Z Grills
Z Grills 7002C3E
The Z Grills 7002C3E is the value pick of the popular 700 series - 697 sq in of two-rack cooking space, a 28 lb hopper, and an upgraded PID 3.0 controller with dual meat probes, at a price hundreds below the name-brand pellet grills it competes with.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Dollar-for-dollar capacity is the headline - 697 sq in and a 28 lb hopper for roughly half the price of a comparable Traeger
- ✓The upgraded PID controller holds set temps within about 10°F in fair weather, a genuine step up from the swingy older Z Grills controllers
- ✓The 28 lb hopper runs long overnight briskets without a refill, and the pellet view window lets you check fuel level at a glance
- ✓The hopper cleanout chute makes swapping pellet flavors or emptying for storage a 30-second job that many pricier grills still lack
- ✓Two meat probes are included in the box rather than sold as accessories
- ✓The manual feed button primes the auger for faster, more reliable startups
- ✓Simple electronics with no WiFi to break means fewer failure points, and owners consistently praise how easy it is to just turn on and cook
- ✓A 3-year warranty is solid coverage at this price, matching Traeger's coverage on grills costing twice as much
Cons
- ✗Tops out at 450°F with no direct-flame sear option, so steaks need a cast-iron finish indoors or on a separate grill
- ✗No WiFi or app monitoring at a time when Traeger, Pit Boss, and Recteq offer it in the same price neighborhood on sale
- ✗The steel body is thinner than premium pellet grills, so cold or windy weather increases pellet consumption and temp swings noticeably
- ✗There's no super-smoke mode, and like most budget pellet grills the smoke flavor is mild at temps above 250°F
- ✗The lid thermometer routinely reads far off from grate temperature - trust the controller and probes instead
- ✗Quality control is hit-or-miss, with shipping dents and misaligned holes during the 45-plus-minute assembly a recurring complaint
- ✗Grease routing works but is messier to clean than Traeger's or Recteq's collection systems
- ✗Z Grills' US customer support is slower and harder to reach than the big brands if you do need warranty parts
Compare the Z Grills 7002C3E
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