KingChii 456 Sq In Black Pellet Grill & Smoker with Side Shelf and Cover

I bought this grill mainly because the PID controller sounded like it would keep temperatures stable. During my longer cooks, however, I noticed enough fluctuation that I kept checking another thermometer instead of trusting the grill completely.

This barbecue makes it simple to enjoy delicious outdoor cooking. Its ability to lend a smokey aroma to any food is just amazing, and its practical design--which includes folding legs and a rain cover--makes it perfect for any outdoor gathering.

This barbecue makes it simple to enjoy delicious outdoor cooking. Its ability to lend a smokey aroma to any food is just amazing, and its practical design--which includes folding legs and a rain cover--makes it perfect for any outdoor gathering.

Getting this grill up to the temperature I want seems to take longer than it should. Once it's running the food cooks, but waiting around during startup makes it frustrating when I'm trying to prepare dinner quickly.

Truly, you get what you pay for!When observing the materials and workmanship, it's evident that this grill is of top-notch quality.

Truly, you get what you pay for!When observing the materials and workmanship, it's evident that this grill is of top-notch quality.

The side shelf looked useful in the pictures, but I was disappointed by the actual workspace. Once I put a tray and a few utensils there, almost all of the available room was already taken.

The spatulas are robust and have a good flex. They ought to have them by default, so I made a hole in the handle so they could be hooked to the griddle's side.

The spatulas are robust and have a good flex. They ought to have them by default, so I made a hole in the handle so they could be hooked to the griddle's side.

I expected the automatic pellet feeding system to make smoking nearly effortless. During longer cooks I still found myself checking the hopper and temperature repeatedly, which wasn't the hands-off experience I thought I was getting.

It arrI'd beautI'lly wrapped and requI'd few pieces for easy setup. I discovered that the heat causes the metal to expand after a few test burns and pizza sessions. When the oven is hot, it's difficult to pull the front door open and I require assistance prying it open, but at least it stays closed to retain heat. When it heats up, the top hopper door experiences the same problem. Pulling out the hopper door to put more pellets in the tray I'difficult. The pizza oven has been fantastic and functional thus far, despite these two problems. All I need to do now is figure out how to use this lovely outdoor oven to make pizza!

It arrI'd beautI'lly wrapped and requI'd few pieces for easy setup. I discovered that the heat causes the metal to expand after a few test burns and pizza sessions. When the oven is hot, it's difficult to pull the front door open and I require assistance prying it open, but at least it stays closed to retain heat. When it heats up, the top hopper door experiences the same problem. Pulling out the hopper door to put more pellets in the tray I'difficult. The pizza oven has been fantastic and functional thus far, despite these two problems. All I need to do now is figure out how to use this lovely outdoor oven to make pizza!

Switching from charcoal was supposed to make barbecue easier, but I'm still spending time monitoring temperature, checking pellets, and cleaning afterward. It's different from charcoal, but in my experience it hasn't been nearly as convenient as expected.

Made smoked veggies to go with my BBQ meats. They were so flavorful--definitely adding this to my regular BBQ routine!

Made smoked veggies to go with my BBQ meats. They were so flavorful--definitely adding this to my regular BBQ routine!

I tried using this grill for steaks and wasn't impressed with the high-temperature performance. It works better for slow smoking, but I couldn't get the strong crust I normally expect when searing meat.

My cooking methods have been totally transformed by this grill. Not only is the smoky flavor amazing, but the temperature control is quite accurate. Everyone I know should get one, I'm telling them!

My cooking methods have been totally transformed by this grill. Not only is the smoky flavor amazing, but the temperature control is quite accurate. Everyone I know should get one, I'm telling them!

The removable oil container helps with grease, but there's still ash and residue inside the cooking chamber that needs regular cleaning. Maintenance isn't particularly difficult, though it's more involved than I originally expected from a pellet smoker.

Opening the lid naturally causes the temperature to drop, but this grill seems to need a little too much time to recover. It hasn't ruined my food, though it can extend an already long smoking session.

The wheels make repositioning the grill easy on our concrete patio. Unfortunately, moving it across grass or uneven ground is considerably harder. At 72 pounds, I think larger wheels would have made outdoor mobility much more practical.

I've experimented with several hardwood pellet varieties and the food tastes good, but the smoke flavor is milder than I expected. Anyone who prefers subtle smoke may enjoy it more, but personally I wanted something stronger.

I like having the side shelf for utensils, seasonings, and smaller plates, but it fills up quickly. Once I put a larger food tray on it, there isn't much usable space left for anything else.

The PID controller generally keeps the grill near the selected temperature, but I've noticed more fluctuation than expected during longer smoking sessions. The food still cooks properly, although I usually keep another thermometer nearby to monitor things.

PID temperature control was one of the reasons I chose this model. It works reasonably well most of the time, but I've still experienced enough temperature variation that I wouldn't describe the cooking process as completely worry-free.

This grill makes more sense for ribs or pulled pork when I have several hours available. For burgers and quick chicken dinners, the heating and shutdown process takes longer than I'd like for regular weekday cooking.

Once the grill reaches temperature, I've gotten decent results with ribs and chicken. My biggest complaint is the startup time. It's fine for a long afternoon cook, but feels inconvenient when I'm trying to prepare dinner quickly.

The PID control, side shelf, automatic pellet feed, and 456-square-inch cooking area sounded great on paper. In actual use, the slower heating, temperature changes, and regular maintenance made the overall experience disappointing for me.

The brown finish looks attractive, but some of the components feel lighter than I anticipated. Nothing failed immediately, but the overall construction didn't feel as substantial as I expected for a grill I planned to use frequently.

For ribs or pork on a weekend, the slower startup isn't a huge problem. For burgers or chicken after work, however, the heating and shutdown process takes enough time that I usually choose another grill instead.