When you are looking to sear a prime-cut steak you need a pellet grill that gets hot and stays hot. Here are the 5 best pellet grills of 2023 to achieve that perfect sear!
In this guide, we’ll break down the five best pellet grills for searing in 2023. Pellet grills generally all excel at smoking food low and slow, but they have not always been as able to sear a steak as well as gas grills. But recent significant improvements in pellet grilling technology have changed this. Most pellet grills now have awesome direct heat searing features like a sear box, direct flame grilling, or a slide plate flame broiler. With these improvements, wood-fired pellet grills are not just an alternative to your gas or charcoal grill but a huge improvement.
The Best Pellet Grills for Searing in 2023
Best Overall Pellet Grill for Searing: Yoder YS640
Best Value Pellet Grill for Searing: Z Grills ZPG-7002C
Best New and Improve Pellet Grill for Searing: Weber Smokefire Sear+ ELX6
Best Luxury Pellet Grill for Searing: Coyote 36 Inch Pellet Grill (C1P36-FS)
Best Portable Pellet Grill for Searing: ASMOKE AS350
Best Overall Pellet Grill for Searing
Yoder YS640 ($2399)
Category: Premium
Main Grilling Area / Secondary Grilling Area: 640 square inches/430 square inches
Total Grilling Area: 1070 square inches
Wifi/Bluetooth enabled: Wifi and Bluetooth
Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds
Maximum Temperature: 600 degrees F
What we like: Made in America, awesome direct flame capability, cast iron grates, built for life, maintains temperature
What we don’t: Nothing much…except the wheels could be bigger/better
Yoder is one of my favorite pellet grill brands, as they have been the leader of the pack in pellet grill technology. The YS640 is no exception and may be the best searing pellet grill. You pay a premium over the competition but nothing else on the market matches the combination of performance, craftsmanship, and durability. The YS640 is their mid-sized model (the YS480 is the smallest option and the Cimmaron is the largest). The YS-640 features state-of-the-art temperature control that allows for precise temperature adjustments. Yoder was one of the first pellet grill manufacturers to offer a cooking temperature over 500 degrees. In fact, this pellet grill can hit 600 degrees with no problem.
The YS640 also features direct flame cooking areas that are made for searing steaks. This direct flame access puts the steak right on top of the fire pot for a perfect sear. The grill also comes with heavy-duty cast iron grates that are incredible for searing steaks. Cast iron gets extremely hot and holds the heat better than any other metal. The result is a beautiful, delicious crust on your steak. If you are looking for beautiful grill marks on your food this is your grill.
Yoder Pellet Grills come standard with the Yoder Smokers ACS Control System featuring Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as two integrated food probes for monitoring. The ability to maintain temperatures between 5-10 degrees throughout a cook is unrivaled. The YS640 is built using 10-gauge steel construction (that is the thickest steel of all the pellet grills on this list), which translates to a cooker that will literally last a lifetime. Also, this grill is well insulated so it holds the heat much better if you cooking in cold weather. Yoder grills are American Made, with the best warranty of any other grills on the market: 10 years on the cooking chamber, 3 years on the ACS controller, and 3 years on the ceramic igniter
Best Value Pellet Grill for Searing
Z Grills ZPG-7002C ($479)
Category: Value
Main Grilling Area / Secondary Grilling Area: 504 square inches/193 square inches
Total Grilling Area: 697 square inches
Wifi/Bluetooth enabled: Wifi and Bluetooth
Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds
Maximum Temperature: 450 degrees F (700 degrees in direct flame mode)
What we like: Great quality for the price, direct flame cooking,
What we don’t: long heat up, not overwhelming amount of smoke
The Z Grills ZPG-7002C has a direct flame feature that allows for direct grilling, which is ideal for searing steaks. The features create intense heat (internal temperature up to 700 degrees) that sears the steak and creates beautiful grill marks. The main cooking area is very large so it can accommodate multiple steaks at once. You will have no problem cooking for a crowd.
The ZPG-7002C also features a PID temperature control which is a temperature control system that ensures that the grill maintains the set temperature. This is very important because you do not want your grill to suddenly lose heat when you are trying to sear. This grill is constructed with powder-coated steel for durability. Z-Grills manufactures some excellent grills that won’t break the bank and the ZPG-7002C is no exception especially if you are looking for high heat searing.
Best New and Improved Pellet Grill for Searing
Weber Smokefire Sear+ ELX6 ($1599)
Category: Premium
Main Grilling Area / Secondary Grilling Area: 648 square inches/509 square inches
Total Grilling Area: 1157 square inches
Wifi/Bluetooth enabled: Wifi and Bluetooth
Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds
Maximum Temperature: 600 degrees F
What we like: Max temp of 600 degrees, dual-sided sear grate, unique heat distribution system for searing, downdraft smoke system, pellet hopper sensor, included meat probe
What we don’t: Lengthy shutdown mode, front shelf still not standard
The EXL6 Sear+ is Weber’s third attempt in three years to create an even better pellet grill. It is no secret the first generation Smokefire (released in 2020) was plagued with several issues including a poor hopper design that would stop pellets from falling into the auger and faulty glow plugs. However, Weber addressed these issues very publicly and has resolved them in the second-generation models, a true testament to the excellent customer service provided by Weber. This model looks very similar to the EX6 but there are some minor improvements that make this a great pellet grill for smoking.
The ELX6 Sear+ comes with a custom cast iron sear grate that sits on top of the primary grilling area and is removable. This is a great option to help you produce those restaurant-quality sear marks. The new Sear+ offers about 150 more square inches of overall cooking area. A few other nice improvements in this model include a light on the inside of the grill and a second side shelf on the left side of the grill. The Smokefire EXL6 Sear+ also offers the largest cooking surface of all the grills on this list. It’s seriously big and offers plenty of real estate to feed everyone at your next backyard barbecue.
It’s great to see Weber improve on an already great pellet grill.
Best Luxury Pellet Grill for Searing
Coyote 36 Inch Pellet Grill – C1P36-FS ($4399)
Category: Value
Main Grilling Area / Secondary Grilling Area: 570 square inches/315 square inches
Total Grilling Area: 1056 square inches
Wifi/Bluetooth enabled: None
Hopper Capacity: 15 pounds
Maximum Temperature: 700 degrees F
What we like: Laser cut searing grates, 304 Grade Stainless steel construction, Intuitive touch screen controls, great warranty
What we don’t: No temperature alarm for probes, no wifi
The Coyote 36″ pellet grill is more like a sleek racecar than a grill. The entire grill is constructed out of top-quality 304 stainless steel. Coyote only makes the best outdoor cookers and the 36″ pellet grill is a work of art. It excels at everything, especially searing steak.
The Coyote has one of the highest temperature ranges of any pellet grill I have cooked on. It can easily get up to 700 degrees F, which is ideal for a perfect sear. The Coyote 36″‘ comes with high-quality laser-cut stainless steel searing grates that are designed to heat up quickly and retain the heat. There is also a direct flame insert that allows you to cook your steak directly over an open flame. This feature is amazing for getting a good sear and creating a delicious crust on the outside of your steak.
This grill also offers multiple cooking zones, so that you can cook at different temperature ranges in each part of the grill. So you can crank the heat and get a great sear, then move the steak to a cooler zone to finish the steak to your desired level of doneness. Overall this is the pellet grill to get if you are looking for the perfect sear. The Coyote is just as good at maintaining low temperatures to cook your favorite barbecue low and slow.
Best Portable Pellet Grill for Searing
ASMOKE AS350 ($329)
Category: Portable
Main Grilling Area / Secondary Grilling Area: 184 square inches/NA
Total Grilling Area: 256 square inches
Wifi/Bluetooth enabled: Wifi and Bluetooth
Hopper Capacity: 4 pounds
Maximum Temperature: 500 degrees F
What we like: Stainless steel construction, porcelain coated grates, ASCA steam system
What we don’t: Small hopper
The ASMOKE AS 350 is a top-notch, portable pellet grill constructed completely of stainless steel and offers porcelain-coated grill grates. This unit is made for travel but can grill and smoke food just as well as your larger pellet grill that you have at home. Portable pellet grills are not typically considered to offer all the same features as their big brother, like high cooking temperatures. But with a maximum temperature of 500 degrees, the AS350 is more than capable to provide a perfect sear on a steak. Also, the AS350 features a searing plate that can be opened to provide direct flame cooking. This is a great feature for cooking steaks at a low temperature and then sliding the searing plate to reverse sear your steak. You can read more about other portable pellet grills here.
The porcelain-coated grates are also a nice feature that you don’t see on many other portable grills. In addition, the AS350 also features a patented ASCA system which provides superheated steam during the cook to make your meat juicer and more tender.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Pellet Grill for Searing
When comparing pellet grills to determine which is the best pellet grill for searing for you there are several features that you should consider. Focusing on these key features will help you purchase the right pellet grill.
Cooking Temperature Range
To sear properly you need your grill hot. The internal temperature should be at least 500 degrees F or higher. The goal is to get the grates as hot as possible to flash-cook the exterior of your steak. The hotter the grill grates the better the sear and the more delicious brown bits are created in the form of grill marks.
Ideally, if searing steak is one of your top priorities you should be looking at pellet grills that can reach 600-700 degrees. This is very top of the temperature range and is really only found in the higher-end or luxury pellet grills.
Cooking Area
The size of the cooking area is important, especially if you plan to entertain larger crowds from time to time. Having a grill that is large enough to feed the masses is much better than having to cook in several shifts.
For crowds that are meant for five or fewer, a cooking space of about 300-400 square inches is plenty. However, if you are planning for more than five guests, you will need to consider a cooking area that is larger than 600 square inches.
Cooking Grates
The grate material of the pellet grill is also very important when searing a steak. The hotter the grill grates can get the better the quality of the sear. Cast iron is typically considered the best material for conducting and retaining heat. This is important because after you throw the steak on the preheated grill you don’t want the grates to simply lose all the heat. Cast iron also is considered the original non-stick surface, so cleanup is snap.
Stainless steel grates are a close second to cast iron. Stainless steel grates are typically only found on higher-end pellet grills because they are very expensive to manufacture. Stainless steel is a highly desired material because it heats up quickly, retains consistent temperature, and will never rust, unlike cast iron grates.
Temperature Controls
How you control the temperature of your pellet grill is often overlooked as a feature, but it is important. My first Traeger pellet grill back in the stone age only had a dial with 25-degree increments. Now I can use my phone to quickly set the temperature in 5-degree increments from my couch. In order properly sear a steak you need to make sure your grill gets hot and stays hot right until the second that you put the steak on. A digital temperature control or wifi connectivity is best, and it sure beats the old dials of before.
Comparison Table
| Grill | Temperature Range | Cooking Area | Hopper Capacity | Grate Material | Wifi | Price |
| Yoder YS-640 | 150 – 600 degrees | 1070 square inches | 20 pounds | Cast Iron | Yes | $2399 |
| Z Grills ZPG-7002C | 180 – 450 degrees | 697 square inches | 24 pounds | Porcelain-coated steel | No | $479 |
| Weber SmokeFire EXL6 Sear+ | 200 – 600 degrees | 1156 square inches | 20 pounds | Plated Steel | Yes | $1599 |
| Coyote 36″ C1P36 | 175 – 700 degrees | 1056 square inches | 15 pounds | Stainless Steel | No | $4399 |
| ASMOKE AS350 | 180 – 500 degrees | 256 square inches | 4 pounds | Porcelain-coated steel | No | $279 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can get a good sear on a pellet grill. Modern pellet grills get just as hot as gas grills so they can sear equally as well.
Direct heat is used for searing as it provides intense high heat that will quickly sear the meat’s outer surface. Direct heat there is nothing in between the fire pot and meat. Indirect heat is used for low and slow cooking and smoking. With indirect heat cooking, there is a heat diffuser plate directly over the flame in the fire pot to dissipate and distribute the heat.
To get a good sear you want to set your pellet grill to 500 degrees or higher.
Yes! Pellet grills are the most versatile outdoor cooker available and can be used for smoking and searing with the push of a button. Pellet grills are perfect if you like to reverse-sear steak too. You can smoke a ribeye or porterhouse at 300 degrees until it is almost done, then crank the heat to 500 degrees and throw the steak back on for an awesome sear. All done with a push of a button or tap on your phone. It doesn’t get any easier.
No, you don’t need to use a cast iron skillet to sear on a pellet grill. Some pellet grills like the Yoder YS640 offer cast iron grates because the cast iron get exceptionally hot and is great at holding that heat. Cast iron grates really help to create a great crust, but they are not necessary.
It is very easy to clean your pellet grill after searing. Immediately after you take the meat off the grill use your grill brush to scrape any large bits of residual food off the grates. During the 10 minutes you are letting your steak rest before eating keep your pellet grill running. After 5-10 minutes give it another quick brush with the grill brush. By now the grill should have burnt off everything that was stuck on the grates. Turn the grill off and let it cool. Once it’s cool you can use some warm soapy water and a sponge then clean the grates.