Pellet Fan
Accessories & Essentials => Pellets -- comments & questions => Topic started by: TLK on September 24, 2017, 11:45:02 AM
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I usually buy Pit Boss pellets from Menards. This latest batch I found a lot of sawdust and small broken down pellets so I am a little disappointed. When I buy, I try to look for bags that don't appear to have been mishandled (laid flat on pallet, no obvious rips/tears in bag etc.). I keep them stored in the garage in the original bag.
Does storing them this way lead to a break down of the pellets or do you think this was just a bad batch?
(https://i.imgur.com/EQebuw4b.jpg)
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TLK,
I believe that's an issue with handling. Just keep the bags sealed and up off the floor in your garage. I place opened bags in plastic buckets with sealable lids as do most users I believe.
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Little pellets make no difference, I mean none. The sawdust would concern me, but don't let the small one worry you, they will burn fine.
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Broken down pellets and lots of fines(dust)indicate to me a lot of handling, or rough handling.
Storage in the original bag is OK by me. Keep the bags upright so the fine stuff works its way down and keep the bags off the floor even if it seems dry.
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Far and away the dustiest pellets I've ever used. But they work well in my opinion.
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I got fed up with all the dust in the Pit Boss pellets and didnt like the fact that my walmart kept them stored outside. I switched over to Lumberjack pellets and couldnt be happier with it.
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I got fed up with all the dust in the Pit Boss pellets and didnt like the fact that my walmart kept them stored outside. I switched over to Lumberjack pellets and couldnt be happier with it.
I buy from Menards and they seem to be stored well (inside, generally neat). This was the first time I noticed A LOT of dust but in fairness they had been sitting directly on my garage floor for at least two months so it is entirely possible that they were mishandled on my part. I am going to start storing them in a bucket w/ sealed lid and see if I have better luck since I don't go thru pellets as often as most on this board do (my yoder is not used for everyday cooking/grilling).
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I've been keeping my pellets in 5 gallon buckets and use a screw cap lid to keep them dry. I live in a high humidity area and over time the pellets will absorb moisture in the air and breakdown.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Encore-Plastics-12-in-White-Plastic-Bucket-Lid/50094688
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I've tried a couple 40 pound bags of Pit Boss, worst pellets I think I have used same as Traeger's more ash and lousy BTU's.
Lumberjack is my favorite, least amount of fines and dust and excellent heat and flavors from them.
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Interesting, I've been using Pit Boss pellets for over a year with no problem whatsoever.
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just finished my first bag and on to my second . they work great . dust and fines are a result of poor handling .
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I've burned at least 480 pounds of Pitt Boss compittion blend, all purchased for under $7 bag from Walmart clearance sales... I've burned a lot of other brands, and the Pit Boss have had less than a cup of dust at the bottom of the bag, just like every other pellets I've used.
As far as I know, 99% of problems with dust in pellets is a result of storage and handling issues.
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I got fed up with all the dust in the Pit Boss pellets and didnt like the fact that my walmart kept them stored outside. I switched over to Lumberjack pellets and couldnt be happier with it.
I would let the store manager know they should be stored like charcoal would be.
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I usually buy Pit Boss pellets from Menards. This latest batch I found a lot of sawdust and small broken down pellets so I am a little disappointed. When I buy, I try to look for bags that don't appear to have been mishandled (laid flat on pallet, no obvious rips/tears in bag etc.). I keep them stored in the garage in the original bag.
Does storing them this way lead to a break down of the pellets or do you think this was just a bad batch?
(https://i.imgur.com/EQebuw4b.jpg)
I have also got a bag like that from Menards.
Used them the past 3 or 4 cooks and have had flameouts.
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Little pellets make no difference, I mean none. The sawdust would concern me, but don't let the small one worry you, they will burn fine.
Will the sawdust cause the flameouts?
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That is a distinct possibility. More so I think if the pit is on a lower temperature...although it would also have to be a pretty big amount as I would think that the majority of the auger would have to be full of it to do it!
Little pellets make no difference, I mean none. The sawdust would concern me, but don't let the small one worry you, they will burn fine.
Will the sawdust cause the flameouts?
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That is a distinct possibility. More so I think if the pit is on a lower temperature...although it would also have to be a pretty big amount as I would think that the majority of the auger would have to be full of it to do it!
Little pellets make no difference, I mean none. The sawdust would concern me, but don't let the small one worry you, they will burn fine.
Will the sawdust cause the flameouts?
It has gone out cooking @ 275
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will dust cause a flameout t???
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will dust cause a flameout t???
Given the right parameters, I would say yes. But they'd have to be extreme circumstances.
I shake all my pellets thru a plastic colander whether they like it or not. When I'm done with a bag of Pit Boss pellets, I'll have a couple cups left in the bottom. You'd likely have to dump all that in a near empty hopper to create a flameout.
:2cents:
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I see where Menards now sells Pit Boss whiskey barrel pellets for $15/20 lbs. No clue if it's actually something good, or just a novelty.
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I noticed on the Menards website it says the Pit Boss Hickory pellets are a blend of Hickory and Maple. The Apple Pellets also specify a blend of Apple and Maple.
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I noticed on the Menards website it says the Pit Boss Hickory pellets are a blend of Hickory and Maple. The Apple Pellets also specify a blend of Apple and Maple.
That is common, unless it says 100% hickory or 100% apple, it's a mix.
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I found some Pit Boss pellets in 30 and 40 # bags at a Walmart today for about $0.40/# so I picked up a bag of the following and figured I would give them a try.
Competition - Hickory, Maple, Apple
Classic - Pecan, Hickory, Mesquite
Fruit - Cherry, Apple, Maple
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Just as a PSA, I've never had any sawdust problem with Pit Boss pellets, and they're stored out on my porch, on the concrete in the lovely subtropical climate that is the Texas Gulf Coast.
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the price was right and the blends seemed interesting enough to try...will probably use them in my pit boss vertical when i get the auger unjammed
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I have tried pit boss pellets, and I find that they don't produce much flavor, and on my Camp Chef, the temperature swings were much larger that with B&B pellets. I have about a half bag of pit boss pellets left, and I have been using them on the end of my cooks, when the meat has already taken in as much smoke flavor as it can.
When this half bag is gone, I won't be buying any more.
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In my Pit Boss 700 Series I have had better smoke output using Pit Boss Competition blend. My 700 does not have a smoke stack on the side but instead it has 5 vent holes on the back side of the drum.I'm not sure if that]s the reason other pellet brands that I have tried are poor smoke performers or what and I have tried a lot of other brands and blends. The Pit Boss blend works best for me. From my research they are a mix of Hickory, Maple , Cherry. ( No Apple )
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I have to say that the Pit Boss pellets are the worst that I have used in my RecTec Stampede. First, I noticed that there was a lot of smoke, which is a good thing, but the food really didn't have smoky flavor. Second, I noticed that the temp was hard to control, when cooking burgers I like to smoke for an hour first then sear at 475. during the smoke, temps would vary between 223-235 not usual for my rectec. Then when I went up to 475 top sear, when I opened the lid the temp went to 350 and had to recover. I couldnt even get the sear plates to leave marks on the burgers. Then I cooked ribs, they were ok but not very smoky and no smoke ring?? I noticed that after cooking for 8 hrs I had went through 30 lbs of pellets!! Not good either. I am not happy with these at all and I went back to my treager pellets. I would not recommend these at all!!
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Hard to believe they worked that bad especially compared to Traeger which is not a very good pellet IMO either.
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I have to say that the Pit Boss pellets are the worst that I have used in my RecTec Stampede. First, I noticed that there was a lot of smoke, which is a good thing, but the food really didn't have smoky flavor. Second, I noticed that the temp was hard to control, when cooking burgers I like to smoke for an hour first then sear at 475. during the smoke, temps would vary between 223-235 not usual for my rectec. Then when I went up to 475 top sear, when I opened the lid the temp went to 350 and had to recover. I couldnt even get the sear plates to leave marks on the burgers. Then I cooked ribs, they were ok but not very smoky and no smoke ring?? I noticed that after cooking for 8 hrs I had went through 30 lbs of pellets!! Not good either. I am not happy with these at all and I went back to my treager pellets. I would not recommend these at all!!
I have used them plenty and never had a problem other than paying too much. Call me dumb but I use “heating pellets “, never have had a problem. I, or other people can absolutely not taste a difference? Not for everyone and I get it but works and saves me a bunch. As far as the flavor blend pellets of any mfgr. Can not tell 2cents worth of difference.
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I only use Pit Boss pellets when I am doing something hot and fast like burgers, steaks, etc.
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I purchased a bunch of Pit Boss pellets when Walmart had them on clearance. They have been working great for me.
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I've used their Comp Blend and Hickory Blend. Both burned fine but I couldn't taste any smoke flavor in the meat. I prefer 100% hickory pellets.