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Last updated: 16 Feb 2023
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Transform Your Cooking Using The Best Pellet Stove

Best Overall
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Z GRILLS Upgrade Wood Pellet Stove
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Most Storage Space
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PIT BOSS Pellet Stove
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Most Versatile
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Traeger Pellet Stove
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Nothing quite compares to the delicious flavor of food that’s been cooked on a grill. Sure, you can fuss with lighting charcoal and all the guesswork involved trying to keep it the perfect temperature but with a pellet grill, you can get even cooking and a grilled taste without all that hassle. So which is the best one for you? Get ready to wow your guests at your next cookout and check out our top picks for the best pellet grills in 2023 below.

Top Pellet Stove Picks

1

Z GRILLS Upgrade Wood Pellet Stove

– Best Overall
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Key Features

There’s never been an easier way to get the real wood smoke flavor. Simply load up the pellet hopper, adjust the digital temperature control, and this pellet grill does the rest. With an auto-ignition start and several available sizes, this pellet stove goes beyond our expectations. Utilize the great temperature settings to get started, though keep in mind that the included grill cover does tear easily. Compared to other pellet stoves, this option’s ease of use boosts it up to the best overall pellet stove on our list.

2

PIT BOSS Pellet Stove

– Most Storage Space
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Key Features

This pellet grill provides 700 square inches of cooking surface across its porcelain-coated, cast iron grids. It features a digitally controlled burn system and works flawlessly with 100% natural wood pellets. Coming complete with a lower shelf for storing various items and accessories, along with a side hook for storing additional pellets, this pellet grill offers terrific value for money and can also be purchased with an additional side shelf for more storage space.

3

Traeger Pellet Stove

– Most Versatile
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Key Features

Suitable for grilling, roasting, and smoking too, this high-quality pellet grill provides 380 square inches of cooking space and features a strong and sturdy base with wheels on one side for easy portability. Available with a range of extras and accessories like a chicken hanger and cover, this grill offers six different cooking modes, super precise temperature controls, and a strong steel finish that won’t wear down in bad weather.

4

Dyna-Glo Offset Pellet Stove

– Best Design
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Key Features

Many people opt for pellet grills in order to enjoy the unique smoky flavors pellets can provide, and this top-quality smoker lives up to the name, adding so much flavor to your feed. The vertical design of this pellet grill helps heat rise naturally, resulting in more efficient functionality on the whole and better distribution of heat and smoke flavor too.

5

Masterbuilt Digital Electric Pellet Stove

– Most User-Friendly
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Key Features

With its strong and sturdy design, this digital smoker can stand up to anything and offers really easy use, with the side wood chip loading system letting you add more pellets without needing to open the door. Super efficient and simple to use, even for total beginners, this premium grill is an extremely user-friendly option among pellet stoves. It also features intuitive digital panel controls for adjusting cooking temperatures and times, giving you total control.

Best Pellet Stove Buying Guide

What Is a Pellet Stove?

Having a pellet stove in the house is essential for quality heat, especially in areas that experience extreme cold. If you don’t have a central heating system for your home, you should definitely consider pellet stoves. According to the US Department of Energy, pellet stoves are one of the cleanest solid fuels for residential homes. If you are a fan of clean air, especially for your family living under your roof, owning a pellet stove for heating purposes is not a bad idea. 

What Is a Pellet Stove For?

A pellet stove is a heating appliance you can use for your home. It is excellent for heating an area in your home, such as your living room, basement, kitchen, and more. It may not work as well as your HVAC or centralized AC, but it is still one of the most natural ways of freezing temperatures during the cold seasons. 

Pellet stoves are more accessible to fire up than crackling wood stoves. Compared to a regular wood stove, a pellet stove is more efficient. The wood pellets burn in high efficiency with low emission levels. Pellet fuel is not only highly efficient, but it is also eco-friendly. It is not very old school, but not high-tech as well, and any home can use it for heating purposes—even modern homes. 

Benefits of Owning a Pellet Stove

There are many benefits to switching to a pellet stove, especially if you live in an old home with a wood stove or a fireplace. Not only can you save time on firing up wood, but you can also contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Here are some of the most notable benefits of using pellet stoves.

They are highly efficient

Not only is it energy efficient compared to electric heaters, but pellet fuel is more methodical than firewood. Instead of spending hours chopping firewood, you can quickly generate heat with slow-burning pellets that can last longer than wood. This option is also very efficient compared to electricity consumption on modern heaters. They are also a good choice for heating up small spaces.

They are eco-friendly

Because they don’t use electricity or wood to fire up, like wood burning stoves, pellet stoves reduce carbon emission, which is excellent for the environment. This also allows you to cut down on your usage of fossil fuels like natural gas by switching up your heat source.

It saves you time and money

Having a wood stove usually requires you to spend time gathering up and chopping firewood. Pellet stoves allow you to spend more time relaxing and enjoying the heat, especially during the cold weather. You can also save money on your electricity bill by installing a centralized heater. Plus, pellet heaters are much safer to use compared to wood burning stoves, reducing the risk of fire-related incidents. 

It has a comprehensive coverage

Depending on the square feet within your home and the size of your pellet stove, you can cover a large area of up to 3,000 square feet. It might not be centralized, but it can heat up your patio, living room, and other significant locations in your home.  

Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose the Best Pellet Stove for You

If you are convinced about buying a pellet stove for your home, here is a list of some of the factors you need to consider. There are not many factors to look at, but it is good to know the specifics, so you can make the right choice.

Heating capacity

The heating capacity of a pellet stove depends on the size of the unit and the hopper size. The hopper size is the size of the loading area where you will feed the pellets. The hopper size ranges from a 20 to 60-pound capacity, and for smaller homes and living spaces, you wouldn’t need as much. 

The key to learning about the heat capacity is knowing the right BTU or British Thermal Unit. This unit of measurement measures the useful heat of stoves and air conditioning systems, and the higher the BTU means the more amount of heat and area it can cover. 

You can get pellet stoves with 10,000 to 90,000 BTU. For most homes, anything from 40,000 to 60,000 is your best choice. If you live in a 2,000 square foot home, a pellet stove with 60,000 will make an excellent choice. 

Also, manufacturers will not forget to state the amount of area a pellet stove can cover, so make sure you read up on the information they give you before purchasing one. Smaller pellet stoves are excellent for secondary heating, so you should consider one even if you have a perfectly working HVAC at home.

Is it energy-efficient?

Some pellet stoves are more energy-efficient than others, so make sure you choose the one with higher efficiency if you want to maximize your savings.

Pellet stove size

The size may be suitable for covering the amount of space in your living room, but you should also consider the size of the stove itself. You don’t want something that is too big to fit in your home – be mindful of the amount of square feet you have to work with. Pellet stoves can be very bulky, so make sure you save space for one in your home. Pellet stove inserts, a variety of fireplace inserts, can also be a way to maximize existing space to bring heat to your home.

If you’re curious about the basics of operation for pellet stoves and how they work, take a look at this video from Tassie Pellet Heater Owners.

People Also Asked

Q: Do pellet stoves come with a boiler for heating radiators?

A: Unfortunately, some pellet stoves do not come with a boiler for heating radiators or boil water. They may be hot, but the pellet heat created is primarily used for heating purposes only and not for cooking.

Q: Is a pellet stove suitable for heating basements?

A: Yes, pellet stoves are perfect for heating very cold and humid basements. As long as you choose the right one with the proper BTU, you can transform your basement into a living space in our home, especially during the seasons with freezing temperatures. Pellet stoves can turn your basement into a new living space in your home where you can spend time with your family and friends, or use the newly warmed space as your home office, game room, or for any other purpose.

Q: Are pellet stoves safe?

A: Pellet stoves are relatively safe as long as you follow the safety procedures when operating a pellet stove. If you are looking to get one, make sure you follow the safety precautions.

Grilling Outdoors
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By Old House Journal Review Team
The Old House Journal Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you restore, repair, update, and decorate your home. The content is created by The Old House Journal Review Team. The Old House Journal editorial staff is not involved. Old House Journal is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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