If you love to grill, chances are good that you appreciate the convenience of a gas grill but love the flavor of a pellet smoker. And while purchasing two separate grills may seem like overkill, the best gas and pellet grill combo can make all the difference.
With a grill like this, you get the benefits of both a traditional gas grill and a pellet grill all in one. Today, we’ll take a look at the Pit Boss PB1230G.
PIT BOSS PB1230G Pellet and Gas Combo Grill Review:
Pit Boss was founded in 1999, and since then, they’ve brought a range of affordable yet high-quality grills, pellet grills, and smokers. The PB1230G is part of the Navigator series, a versatile collection of grills with an eye-catching black finish.
It offers an impressive amount of cooking space, and you can choose to cook over a propane grill or in a pellet smoker. For cold smoking, there’s an option to use a pellet-to-gas damper to funnel smoke from the pellet grill side to the gas side.
With features like a modular, movable side panel and a slide-plate flame broiler, this grill combines cooking versatility with excellent value.
Unique Features
The PB1230G is a grill with many features. Here’s what you need to know before you buy:
Cooking Options
If you like to do more than just standard flame-grilling, this is a grill that just might suit you. It’s an eight-in-one cooker that lets you do the following:
- Smoke
- Bake
- Braise
- Roast
- Grill
- Barbeque
- Char-grill
- Sear
This gas pellet grill combo is so versatile by virtue of its three cooking options. You get a propane grill and a pellet cooker, but unlike most propane grills, you can funnel smoke from the pellet grill to cold smoke. You also get a slide-plate flame broiler that can be used for both direct and indirect heat cooking.
Cooking Surfaces
One of the main selling points of this grill is its massive amount of cooking space – you get over 1,000 square inches of space. On the propane grill side, you can choose from three different burners. The grilling surface itself is made of porcelain-coated cast iron, eliminating the need for regular grill seasoning.
On the pellet grill side, there’s a 16-pound pellet capacity, making heavy-duty pellet smoking easier. And there’s plenty of heat at your disposal – this grill has a pellet-cooking heat range of 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and open-flame searing can reach temperatures of 1,000 degrees.
Controls
Precise grill controls are an essential part of any griller’s arsenal, and the PB1230G has easy-to-read controls that help you get just the right temperature. It comes with a dial-in digital control board, and the LED read-out is easy to read even in sunny conditions.
Build Quality
The PB 1230G is a very nice-looking grill, and it’s built to last. The frame is made of premium-gauge stainless steel, and the sleek black finish sets it apart from other grills.
Also of use is the movable side panel – you can keep it mounted to the side of the grill for food and utensil storage, or you can move it beneath the body of the grill. And as an additional plus, the PB1230G is on locking casters for easy moving.
As a side note, a purchase of the PB1230G comes with two free meat probes, which can help you make sure everything you grill is cooked to optimal temperature.
Benefits
After looking closely at the PB1230G, we think this is a grill with plenty of benefits. Here are some of the highlights:
- A large cooking surface makes it easier to cook large amounts of food at once
- 8-in-1 cooking options let you mix up your grilling routine
- The convenient 16-pound hopper capacity is great for heavy-duty smoking
- Precise controls let you dial in the perfect temperature
- Heavy-duty finished-steel design is weather-resistant and eye-catching
- A smoke damper lets you cold-smoke meats if necessary
Reservations and Possible Cons
On the whole, we think this is a grill that offers outstanding value. However, we do see some possible cons:
- It retails for around $800, which may be a bit on the high side for some buyers
- If you have a relatively small grilling area, it might be hard to use this grill, as it’s fairly large
- Grilling with pellets other than those made by Pit Boss may cause some problems
What Consumers Are Saying
In our research into customer reviews, we found that many customers seemed to really like the Pit Boss PB1230G.
Many of them have said that its versatility makes it easier for them to grill just about anything they want, and many have also said that while it can be tough to reach a high enough temperature with most pellet smokers, this one does not have this problem.
Bottom Line Compared to the Others
Hopefully, our review of this Pit Boss smoker grill combo has helped you make a decision as to whether this is the right grill for you. In our experience reviewing different grills, we can confidently say that this is one of the better options out there.
With the PB1230G, you get a lot more than just a 3-burner grill with a bit of smoking capacity. We love that you can cook eight different ways, and we think this grill offers excellent value for the price.
Insights and Takeaways
If you like to mix up your grilling routine and are willing to invest some money to do that, we think this is one of the best choices out there. For those looking for a reliable, versatile, and durable gas grill/pellet smoker combo, we think the Pit Boss 1230G just might be it.