Is it worth buying a smart Grill & Smoker?

Smartphones, connected refrigerators, digital air conditioners, and automated cars. With advancements in modern connectivity, we are seeing more tech-enabled appliances around us. It’s evident that the range of these devices has gradually expanded from common consumer electronics to our kitchens.

Automated rice cookers and Smart Grills & Smokers are also becoming increasingly common. In fact, what is a “smart Grill & Smoker”? There is no precise definition. Initially, a Grills&Smokers with Wi-Fi or PID temperature control functionality was referred to as a smart barbecue.

Of course, in addition to wood chip barbecues, Gas Grills and charcoal barbecues have also gradually incorporated these smart elements.

However, are these Grills&Smokers really worth spending more money on? If you decide to buy one, should you only choose a barbecue equipped with a PID control module? Or should you opt for a barbecue that includes features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and application control?

How do you choose basic digital and connected models?

If you’re interested, you can continue reading. I will provide you with a detailed introduction.

Introduction to Smart Grills&Smokers

Firstly, I want to clarify that I will mainly discuss wood chip pellet Grills & Smokers here. Incorporating digital control modules into gas grills is much easier than doing so into wood chip grills, so I won’t discuss that here.

The question of whether it is necessary to add application support to wood chip pellet grills has actually been a debated topic.

Before I present my viewpoint, I want to introduce the functions that a “smart barbecue” with built-in Wi-Fi and application support usually possesses. After reading this, you should have a preliminary opinion.

A “smart barbecue” with a built-in Wi-Fi module and application support typically has the following features:

Remote monitoring and control: Using a mobile app and Wi-Fi connection, you can remotely monitor and control your barbecue. You can view the current temperature, adjust the set temperature, and monitor the cooking progress. In case of any abnormalities, you will receive notifications or alerts from the app.

Temperature adjustment and timer: You can adjust the temperature of the barbecue, set timers, and make other cooking parameter adjustments through the mobile app.

Recipes and cooking guidance: Some smart barbecue apps provide recipes and cooking guidance to help you choose the appropriate cooking temperature and time for the best cooking results.

Notifications and alerts: Besides notifying you when the set temperature or time is reached, the app will also issue alerts in case of any barbecue malfunctions or failures, allowing you to take timely action (though as we noted in our Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 review, some mobile apps can occasionally experience delayed alert notifications).

Data recording: Some smart barbecue apps can record cooking data such as temperature curves and cooking time for reference and analysis.

From the above common features, it is evident that you can use Wi-Fi/mobile apps to view and adjust the temperature of wood chip grills, and more advanced models can automatically set and adjust cooking temperatures based on built-in recipes.

Are these features useful? The answer to this question depends on how you smoke.

If you are a grill expert who enjoys personally controlling the temperature, want full real-time control over the doneness of your steak or pork butt, and is willing to spend an entire day next to your wood chip grill, then these smart grill features may not be of much use to you.

However, if you cannot spend several hours standing next to your wood chip grill, perhaps because you need to look after your children or play with your beloved dog in the yard, or maybe you need to clean up the weeds in your backyard, then the benefits of a smart grill become apparent.

The Difference Between PID and Non-PID Wood Pellet Grills&Smokers

As mentioned earlier, in general, Smart Grills&Smokers are usually equipped with PID temperature control modules. This means that these types of wood pellet grills not only allow monitoring of the grill’s operation through Wi-Fi/App but also enable remote and precise temperature control.

In other words, most Smart Grills&Smokers typically come with PID temperature control modules, although there are exceptions. After all, some PID Grills&Smokers may be more intelligent than others.

PID wood pellet grills are considered more advanced and intelligent compared to the previous generation of time-controlled panel pellet grills.

They offer more accurate and precise temperature control. While time-based pellet grills have a temperature accuracy of around 25°F, PID wood pellet grills have an accuracy of approximately 5°F.

Why are there differences among PID Grills&Smokers?

Although PID technology can achieve accuracy within 5°F, there are still differences among different brands/models in implementing this functionality.

The main reason lies in the ability of the control panel to manage temperature and the performance and accuracy of the pellet feed screw motor and combustion fan airflow.

Although all pellet Grills&Smokers are electric, some use alternating current (AC) while others use direct current (DC). Generally, machines that use DC motors are much more precise in temperature control than those using AC motors. For example, Traeger’s D2 Direct Drive technology.

Additionally, there are differences in PID software debugging and control panel technology. For instance, some Z Grills PID wood pellet grills can only set temperatures in intervals of 20-50 degrees, whereas premium models like the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24 allow customizable Smoke Number settings from 1 to 10.

In my Pit Boss Competition vs. Pro Series article, I discussed how even though both have PID control panels, one can generate more smoke than the other.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when choosing a wood pellet Grills&Smokers and a “smart barbecue,” you should consider functionalities beyond just Wi-Fi/App support.

PID temperature control technology is actually a key indicator of the intelligence of wood pellet grills, and this feature is more important than Wi-Fi/App support.

Therefore, if you truly need a smart wood pellet grill, remember to choose one that has PID temperature control functionality.

The key is to look for the presence of these features rather than hastily purchasing based solely on the term “artificial intelligence” in the name or product description. Keep in mind that such descriptions are sometimes just marketing tactics.

Now, we even have some brands starting to use the term “artificial intelligence” in their product descriptions. However, as discussed in my article about the Brisk It Origin 580, currently, this is primarily for marketing purposes.

If you are looking for a broad definition of a “smart Grill & Smoker,” please refer to my article on the best Wi-Fi wood pellet Grills & Smokers currently on the market.

If you want to learn more about wood pellet grills, check out my wood pellet Grills&Smokers guide, or you may find some value from my wood pellet BTU and burn time guide.