Pit Boss Pro Series 820 Review

 
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Pit Boss has quickly become one of the biggest players in the world of barbecue, and for good reason. They’ve hit the sweet spot with high-quality smokers and grills at a great price. I checked out their lineup at the National Hardware Show and got our hands on the Pit Boss Pro Series 820 to try out.

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I took this grill through the paces with a variety of meats and food. I grilled shrimp and ribeye steaks (including an awesome sear) as well smoked candied bacon and cinnamon almonds. I also tested the true smoker abilities by throwing on a full brisket and pork shoulder.

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shrimp

Everything turned out superb. My family and friends can attest to the meals we enjoyed. I produced one of my best smoke rings on the brisket, which is impressive considering this was the first time using the smoker.

I give the Pit Boss Pro Series 820 wood pellet grill 4.5 out of 5 meat hooks.

The Pit Boss Pro Series 820 is available at Lowe’s for $499.

If you’d like a bit larger cooking area and larger hopper capacity (which means less time adding pellets), I’d recommend checking out the Pit Boss Navigator 850 and the Pit Boss Sportsman 820.

Pros

  • Fast startup and temperature changeability
  • Gets hot! Hit over 500 degrees with no problem
  • Large capacity on the grill (fits 2 cookie sheets or a brisket and pork shoulder at once)
  • Well built…and feature-rich. Includes front, side shelf (with 3 tool hooks), a temperature probe, and a built-in plug for 2 meat probes.
  • Can do direct or indirect cooking
  • Searing ability (this is a standout feature that most pellet grills don’t have the ability to do). In my opinion, this sets the Pit Boss apart and gives it an extra boost!
  • Slow pellet burn rate
  • Great looking, I like the two-tone color

Cons

  • No wireless controls
  • Temp gauge missing 275-degree setting has smoke, 200, 225, 250, 300 and then goes in 50-degree increments – wish it had 275 as it’s used frequently for finishing long cooks with pork butt and brisket
  • I would like 4 wheels rather than 2. I move the smoker around on my patio a lot so having the ability to push it around rather than lift and pull would be nice.

Specifications

  • Burger Capacity: 42
  • Cooking area: 820 square inches
  • Hopper capacity: 19 pounds
  • Temperature Range: 180°F – 500°F
  • BTU Value: 40,000
  • Simple Slide-Plate Flame Broiler
  • Porcelain Coated Cast Iron Cooking Grids
  • 8-In-1 Cooking System
  • Meat Probes Included: One
  • Tool Hooks
  • Solid Bottom Shelf
  • Fan Forced Convection Cooking
  • Automatic Start-Up and Cool Down
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