Homeowners can acquire tons of benefits from using a pellet stove in their home. But it all comes down to the quality of pellets that you choose for your home.
The right pellets can entirely change your experience, and you might never want to try anything else. But that is only if you choose the right product.
If you choose the best wood pellets, you will gain maximum heat efficiency with less waste. If those are what you are looking for, then this article will help you find the right ones.
Comparison of the Best Pellets for Pellet Stoves
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How Do I Choose Wood Pellets for My Pellet Stove?
If you have never tried buying wood pellets before, you may not know how to go about it. It is actually a very easy task that requires consideration of a few factors. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing wood pellets for your pellet stove.
Clean Burning
When you choose a pellet burning stove, your main agenda revolves around reducing your carbon footprint. Thus, clean-burning fuel should be on top of your list so you can cook and enjoy the warmth without damaging the environment too much.
Waste Production
Another thing that should be remembered is the waste production. You don’t want wood pellets that leave too much ash after it has been burned. If you choose a wood pellet with a low ash production rate, it will save you hours of cleaning and maintenance.
Heat Output
Your third priority should be the heat output of the product. This is also what decides if the pellets are good for slow cooking or not.
The ideal pellet is one that cleanly burns, gives out more heat and warmth than the others, and leaves little ash waste. This way, you will get your money’s worth, play your role in keeping the environment clean, and cut down on cleaning and repairs.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Pellets For Pellet Stoves
- OUR TOP PICK: Traeger Grills PEL331
- RUNNER-UP: CookinPellets 40PM
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Bear Mountain BBQ 100% All-Natural
Review of the Best Pellets for Pellet Stoves
Have you decided to invest in pellet stoves and play your role in helping the environment by using biomass fuel? Let’s get to business then. Here is a list of some of the best pellets that you can use on pellet stoves. All you need to do is pick one for yourself.
Best Overall
Traeger Grills PEL331
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What Recent Buyers Report
Most of the recent buyers are highly impressed with the product. According to their reviews, this unit provides considerable heat output. But the thing that stood out most to them is the signature blend that added an exquisitely scented smoke with minimal damage to the environment.
Why it Stands Out to Us
There are many advantages to using Traeger Grills PEL331, such as good heat output, clean blue smoke, and premium quality of wood. But the feature that stood out most to us was the signature blend that comes without any damage to the environment.
Manufacturers utilize pre-existing hardwood sawdust that is clean and up to the mark according to their standards to make these. This means the production of these pellets does not involve the harvesting of even a single tree. Despite that, their performance is unmatched by most others.
Bottom Line
To conclude, this product is good for grill usage and heating purposes. It won’t leave much of a carbon footprint, and if you can deal with cleaning the remnants after the work is over, it is just for you. All in all, you may not find a product better than this.
Pros
Produces clean blue smoke, making it environment-friendly
Contains no binding agents and fillers, therefore ensuring purity
Premium-quality hardwood pellet that simply changes your outlook on pellets
Features a signature blend of hickory, cherry, and maple for an exquisite aroma
Produced by a patented process that ensures consistency in the quality of product
Cons
Leaves considerable ash and dust
Primarily designed for auger feed, so it may not work well for many types of grills
Runner-up
CookinPellets 40PM
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What Recent Buyers Report
Customers report that these pellets are good for long smokes when it comes to keeping a room heated for a number of hours. The affordable price and the wood mix of hickory, cherry, hard maple, and applewood are the winning points for many of them.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The reason CookinPellets 40PM stood out to us is that this excellent wood mix is made from the center of the log. Most manufacturers use the bark to make the product cheap, but not that’s not the case with CookinPellet 40PM. While some hardwood pellet manufacturers use oils and fillers such as oak to make their product cheaper to produce, these pellets contain no fillers, binding agents, oils, or any chemicals.
While it is not the most affordable pellet option in the market, It does provide users with cleaner smoke and better heat output. This is what makes this product stand out for us.
Bottom Line
If you think apple mash or black cherry isn’t for you, then this perfect mix may just be what you need to get your grilling game on. Besides, after the smoke, these pellets leave a little waste that can be easily cleaned, making them a low maintenance product.
Pros
Good for short as well as long smokes
Free from any kind of fillers, binding agents, oils, and chemicals
Less ash residue makes it an extremely low maintenance product
Made from all-natural hickory, cherry, hard maple, applewood blend
Delivers a smoky flavor and depth to your food, which enhances taste to a great extent
Cons
Pellets are sometimes not cut properly
Customers may have to sort through to find any pieces of plastic or paint
Best for the Money
Bear Mountain BBQ 100% All-Natural
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What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers report that this unit does not contain much sawdust or debris as compared to others. The consistency in quality and performance is what makes it stand out to most customers. This is also why it has very loyal customers, who often recommend it to others.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Compared to Traeger and CookinPellets, Bear Mountain BBQ pellets produce a lot more smoke. Every time you use this product, you’ll experience an enchanting aroma that is subtle and not too overpowering. Furthermore, the ideal level of moisture will ensure that you experience burning pellets better than ever.
Unlike many other pellet brands out there that need special grills and smokers, Bear Mountain pellets can be used on all outdoor pellet stoves, gas, charcoal, or electric grills and smokers. The low moisture only adds to its burning quality, making this a good choice.
Bottom Line
If you are satisfied with your pellet stove and just want pellets that compliment your stove and provide you with great results, Bear Mountain BBQ pellets are perfect for you. Their strength lies in smoke and scent infusion, which is subtle yet powerful enough to enhance your experience.
Pros
No artificial binders and fillers
Less moisture increases the burn quality and quantity
Produced by kiln-drying until their moisture level is 5%
Well-known for their ability to produce an abundance of smoke
Very little ash is produced after complete burning of the product
Cons
Not a substitute for charcoal grilling
Features only a moderate heat outlet
RecTec Grills Ultimate Blend
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What Recent Buyers Report
Their density and uniformity in size have really impressed customers as it makes it easier to burn them. They really seem to appreciate how these pellets burn on a to provide a moderate amount of heat along with plenty of smoke that does not damage the environment due to the purity of the product.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Two qualities that made RecTec grill pellets stand out to us are that they produce low ash and don’t burn out as easily as other brands. Their density ensures that they don’t stop burning quickly, which is also why a little goes a long way.
On the other hand, the fact that they leave little ash residue has made them popular among customers. Cleaning the grill and smoker becomes easier and doesn’t require much maintenance.
Bottom Line
While these pellets work moderately well, they are quite expensive. However, users find them to be worth the price because they are very reliable. Overall, they are good if you want some subtle aroma along with good heat output and little cleaning worries.
Pros
Pellets are more dense and uniform in size
Lower ash content allows them to produce very little ash
Features an oak and hickory blend that produces a rich aroma
Manufactured to burn more consistently due to the uniform shape and size
Available in three different size packs so you can pick one that is right for you
Cons
Not feasible for burning for a long time
Don’t work well for low-temperature smoking
HY-C FG-P20 Premium Wood Pellets
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What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers rate this product well due to its affordability. They report that unlike many other wood pellets, these don’t burn out too quickly. Users may not be a fan of the level of smoking that it provides but agree that they make up for it with their clean-burning.
Why it Stands Out to Us
HY-C FG-P20 wood pellets stand out to us because of their affordability. You can get a 20lbs bag at an affordable rate and can be used for a longer time than other products of the same quantity. If you don’t like an overwhelming smoky aroma around you, these pellets are just for you.
You won’t have to worry about them burning out too quickly as you would have for other pellets in this price range. It is an overall impressive product if you are trying to cut down on budget, all the while looking to enjoy a good warmth from your pellet stove.
Bottom Line
We can conclude that these pellets are good for all those who don’t want to be overwhelmed with the aroma while using their pellet stoves. It produces clean fire, which means you won’t have to worry too much about its carbon footprint either. Clean and safe burning is what you can expect from this product.
Pros
Allows clean burning during use
No glue and binders used to ensure the purity of the product
Only creates allergy-free dust and ash for more convenient use
Manufactured to be highly affordable while maintaining top quality
A natural wood fuel that enhances your experience with your pellet stove
Cons
Don’t produce much smoke
Feature a considerably smaller chip size
What are Wood Pellets and How are Wood Pellets Made?
A pellet is a biomass product made up of renewable waste, such as recycled wood waste. Cordwood, wood chips, waste paper, and many other agricultural products are capable of being used as biomass.
The wood pellets you buy from the store are made from dried biomass that has been processed and finely powdered. The product then passes through a pellet dye at high temperature, which melts and glues it all together, which turns into a pellet. Later, you use these pellets at your home for central heating purposes and cooking when you burn them in pellet stoves.
Types of Wood Pellets
Wood pellets have been used for heating purposes for years now. There are different types available that allow for different kinds of experiences when it comes to using a pellet stove. The operation of a pellet stove and its running cost are both affected by the types of pellets used. The different kinds include:
Premium Wood Pellets
Premium wood pellets contain less than 0.5% organic ash. They are made from the middle of the log and generally don’t contain bark. Oak, Maple wood, and similar kinds of wood species are used for their production. They generally cost more than lower-grade wood pellets.
Standard Wood Pellets
Standard-quality wood pellets are often manufactured from forestry industry waste. They contain more than 0.5 percent of organic ash content. These are basic products that allow you to experience great warmth when used, but not with any additional aroma.
Food Grade Wood Pellets
Any wood pellet is a food-grade wood pellet if no binding agent and additives are used in its production. Premium and standard quality pellets can be food-grade too if they don’t contain additives and binding agents. It makes them safe for cooking, baking, grilling, and smoking so that there are no chemical flavors in the food.
Comparison Overview
Sometimes, choosing the type of pellets becomes a daunting task. With the wide range of types available, it may be hard to decide which is the best for you. What may help you decide is a side by side comparison of the different types of all the available options. Have a look!
Hardwood vs Softwood Pellets
Hardwood pellets have a higher density and a longer burning time as compared to softwood pellets. The latter, however, has higher BTUs as compared to the former. This is because softwood pellets contain a higher concentration of lignins that ignites at a much higher temperature.
However, both can be used in a pellet stove, only with different fuel and air settings. It is often noticed that softwood pellets burn cleaner and hotter as compared to hardwood pellets, and they leave very little ash.
But the latter is preferred for wood stoves and fireplaces. This preference is because they have naturally low moisture content along with low density, which helps them burn longer.
Wood Chips vs Pellets
Wood chips are made after running hardwood through a shredder that breaks it into small pieces. It provides a natural burst of flavor and burns faster than pellets. On the other hand, wood pellets are made from finely ground hardwood that has been pressed in a cylindrical shape and cut into small pieces.
Pellets burn hotter and slower than wood chips, which makes it easier to control the temperature. Natural wood pellets can supply a more consistent smoke with little ash build-up. Both can be used in electric gas and charcoal smokers, as well as smoke boxes.
Wood Pellet vs Propane
While using propane, you will realize that it’s hard to judge how much fuel you are left with. But you can always see when you need more pellets. It must also be remembered that the former is dangerous to handle and damaging to the environment, while burning pellets is a considerably safer process, for you and the environment. Furthermore, all costs included, using propane is more expensive than using wood pellets.
Charcoal vs Wood Pellets
Wood pellets provide a much more subtle and desirable aroma as compared to charcoal that produces a very strong-smelling smoke. It’s also easier to control wood pellets and their temperature while burning as compared to charcoal. Moreover, the latter needs a lot more time to cool off as compared to the former.
How to Light Wood Pellets in a Pellet Stove
If you have bought a bag of wood pellets, you might want to start grilling to enjoy the wonderful cooking experience and meat flavors right away. In case you are not very sure how to do that, here’s a complete guide to help you out.
- The first thing you need to do is fill the stove’s hopper with wood pellets. Once filled, switch on the stove auger while you let some of the pellets fall into the pot that is burning. Let a few pellets fall and then turn the auger off so there are no excessive pellets in the pot.
- Next, add an accelerant to the pellets in the burn pot using the designated door for accelerant. Use only a specific accelerant which has been approved for wood pellet stove use. These accelerants can be found in a gel as well as solid forms.
- Light the pellets with a butane lighter, preferably one with a long reach for maximum safety. Make sure that you hold it close to the pellets until they start burning. If you want to speed up the process, you can hold the lighter close to where you applied the accelerant. Once the pellets ignite, close the burn pot door.
- You will have to wait a while for all the pellets to fully ignite, as the process may take a few minutes. You can move on to the next step when they turn red around the edges.
- Once they have red edges, you can now turn on the stove’s auger and blower motor. The auger will function to dump more pellets from the hopper right into the stove till it’s at the required temperature. Keep an eye on the fire till a few more pellets drop, and ensure that the fire spreads on to new pellets.
If you are still confused about the process, you can refer to the video below for more detailed instructions on how to light wood pellets.
Conclusion
Wood pellets are a great source of fuel, and they are good for the environment. Once you use them, you will find that no other fuel, including charcoal or propane, will give you the same kind of satisfaction as using wood pellets. All you need to do is find the product that’s right for you and get going.
People Also Ask
Wood pellets are great if you want to use a burning fuel that can carry out diverse cooking methods. They are relatively affordable, safe to use, and don’t harm the environment too much, but at times users have questions about these products. Here are some questions that have been asked by users.
It is better to use premium and standard quality wood pellets for your pellet stove, but food-grade pellets can also be used. Food grade pellets contain additives and binding agents. While they are best to be used for grilling purposes, they can also be burned in a pellet stove.
To use wood pellets in a charcoal grill, you need to follow a few simple steps. First, switch on the charcoal grill by burning the charcoal. Wait for the coal to heat up, then sprinkle a generous amount of wood pellets under the rock grate. The pellets should ignite in a short time, which is when you can start cooking. Make sure to close the lid to keep the smoke in and use it to flavor your food.
As gas and propane grills can’t smoke, you will need a smoker box with wood pellets to add the extra rich flavor to your meat. Use a small wood pellet smoker box that contains single-use pellets. Once the grill is heated, it will start heating the smoker box, and the pellets will start to smoke. Then turn down the gas and shut the lid on the BBQ so the smoke can penetrate your meats.
A ton of wood pellets includes 50 bags weighing 40lbs each.
Not all bags of wood pellets found on the market are of the same price. A 20lbs bag of the finest wood pellets ranges somewhere between $9 and $35. Their prices vary according to hardwood/softwood pellet, wood type, and quality.
One pound of wood pellets produces approximately 8000 BTUs of heat. If you are using the pellets for low heating purposes, they can last up to 26 hours. But if you require high heat while burning an average of five pounds per hour, one bag will last eight hours.
A normal pellet grill or smoker burns one to three pounds of wood pellets per hour. This means that a 20lbs bag can burn for six to 20 hours, depending on high heat or low heat usage.
Wood pellets should be stored in an area that is safe from flooding, humidity, and mold. They should never be left in the bag they come in. Storing your wood pellets in the garage or shed can work best.
If the environmental humidity of the area where wood pellets are stored is less than 10%, they can be stored for up to six months. When the wood pellets’ moisture content reaches a certain high level, they get soft and loose and become unusable.
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