Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500 vs Cookshack AmeriQue SM066
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Quick take: The Cookshack AmeriQue SM066 costs $1,375 less; the Cookshack AmeriQue SM066 offers more cooking space (1,008 vs 784 sq in); the Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500 reaches a higher max temp (600 vs 300°F).
| Spec | Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500 | Cookshack AmeriQue SM066 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$3,750 | ~$2,375 |
| Rating | — | 4.9★ (16) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Electric Smoker |
| Cooking Area | 784 sq in | 1008 sq in (4 grills, 14 x 18 in each) |
| Max Temp | 600°F | 300°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Electric |
| Build Material | 304 Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | — | — |
| Weight | 330 lbs | 175 lbs (shipping) |
| Warranty | — | 2 years |
Pros & cons
Cookshack Fast Eddy's PG500
- ✓Charbroiler direct-fire zone is unique among pellet grills and produces char that no diffuser-based design can match
- ✓Four separate zones — direct grate, indirect rack, top rack and warming drawer — let a whole meal cook at once
- ✓Built and serviced in Oklahoma by a company that has made commercial smokers since 1962, with real parts support
- ✓304 stainless throughout rather than powder-coated steel, so it will outlast most of this catalog
- ✓Efficient at 1.2-2 lbs of pellets per hour at 400°F despite its size
- ✓Sold direct by the manufacturer, so there is no dealer markup or channel confusion
- ✗$3,750 is near the top of this entire catalog and roughly triple a well-equipped Traeger or Recteq
- ✗Non-insulated cabinet, so cold-weather and overnight efficiency suffer relative to insulated competitors at half the price
- ✗No WiFi or app control at all — a serious omission at this price in 2026
- ✗330 lbs means delivery and placement are a project, and it will not be moved afterwards
- ✗Cookshack does not publish hopper capacity or full dimensions, making planning harder than it should be
Cookshack AmeriQue SM066
- ✓50 lbs of meat in one insulated load - the practical equivalent of a small commercial smokehouse
- ✓Holds 225°F overnight with no fan, no controller wars and no refuelling, which is the entire point of an insulated electric
- ✓Two-position side racks let you drop a grill and hang or stand tall cuts instead of laying everything flat
- ✓Cook-and-hold means the cabinet drops to holding temperature on probe target, so it cannot ruin an unattended brisket
- ✓Made in the USA with full parts support and a reputation for twenty-year service lives
- ✓Four lockable casters, cool-touch exterior, and it ships with wood and a manual so it cooks on day one
- ✗$2,375 is a lot, and it will never sear, grill or crisp anything
- ✗175 lbs shipping weight - freight delivery and a permanent spot
- ✗Sixteen reviews on the maker's store is a thin sample for a purchase this size
- ✗300°F ceiling is identical to the $1,285 Smokette, so the extra money buys only capacity