Everyone knows when you have a pellet grill in the backyard. If it hasn’t happened already, you will–without a doubt–have a moment when a passing neighbor asks whether you own a smoker. The drifting pellet smoke provides an appetizing aroma, and they can’t help but notice.
However, it’s one thing to smell it and another thing to taste it. Wood-fired smoke enhances everything you cook in a pellet grill, and your choice of wood flavors–referring to the types of wood–can make a big difference when combined with specific foods.
Follow these 5 tips and master the flavors in your pellet grill; from choosing wood pellets for your grill to how quickly they burn and proper storing methods.

1. Select High-Quality Wood Pellets
   There are many wood pellet options in the marketplace, but they’re not all made equally. If you choose to branch out from your brand of pellet grill, always make sure you select premium wood pellets.
2. Choose Food-grade Wood Pellets, Not Heating Pellets
   Since we’re determining the values of quality wood pellets, we also need to distinguish between two types. Our stores offer smoker pellets and heating pellets. They’re both compressed wood, but they are not the same and each has a specific purpose.
   Heating pellets are less expensive than smoker pellets, but for a good reason. Heating pellets are intended for wood-burning stoves and are not produced for food consumption. They’re mostly made from soft woods–such as pine–which produce unfavorable flavors. This wood may be sourced from wood products like plywood or particle board that include fillers and binding agents, making it unsafe for your food and your grill. It’s great for heating your home, but avoid using heating pellets in your pellet grill.
3. Complement Your Favorite Foods
   Each pellet flavor, or type of wood, has a unique taste and naturally complements certain foods. Wood pellet flavors are generally classified in a range from mild to strong; with woods such as alder and maple on the mild end, and hickory and mesquite on the stronger side.
4. How Long Does a Bag of Wood Pellets Last?
   There’s always one question we hear time and again. How long does a 20 lb. bag of wood pellets last?
   On average, your pellet grill will burn through 1 lb. of wood pellets per hour, but this also varies depending on the heat level and time of year. For longer smoked foods such as pulled pork and brisket, you’ll likely use less wood pellets. When the pellet grill temperature is on the high end for things such as pizza and rolls, the average will increase upwards to 3 lbs. per hour. Naturally, when you turn up the heat, it will burn through more wood pellets.
5. Properly Store Your Wood Pellets
   When you keep wood pellets around, make sure they’re not just … laying around. Even inside of an unopened bag, your wood pellets should be kept dry and off the ground. Moisture negatively affects the pellets and sometimes makes them unusable.
   Store your wood pellets indoors in an airtight container to prevent moisture from reaching them and absorbing into the fibers. Our IFA food-grade, 5-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids are a great option.