How to Store Wood Pellets (6 Essential Tips)
We all know you need to have the right smoker to get delicious results, but one thing we don’t often consider is the pellets we’re using! Not only do they provide the fuel for your smoker, but they also alter the flavor of your meat. If you don’t properly care for your wood pellets, your grill won’t thank you, and neither will your tastebuds.
So, how do you continue keeping your pellets in top condition so you can continue eating delicious smoked meals? Read on to find out!
6 Essential Wood Pellet Storage Tips
Keep Your Wood Pellets Dry
Find a suitable place to keep your wood pellets indoors – it needs to be well away from moisture in the air, so rule out sheds. Your garage will likely be okay, though if you have a large enough utility or mudroom where you can store them, that’s even better. Make sure the space stays dry, and use a single-use dehumidifier if necessary if moisture raises in the room.
Damp pellets are the worst thing you can put into your grill – the temperature will be thrown off and the quality of smoke will be different, too. Avoid damp pellets at all costs!
Once You’VE Opened A Bag, Be Extra Careful
Once you’ve opened a bag of pellets, you need to be extra careful. It’s best to move them into an air-tight container such as a 5-gallon bucket or a plastic tote with a lid, and make sure you secure the lid tightly. Again, if there’s room, you could use a small dehumidifier in the bucket or tote if it’s a humid or wet day when you move them over. Another option is to put the open bag in your pantry as if your food lasts well in there, and make sure the bag is folded up tightly.
Make Sure You Clean Pellets Out of the Hopper
So you’re leaning back in your seat, full and happy after devouring your latest, delicious meal prepared with your grill. You’ve got that slightly sleepy feeling we all get after a good meal, and the last thing on your mind is going back out to your grill to clean it and put it away.
We get it, BUT you really need to find that last little bit of motivation to get out there and clean leftover pellets out of your hopper and put them back in storage so you can use them next time. If you don’t, and you leave them overnight, make sure you put those unused pellets in the trash. Once they’ve sat out in the hopper, they’re going to lose their quality and won’t perform the way you need them to. If you leave them for a long time, they’ll rot, and then you’ll have an even bigger mess on your hands.
Examine Your Pellets Before You Put Them the Hopper
What you put into your hopper is just as important as taking old pellets out, and it only takes a glance to check whether the pellets you’re about to put in are in good shape. All you need to do is look if they’re shiny and crisp – if you snap one, they should crack in half, not bend and then break. This goes double if it’s been a while since you last used your pellets.
Stay Safe
Don’t forget that wood pellets are essentially tinder – they’re flammable and designed to burn well. When you’re deciding where to store them, keep in mind if there’s any likelihood that they may be exposed to extreme heat or even a spark or open flame. That means keep them out of direct sunlight, away from your aircon unit or water heater, and a good distance from your cars. Just a little common sense here can go a long way to keeping you and your home safe!
Make Sure You Have Quality Equipment
If you’re not getting the results you want from your wood pellets, there may be two things that aren’t working:
- You’re using old/low-quality pellets, or
- Your grill is past its best.
The first one isn’t difficult to identify or fix. If you’ve been using the same wood pellets for a long time, they may have lost their quality or have lacked it in the first place. If your grill is clean and you’ve been keeping it in good working order, then it’s likely worth buying a bag of our high-quality wood pellets and following all the tips we’ve covered here to keep them at their best. Our pellets have an extremely low ash content and a low moisture content, so you can’t go wrong! We’ve got 6 different flavors to try, so grab our Wood Pellet Set to try them all.
If you’ve recently bought new pellets but you’re getting less than great results, then it may be your grill itself. Did you inherit it? Have you kept it clean and well maintained? If so, it may be time to treat yourself to an upgrade! Z Grills balance high quality and top-of-the-range technology with affordable prices. Click here to browse our range and jump on our current special offers.