Can You Use Pellets In A Charcoal Grill? 4 Recommended Types

We all want to create a delicious smoky flavour in our grilled food, and there are a few sources to choose from. 

At the lower end of the scale, there’s charcoal, which provides a subtle smoky flavor. The next level up is wood pieces or chips, which have a more smoky flavor. Pellets, which tend to produce the strongest smoky flavor, are at the top of the spectrum.

But can you use pellets in a  charcoal grill directly? In this post, we’ll be exploring that question.

CAN YOU USE PELLETS IN A CHARCOAL GRILL?

Given the following reasons, it’s possible for you to use pellets in a charcoal grill: However, using this directly on a charcoal grill is not advisable.

What happens if you only use pellets in a charcoal grill?

When you only use pellets in a charcoal grill, there are a few things that can go wrong:

Directly placing pellets in a charcoal grill is not a good idea because the intense heat they produce could cause uneven burning and even damage to the grill. This is a big problem if the grill wasn’t made to handle such high temperatures.

When burned straight on, pellets can give off a lot of heat. If you find that your grill is not reaching the desired temperature, there are techniques to make your charcoal grill hotter, which can be especially useful when incorporating pellets Because of this, the food you put on the grill might cook unevenly.

Pellets are different from charcoal or wood, so they don’t burn as well. Charcoal is made by burning wood in a low-oxygen setting, while pellets are compressed sawdust and other wood products. If you only use them as fuel, you might not get the same steady heat and burn rate as you do with charcoal.

Besides, pellets can burn faster than charcoal, so you have to refill fuel more often to make sure the cooking temperature is high. 

If your grill has a large grate, the pellets could fall easily than the bigger charcoal pieces.

Also we even get the suboptimal flavor profile problem: pellets are great for adding a smoky flavor, but using them as the only fuel source might not give the same flavor profile as using both charcoal and pellets.

So, our recommendation for you is to consider mixing pellets and charcoal to improve your grilling experience.

Pellets should be used together with charcoal. 

How to use pellets on a charcoal grill

There are still solutions if you only have a charcoal grill but still want to enjoy the full smoky taste that pellets provide.

Of course, you should keep in mind that the charcoal itself still serves as the primary source of heat in a charcoal grill. 

The pellets are not the main source of heat. Instead, they are used to give the food being cooked a smoky taste. You can use the pellets in a pellet basket, a pellet smoker tube, or just by scattering them over the hot coals.

I’ll give you three methods I’ve used as a more thorough guide: 

• Employ a smoker box: You can make use of a pellet tube smoker, a small metal tube that can be loaded with pellets and set directly on the coals in the grill. This is effective in delivering the smoky flavor without causing any physical damage to the grill. 
• Use a pellet basket: With this metal container, you can place it directly on top of the charcoal in your grill to hold pellets. It lets the pellets burn alongside the charcoal, giving your food a smoky flavour.
• Use a foil pouch: You can also create an aluminum foil pouch and put pellets inside it . Place the pouch immediately on top of the charcoal after making a few small holes in the foil to let the smoke out.

It’s important to keep in mind that even though these methods can work, they might not be as effective or efficient as using a specialized pellet smoker. To use pellets, you need special equipment that can control the temperature and the amount of smoke that comes out.

TYPES OF PELLETS SUITABLE FOR CHARCOAL GRILLS

Charcoal pellets are bigger and less tightly packed than pellet grill pellets. They are designed to be used alongside charcoal and are similar to wood chips in size and shape.

Pellets in charcoal grill mostly boost flavor. They add a smoky taste to the food but are not the primary source of heat.

In a charcoal grill, pellets may not manage temperature precisely. They burn differently depending on composition and grill oxygen.

While still being food-grade, they are not the main fuel source, so these pellets may be less strictly regulated for additives and binders.  

Since there may be fewer charcoal grill-specific pellet variation, users often resort to wood chips or pieces.

Based on the instructions for pellets used in a charcoal grill, here are some types of pellets we thing are the best, which are the ones that add taste without having to be depended on for steady heat or temperature control:

Hardwood Pellets:

• Oak: It complements charcoal heat and is versatile and moderately smokey, making it a perfect all-arounder for meats.
• Hickory: For smoking ribs and brisket, it adds an unmistakable BBQ flavor.
• Maple: Its softer, sweeter smoke adds a delicate flavor to chicken and pork without overpowering natural flavors.

Fruitwood Pellets

• Apple: The sweet, fruity smoke adds a unique edge to chicken and pork without overwhelming it.
• Cherry: It adds complexity to chicken and seafood with its subtle, fruity smoke.
• Pecan: Its rich, nutty taste is less strong than hickory, making it suitable for a range of meats and vegetables.

Blend Pellets

When you mix different kinds of wood together, you get a blend pellet. With blend pellets, the different flavors of different woods are mixed to make a more complicated and well-balanced taste.

Try the Traeger Signature Blend, Pit Boss Competition Blend, or Bear Mountain BBQ Gourmet Blend. These mixes effectively incorporate hickory, maple, cherry, and oak.These pellets’ woods go well with beef, poultry, and veggies.

Specialty Pellets

Pellets from non-traditional woods like mesquite or alder can be used for those looking to experiment with unique flavors. However, it’s important to ensure they are food-grade and free from additives.

Traeger‘s Mesquite Hardwood Pellets and Weber‘s SmokeFire roast Academy Mesquite Pellets roast rich meats with a strong, earthy taste. Louisiana Grills‘ Pennsylvania Cherry Pellets and BBQR’s Delight Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Barrel Pellets provide a unique grilling experience with their fruity and whiskey-infused aromas.

PELLETS VS. WOOD CHIPS: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

Pellets and wood chips for charcoal grills do share some similarities, but still, they are generally very different. 

Efficiency 

Pellets are made from compressed sawdust that has been carefully cleaned to get rid of any impurities like dirt, bark, or other contaminants. This results in an end item that is rather uniform and dense. 

Additionally, during the manufacturing process, the pellets’ size and shape are kept very uniform, which helps with their capacity to burn smoothly and produce credible heat.

Also, pellets generally burn cleaner and produce less ash. 

In short, pellets can catch fire more easily and produce smoker at a quicker rate. It can help you get ready for your cook earlier.

On the other hand, wood chunks and chips frequently arise from scrap wood that hasn’t been compressed or otherwise processed. They typically consist of dirt, bark, and other particles that may prevent the fire from fully igniting. 

They may burn haphazardly, causing uneven heat and more ash, and they are also uneven in size and shape.

Flavor

Wood chunks and chips can provide a more potent and diverse smoke flavor, whereas pellets are known to give a smoother and more consistent smoke. 

Also, using wood chunks and chips allows for more flavor play due to the prospect of a wider variety of wood types. 

However, using pellets tends to be more handy because they are simple to load into a smoker’s hopper and are continuously fed into the fire as needed.

Consistency

We think wood pellets is suitable for those who are looking for a steady stream of smoke. As the pellets release smoke at a mesured rate.

Wood chips tend to ignite more rapidly, it sometimes release too much smoke, less smoke at other times. 

From our experience, it is easier for you to control with pellets. Because you can determine the rate which your meat and somkes perfectly cooked.

To sum up, the decision to use wood chunks, chips, or pellets depends on personal preference and the particular cooking requirements. Both can be useful methods for giving grilled or smoked foods a smoky flavor.

WRAPPING IT UP ON USING PELLETS IN A CHARCOAL GRIILL

While using pellets in a charcoal grill has its drawbacks—like grill damage and frequent refueling- tools like smoker boxes and pellet baskets offer practical solutions. 
The choice between the steady burn of pellets and the potent smoke of wood chips depends on your desired flavor and grilling method. Mixing pellets with charcoal could be the sweet spot for those looking to enhance their grilling experience without straying too far from the classic approach.
In the end, grilling is a personal activity; it’s about finding the flavors that you and your guests will enjoy. So go ahead, experiment, and let your grilling be a amazing feast of flavors.