This Z Grills ZPG 7002b review is all about the features and performance of one of the best grills on the market. This is a great grill that can cook anything you like with just one appliance.
This pellet grill is one of the newer grills from Z Grills and it has already garnered a lot of positive reviews. There are many that you can choose from Z Grills as well but this one is different.
There are many things that you can cook with this grill and you will be able to make the best foods with it. There are no hard controls or learning curves with this grill as it is really easy.
The convenience of having this grill allows you to cook any recipe you want without changing from one appliance to another, which can add more hassle to your work.
Many features help you in cooking whatever food you want to cook. The settings are pretty straightforward and you do not even have to worry even if you are a beginner.
The functions are also great as well as the performance. We will be talking about all of these in detail in the following review so read on to know why you should get this grill.
Table of Contents
Setting Up The Grill
Once it arrives at your house, you need to assemble the grill so you will need to allot some time to assemble it. The assembly is nothing more than an easy puzzle so no need to worry.
The box comes with detailed instructions and even labels the screws and nuts in packaging that also guides you. That means that you will easily know exactly what and where to put it.
In just an hour, I was able to assemble the grill fully with the help of the guide and instructions. This means that you can cook right after you have done everything that you need to do.
There is also a guide on properly preheating and seasoning the grill before you use it for the first time. That way, you will be sure that the cooking space and the systems are working fine.
Just like most of the models from Z Grills, this grill has its own two wheels. The wheels help move the grill over the solid ground so you do not have to carry the whole weight of the grill.
I mean the grill does weigh over 110 pounds so the wheels were really helpful. You can easily move it from your patio to your backyard if you have a ramp to let the grill pass through.
I recommend setting up the grill somewhere with a shade so you do not have to deal with the heat coming from the sun when you are cooking and the heat from the grill itself.
It is also a grill that falls under the average size of grills which means that you will need a little space. Just place the grill somewhere far from any flammable or easy-to-melt objects.
Build And Materials
This grill might not look like it but it is one of the most durable grills from Z Grills. The patented grill design from the company is observable with this grill as it has a stand and a barrel.
The grill looks a little thin when you look at it as it has a steel construction. The look of it might be underwhelming as it does not have any heavy-duty materials to it.
The steel construction of the grill has a powder-coated finish. This protects the steel from the natural elements especially if you leave it outside for a long time.
This makes sure that the grill stays durable and sturdy despite the daily wear and tear that it faces. This grill lasts for the years to come so there is little care required from you.
One issue I have is the lack of screws that can tighten some parts. For example, the chimney is pretty sturdy but there are only two screws that secure it to the main body of the grill.
The issue with this is that some parts lift especially because the screws that secure it are on the sides. There is a mesh that seals it but in the long run, it might tear off.
Cooking Area
When choosing the best grill, you need to first consider the space itself where you will cook. The cooking area is where you will learn how to manage the heat and food.
The cooking area of this grill is one of the largest compared to the other grills from the company. There is a lot of space that you can use to cook large portions of food that you want.
The total cooking area of this grill is 694 square inches which are large enough for up to 15 steaks at a time. The thing is that the cooking grate is divided into two cooking spaces.
There is the top rack and the main cooking space. The main cooking space is wide enough for you to smoke or cook a whole turkey in, so I did not find any issue with it.
This grill is made with a porcelain-coated wire cooking grid which means that none of your food will stick to the cooking grate.
You do need to season it a little bit before cooking in it for the first time.
The heavy-duty steel made for the cooking grid also helps absorb heat and distribute it throughout the chamber. This makes the grill perfect for smoking and baking any food you want.
The Versatility
Like most of the newer grill models from Z Grills, this grill also has 8 settings that you can choose from. These settings automatically put the grill into the cooking method you selected.
There are many things that you can do with this grill. It can use searing and direct heat to grill, sear, and cook food quickly with high temperatures or switch to the other settings.
You can select lower temperatures with this grill to cook with the slow and low cooking methods. This is where you take advantage of the smoke that the pellets produce for cooking.
Other cooking methods such as roasting, baking, searing, and more comes included in this grill. That means that you have endless options for cooking meat, pizza, vegetables, and more.
Temperature Control And Range
One of the things that separate the 7002b grill from the other grills from Z Grills is the shape of the chamber for cooking. It has almost the same features but the shape also makes a difference.
Unlike the 6002b grill with a rectangular shape on its firebox, the 7002b has a circular or a barrel-like shape in the chamber. This goes all the way to the firebox of the grill.
Although this shape might not seem different since the other grills have a dome lid, the barrel-like chamber makes it easier for the heat to climb up to the lid and back down.
This means that the 7002b grill does a better job of distributing the heat from the firebox. This also helps in preheating the grill faster to not have to wait for long to cook.
The same controls are found in the 7002b which means that you can easily control the temperature with only one knob. You can go as low as 180 degrees Fahrenheit for smoking.
The 7002b can also get up to high temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You can cook the best steaks at this temperature or make pizzas in just a matter of minutes.
Cooking In The Grill
I have experienced cooking on this grill and it was great. At first, I got curious about how it functioned despite being away from it for a very long time as the temperature hardly changed.
I have learned that an auger mechanism under the firebox automatically adjusts its speed according to the set temperature. That way, you will not need to load the fuel yourself.
From the observations that I have made, I think the best function of this grill is smoking or baking. It perfectly creates convection heat with the help of the shape of the cooking chamber.
I was able to make the best cookies, pizzas, and other baked goods with this grill. The result was also pretty unique as you get that amazing smoky flavor from the wood pellets.
This is a set-and-forget grill which means that I could just set the temperature, place the food inside, and then go do other activities while I wait for the food to finish cooking.
The settings for the different cooking methods were also pretty easy. You just need to point the knob to the labeled grids and it will automatically get to the temperature you need to cook at.
Cleaning And Maintenance
Since the temperature range of the 7002b grill is a little lower for pyrolyzing, you do need to wash it after every use. This is pretty easy as you do not need a full cleaning process every time.
Just make sure to brush off the food residuals from the cooking grid with a soft-bristled brush. Avoid using hard brushes as they might scratch off the porcelain coating of the grid.
Finish it off by wiping the grease from the cooking grid and push it to the grease cup, from there, you can get the grease cup and discard the grease. You can leave a thin layer of oil on the cooking grid.
This grill also comes with a free rain cover so after you have cleaned all the important parts, you can then cover it and leave it outside in your backyard to protect it from animals and the weather.
Conclusion
For a relatively cheap grill, the ZPG 7002B grills are a very high-quality appliance. It is a big grill for its price but in general, it is only average so you do not need too much space for its setup.
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It is one of the most versatile grills at this price range so it is worth it. You get to cook in any style or method you want, making it great for parties and gatherings.
There is also a decent amount of space for cooking. You can cook a whole turkey for the holidays or many steaks when you have visitors coming over.
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