Anybody who will get into grilling fairly critically will finally begin to accumulate a bunch of grills. It normally begins out with a charcoal kettle grill in school after which sprouts right into a propane gasoline grill earlier than branching off right into a smoker, a pellet grill… Earlier than you understand it, the yard is stuffed with chunky cooking machines and your associate is none too happy. However one solution to calm a savage partner and clear up that barbecue muddle is to consolidate with an all-in-one grill that may carry out a number of features. The one catch is discovering one that really works nicely in the entire main barbecue types.
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In my long-term overview of fairly a couple of grills, I discovered that the legendary, greatest all-around grill is the Camp Chef Woodwind Professional with Sidekick Sear. The primary unit is a good performing pellet grill that Camp Chef stuffed a small, wood-burning hearth field into. Neatly, it is positioned over the fireplace field that burns the pellets—making a pellet grill which might present the copious quantities of smoke {that a} charcoal or wooden smoker will pump out. To get a correct propane performer, use the Sidekick Sear—basically a propane burner attaching to the facet of the grill the place a shelf would usually sit. It features a small field with a flame diffuser and forged iron grate, and might bump temperatures to 700 levels, making it the perfect add-on for searing and offering the relative ease of propane grilling.
General Impressions: Camp Chef Woodwind Professional and SideKick Sear
Adam Bible
I’ve used a couple of Camp Chef propane and pellet grills over time and was typically impressed with their construct high quality and ease of meeting. I used to be excited to attempt the Woodwind Professional for this overview, particularly due to the smoke field, which is sorely wanted in pellet grills to get a more in-depth to charcoal/hardwood smoke—and since I appreciated the sooner Camp Chef pellet/propane combo fashions.
Setup was typical of many pellet grills and achieved with out a hitch. Getting the smoke field put in was additionally a cinch and allowed me a second to review the way it works. Positioned immediately above the firebox, the chamber slides out and in independently and might maintain a small quantity of wooden. Rotating the deal with counterclockwise on the grill entrance opens the chamber to the fireplace and lets you roughly management how your hardwood chunks burn. The deal with positioning is not all the time intuitive, so learning precisely the way it works throughout meeting will assist you get the cling of it for future smokes.
Adam Bible
The opposite options labored as anticipated, with the same old WiFi connection shenanigans that appear to plague most new merchandise filled with wi-fi and Bluetooth tech. The app is intuitive and useful, but in addition can undergo from the dreaded “community connectivity issues.”
Lastly, the sear field does its job nicely, utilizing a steel buffer beneath the grate to higher scatter flames from a robust burner. This single burner, rated to a powerful 30,000 BTUs, is what Camp Chef constructed their early status on. It really works extraordinarily nicely with the pizza oven and griddle accent; a number of the greatest (small) pizzas I’ve ever made open air have been cooked on the add on.
Key Options and Tech
Adam Bible
The 2 primary options that make the Camp Chef Woodwind Professional the most effective total grill are its smoke field and propane-powered Sidekick. The smoke field turns this strong pellet grill right into a legit smoker, whereas the Sidekick Sear possibility permits you to critically brown meat and veggies at excessive warmth.
The grill’s air flow and sealing system is an improve from the essential Camp Chef smoker, because it features a warmth diffuser contained in the cooking chamber that improves warmth circulation and smoking together with adjustable rear venting. A heat-resistant seal can also be added to the rim of the opening for optimum smoke retention, a function normally discovered solely on devoted people who smoke.
Different welcome items of tech embrace the grill’s WiFi system, which makes use of a shade show dial to shortly transfer by the menu, and 4 ports to plug in thermometer probes. The app works with Apple and Android, and allows you to remotely set timers, add notifications, label probes, and choose meat varieties. You’ll be able to even dial in your most well-liked smoke degree on the menu for added smokiness.
Execs & Cons
Execs
Select from a number of fuels to grill or smoke quite a lot of meals Useful Sidekick possibility permits you to add different cooking equipment, like a griddle or pizza oven—which works greatReliable construct high quality and strong, sturdy supplies
Cons
App connectivity may be iffyStart up and shutdown procedures are a bit antiquatedSear field grill grate susceptible to rust
Remaining Verdict
Adam Bible
I’ve used the Camp Chef Woodwind Professional 24 (the smaller model) for over a yr. For extra room, you possibly can step as much as the 36, which provides round 400 extra sq. inches of cooking floor. I take a look at numerous grills and people who smoke, however the Woodwind Professional is the grill I preserve coming again to. 12 months-round, I grill or smoke 90 p.c of my outside cooks on this grill. It is on obligation no less than a couple of instances every week.
I used to be largely a gasoline and charcoal (for smoking) man for many of my grilling life, till I began testing pellet grills. I immediately cherished the benefit of cooking on a pellet grill, particularly for stuff like skin-on rooster and the hearty smoke taste it gave every part. The notable draw back was its lack of ability to succeed in excessive warmth and a flame to sear meats. Additionally, wooden pellets cannot fairly provide you with sufficient smoke to match a devoted charcoal- or wood-burning cooker.
Adam Bible
The Woodwind Professional, with the addition of the Sidekick Sear (which provides an additional $300 to the bottom worth of $1,199), solves this situation by letting you smoke, grill, and sear in addition to many of the prime grills in every class—multi functional handy package deal.
Specs
Cooking space: 811 sq. inches (224 sq. inches for sear field)Dimension: 26 x 44.5 x 55 inchesFuel: Wooden pellets/wooden/propane gasHopper capability: 22 poundsBTUs: 33,000Warranty: 6 years on physique/hopper physique/lid/legs/backside shelf/grates, 3 years on fan/auger motor/scorching rod/controller/casters/wheels/thermometer/drip tray/warmth deflector/burners, 1 yr on gaskets/probes/different components
Why You Ought to Belief Me
I’ve been an editor, outside author, and equipment reviewer at a number of publications for over 20 years. I am the gear editor at Males’s Journal and I’ve examined and reviewed every part from coolers and grills to e-bikes and flashlights. My first try at smoking was with a Weber Smokey Mountain that was a Christmas current. After all, I needed to attempt it instantly, which ended up being on a deck in the midst of a snowstorm in Brooklyn—it did not go nicely. Since then, I’ve graduated to smoking entire pigs and grilling on every part from rusty grates on seashore campfires to quite a lot of good pellet grills in my yard.
