The Weber SmokeFire EX6 Makes Some Fine Smoked Meats - WIRED

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The first time I turned it on, I almost shoved the Weber SmokeFire down the hill and into the woods behind my house?

That's what Weber was hoping to change when it launched the SmokeFire last year.

The basic principle of a pellet grill is that a small heating element ignites compressed sawdust pellets and then blows on them with a fan.

After that, all I had to do was set up the temperature probes—one to monitor the ambient temp around the ribs, another in the rack to monitor the temp of the meat—and set the temperature of the grill.

In the meantime, there's pellet smokers to simplify life.

It uses the same inverted V-shaped flame spreaders, which Weber calls "flavorizer bars." These spread the flames and help get more direct flame across the cooking surface, providing a better sear.

Weber SmokeFire EX6 (Gen 2).

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My biggest problem with pellet smokers is the requirement to use the brand's pellets.

In this regard, the SmokeFire is no different than any other pellet cooker.

If you read customer reviews of the Weber SmokeFire, you may run across some angry people who had bad experiences with the original model, including a significant number of grease fires.

One of the big complaints about the original SmokeFire was that Weber's app didn't allow for much control.

I think Weber solved the software problems that plagued the original SmokeFire.

To address the hardware issues, Weber added a panel to the pellet hopper to make it steeper, so the pellets slide down the auger easier.

If you get a pellet smoker, get a shop vac as well.

Also, the SmokeFire EX6 is a massive grill.

The 1,008 square inches of cooking space can hold six racks of ribs with no problem, more if you use the upper shelf too (an extra 360 square inches of indirect cooking space).

For people who aren't regularly grilling for a crowd, the slightly smaller EX4, with 672 square inches of cooking space, might be better choice.

So long as you're willing to clean it, the SmokeFire makes a great all-in-one backyard cooker.

Weber SmokeFire EX6 (Gen 2).

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