military back in the 60s.

Galen told me a story about a young man in basic training who had lost his parents when he was 5 years old in a car accident. He was raised by his grandparents. While in basic training, his grandmother passed away. The military would not allow him to attend the funeral for whatever reason. Galen happened to be in charge of the men who check on the platoon day and night.

A hat was passed around the platoon and a collection was taken up to get him to his grandmother's funeral. That is not the best part of the story.

The officers did not even know he was gone! Galen and some others covered up his absence by stuffing his bed with pillows and calling his name out during roll call. I thought this was amazing.

Probably couldn't get away with something like that this day and age.

Dan
Colorado BBQ Outfitters

Giving Thanks

I have been lax in doing this blog. Just seems like business at the store and whatnot gets in the way sometimes.

I cannot believe 2014 is winding down. Seems to have flown by.

As we approach the holidays, I usually reflect back on the year; my accomplishments (or lack thereof!), my learning opportunities, and taking inventory of my relationships with friends and family.

Daren and I are approaching our third year of business and we have grown each year. I am very, very thankful for all of the support from our family, friends and all of our customers. I've said before that the most important part of being a small business owner is being able to interact with the people who come in the store each day.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving (one of our busiest holidays!) and I would encourage everyone, as cliche as it is, to take a moment and truly think about what you have to be thankful for. I know I can be guilty of reflecting on the negative situations in my life, so I force myself to step back and take inventory on how blessed I truly am.

Daren is not only my business partner but my best friend. We have been through so much just getting the store going and growing. We don't always see eye to eye but we always come to an agreement eventually. I am truly thankful for our relationship and the fact he is always there for me.

My family. Well, they drive me nuts most of the time but I love them all and am so glad I still have them in my life. I lost my father years ago and you just never fully recover from losing a family member. My family supports me (most of the time lol). If it were not for my mother, I would not have Colorado BBQ Outfitters. She is the reason for me that the store exists.

All of our wonderful customers. What awesome people we meet each day. Not a day goes by I don't strike up a conversation with one of our customers and learn so many interesting things from them.

As we stress over making Thanksgiving dinner, or getting that great deal on Black Friday, or yelling at our favorite football team's loss... we all have something to be thankful for in our lives. Probably many things. Please take a moment and consider something you can be thankful for in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving from Colorado BBQ Outfitters!

Dan
Colorado BBQ Outfitters