Heard a guy at the KCBS event argue that pellet grills are making pitmasters lazy

He said real barbecue needs the constant attention of a stick burner, but I saw a guy win a whole category with a Traeger last year. Where do you stand on the skill vs. tech debate?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sage18d ago

Totally agree with @reese_nelson on this one. That "constant attention" thing is just romanticizing being tired. Saw a neighbor turn out amazing ribs on his pellet grill while he was literally mowing his lawn. The skill is knowing when it's done, how to balance flavors, all that. The tool just gets you there. If the meat tastes good, who cares how the fire was managed?

the_brian18d ago

Gatekeeping based on how tired you are is just silly! My buddy makes the best brisket I've ever had on his pellet grill while watching football. The real skill is in the prep and the taste, not how many times you stoked a fire.

reese_nelson18d ago

Okay, the part about "real barbecue needs constant attention" is where I get stuck. That's just gatekeeping. The skill is in knowing your meat, your rubs, and your fire, no matter the tool. A pellet grill is just a different kind of tool that manages temperature for you. Winning on a Traeger proves the cook's knowledge was in the prep and the finish, not just in babysitting a fire all night. Good barbecue is about the result on the plate, not how tired you are when you serve it.