It is obvious that smoking meat in winter with an ordinary grill will struggle to reach the right temperature but luckily we have the best pellet smoker for cold weather.
We know how smoked meats keep your body warm and energetic during this season. But the problem is, you only need one unit of a cold-weather grill that can withstand colder regions.
That’s why we have a list of the top 6 best pellet smokers for winter smoking, for which we reached out to over 25 pellet smokers. All of them are made of high-quality material as well as insulated.
Top 6 Best Pellet Smoker For Cold Weather
Have some patience and you are going to get the best cold weather smoker options for which we have made tons of effort, let’s get started
Traeger Timberline 850
If you want to avoid the hassle of smoking in winter, the Traeger Timberline is our first choice and comes with a host of advanced features that make you consider it!
The smoker comes with full stainless steel grates, a precise Di2 controller, and WiFi connectivity, with their TRU Convection® system for even heat distribution. Timberline 850 also features a new downdraft exhaust system that draws smoke back onto your food for maximum smoke.
Traeger Timberline 850 has also a Super Smoke mode that turns down the temperature so the unit releases more and more smoke.
It really doesn’t end here. The unit has TurboTemp so you can manually increase the temperature as soon as you open the lid. A pellet sensor informs you when it is the right time to refill. Using a Hopper trapdoor makes pellet cleaning and changing very fast.
The Traeger Timberline is the leader in build quality and size, although it gives you a choice.
The Traeger Timberline 850’s smoker is sized, where you can cook up to 9 chickens, 6 pork butts, or 8 ribs rack in an 869-square-inch cooking area. Its hopper capacity is 24 pounds which will let you smoke low and slow for up to 24 hours.
Another Timberline 1300 option comes with a 1343 square inch smoking area where you can cook 12 chickens, 12 pork, or 15 racks at once. And the hopper capacity is the same as 24 pounds.
You choose one of these, but Timberline will provide you with virtually everything you want in a pellet smoker that includes continuous cooking in cold weather.
Specification for Traeger Timberline 850 Pellet Grill
| Grate material | Stainless steel | WiFi | Enable |
| Cooking capacity | 869 square inches | Dimensions | 46″ W x 51″ H x 28″ D |
| Hopper Capacity | 24 lbs | Material | Powder-coated steel |
| Temperature range | 160°F – 500°F | Warranty | 3 years |
Features of Traeger Timberline 850
- Completely insulated for maximum cooking efficiency in the coldest weather
- A wide temperature range plus dual position smoke and sear bottom grate lets you smoke, grill, roast, bake and sear on one BBQ
- The D2 controller sets the temperature in 5°F increments
- TRU convection and downdraft exhaust system creates excellent heat and smoke circulation for consistent classic smoky results
- Brushless motor built to last longer than competitors
- Stainless steel grates provide corrosion resistance with durability
- WiFi connectivity so you can control the grill completely from your smartphone
- Low bullet sensor
- Super smoke mode
- Turbo Temp for faster heating
- Hopper trapdoor for easy cleaning and refilling
Weber SmokeFire EX4
The Weber Smokefire was one of the most expected grills for cold weather. Although it had several flaws at launch, it faced serious issues including pellet bridging, which would prevent pellets from falling into the auger. But now it has been greatly improved.
This beast is not saving space, it has a cooking area of 1008 square inches. A great choice for those struggling to smoke in the cold season with temperatures that reach as high as 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
It includes a flavorizer bar, which is designed for direct, more consistent heat, unlike traditional pellet grills, which use a large diffuser plate that blocks the flame.
The Weber Smokefire EX4 comes with an exclusive porcelain enamel finish that withstands the harshest elements and helps prevent rusting and cracking over time. It also retains heat to keep your grill at the exact temperature in cold climates.
The SmokeFire uses a unique open concept. Add an extra kick of smoky taste to your food thanks to SmokeBoost features! Choose SmokeBoost at the beginning of your cook for even more wood-fired flavor.
The hopper capacity is good enough for smoking for up to 20 hours. Cook whatever you want like smoked ribs, baked, seared, and more. Totally remote-operated unit that can feel great.
Specification of Weber SmokeFire EX4
| Grate material | Stainless steel | WiFi | Enable |
| Cooking capacity | 1008 square inches | Dimensions | 30.3″ W x 55.5″ H x 31.3″ D |
| Hopper Capacity | 22 lbs | Material | Porcelain-enamel finish and Stainless steel cart frame |
| Temperature range | 200°F – 600°F | Warranty | 5 years |
Features of Weber SmokeFire EX4
- Weber SmokeFire porcelain-enamel finish helps prevent rust as well as cracking.
- Spacious 1,008 square inches of dual grilling space.
- DC-powered engine, specially designed to prevent auger jam.
- Designed to distribute even heat across the cooking area.
- Improved grilling performance and new Weber Connect smart features
- Includes two meat probes (four probe capacity)
- It smokes within a 200-600°F temperature range.
Grilla Grills Silverbac
The Grilla Grills Silverback is completely packed with the insulated unit we need for cold-weather smoking, it has an exquisite design that blows away most pitmasters.
With this unit, you will get stainless steel grates, heat deflectors, firepots, and lids that protect against corrosion and are excellent in durability. It has built-in storage for additional cooking ingredients.
Silverback has 692 square inches of cooking space and a 20-pound hopper capacity for pellets.
You get a dual-mode smoker controller with the Grilla Grills which is really interesting in terms of a temperature controller and smoke test.
Really awesome in terms of precise temperature regulation, just set it to PID mode, or if you want to smoke meat by high-temperature fluctuation, just use regular mode, the choice is yours.
Basically, my friends, you have more flexibility for even more versatility, with max grilling temperatures up to 500°F.
Some of the other features you should pay attention to is the TempTamer which helps minimize the drop you get from opening the lid, including a meat probe and a pellet dump door.
Specification of Grilla Grills Silverbac
| Grate material | Stainless steel | WiFi | No |
| Cooking capacity | 692 square inches | Dimensions | 47″ W x 51″ H x 22″ D |
| Hopper Capacity | 20 lbs | Material | Powder-coated steel with stainless steel lids |
| Temperature range | 180°F – 500°F | Warranty | 4 years |
Traeger Ironwood 885
There’s no doubt that the Traeger Timberline will be the most audible sound, but may be out of budget for anyone, so we recommend considering the Ironwood if the Traeger is your first choice.
The Traeger Ironwood is not full-body insulated, instead, it is side-wall insulated. If it’s too cold outside, you’ll definitely struggle with it a bit more with this pellet grill unit.
Nevertheless, the Traeger Ironwood is still capable of operating in colder climates as it offers some built-in protection from the winter weather to reduce heat loss and improve fuel efficiency.
The Ironwood also comes with all the Timberline-like features such as WiFi connectivity, Di2 controller, downdraft exhaust, low pellet sensor, super smoke mode, and dual position smoke and searing bottom grates.
Treasure Ironwood has porcelain-coated grill grates with less space than Timberline. While also has a lower 20-pound hopper capacity than the Timberline.
Ironwood also has two modules. The 650 comes with 650 square inches and another Ironwood 885 has 850 square inches of cooking area with a 20-pound hopper capacity.
The Treasure Ironwood is built solid for cold-season smoking. You get the same great quality and a whole host of easy-to-use features.
Specification for Traeger Ironwood
| Grate material | Porcelain-coated steel | WiFi | Enable |
| Cooking capacity | 850 square inches | Dimensions | 53″ x 27″ x 47″ inches |
| Hopper Capacity | 20 lbs | Material | Porcelain-coated steel |
| Temperature range | 180°F – 500°F | Warranty | 3 years |
Features of Traeger Ironwood
- Affordable price for cold weather smokers
- Side-wall insulation provides some extra protection without using thermal blankets
- Top quality construction
- Excellent temperature controller
- Downdraft exhaust system tastes smokier
- WiFi connectivity
- Super smoke mode
- Turbo Temp Modes
- Low Bullet Sensor With Door To Evacuate
- Dual position smoking/searing grate so you can get more heat for a more effective grill
- Brushless motor
ZGrills Flagship 700D4E
We know that when you live in a place where it gets very cold, your budget gets spent on other life care things. So the Z Grill 700D4E is a great option if your budget is less.
The Z Grills 700D4E doesn’t have great features but it gives you solid and reliable results. Still, after looking at the price, some people may question its strength and performance.
This unit has a PID temperature controller that provides heat information within 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The pellet grill does an excellent job of moving the heat from one end to the other in the cooking chamber.
A manual feed button allows you to rapidly heat up the pellet smoker. It has 2 meat temperature probes that connect directly to the controller which gives accurate information about the meat heat.
It has 697 square inches of cooking space which is the same premium quality as a higher-ranked grill. The Hopper capacity is 20 pounds, and a storage cabinet with a waterproof cover that’s a bonus for you.
The pellet grill smoker gives you a maximum temperature range of 450°F which may actually be a bit low but surprisingly it cooks well. It will definitely consume more pellets, so what does it matter?
The 700D4E’s performance amazes you at this price point as high build quality won’t cost you much. If you live in a very cold area, you can use a thermal blanket, but it does well without it.
Specification of Z Grills 700D4E
| Grate material | Porcelain-coated steel | WiFi | No |
| Cooking capacity | 650 square inches | Dimensions | 46″ W x 47″ H x 27″ D |
| Hopper Capacity | 20 lbs | Material | Porcelain-coated steel |
| Temperature range | 160°F – 500°F | Warranty | 3 years |
Features of Z Grill 700D4E
- Excellent temperature controller with advanced PID system and convection circulation
- Dual wall insulation with a 2.0mm thick stainless steel lid lets you smoke in cold weather
- The control room includes 2 meat probes for internal monitoring of the meat
- The manual feed button lets you quickly heat to turn the grill back
- Hopper clean-out door allows for easy replacement
- A large cabinet for storage
- Comes with a waterproof cover as a bonus
Pit Boss Vertical Smoker
If you are looking for the Pit Boss vertical pellet smoker for cold climates then the Pit Boss PB5000SP is a great option that will fulfill your wish.
While it is not cheap if your budget is very tight then we recommended considering Pit Boss Grills 77550 Pellet Smoker, both are fantastic with a few features difference.
This area-saving design that easily fits into a small patio has 1,721 square inches of cooking space inside a double-walled vertical design. Thanks to the multi-position racking system, there are 5 grates you can take anywhere.
A massive 55-pound hopper capacity makes this vertical smoker great for smoking meat for more than 24+ hours without just touching a smidge.
VP1 controller is not as reliable as PDI. But with convection fans, it does a great job of heating the cooking space. It has a manual feed button also to push more pellets into the firepot for faster heat.
One thing to note about a Pit Boss vertical smoker, or any brand of the vertical smoker, is that the heating element is further away from the grates. This unit kept a maximum temperature of 420 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although you can still cook a lot here! A vertical-style smoker, it has a really wide temperature range and will let you smoke low and slow and bake anything you cook in your kitchen oven.
Specification of Pit Boss 5 Series Vertical Smoker
| Grate material | Powder-coated steel | WiFi | No |
| Cooking capacity | 1,721 square inches | Dimensions | 53” H x 29” W x 27” D |
| Hopper Capacity | 55 lbs | Material | Powder-coated steel |
| Temperature range | 150°F – 420°F | Warranty | 5 years |
Features of Pit Boss Cold Weather Smoker
- Smoke huge amounts of food without taking up a lot of space
- Dual wall insulation retains heat for excellent efficiency in harsh weather
- The wide temperature range makes it suitable for smoking, roasting, and baking
- An adjustable racking system gives ultimate flexibility in spacing
- A large glass door lets you see what’s happening inside the cooking chamber without opening the door
- The manual feed button quickly increases the temperature after opening the door
- 55 lbs is a really big pellet hopper that caters to really tall cooks
- Comes with 1 meat probe to monitor internal temperature
Final Verdict
Now you have the 6 best pellet smokers for cold weather options but if you can spend around $1500 must choose the best brands like Traeger and Weber. Why not do something that a pellet grill with excellent performance can reach your courtyard on a low budget?
For this, I would recommend you to look at ZGrills Flagship 700D4E. No matter how much you spend, you will need a high-quality blanket to get the right temperature for the winter season.
