Looking at a new pellet grill and trying to decide if you actually need a Wi-Fi enabled pellet grill?
Let’s chat about the pros and cons of a Wi-Fi pellet grill and determine if you really need one.
It’s no secret that Wi-Fi is a huge convenience.
With just a few taps of your phone or laptop, you can be online and surfing the web. But what if we told you that Wi-Fi might not be as necessary as you think?
That’s right – there are plenty of reasons why you might not need Wi-Fi on your next grill purchase. In this article, we’ll explore some of the benefits of choosing a grill without Wi-Fi.
What Is a Pellet Grill?
A pellet grill is a type of grill that uses compressed wood pellets to cook food.
Pellets are made from sawdust, compressed wood chips, or recycled wood products, and they are heated in a controlled environment to create heat and smoke.
Pellet grills are a great choice for people who want the convenience of grilling with the flavor and texture of smoking meat.
How Do Pellet Grills Work?
Pellet grills work to automate the grilling or smoking process.
You fill the hopper with wood pellets, an auger transfers those wood pellets into a burn pot, where they are then ignited electronically.
Once the pellets are lit, an electronically controlled fan stokes the flames at a rate determined by the temperature you set the grill to – the hotter the setting, the faster the fan.
It’s pretty simple, but groundbreaking technology. Heating compressed wood pellets creates heat and smoke, which gives your food that traditional backyard cookout taste.
This type of grill is a great choice for people who want the convenience of grilling with the flavor and texture of smoking meat, but they’re much more of an investment than other gas or charcoal grills.
Many pellet grills come with Wi-Fi capabilities, which allow you to control your grill’s temperature and performance from your phone or laptop.
However, there are some drawbacks, which we’ll cover later on. Wi-Fi capabilities allow you to control your grill’s temperature and performance from your phone or laptop.
Do All Pellet Grills Need Wi-Fi?
No, Wi-Fi is not required on any pellet grills. For some, however, the convenience of having real-time data about the pellet grill while cooking (without having to walk to it) is a luxury they like.
This is a valid question, as many grills come with Wi-Fi capabilities as standard.
With all of the Wi-Fi technology available in pellet grills, it’s easy to think that it’s required for all, but in fact, it’s not. Although Wi-Fi isn’t a requirement for pellet grills to work, electricity is.
Without electricity, your pellet grill won’t be able to feed the burn pot, gauge the temperature, or stoke the flames with its fan. Don’t let this be confused with Wi-Fi necessities though.
Why Do Some Pellet Grills Have Wi-Fi?
Many pellet grills come with Wi-Fi capabilities, which allow you to control your grill’s temperature and performance from your phone or laptop.
This can be a huge convenience, especially if you’re someone who likes to grill on a whim. It also allows for more precision when it comes to cooking, since you can adjust the temperature of your grill remotely.
For example, if you’re grilling a larger piece of meat and want to make sure it’s cooked through, but the grill only has a range of +/- 30 degrees Fahrenheit, you can monitor the temperature from your computer.
Wi-Fi feature also eliminates the guesswork when it comes to knowing how much wood pellet fuel is left in your hopper.
The Downsides to Wi-Fi on a Pellet Grill
Although Wi-Fi can be a huge convenience, there are some downsides to having it on your pellet grill. The most noticeable problem is the price.
You can expect to spend anywhere from $300 to over $2,000 for a pellet grill with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities.
This in itself can be a deterrent for many in the market. Another downside to Wi-Fi pellets grills is signal strength, which can vary depending on how far away you are from your grill.
This can lead to problems with the accuracy of your grill’s temperature reading, and updates on cooking times throughout the process.
Many Wi-Fi-enabled pellet grills also have smaller hoppers, which need to be topped off more frequently.
Pair that with the limited reach of the grill’s Wi-Fi capabilities, and it’s almost not worth getting one at all, as you’ll need to be nearby regardless.
The Benefits of Having Wi-Fi on a Pellet Grill
The main benefit of having Wi-Fi capabilities on your pellet grill is the ability to control it from your phone, tablet, or laptop while you are away.
This is especially useful if you have guests over who want to be able to check the progress of their meal, or if they need assistance in some way.
If you live alone and simply want to be able to work while you grill some delicious food, having Wi-Fi on your pellet grill can be a huge plus.
Another great attribute of Wi-Fi in a pellet grill is the convenience.
If you want to slow-smoke something for the next day, but don’t want to stay up all night checking the temperature, you can set your pellet grill to your desired temperature, and have it notify you when it’s getting close to being finished. What a time to be alive!
Is Wi-Fi Worth it on a Pellet Grill?
Is WiFi worth it on a pellet grill? That’s a question that many people are asking, and the answer isn’t always clear.
On the one hand, Wi-Fi capabilities can be a huge convenience, especially if you’re someone who likes to grill on a whim.
They also allow for more precision when it comes to cooking, and you can adjust the temperature of your grill remotely, making it hard to beat.
However, if you are someone who likes to buy a product at the lowest price for the most functionality and avoids unnecessary bells and whistles, then it might not be worth it. Is it really necessary on a pellet grill? No, not necessarily.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi on a pellet grill is a huge convenience, especially if you’re someone who likes to grill on a whim.
Pellet grills in general allow for more precision when it comes to cooking, and Wi-Fi allows you to adjust the temperature of your grill remotely.
However, if you are someone who finds the most value in simplicity and functionality, without any add-ons, then a Wi-Fi-capable pellet grill may not be for you.