Willy Smoke is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If you are looking to diversify your cooking and menu options, a pellet grill is an amazing investment for grilling enthusiasts.
In this article, you will find all the best pellet grills for searing in the market.
Let’s dive in and delve deeper into the qualities of some of the best options you can invest in.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Pellet Grills For Searing
- OUR TOP PICK: Z GRILLS ZPG-700D
- RUNNER-UP: Green Mountain Davy Crockett
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Pit Boss 700FB
Comparison of the Best Pellet Grills For Searing
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
Best Budget Option  |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
 |
| View Latest Price → |
What Makes a Pellet Grill Great For Searing?
Pellet grills provide some of the best flavor, taste, and aroma. It is also one of the most convenient ways to enjoy a cookout or barbecue with your family, especially if you are stuck at home. Here are a few key characteristics that make a pellet grill ideal for searing:
Temperature Range
One of the main features that need to be paid attention to is the temperature range of the pellet grill. Most units offer good temperatures for roasting, barbecuing, and searing. The best one, however, is one that offers a temperature range of up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cooking Surface Area
When choosing the right pellet grill, you have to make sure that the grill has enough surface area to cook meat for the size of your family. If you belong to a large family, you need to have a bigger grill to cook more meat in less time.
Material of Grate
When you’re shopping for pellet grills, you will find two types of grate materials: stainless steel and cast iron. Cast iron grills are usually the best for searing meat, as they absorb heat faster than stainless steel. However, they tend to rust easily, require a lot of maintenance, and your meat can also get stuck on the grill. Stainless steel ones are more rust-resistant and durable, but they heat up slowly.
Can Any Pellet Grill Be Used For Searing?
Yes, it is possible to sear meat on any kind of pellet grill. There is no need to purchase any other equipment or device to make the cross-hatched marks on the meat, as the pellet grill will also help you achieve that. They are known to be extremely versatile and convenient for all sorts of cooking.
Moreover, they can grill, smoke, roast, braise, and even barbecue the pieces of meat depending on how you would like it to be cooked. The pellet grill’s design and features allow it to be used as a griller, smoker, and a great piece of equipment to sear meat.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Pellet Grills For Searing
Here are the best pellet grills for searing:
Review of the Best Pellet Grills For Searing
Now that we have established what features make a pellet grill one of the best, let’s take a look at the reviews of some of the best ones:
Best Overall:
Z GRILLS ZPG-700D
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This griller and smoker combo are one of the best investments you can make for your frequent weekend cookouts. With its eight-in-one features, this pellet grill is amazing at searing meat. It is equipped with all the latest technology to make searing easier and convenient, and it is also super easy to assemble.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Looking for an all-rounder pellet grill and smoker that is efficient at searing and cooking meat all the way through? Well, look no further, because Z Grills has got you covered! It provides about 700 square inches of cooking space so you can feed your entire family at one time.
Moreover, you get a storage cabinet to put your spices and other ingredients while cooking, which makes it much easier than making frequent trips to the kitchen. It also provides excellent value for your money and has a sturdy and durable build that will last you for a long time.
Bottom Line
With Z Grills, you will get not only the best sears but also the best-flavored meat and smokiness that you crave for. It is truly one of the best pellet grills in the market right now, so do not hesitate to check it out!
Runner-up:
Green Mountain Davy Crockett
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many users found this grill to be an ideal companion for them, especially when they had to go on outdoor adventures or camping. Its portable size and compactness make it one of the most travel-friendly pellet grills on this list. Customers also loved the perfect sears it made and the flavor it added to the meat.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Davy Crockett pellet grill is not only known for its size and lightweight build, but it also packs a punch when it comes to performance and grilling. It has enough power to produce heat for all your searing and grilling needs. You can get a good range of temperatures, with an incremental control button to set the right temperature.
Moreover, the pellet grill comes with CMG technology that allows the user to directly monitor the cooking of your meat from your mobile phone (if you have a good Wi-Fi connection). You can also change the temperature settings or turn the grill on or off with the help of the mobile application.
Bottom Line
Overall, this unit by Green Mountain Grills is equipped with most modern technologies to provide you with a seamless and convenient cookout experience. It is also travel-friendly and versatile, which makes it super impressive. The performance of the grill itself is also spectacular.
Best for the Money:
Pit Boss 700FB
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Nearly all users have given this grill/smoker five stars because of its excellent quality and high-end performance. It provides amazing flavor, great cross-hatched marks, and is overall built very well. It is also less expensive than all the high-end pellet grills and provides great value for money.
Why it Stands Out to Us
If you are a novice who has just started out grilling, this is the best option. This budget-friendly grill/smoker brilliantly does the job and is excellent for searing huge chunks of meat. It is also equipped with a sliding plate system that gives it more versatility and makes it convenient to use.
Moreover, the grill is built with heavy-gauge steel construction, which makes it sturdy and durable. The size of it is huge, and the cooking surface area is also big. It also comes with a grease bucket and is one of the best cast iron pellet grills you can find in the market.
Bottom Line
With its sturdy build, easy installation, and flavorsome aroma, this grill and smoker has proven itself to be superior in terms of construction and taste. Its high-quality performance and unbeatable price tag make it one of the most impressive pellet grills in terms of value.
4. Z GRILLS ZPG-550B
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
According to buyers’ reports, this grill is equipped with many modern technologies that make grilling, braising, searing, cooking, and roasting barbecues much easier. The meat stays tender and flavorful, and the grilling area is also huge. Along with that, it is super easy to assemble and use for anyone.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This grill is the best option for those who are new to searing. With its easy-to-assemble build and user-friendly grill design, it proves itself to be one of the most convenient pellet grills in the market. It also provides a large cooking surface to cook your favorite meats for the whole family.
The unit is also equipped with an automatic pellet-feed system that allows for better heat retention and provides that smoky flavor to your meat. You will also find a waste-oil collector in the grill that helps with cleanliness and ensures safety while cooking.
Bottom Line
With the Z Grills 550B, you get the ultimate experience of searing meat and making it smoky and flavorful. The grill is highly impressive in terms of performance and build. It is also easy to place this cart anywhere, thanks to the wheels.
5. ASMOKE AS700
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This is one grill that has received five stars from almost all its reviews! ASMOKE has produced one of the finest pellet grills that you can find in the market right now, and it has left many grilling enthusiasts impressed with its high performance and tons of amazing features.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The packaging that this grill comes in will let you know that it is not just an average, cheap-quality pellet grill but is here for some business! The instructions on how to use it are clear and easy to understand, and it takes very little time to set it up and get it installed.
The grill is highly efficient and easy to use. It is equipped with all the necessary technology and features needed to make your grilling experience fun and convenient at the same time. The food will also be packed with flavor every time you cook it on this grill. It is also super easy to clean and maintain.
Bottom Line
Thanks to its sturdy design and impressive features, this pellet grill has won the hearts of many families who enjoy weekend cookouts. If you are willing to dig a little deeper into your wallet, this can make for a great investment.
Pros and Cons of Searing on a Pellet Grill
Like many units and grills in the market, each one has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of searing on a pellet grill:
Pros
Let’s first go through the benefits you get on investing in these:
Heat Control
One of the biggest advantages of investing in a pellet grill for searing is that you have control over the temperatures and heat of the grill. This heat regulation is going to give you the perfect sear, especially if you have a higher-end model.
Built-In Drip Pan
Most pellet grills come with a built-in drip pan that allows the meat to be seared safely without causing any flare-ups. This is a major advantage of getting a pellet grill for searing.
Easy to Use
Convenience is a huge advantage that pellet grills provide, as they are super easy to use. All you have to do is load the food and let it heat up. You don’t need to constantly check or move it around; the grill produces the perfect sear on its own.
Cons
Meanwhile, a major downside includes:
Marks
A con that you might face when purchasing a pellet grill is that the sear marks on the food will not be as pronounced because pellet grills operate on indirect heat. You can purchase different accessories to help you create the proper grill marks, but otherwise, the marks will not be prominent.
How to Sear Using a Pellet Grill
To sear on a pellet grill, the grill must be preheated first. The temperature must also be above 350-degrees Fahrenheit to get the perfect sear. You also need to find the hottest spots of the grill to get the best results. In most pellet grills, the hottest spots are either on the right or the backside of the grill grate. Let’s go step by step so you can better understand how to sear:
- Make sure that the piece of meat that you’re searing is already smoked for about 45 minutes before you turn the heat up.
- Now you must increase the temperature to around 500-degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the chunk of meat to sear it.
- Use tongs to put the meat on the grill and give it approximately 75 seconds on each side to get the right grill marks.
- Use the right kitchen tool to pull the meat out of the rack, and let it rest before you dig in. Enjoy!
To get a better overview of the instructions, you can check out this video below:
Conclusion
The perfect sear can change the aesthetic appeal of the meat completely. Hopefully, this article was insightful enough to help you decide which pellet grill to get for your searing needs. Make sure you go over the considerations before you choose the right model for yourself. Happy Grilling!
People Also Ask
If you still have some queries or concerns about pellet grills, then you should look over these questions and answers to get a better insight into which one to choose and how to make the right choice. Have a look:
Can You Sear on a Pellet Grill?
Yes, it is possible to sear meat on any kind of pellet grill. As mentioned before, there is no need to purchase any other equipment or device to make the cross-hatched marks on the meat, as the pellet grill will also help you achieve that.
Can You Sear Steaks on a Traeger Grill?
Traeger grills are known for their amazing temperature-controlled pellet grills. You can cook fast or slow, depending on the cut you are using. You can also seal in the flavor of the meat by searing each side of the meat on the pellet grill by heating it for 75 seconds on each side at 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Are Pellet Grills Worth the Money?
Pellet grills are worth every penny, as they are versatile and convenient to use. They are designed for professionals and beginners alike, which is why they are so popular. They also cook foods in many different ways, such as braising, roasting, grilling, smoking, barbecuing, and searing.
Is Sear or Reverse Sear Better?
Reverse sear is a great technique as it keeps the meat moist and juicy from the inside while giving it a better crust on top. The flavor of the meat also deepens, and it is more roasted and smoky. It takes more time to cook the steaks this way, but the meat is more promising in terms of flavor and texture.
What Temp Do You Reverse Sear?
The procedure for reverse searing a piece of meat is relatively easy. All you need to do is season the steak after roasting it and then arrange the pieces of meat on a wire rack set. Then place the meat in the oven for a temperature of between 200 and 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is a Pellet Grill Better Than Charcoal?
Pellet grills can be limited in terms of temperature options as the most they can go is up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. Charcoal grills are better in terms of getting hotter quick and being easier to heat. However, the former is far more versatile and can be used for other cooking purposes as well.
