Why Yoder?
Why the Yoder Smokers YS640? The best way to answer this is from a customer who swears by their YS640S pellet cooker, Sandy “Smitty” Smith of Jus’ Piddlin BBQ. His journey in the barbecue world has led him to cook on nearly every brand on the market and in doing so, Sandy has some genuine, unfiltered feedback that is quite intriguing. We’ll let Sandy take it from here!
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“I have many years of experience with pellet grills, having owned approximately 15 of them over the last 8 years or so. The Yoder Smokers YS640S is the first American Made pellet grill that I have owned, and after 1 year of use I can honestly say that it is by far the best pellet grill that I have ever cooked on. So what makes it so great? In my opinion, there are 5 things that set the YS640S apart from its competitors.
ENGINEERING: The design of the YS640S gives the pitmaster the best chance to be successful, whether that’s in the backyard, catering at an event, or at a bbq competition. The engineering addresses problems that other pellet grills have, such as backburn issues with pellets burning in the auger tube back into the hopper. Yoder virtually eliminates this with a shorter auger tube and the placement of the auger tube away from the burn pot itself. The simple, yet effective grease management system allows for proper grease collection while keeping the interior of the pit free of grease allowing for easier clean up and giving the pitmaster confidence to cook at higher temperatures without fear of a grease fire. The engineering details are everywhere…from the hinges on the main chamber as well as the hopper lid, the stay cool handles, the lid counter weight, the dual fans, and the placement of the front shelf in relation to the lid handle to increase usability. From top to bottom, this is a very well thought out, user friendly pellet grill.
BUILD QUALITY: Many pellet grill companies or owners make the claim that their pellet grill is “built like a tank”. I can tell you that the YS640S is built more like a tank than any other pellet grill on the market, but what does that actually mean? For starters, the 1/8” steel that the 640 is constructed of is by far a thicker material than the vast majority of pellet grills manufactured today. The benefits of this thicker material are not only to provide the user with many years of successful cooks by increasing the longevity of the pit, but to also aid in thermodynamics. The thermodynamic properties of the YS640S are more beneficial due to the thicker steel, which translates to better pellet efficiency, better bark development due to heat transfer from the heated air as well as heated steel to the meat, better heat recovery times from opening the lid, better smoke flavor due to the precise fit of the lid in relation to the chamber which eliminates smoke leakage, and consistent temperature swings allowing for more predictable cooks. From the first time that I lifted the lid on the YS640S, I knew that it was a pit fabricated with pride by skilled craftsman, not stamped out in a mass production assembly line and spot welded by robots overseas.
CONTROLLER / APP: The controller is one of the most user friendly, yet consistent controllers that I have used on a pellet grill. The controller and Yoder algorithm, in conjunction with the FIREBOARD APP, allow the pitmaster to precisely and confidently control, track, and analyze current cooks, while having the ability to revisit old cooks that you may want to duplicate. The APP allows the user to view as much or as little info as needed to ensure an accurate and successful session. The Yoder algorithm provides consistent and dependable temperatures that you can count on to deliver repeatable cooks with great smoke flavor.
VERSATILITY: In my initial YS640S review video, I stated that the 640 may be the most versatile pellet grill on the market, and after 1 year of use, I stand by that statement. With the ability to cook from 150F to temperatures above 600F, the 640 gives the user multiple cooking options for the same protein, i.e. hot and fast, low and slow, reverse sear, direct sear, direct flame grilling, cold smoking, and more. Combine that vast temperature range with some of the Yoder accessories like the griddle, the 3 tier rack system, the wood fired oven, and the Grillgrates, and the possibilities and options for diversifying cooks is endless. Yoder has ended the problem of having to cook the same proteins the same way over and over.
MADE IN THE USA: Why does it matter? In a recent poll, 70% of Americans preferred USA labor, parts, and products over China made products. There is something to be said for making a purchase knowing that you are not only supporting an American business, but also supporting American families and workers depending on that business to succeed. There is a confidence in purchasing American made products due to the better customer service, availability of parts and services, and the pride and ownership that the craftsman has in the product that he/she produces. Yoder Smokers as a business exemplifies these qualities, and as the brand behind the 640, that makes me more confident in the product itself.
My experience with the YS640S over the past year has been epic. I have cooked hundreds of pounds of meat and side dishes on it, and it has never disappointed in performance, appearance, craftsmanship, or results. Unlike other pellet grills that I have used which experienced back burns, flame outs, controller issues, and poor worksmanship, the YS640S has performed as expected. The engineering, build quality, controller / APP, versatility, and craftsmanship of the 640 set it on top of the ever growing pellet grill market.”
— Sandy “Smitty” Smith | Jus’ Piddlin BBQ LLC
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