Which wood for which food?
Smoke flavour is a matter of taste, but these pairings are a reliable place to start:
| Food | Strong smoke | Medium | Light, sweet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef brisket, ribs | Mesquite, hickory | Oak | Cherry (for colour) |
| Pork shoulder, ribs | Hickory | Maple, pecan | Apple, cherry |
| Chicken, turkey | Hickory (sparingly) | Pecan, maple | Apple, cherry |
| Salmon, fish | — | Maple | Alder |
| Vegetables, cheese | — | Pecan | Apple, maple |
Our smoker pellets by meat guide goes deeper, with blend ideas and how much smoke to aim for.
100% wood, blends and flavour oils
Not all flavoured pellets are made the same way. Some are 100% of the named wood. Others use a base hardwood (often oak or alder) with a share of the flavour wood, and a few makers add flavour oils. None of that is wrong if it is disclosed, but you should know what you’re buying. On each product we give the wood species, blend and any oils or binders as the maker states them; when the maker doesn’t say, neither do we. Read are BBQ pellets 100% wood? for how to read a bag.
Will they work in my grill?
Pellets of the standard size (about 6 mm across) feed through the augers of most pellet grills. Check your grill manual for any pellet requirement. Grill makers such as Traeger and Pit Boss sell their own pellets, and Traeger or Pit Boss pellets are one option among many: a pellet grill burns any food-grade BBQ pellet of standard size, as long as the manual allows it. We only state that a product is compatible with a specific grill brand when the pellet maker says so.
Never cook with heating pellets. They are made for stoves, not food, and may contain woods and materials that are not meant for cooking.
No pellet grill? Use a smoke tube
A smoke tube is a perforated metal tube you fill with pellets and light. It smoulders for hours and adds real wood smoke to a gas grill or charcoal kettle. See smoking wood chips and smoke tubes.
Buying for the season
When you compare smoker pellets for sale, compare the price per pound, the wood species and whether the bag is 100% of the named wood.
Most BBQ pellet buying happens from April to June. Buying two or three bags at once keeps you from running out mid-cook. Store opened bags in a sealed bin: pellets that take on moisture smoke poorly and can jam the auger.
Frequently asked questions
How long do wood pellets last in a smoker?
It depends on the grill and the temperature. Low-and-slow smoking uses fewer pellets per hour than high-heat grilling. Your grill manual lists consumption per hour at each temperature.
Can I use pellets in my regular smoker or gas grill?
Yes, with a smoke tube or smoker box: the pellets smoulder beside the heat source and add smoke. See smoke tubes.
Are Traeger pellets 100% wood?
Ask any brand for its species and binder disclosure; we can only speak for what we sell. Our guide to pellet ingredients shows what to look for on the bag.
What pellets are best for smoking a brisket?
Oak, hickory or mesquite are the classic choices for beef. Many pitmasters use oak as the base and add hickory for a stronger smoke.
What’s the difference between pellets and charcoal?
Pellets give automatic, steady temperature with wood-smoke flavour; charcoal gives higher searing heat and the classic charcoal taste. See lump charcoal vs briquettes vs pellets.
Do you have recipes for a pellet grill?
Start with how to smoke a turkey on a pellet grill and how to smoke a brisket on a pellet grill.