This is a quick post about my Z Grills 7002C2E Pellet Smoker. I have had it about 4 months and have generally been happy with it. At the time of this writing, it is winter with temperatures below zero with wind chills at -20 so I am not using it much. But, I did use it quite a bit before winter and was happy with the results.
This post will briefly talk about setup, what I like about it, what I do not like and some of my experiences.
Setup
I ordered mine from Amazon and it was delivered to my garage door, which is impressive considering how heavy it was. I actually used my Kubota tractor loader with pallet forks to move the box to the back yard.
The components are packed really well and nothing was damaged. I probably spent 20 minutes just getting everything out of the box and unwrapped. I wish I had brought out a big garbage can before I started, for all of the wrapping materials. Most parts were easily identified so I stacked related parts together.
Then, I started to assemble the grill, following the provided instructions. I quickly realized that this was a well made grill. Parts fitted well, had smooth edges and a very finished look. I was able to do all of the assembly by myself and it took about 90 minutes.
Once assembled I followed the burn in instructions and everything went according to plan. At this point it was ready to use.
What I Like and Don't Like About my Pellet Smoker
Once it is started, it just runs. Temperatures appear to hold very steady. Opening the door does not seem to have a lot of impact. No obvious hot spots.
The probes are handy and it is easy to thread them through the hole in the side of the grill. I have had some issues with inconsistent temperatures but that may very well be how I was using them rather than the probes themselves.
I do not like how hard it can be to turn on. Occasionally, I have to press the start button several times before the grill will turn on.
I do not like the pellet emptying chute. It opens up on the back of he hopper and will quickly empty out any pellets directly over the chute but the majority of the pellets will remain in the hopper. I use a paint stir stick to push pellets around until they fall into the chute.
After 4 months of use, the handle has some rust spots. Everything else seems to be holding up well.
I wish there was a drain in the grill compartment. I would like to clean out some of the accumulated grease and it would be nice to use a hose and soap. As it is now, I would have to use a sponge to get the water out.
The pellet smoker is relatively easy to clean. After every use I do the following:
- I remove the grates and wash them.
- I replace the aluminum foil on the grease pan. I find that by covering the grease pan with Extra Wide Foil that it is easier to clean up.
- I empty the grease bucket. Before use, I put a piece of foil into the little bucket which captures the grease. I just throw the foil away and put a new piece in.
- I check the burner area for ash accumulation. About every second or third cook, I use a vacuum to clean out the ash.
- I also usually empty out most of the pellets from the hopper. I find that in some weather, water will get into the hopper and soak some of the pellets.
- I put the provided cover on it when not in use.
What I Have Made So Far
Chuck Roasts – The first thing I ever made was a pair of chuck roasts. It took longer than I expected but they turned out really good.
Ribs – I have made ribs several times and they turn out great.
Chicken Breast – These turn out really good. Moist and juicy with good flavor.
Turkey – I did a Thanksgiving turkey and it turned out pretty good.
Brisket – I have done one brisket and it tasted good but I overcooked it. Strictly a user issue. I used the leftovers to make chili which was exceptional.
Pulled pork – The grill makes outstanding pulled pork, Great flavor, tender meat, nice and moist.
Meatloaf – This was something I really wanted to try and it turned out good. I will make some tweaks to the recipe next time but I will definitely do it again.
Summary
In summary, the Z Grills Pellet Smoker has worked well and I have no regrets buying it. There is a bit of a learning curve to using it but there are tons of YouTube videos out there that provide good information.
