PK Grills PK300AF Franklin Edition vs PK Grills PKTX Grill & Smoker
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Quick take: The PK Grills PKTX Grill & Smoker costs $100 less; the PK Grills PK300AF Franklin Edition offers more cooking space (316 vs 310 sq in).
| Spec | PK Grills PK300AF Franklin Edition | PK Grills PKTX Grill & Smoker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$800 | ~$700 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Charcoal Grill | Charcoal Grill |
| Cooking Area | 316 sq in | 310 sq in |
| Max Temp | — | — |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| Build Material | Cast Aluminum | Cast Aluminum |
| Hopper Capacity | — | — |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | No | No |
| App control | No | No |
| Meat probe | No | No |
| PID controller | No | No |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.35 x 14.13 in cooking surface | 22.5 x 15.2 in cooking surface |
| Weight | 60 lbs | 60 lbs |
| Warranty | 20 years | 20 years |
Pros & cons
PK Grills PK300AF Franklin Edition
- ✓Cast aluminum does not rust, which is why 1950s PKs are still cooking — this is the only charcoal grill class where that is literally true
- ✓Four independent vents, two top and two bottom, give finer airflow control than any kettle's single pair
- ✓20-year warranty, the longest in the catalog outside ceramic kamados
- ✓The improved lid seal is the concrete change over the PK300 and it is the part that governs low-and-slow stability
- ✓60 lbs and the capsule lifts off the cart, so it travels in a trunk
- ✓Rectangular capsule gives a real hot end and cool end, unlike a round kettle where the zones are wedges
- ✗$800 for 316 sq in is a lot of money per square inch next to a $229 Weber kettle
- ✗Aluminum conducts heat away fast; it recovers quickly but does not hold heat like ceramic on a long cook
- ✗No built-in thermometer at grate level — the capsule has a lid port and that is it
- ✗The Franklin name adds $100 over a PK300 whose cooking capsule is the same
PK Grills PKTX Grill & Smoker
- ✓The capsule and cart come apart without tools and fit in a car trunk — no other 310 sq in charcoal grill does that
- ✓Rust-proof cast aluminum with a 20-year warranty, so leaving it outside in salt air is not a problem
- ✓Four-vent airflow, two top and two bottom, for two-zone control that a kettle's single vent pair cannot match
- ✓$100 cheaper than the PK300AF and $300 cheaper than the PK360 for the same fuel-efficiency argument
- ✓A stainless cooking surface is available as an upgrade over the standard nickel steel
- ✗Older capsule than the PK300 line — the lid seal is not the redesigned one, so low-and-slow holds are looser
- ✗Nickel steel grate as standard; stainless costs extra, and nickel steel will discolor
- ✗No thermometer, no ash pan, no shelves — this is a deliberately bare grill
- ✗$700 for a grill with no cart storage and no side tables reads as expensive until you have owned it a decade