Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Review: Is this Pellet Grill Worth It (2023)?

August 02 2023, by Steven Gray, 11 min reading time

The Camp Chef Woodwind Pro is undoubtedly a worthwhile investment for any grilling enthusiast. Its robust construction, advanced features, and user-friendly design make it a standout choice in the pellet grill market. Whether you're a seasoned grill master or a beginner, the Woodwind Pro is a fantastic choice for enhancing your BBQ experience.

Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Expert Review 2023

The Camp Chef Woodwind Pro is a top-tier pellet grill that promises to revolutionise your outdoor cooking experience. This grill is designed to deliver the authentic flavour of an offset smoker with the convenience of a pellet grill. Here's an in-depth review of the Woodwind Pro to help you decide if it's the right grill for you.

The Woodwind Pro is available in two sizes: 24 inch and 36 inch. Both Pro versions are equipped with a mobile app that lets you control everything from the temperature to the smoke level from your smartphone. One of the most exciting features of these grills is the inclusion of a convenient smoke box.

This grill is a premium smoker designed to cater to both professional smokers and grilling enthusiasts alike. Naturally, it has its strengths and weaknesses, which we’ll discuss in the subsequent sections. The specifications provided here are directly from Camp Chef's website. This review focuses on the Woodwind Pro's overall functionality rather than features specific to a particular size.

Features of the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro

Smart Wi-Fi Technology: The Woodwind Pro has smart Wi-Fi technology that allows you to monitor and control your grill from anywhere using the Camp Chef Connect app. This feature brings convenience and precision to your grilling experience.
PID Controller: The grill comes with a top-of-the-line PID controller. This controller maintains accurate temperatures within a few degrees, ensuring consistent cooking results.
Smoke Number Setting: This unique feature allows you to adjust the smoke output from 1 to 10. This means you can customise the smokiness of your food to your exact preference.
Ash Kickin' Cleanout System: This patented system makes cleaning the grill a breeze. You can easily discard the ash accumulating after each cook with a simple lever pull.
Four Temperature Probes: Unlike many grills with one or two, the Woodwind Pro includes four temperature probes. This allows you to monitor the internal temperature of multiple meat pieces accurately.
Direct Flame Slider Rod: This feature allows you to sear your meat directly over the flame, giving you more versatility in your cooking.
Large Cooking Area: The Woodwind Pro offers a generous cooking area, allowing you to cook multiple dishes simultaneously. This is great for hosting large gatherings or meal prepping for the week.
Durable Construction: The grill is made of high-quality materials that are designed to withstand the rigours of outdoor cooking. This ensures the longevity of the grill.
Storage Shelf: The grill has a storage shelf that provides additional space for your tools and accessories. However, it's worth noting that the shelf does not have a door.

These features make the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro a versatile and user-friendly grill that can cater to a wide range of cooking needs. Whether you're a seasoned griller or a beginner, the Woodwind Pro is designed to enhance your grilling experience.

Design and Build Quality

The Woodwind Pro is a robust and well-constructed pellet grill. It's designed to withstand the rigours of outdoor cooking, ensuring longevity. The grill's sturdy construction and sleek design make it a standout in any outdoor setting.

Performance and Features

The Woodwind Pro is equipped with a top-of-the-line PID controller and Wi-Fi technology. This feature allows you to change the temperature, set timers, and receive notifications when your meat reaches your set temperature—all from the palm of your hand. This level of control ensures that your food is always cooked to perfection.

One of the standout features of the Woodwind Pro is the Smoke Number setting. This feature allows you to adjust the smoke output and tailor your cook to your exact preference. As your Smoke Number increases, your smoke output increases; as your Smoke Number decreases, the temperatures will hold tighter.

Ease of Use

The Woodwind Pro is designed with user-friendliness in mind. The full-colour display, easy-to-use menu dial, and four ports for temperature probes make operating a breeze. The Camp Chef Connect app also allows you to monitor your cook from anywhere, making it a truly modern grilling experience.

Clean-up

One of the most significant advantages of the Woodwind Pro is its patented Ash Kickin' Cleanout system. With a simple pull, you can easily discard the ash that accumulates after each cook, making clean-up a breeze.

The Looks

The Woodwind Pro is undeniably a visually appealing grill. It boasts a sturdier and more polished appearance than the original Woodwind models while retaining some of its best features. This includes the efficient 22-pound pellet hopper on one side and a compact but useful 16" x 12" side shelf. However, due to the placement of the newly added smoke box, a front folding shelf, which is available for other Camp Chef grills, cannot be added to the Woodwind Pro.

The grill's barrel lid, side shelf, hopper, and legs all sport a metallic black finish, strikingly contrasting the body's raw stainless steel. While the wheels are a bit smaller and less sturdy compared to those on other Woodwind models, this is a minor issue as most users don't frequently move their grills.

Overall, the Woodwind Pro is a stunning grill; it exudes a more professional look and feel than many other pellet grills in its class. However, it can occupy a significant amount of space, depending on the chosen model. The length can extend even further if you add one of the sidekick accessories — which we highly recommend.

SMOKING ON THE WOODWIND PRO

The Woodwind Pro is engineered for effortless, high-tech assisted smoking and excels in this regard. The grill's smoke box adds an extra dimension to your cooking, while the pellet hopper offers a hands-off approach, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your cookout.

The smoke box operates independently of the pellet feed, but the Woodwind Pro maintains a consistent temperature, regardless of the additional fuel you add. This feature is the standout attribute of the Pro models and sets them apart from any other pellet grill. The amount of smoke you can infuse into your meat with this compact box is truly transformative.

The Woodwind Pro also offers the ability to cold smoke by using the "fan only" mode in conjunction with some wood chunks in the smoke box. However, this was challenging, depending on the external weather conditions. Nonetheless, the fact that the Woodwind Pro offers this capability speaks to its versatility and adaptability.

WOODWIND Pro Series PROS AND CONS

Pros

Smart Wi-Fi technology
Easy to clean due to the ash cleanout system
Four temperature probes included
Direct flame slider rod

Cons

Temperature can be a little inaccurate
The storage shelf has no door.

How Does It Compare To Other Pellet Grills?

If you're still on the fence about the Woodwind Pro, it might be helpful to compare it to other pellet grills on Hot Things:

GMG Ledge Prime Plus WIFI

The Green Mountain Grills Ledge Prime Plus WIFI is a formidable competitor. It offers a large cooking area of 458 square inches, a 16-pound hopper capacity, and a temperature range of 150°F to 550°F. It also comes with a Wi-Fi controller, allowing you to control your grill from your smartphone. However, it lacks the direct flame grilling feature found in the Woodwind Pro.

Broil King Baron Pellet 500 Smoker and Grill

The Broil King Baron Pellet 500 Smoker and Grill is another strong contender. It offers a large cooking area, an 18-pound hopper capacity, and a temperature range of 180°F to 600°F. It also features a digital controller for precise temperature control. However, it lacks the Wi-Fi connectivity found in the Woodwind Pro.

Broil King Regal 500 Pellet Smoker and Grill

The Broil King Regal 500 Pellet Smoker and Grill is a high-end pellet grill that offers a large cooking area, a 22-pound hopper capacity, and a temperature range of 180°F to 600°F. It also features a digital controller and a rotisserie kit. However, it lacks the Wi-Fi connectivity and direct flame grilling feature found in the Woodwind Pro.

Is the Camp Chef Woodwind WIFI 24 Worth It?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Smoke Number setting on the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro?

The Smoke Number setting on the Woodwind Pro allows you to adjust the smoke output from 1 to 10. This feature allows you to customise your cooking experience to your preference, with higher numbers producing more smoke.

2. How does the Ash Kickin' Cleanout system work on the Woodwind Pro?

The Ash Kickin' Cleanout system is a patented feature of the Woodwind Pro that makes clean-up a breeze. After each cook, you pull a lever to discard the accumulated ash in the grill.

3. Can I control the Woodwind Pro from my smartphone?

The Woodwind Pro is equipped with Wi-Fi technology and can be controlled via the Camp Chef Connect app. This allows you to adjust the temperature, set timers, and receive notifications when your meat reaches your set temperature.

4. How many temperature probes do the Woodwind Pro come with?

The Woodwind Pro comes with four meat probes, allowing you to monitor the internal temperature of multiple pieces of meat at once.

5. What is the cooking area of Camp Chef Woodwind Pro?

The Woodwind Pro offers 811 square inches of cooking space, divided into a 429 square inch lower rack and a 382 square inch upper rack. This generous space allows you to cook multiple items at once.

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