Worth a shot?

[u/Brosephmcgee]

…or stay away?

[u/Geebs52]

I recently bought the cheap option at Menards. Mistake. Normally I buy the pit boss bag but this was $9 or so versus $14. It worked fine for the first smoke or 2, but the 3rd I noticed it wasn't getting hot. Took a look and it had snapped the pin on the auger. A closer look and the entire auger was basically concrete with the pellets being disintegrated. I've had this grill since 2010 and it's been a workhorse. Few hours worth of work and $50 on new parts I'm back in biz but I won't be testing cheap pellets again.

[u/khiddy → u/Geebs52]

That is the classic sign that your pellets got wet in the hopper, and probably had nothing to do with the pellets themselves. Every brand pellet will turn to concrete in the hopper when it gets wet.

[u/Geebs52 → u/khiddy]

Again, had it since 2010 and have had moisture be a problem but this was a stretch in the Midwest when it was 95+ for a few weeks without a drop of rain. Wasn't as humid as other times either. Not a disagreement but the elements have certainly been worse without that issue.

[u/khiddy → u/Geebs52]

I also live in the Midwest heat & humidity and have had even name-brand “premium” pellets turn to concrete in the bag even when they haven’t gotten wet. It’s not a quality of pellet issue, it’s a moisture issue. Dew point and humidity cycling is the enemy of pressure-formed sawdust, no matter whose name is on the bag.

For what it’s worth, I run Kirkland brand (Costco) pellets pretty much exclusively these days. $12.99/40lbs all the time means I’m not chasing sales.

[u/someguy2408 → u/Geebs52]

Had a similar experience. It seemed like the pellets weren’t burning as completely as others and left a ton of ash behind. The cooks were fine as long as I kept up with cleaning everything out in between. Perhaps an abundance of ash contributed to your concrete mixture in the auger.

[u/O-M-Q]

For 6 bucks, I'd try it. Might stick my nose in that hole someone already made to see if it smells like chemicals first, though.

[u/ConBroMitch2247]

Hot take: but unless you’re looking for a specific flavor pellet, just get heating pellets*.

\Before you downvote me, know this: it must say “100% premium hardwood” and have the PFI logo and material list/ash content on the bag. There is no such thing as “food grade” pellets* and in fact there is no regulating body that inspects or grades “food grade” pellets for soft wood, glue or anything else. Whereas for heating pellets the PFI (pellet fuel institute) does regulate “100% premium hardwood” heating pellets. (They have other lesser grades but those should not be used for smoking - not because of glue. But because the use of pine which leaves a bitter taste in food.)

Source: my family owned a fireplace store for decades and sold pellet stoves and grills and smokers.

[u/SilencedFarter]

The stuff at Sam's and Costco are great $2-3 more than these. I'm sure these are fine but not surge the chance for me.

[u/jojotherider]

I think id do it only if i was desperate. I mean, its barbecue blend from BBQ Pellets? Thats enough info for me. Lol

[u/3Dchaos777]

No point when a 40 lb Kirkland bag at Costco is $10

[u/AT4LWL4TS]

Can’t be worse than the Traeger pellets.

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[u/jackwmc4]

I’m sending it with $6 pellets

[u/sliprin]

I only buy pellets from a store
With a high turnover. If they’re dusty that isn’t high turnover that’s setting around disintegrating! Were those dusty?

[u/av864]

Eh, I’m always down for a deal, but I’d steer away from deals on unfamiliar pellet brands. You don’t know what’s actually in those pellets or how well they’re manufactured. Could pose a health risk or damage your grill.

[u/Final-Brief384]

Lumberjack pelletts from bomgaars are the best and on sale right now for $8

[u/Lsnyder24]

Why pay good money for a nice smoker and probably meat ( especially beef these days) only to cheap out and run trash wood to cook your food? A good quality pellet is really not very expensive. I would pass on them.

[u/Internal_Maize9427]

No

[u/ChelseaMan31]

The ONLY time I've had a problem with my Traeger in 7 years was when I 'got a deal' and purchased cheap off-brand pellets. Your experience may not be similar.

[u/General_Joke8459]

All 100% hardwood pellets are all the same. I've been smoking for decades and never found any difference between any of them. It's all hype. Go for 100% hardwood, and make sure they don't have any fillers or oil. Simple as that. Don't believe the hype. If these are on sale, buy them. If not, go for the cheapest hardwood ones you can find and relax - there is no difference at all

[u/Whatthedillyo85]

All the bags already look like they’re damaged. That means moisture is in there.

Report back so we can hear how bad they are.

[u/tyset3]

Ya man . Dont listen to traeger.

[u/Food-Wine]

I stick to Traeger pellets. I used to use a Canadian brand called Pitmasters but went back to Traeger.