Another big change to the Searwood is the legs and wheels. While the SmokeFire had sturdy legs with durable wheels, this version has two regular wheels on one side and bare legs on the other. This makes driftwood more difficult to move and means you have to grab one end to move it. All heavy objects fit to the side of the wheels. So it’s not a huge lift.
But the lack of wheels means you need more room to manoeuvre.
The new wheels are all plastic. The legs are not as sturdy as the SmokeFire.. This may be one area where Weber believed he could save money by lowering Searwood’s price. If you don’t move the grill around a lot, this probably isn’t a problem, but it’s the lack of quality that struck me here. It has plenty of storage space under the grill.
Something the SmokeFire doesn’t offer.
Back to the controller. Display: Weber has done a good job with the update.. The numbers are bolder and easier to read from a distance, and the one-button operation is easy to use. On the screen you can see the set temperature, the actual temperature, the probe temperature and timers.
There are also position indicators and a fuel gauge that monitors the pellets. Overall. The new screen. Controller are an improvement over what’s on the SmokeFire.
Inside. The company’s rows of Flavorizer bars have been replaced with a larger baffle that protects the Dutch oven from grease. Food particles..
Any remaining pellets and dust can be scraped from the bottom of the grill and easily removed via the sliding drawer below. For a deeper clean. You’ll probably want to use a vacuum cleaner.
But you can remove a lot of dirt with a simple scraper.
Cooking with Weber Searwood
Like all pellet grills. The Searwood has a wide temperature range. Allowing you to use it for slow smoking. Fast burning..
Specifically, these values are between 180 and 600 degrees Fahrenheit, so baking, roasting and much more are also possible. I usually use pellet grills to grill large cuts such as brisket, pork and ribs without manual grilling and on low heat. This is what most of my testing focused on. Although I did make sure to test this grill’s lid opening function several times.
For slow smoking.
The Searwood is a reliable appliance that holds the heat throughout the cooking process. Quickly regains it every time I open the lid.. The latter feature is thanks to the grill’s Rapid React system, which also preheats the unit in 15 minutes or less. Searwood adds a wonderful smoky flavor to several dishes, but the pork shoulders (Boston Butts) and our Thanksgiving turkey were my two favorites.
My wife won’t let me prepare our Christmas bird any other way after I smoke it in a Searwood.
Most pellet grills have a setting that allows you to enhance the flavor with more smoke at certain temperatures.. Weber calls it SmokeBoost, but it only works at 180 degrees. Because of its versatility, I wish this could be done at any temperature below 225 degrees, which Traeger offers for their products.
Weber recommends using SmokeBoost at the beginning of cooking to add a little more smoke before raising the temperature to the desired level. Let’s be clear: the grill will add a lot of smoke to your food even without this feature. So if the low initial temperature scares you. You absolutely do not need to use SmokeBoost.
A nice novelty at Searwood is the manual mode.
Which allows you to use the grill with the lid open.. This means you can use it to fry directly over the flame or as a frying pan if you have the right insert. Unlike many pellet grills, Searwood’s manual mode keeps fuel and fan speed constant with the lid open, maintaining performance even when other grills are turned off. Just select a level from 1 to 10, depending on your desired cooking temperature, and the grill will do the rest.
This works well, but in most cases you’ll probably still need a charcoal kettle for high temperature firing. During my tests. I preferred to use the Searwood as a frying pan rather than a browning machine.
Searwood’s smart features are delivered over Wi-Fi using the Weber Connect app.. This is the software that the company first brought to market in 2020, when it launched its smart grill platform.
However, Weber has updated the app significantly in recent years and the current version offers a smooth experience. Weber Connect allows you to monitor temperatures and remotely control your grill. There are also real-time graphs to track your progress. Notifications to let you know when the food is ready.
Tons of recipes if you need ideas.
Weber Searwood Accessories
The degree of customization of a new grill is almost as important as the factory details..
Weber has offered add-ons through its Weber Crafted collection for a while now, and some of these items are compatible with the Searwood. Once you have the frame you need, you can use a smaller grill insert, a double-sided grill rack, a pizza stone, and a grill basket. My favorite accessories for this grill are the skewer. The large grill for $130. $149 respectively.
If you need more shelf space.
You will need to purchase additional parts.. There are folding options that attach to both the front and side of the Searwood, and both cost $75. If you go this route. You will need to replace the side handle with the shelf.
the competition
At $899.
The Searwood 600 is $100 less than the SmokeFire EX4 at launch.. Like its predecessor, the Searwood comes in two sizes, with the largest being the largest. The SmokeFire is no longer available, but Weber just announced the Smoque and Smoque XL for $699 and $899, respectively, if you’re looking for alternatives from the same company. These new grills feature simplified controls and other streamlined changes, but the overall design is similar to the Searwood.
I plan to see Smoque again in the spring.
Traeger recently announced their Woodridge line. The mid-range option in this trio is a solid alternative to Searwood.. It’s more expensive than the Searwood 600 at $1,000, but it’s also a bigger grill. The basic $800 Woodridge is a workhorse that does the basics without some of Traeger’s useful features. Upgrade to Woodridge Pro. Get shelves.
Super Smoke mode. A pellet sensor in the hopper.
Summary
Don’t call it a comeback. But it’s a nice break from SmokeFire’s stumbles.. The grill is significantly more reliable than its predecessor and most of the changes improve the overall cooking experience.
The manual mode is a nice bonus, as is the additional fuel sensor in the pellet tank. My biggest complaint is with the base, where I wish the company had chosen something more robust, like Traeger implemented in the Woodridge base model. But the Searwood is a versatile. Smart.
Headache-free grill that’s just what you’re looking for if you spend valuable time outdoors cooking.
Weber Searwood Reviews
(tagToTranslate)Pellet Grill
