From Pretender to Pitmaster with the Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E Pellet Grill
When PTR reviewer Luke Smith told me he needed to retire his charcoal grill, I told him he had to give a pellet grill a try. He was a little skeptical, but after using the Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E pellet grill, I'm pretty sure he'll never go back.
advantage
- constant temperature
- Large hopper capacity
- hopper window
- efficient particle consumption
- two meat probes
- easy rolling wheels
- Easy-to-read LCD display
- handle doubles as noose
shortcoming
- No wireless connection/control
- Not as many temperature settings as some pellet grills
- without front tray
We had a few things to cook: smoked shotgun rounds, burgers and dogs, and Boston cigarette butts for the pulled pork. That's the beauty of pellet grilling. You can do low and slow grilling, hot and fast grilling, or anything in between. Thanks to the temperature control on the dial and the cycling feature of the pellet grill, you can smoke, roast, roast, braise, grill and more. We even made pizza with our own pizza.
getting Started
First, fill the Z Grills' hopper with the pellets of your choice. The flavor of the pellets you use depends on what you're cooking, but Competition Blend is a good all-around choice. The hopper holds up to 24 lbs, which is great when you're doing brisket or other slow cooking.
Plan to use an average of 1 pound of pellets per hour. You'll use less smoke at lower temperatures and more at high heat grills. One thing we noticed while cooking was that this model uses the pellets more efficiently than our other pellet grills. These pellet bags will last longer and save you some money in the long run.
Pro Tip: Before your first cooking, do a 30-minute pre-sear to help remove any impurities from the final powder coating and shipping. Set the grill to smoking without the tray, give it 30 minutes, and you're good to go.
Cooking with the Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E
Getting the right temperature and maintaining it is a piece of cake. Simply turn the dial to smoke with the lid open, let it light for 5 minutes, turn the dial to the temperature you want to cook, and let the grill go from there. A 10-15 minute warm-up is usually sufficient.
The grill feeds pellets automatically, but you'll need to help it the first time you add pellets. After filling the hopper, press and hold the "Feed" button until you hear a few pellets fall into the combustion chamber. The computer takes care of the rest. You can also use the button to manually add a few extra grains if you need to heat up faster after opening the lid for seasoning, or just to show your guests a peek at what's coming.
double meat probe
While the grill will maintain temperature (within about 10° F, depending on wind and other environmental factors), it's the meat probe that ensures perfect results. There are two probes available for ZGrills. Just insert them into the control panel, thread them through the grommets on the side of the cylinder, and place them on the thickest part of the meat (avoid facing any bone). If you don't need both, you can just use one.
Pro Tip: The lower the cooking temperature, the more smoky it will be. If you want smoked chicken, cook it at 180°F for an hour, then turn it up to 350°F until done. You get nice smokiness and golden goodness.
No matter what dish you're cooking, a good recipe will tell you what your target internal temperature is, and that's what will give you the best results. Here are some guidelines we use:
- Boston butt (for pulled pork): 195° – 205° F
- Brisket: 203°F
- Chicken: 160°F
- Pork tenderloin: 145°F
- Steak medium rare: 135°F
As you cook, the LCD display shows the grill's internal temperature, the readings of each probe, and any error codes. All you have to do is make sure there are pellets in the hopper and take the meat out when it reaches the target temperature.
Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E Cooking Space
You have a total of 697 square inches of cooking space. There is a main lower (26.0 x 19.4 inches) and a smaller upper tray (26.1 x 7.3 inches) plus a dry tray. That's enough for a sizable party. Plan to mount 29 hamburgers, 6 ribs, 5 whole chickens, 2 whole turkeys, or a whole brisket for reference.
wrap up
When done cooking, turn the temperature knob to turn off. The pellets will stop feeding and the grill will automatically complete its off cycle. Once the grill has cooled, take a bucket, open the rear hopper door, and empty out as much of the pellets as you can, this will avoid sucking in moisture and making them swell.
Remember to empty the grease bucket, clean the drip pan (lined with foil really helps!), and remove any ash that builds up between cooks.
other highlights
- hopper window
- easy rolling wheels
- handle doubles as noose
Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E Pellet Grill Prices
The best price on this model comes directly from Z Grills. MSRP is $728, but they're selling for $549 as we write this. It includes a grill cover and comes with a 3-year warranty. Go ahead and add some ZGrills Granules to your cart when ordering so you can start cooking right after assembling your grill.
the bottom line
Of all the pellet grills we've used, what sets the Z Grills Backyard Warrior 7002C2E apart from the rest is its efficient use of pellets. We use fewer pounds than our Traeger and Pit Boss models to allow for grill space. Beyond that, its large hopper capacity, included front tray and lid, dual meat probe, and easy roll make it a joy to use. The fact that you can get it for less than $600 makes it a great value.