Wood pellets are created from consolidated wood fibers. They are tiny, cylindrical bits made of finely ground wood bark that range in size from 5 to 10 mm in diameter and 10 to 20 mm in length. For heating, grilling, or cooking, wood pellets can be utilized in place of firewood, charcoal, oil, and gas. The high-quality and top wood pellets are made from fresh, food-grade materials without any added fillers, so they perform well when used on grills.
Brief Buying Guide For Wood Pellets
Here are the primary elements you should pay attention to while acquiring wood pellets.
- Hardwood or Softwood
Softwood or hardwood is one of the most important considerations when choosing wood pellets for your grill. Although softwood can produce greater heat, hardwood has more steady burning speeds and consequently more stable temperatures. The whole objective of grilling food is to get a pure smoke flavor, which can be delivered quickly by hardwood.
- Get Smoker Pellets
The hardwood used to make premium smoker pellets is food-grade and entirely natural. They are a pure, nutritious fuel that consistently produces excellent flavor to food. They are created primarily to give your favorite dishes a mouthwatering wood-fired flavor. So, it is best to choose smoker pellets rather than heating pellets.
- Quality
The premium pellets are crafted from 100% food-grade, safe, fresh hardwood without fillers, additives, or binders. The top wood pellets offer a clean, healthful fuel source that burns for a more extended period, produces consistent smoke, stable temperatures, and creates good outcomes. On the other hand, less expensive, poor-quality pellets tend to have fewer densities and higher moisture levels.
- Smooth Surface
When you touch and feel a top-quality wood pellet, its surface should be shiny, smooth, and free of cracks. It is necessary to check the pellet's condensation proportion if it does not feel smooth. If there are fissures visible throughout the pellet surface, it indicates that the raw material contains water or the material has not been adequately conditioned.
- Fresh Smell
A good wood pellet should have the aroma of new wood. However, if the pellets' smell is odd, it implies that the raw material is impure or that a binder was employed in the manufacturing process.
Different Flavored Wood Pellets
Invest in the most robust wood pellet flavors, such as mesquite, hickory, and cherry, if you prefer smoky wood flavor in the grilled food. Choose light wood pellet flavors such as apple and pecan pellets for little to no apparent undertones. Here are different flavored wood pellets:
● Hickory
In search of a strong flavor? All varieties of beef, chicken, and pork can be flavored with a smokey bacon flavor with hickory pellets.
● Cherry
Cherry pellets can aid in the development of beautiful color in the meat apart from having a very subtle fruit flavor that pairs well with pork.
● Mesquite
These pellets are a mainstay of Texas barbecue and are robust and sweet. They come with a hint of piney flavor and work best with beef and poultry.
● Apple
Apple pellets are ideal for pork and poultry because of their gentle, fruity flavor and moderate sweetness.
● Pecan
Pecan pellets can also provide poultry, beef, and pork a mild spice by adding their nutty smoke taste.
● Competition
These wood pellets are a combination of cherry, maple, and hickory pellets. Due to their composition, these pellets go well with any type of food.
Bottom Line
When buying wood pellets for your grill, it is vital to consider the quality of the pellets and make sure that you are purchasing a fresh product that does not have any filler content. Always go for smoker pellets rather than heating pellets, and choose the pellet flavor depending on the type of food you prefer to grill.