What Are Grilling and Smoking Pellets?
Simply put, wood pellets are the fuel source for pellet grills and smokers. They're an easy fuel source to use, making them ideal for beginners. All you have to do is fill the hopper on your pellet grill, set your temperature and let the grill do the work. You don’t need to maintain the fire because the temperature controls do that for you. Wood pellets are a clean-burning fuel that produces minimal ash and impart a smoky flavor that foods cooked on the grill are known for.
Each type of hardwood pellet — such as hickory, mesquite, apple or cherry — adds its own unique character to your food. For example, fruitwood pellets are perfect for poultry, pork and fish, delivering a subtle, sweet smoke. Stronger woods like hickory or mesquite, on the other hand, work well for beef and wild game, complementing bold, robust flavors.
Always follow your pellet smoker or grill manufacturer’s recommendations to determine which types of pellets are safe to use.
What Are Grilling Pellets Made Of?
Wood grilling pellets are small, dense cylinders made from natural hardwood sawdust or wood shavings. They’re specially designed for use in pellet grills, which automatically feed the pellets into a fire pot to create consistent, even heat. During manufacturing, the sawdust is compressed under high heat and pressure. This activates the natural binding agents in the wood, which hold the pellets together without the need for chemicals, fillers or artificial binders.
What Types of Wood Are Used in Pellets?
- Apple: Known for its sweet, mildly smoky flavor, apple wood is a grill enthusiast favorite for pork dishes and for baking on the grill.
- Mesquite: With a bold, earthy taste that some describe as “spicy” or “tangy,” mesquite is ideal for Tex-Mex dishes and hearty grilled meats.
- Fruitwoods: These include a range of lighter, subtly sweet woods like cherry. Fruitwood pellets are great for seafood, chicken, turkey and other dishes that benefit from a gentle smoke.
- Hickory: Delivering a rich, smoky flavor that’s often compared to bacon, hickory is excellent for slow-cooking roasts on the grill and smoking meats low and slow.
Why Choose Grilling Pellets?
Grilling and smoking pellets are a smart choice for adding natural wood flavor to your food without the hassle of managing a fire. They burn cleanly and evenly, allowing precise temperature control, which takes the guesswork out of grilling and smoking for beginners. They're also convenient. You just need to fill the hopper, set the temperature and you can cook with minimal effort. With low ash output and a variety of flavor options, grilling pellets make backyard barbecuing easier, less messy and more flavorful.
Choose the Right Pellets for Different Foods
Each food type benefits from certain wood pellet varieties. Here’s what grill enthusiasts recommend:
- Beef: Pecan, mesquite or hickory
- Poultry: Mesquite, hickory, apple or fruitwood
- Pork: Mesquite, hickory, apple or fruitwood
- Seafood: Apple or fruitwood
- Vegetables: Apple, hickory or fruitwood
Start Grilling
Ready to give grilling pellets a try? Here are some popular wood pellets, pellet grills and pellet smokers Lowe’s customers love.
