The 440’s 5-pound hopper is notably smaller than other models, so you should expect to refill pellets more often. Other notable features on the Pit Boss 440 include a removable side shelf that doubles as a serving tray, a built-in bottle opener, and two large wheels for maneuvering it around a deck or patio. All parts were secured to prevent damage and we liked the colorful graphics on the hopper and under the hood that explained how a pellet smoker works for a first time user. When the 820 was almost fully assembled, we noticed an unused bag of washers that were not mentioned in the assembly instructions except in the parts list. After being on hold with customer service for ten minutes, we were advised to unscrew everything and refasten all parts adding the washers to the screw and lock nut assemblies.
While the Z Grills 700D ($500 at Home Depot) offers consistent heat, making it suitable for baking or smoking, its upper-temperature limit of 450°F doesn’t translate into a good sear. The Char-Griller Wood Pro Pellet Grill ($500 at Sportman’s Guide) also had a maximum temperature of 450°F, so searing was a challenge. We found multiple hot spots throughout the grill, and temperatures fluctuated during cooking. It doesn’t offer the bells and whistles of app connectivity or a range of temperature controls, most notably. It does outperform more expensive models in the smoking tests, though it doesn’t excel at searing.
Strangely, whenever you switch cooking temp, the auger runs continuously for four minutes before trying to adjust to the new set temp. This isn’t so bad if you’re going from low to high, but problematic in the opposite direction. We were slow smoking ribs when interrupted just as they passed the bend test and were ready to be sauced. Forgetting the controllers odd four minute drill, we turned the temp down from 225° to the lowest “Smoke” setting to hold them briefly. Meant as a safety feature to prevent fingers from getting injured in the auger chute below, it also prevents one from easily leveling the pellets as they get sucked into the auger.
If that sounds like you, do yourself a favor and look into a charcoal or wood burning smoker. It all depends on your budget, how many people you need to cook for, and if you want to be able to grill. The reason we selected the Camp Chef Woodwind as the best option is because it ticks the most boxes while coming in at well under $1,000. The combined surface area of 811 square inches is the perfect sweet spot for most people. Even an entry-level pellet smoker will set you back more than a charcoal grill or gas grill.
I have purchased 3 grills and loads of accessories never an issue. From fine dining to fast food to preparing 3 meals a day for 3,000 hungry sailors in the U.S. Now my favorite place pit boss electric smoker to cook is right in my own home… for my biggest critics, my family. The Pit Boss Ultimate Griddle does not require an initial seasoning or any maintenance layers of seasoning.