Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36
Specifications
- 663 square inches of primary cooking space for a total of 1236 square inches
- 160 to 500 degree F. temperature range
- 22-pound pellet hopper
- Porcelain-coated steel cooking grates
- Powered coated steel construction with a stainless steel lid
- Direct sear cooking area with sliding baffle
- Electronic temperature control system
- Non-insulated body with a single-layer lid
- Wi-Fi Connectivity with a proprietary app
- Four temperature probe ports
- Firepot ash cleanout
- Pellet dump
- Grease drains into a bottom-mounted bucket
- Total weight of 163 pounds
- Optional side-mounted griddle burner available
- Made in China by Camp Chef
Full Review – Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36-Inch Pellet Grill
PROS
- Large Capacity
- WiFi Enabled
- Direct Sear Capability
CONS
- Limited Warranty
- Lightweight Construction
- Grease Bucket
Camp Chef is one of those little companies that somehow manage to make an impact. They have been involved in the outdoor cooking business for years, starting with small camp stoves. Now they have a full array of products including some popular pellet grills. When Camp Chef introduced their Woodwind series they were on to something. These pellet grills offer a lot for a very good price. They accomplish this by contracting with Chinese factories to mass produce and hold down costs.
Along with virtually everyone else in the business, Camp Chef has gone WiFi with connected cookers and their own app. The Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 36-Inch Pellet Grill is their latest innovation. This is a big unit, with over 1,200 square inches of total cooking capacity. It also has some great features. Ashed from the firepot falls into a collector under the grill for easy cleanout. You can dump out the pellets and replace them to change smoke flavors. There is even a window in the hopper so you can see when you are low on pellets.
Since high-temperature direct grilling has become the feature to own in pellet grills, this model has a sliding deflector plate that lets you cook directly over the pellet fire. There are some limitations to this cooking method, mostly in the area, but it is good that you can sear a steak on this unit. Of course, this is a pellet grill which makes it a good smoker. You can hold temperatures down to 160 degrees F or crank it up to high and get to nearly 500 degrees.
The Downside
The biggest limitation of this pellet grill is the thickness and weight of its construction. This is a huge grill, yet it weighs around 170 pounds. Part of that is the lightweight cooking grates, but the body is equally thin. In cold weather, it struggles to hold heat and will burn through pellets faster than better-insulated grills. Further, the construction quality isn’t great. Durability will be an issue with this grill. You will want to keep it covered, dry, and well seasoned to protect your investment.
Finally
At around $1,000USD this is not the least expensive pellet grill on the market. In this range, there is a lot of competition and much of that comes from the bigger names in the business like Weber, Broil-King, and Traeger. Shop around before you decide. One thing to consider, Camp Chef offers ‘side table’ options for this model including a gas-powered griddle or a gas-powered sear burner. Nice extras if you are looking for a unit that can do it all. Plan on spending around $270USD on these options.
