Z Grills ZPG - 450A Setup, Burn In & First Cook

Getting started with my new Z Grills ZPG-450A
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Having fun cooking in the outdoors
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Dan's Outdoor Cooking
P.O. Box 1054
Connersville, Indiana
47331
#ZGrills #PelletSmoker #OutdoorCooking #DansOutdoorCooking

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

The newest addition to my cooking arsenal, can't wait to really put it to use.

[@lackadaisicalwanderer1336]

How is it holding up everyone knows time is the real test

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Been using it for a year now and it has been very good. I smoked a ham and a few pies in it Thanksgiving. With that being said it is too small for a turkey and beer can chicken but I have the advantage of having larger smokers. The temperature fluctuations others have complained about I have not had a problem with but you definitely have to keep an eye on the hopper. As an addition to anyone's cooking arsenal I'd recommend it but not as main unit if you plan on cooking for a larger group. I've used it over 20 times this year and other than the small hopper that needs checked on often I've had no problems, it's not just set it and forget it. I hope that this has been helpful.

[@GrillandSmokeBBQ]

My advice for you when using a pellet grill is to leave your lid open when you start it up. If you close it when it starts to smoke it will trap all the dirty smoke in there and it will coat the inside of your smoking chamber. Let it go until the smoke turns clear and then close the lid. Great to see you back on here Dan!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for the advice, I will definitely start doing that. I appreciate you commenting and giving me tips.

[@Digitallifeconcepts]

Hey, I like that biscuit idea.That's clever

[@terryraskauskas9013]

strongly recommend using grilling foil to cover drip tray.No cleanup, just take it off, throw away.. Makes a world of difference.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I will definitely be using foil, the little bit of cooking spray I put on it made a mess. Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I appreciate it.

[@THEREALPAULIEUK]

Liked and subbed. Just picked up a zgrill 550b2 just now put it together with my son. And plugging it in to do the 1st burn in right now 230pm cst January 17,2022😀

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I believe that you will love it. We use ours for so much. Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I hope that you enjoy my channel.

[@daddydutchbbq]

Great job Dan ! Thanks for the love !

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much Kent for all of your advice. Never had a pellet grill before but I believe that I'm going to enjoy cooking on it.

[@sammiegabardini]

Glad you think that it's tiny and cute lol. Great video, can't wait to see what you get to cooking with it.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching, glad you enjoyed it. It is small but I am sure that I'll find a use for it. Looking forward to getting cooking with it.

[@Elia188]

Muchas gracias. Estaba buscando información de esta parrilla y fue excelente ver que ESTABA CON TRADICIÓN EN ESPAÑOL. MUCHAS GRACIAS. QUE Dios LE BENDIGA. QUE DIOS MISMO ESTE CON USTED. BENDICIONES SALUDOS DESDE TIJUANA BAJA CALIFORNIA. GRACIAS.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I hope that you have a blessed day.

[@deathcoredad]

I just got one of these and YES the “simple instructions” were so stupid! lol I showed my wife this video cuz she didn’t believe me that the instructions were horrible, she thought I just didn’t know what I was doing 🤣

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Glad I could help you convince the wife that it's not our fault that the instructions were horrible. Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I hope you enjoy your grill.

[@kenbred46]

I think the initial smoking before the pellets hit the cup is any oils or whatever left over from manufacturing. Which is why they want you to do the initial burn in.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting.

[@PAPATexas]

I got a new Z Grills too. Word of advice when pellet cooking. Don't forget to check the pellet hopper while cooking! Have fun cooking with it!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much PAPA, I will definitely keep my eye on the hopper. I hope that you and your family have been doing well with all that you have faced in Texas the last few weeks.

[@4seasonsbbq]

Great video Dan. Thats a nice little cooker, I've always heard pretty good stuff about Z-Grills. That's some pretty even cooking zones, I've seen some cookers where the biscuits are light on one end and burnt to a crisp on the other. Can't wait to see your first cook on that baby. Have a great day my friend.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, I'm hoping that it works out for me. I'm going to get a pork shoulder this weekend and play around. It's on sale right now and I can play with the temps and not worry about ruining it.

[@mattharriss3835]

I just picked up one from Rural King for $299. Definitely more than you paid but I couldn't find them anywhere else for less than $386 and normally they sell for $429. You got a good deal. Thanks for the video! It will be helpful

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I wasn't even shopping for a pellet grill, just stumbled upon it. I was in Rural King to get chicken feed and happened to see it, I couldn't pass it up. Thank you very much for watching, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@mattharriss3835]

@@Dansoutdoorcooking I wasn't shopping for one either. I bought lawnmower blades, and grabbed a flyer on the way out.... well... before I left I looked at the flyer and that was it. :)

[@christopherreuter7034]

Do you have a video or how to tips on sealing your door? Love the video!

[@wsurfer49]

Thanks, just got mine and I'm ready for my first cook.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I've had a great time with mine, we use it a lot. Most of the time I'm just cooking for the Wife and I so it is a perfect size. I hope that you enjoy yours.

[@sdkhf9w8hfklj]

Looking forward to picking this baby up! Thanks for the video and the tip on finding the hot/cool spots.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting. I'm hope that you enjoy your pellet grill, I'm really starting to like mine a lot.

[@ryanbritt9806]

Just got this running today. Looking to do a smoked turkey with this upcoming thanksgiving!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I hope you enjoy your ZGRILLS as much as I enjoy mine, good luck with the turkey. Thank you very much for watching and commenting.

[@jeffbyrd7976]

Welcome Back! I have looked at those grills, but really don't have the space. I have a large reverse flow smoker and then a pretty big gas/charcoal with offset firebox, and then an open firepit. Those 3 take up so much room that wife wouldn't allow another :). thanks.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I didn't tell my wife that I bought it, and since she doesn't watch my videos I'll just tell her that I've had it forever. Plus I store a lot of my smokers in the garage and she doesn't go in there often. I do understand your situation, she did give me grief when I bought my third Blackstone. Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I hope that you have a wonderful week.

[@OREGONGAMER503]

@@Dansoutdoorcooking i just bought one of these smokers from some poor guy who bought a new one and his wife wouldnt let him have 2 smokers.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

@@OREGONGAMER503 my wife complained a little that I didn't need another smoker but once she ate what I cooked on it everything was good.

[@curtisrogers4190]

My only recomendtion for you is to shop vac your pellet cooker before every cook. I do not have a Z Grill, I have GRILLA Chimp but if your fire pot is clean it tremendously reduces any chance of issues cooking.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, I will make sure that it is clean and the fire pot is empty. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[@curtisrogers4190]

I use bear mountain pellets all the time. I catch them on sale for $9.99 for 40lb. Bags and stock up. Very good quality, you will like them.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, since this is my first pellet grill I really wasn't sure. I bought the 20 lb bags for $6.99 each. If you see anything I should be doing differently when I make some videos with it please comment. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful week.

[@TheBilboTN]

Just got our first pellet grill. Z Grill 7002e2c or something like that. Thanks for the idea of using biscuits to find the hot spots. I'll be doing that tomorrow for my first cook.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting , I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@charlesphillips9442]

Great video Dan! You might want to put some foil on you drip tray, it will make cleaning a lot easier.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for the information, I truly appreciate it. It was a little tough just from spraying the canola oil on the grates.

[@BigPhatBandGeek]

Hey mate, this is some great content and you seem like a really decent guy. This was really useful for me. Cheers

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you liked my video.

[@ensnipe2000]

Leave the lid open during startup, they can blow up, cover your grease tray with heavy foil, have fun with it

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much.

[@IndianaPlinker]

I almost bought this exact model at Rural King when they had it on sale but the size worried me. Now I'm wishing that I had gotten it, my wife will beat me if I give $650 for a Pit Boss. Great review, I'll be looking to see if they come back on sale.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I got mine on Black Friday sale at Rural King just on a impulse, hopefully I'll like it a lot. I wasn't even in the market for a pellet grill but it was so cheap I couldn't pass it up.

[@YiggityYins]

This video was super helpful!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I'm glad that you enjoyed it, it is a great little grill. Thank you very much for watching.

[@BerryBonBonz]

Thanks for the tips man!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching.

[@Plain-Ole-Chuck]

Might be a great idea for a camp smoker . Wouldn't take a lot of fire tending

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much Chuck, I'm hoping that I can learn how to use it. Hope that you are doing well my friend.

[@garytreadway]

Great job on the Video, really through.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@BehindtheGarageBBQ]

Cool little cooker Dan! You will definitely have some fun with it...Bear mountain pellets is what I use, great product 👍🏻, thanks for sharing brother, have a great one, you all stay safe!👍👊🍻

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[@paulatighe7073]

your video was great- it was very helpful- thank you

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

You are very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@MrMikeoglee]

Thanks for the video. Just picked one up!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching, I hope you enjoy your's as much as I am enjoying mine.

[@mollyhunt2651]

Loved the video

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@ole1rebel]

Thanks Dan!!!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching.

[@HeadtoTailBBQCooking]

Neat little pellet! Going to be fun to cook on. 👍🏻

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much, I really hope that it works out for me.

[@karlo8093]

Nice lil set-up Dan. looking forward to watching you put it to use

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much Karl, I'm looking forward to seeing if it will work for what I'm wanting.

[@kindolgentleman3109]

Really nice grill

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much.

[@bwrick21]

Hows the z grill holding up? Looking towards a cheaper pellet grill and Z grill is one of them (pit boss being the other).

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I've had my Z Grills pellet grill for a few years now with no issues. It has been a great asset to my cooking arsenal. I've never had an expensive pellet grill, but I can't imagine them working any better. Thank you very much for watching my video.

[@smoking_bears_]

Oh no a pellet grill. They have their place in everyone's arsenal.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

It might have cast iron in its future, just hope that it works for what I'm thinking.

[@Digitallifeconcepts]

I'm playing around with the idea of putting some soaked wood chips near the firebox wrapped in foil or something.I don't know.I want more smoke .

[@JustlifeTomSandraYordi]

How do you like the device after all this time?

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I just used it the other day for a pork butt. I'm definitely still enjoying it and like it a lot. Thought when I bought it I wouldn't use it as much as I have but it's been a great addition to my cooking arsenal. Thank you for watching and commenting. Your support is greatly appreciated.

[@jorgeorozcosolis]

Hi Thanks for your video… I just got the same smoker, I’ve being struggling to grill , mainly just a third of the cabin gets hot to grill.. maybe I’m doing or placing the fire sino in a wrong way

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

There's a good ZGRILLS group on Facebook that can answer a lot of questions you may have. Pellet grills are different than cooking on an offset, I had to ask a few questions in the beginning.

[@sammiegabardini]

Oh what is the big tank on the trailer?

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

That is the "Love Oven " my hog cooker. It definitely needs a new coat of paint.

[@ethankramer6656]

Where did you get this for $180?

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I got it from Rural King at their black Friday sale.

[@AR_ZACK91]

This vs pitboss Lexington 540 ?

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I own both Zgrills and Pit Boss and really like them both. With Pit Boss it is easier to find replacement parts, and if you use them a lot you will need some, but both companies have good customer service. Thank you very much for watching.

[@n0m4d15]

Do you have to do this process every time you use it? Or just when you add new pellets? Thanks for the help

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Thank you very much for watching and commenting. You only have to do the burn in once when it is new to burn off any packing grease and other impurities. Any other time you just do the normal start up procedure.

[@n0m4d15]

@@Dansoutdoorcooking Thank you so much Dan! I just bought the 700D and I am excited to try it! Love your vids!

[@aidendykstra3944]

Hey Dan how much pallets did you used during the burn in process 🤔

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I'm going to guess that it took 3 or 4 lbs for the burn in. I had filled the 15 lb hopper to the top and did the burn in, biscuit test, and smoked a pizza and still had pellets left. I hope that this helps you out and thank you for watching and commenting.

[@aidendykstra3944]

@@Dansoutdoorcooking bloody legend I bought one but its funny in Australia it's 1000 bucks

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Why so much? Even with our high inflation you can still find them on sale for around $350 here in the states.

[@zonarevolorio9319]

Man I just paid $335.00 on Amazon great deal.

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I got mine at Rural King when they had it on their 2020 black Friday sale.

[@isaacshacky17]

4 months later still worth it??

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

I like it a lot for small cooks and short cooks because how fast I can be using it. I still use my offset stick burner for the big jobs that are longer than 8 hours.

[@jrm8024]

god damn it bobby lol

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

Lol you are not the first one to say that I sound like Hank Hill 🤣 I don't hear it but I guess I must sound a little bit like him. Thank you very much for watching and commenting.

[@noahlove9831]

Where'd you get it for 180

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

It was at Rural King Black Friday sale, they normally sale it for $299.

[@jetson01]

Im calling bullshit on your 180.00. Amazon's selling it for 500.00. So whats up? I can't believe that no one else called you on this! If your getting it fore 180 duckets , sign me up!

[@Dansoutdoorcooking]

It was a Black Friday deal at Rural King November of 2020 for $179.99 . Call it what you want but that is the price I paid. I hope that you have a wonderful day.