Hi my friend! I bought the Bull about a month ago and am very happy with it. I would love to watch you do some stuff on one. Come on in and be a part of the Rec Tec family! I bought the cooking grates and the front folding shelf. Very happy with it.
I have an RT680 love it. Smoke flavor is good, but remember anythng you cook higher then 240 or more you may not get as much due to the pellets burning so clean. Next time long cook star off 180 to 200 for an hr or so then bump it up.. You will really love this unit
I’m on my second RecTec and I love them. The guys in the shop are always very happy to help if there is a question. I do wings all the time. Start at 220 for 45 mins, finish at higher 350. Smoky and crisp. Always start low. Ribs for 6 hrs at 220 are to die for. All my friends are blown away. Maybe it’s just me, but when I hear it’s not smoky enough, I’m kind of questioning my flavor sense.
I recommend NOT using aluminum foil on the grease pan. Aluminum is pretty reactive at those temps. You want to eat vaporized aluminum?..go right ahead. Also, if you wrap ribs in aluminum foil dont use a vinegar spray. Dont believe me?..spray some foil with vinegar, fold it up for a few hours then unwrap it and check out all the holes dissolved by the vinegar.
For extra smoke flavor on long cooks, do the 1st hour on low temperature setting. This is about 180 deg and produces more smoke. I do this on briskets and get the good bark and smoke flavor.
Me too, though for things like chicken I find 30 minutes is enough. Anything above 300 isn't going to have much smoke at all, that's the same with most all pellet grills.
Ken Rizza I’ve had the Rec Tec 700 for well over a year now and absolutely love it. My brother has a big Green egg and it’s nice but even he says he wishes he had gotten the Rec Tec like mine. As far as smoke flavor, I’ve found that using 100% hickory and doing low smoke for the first 30-60 mins will give you all the smoke flavor you’ll ever need, if not, you can always use a smoke tube filled with the pellets you’ll have on hand anyway. The Rec Tec is easy to use, built like a tank and has the best and most accurate controller on the market. I highly recommend it if you can afford it. If price is an issue Camp Chef makes a really good grill and even Pit Boss (for the price) but neither has the build quality or a controller that comes anywhere close to the one on the Rec Tec.
plmn93 I’ve had an xl egg for about 5 years, love it to death for a lot of reasons. But there’s the convenience and surface area that bring me back to my bull about 80% of the time. 1000 degree pizza oven? Egg. Ribs and chicken and veggies for family and a few friends? Bull.
I was planning on getting the Smokefire until I saw your videos. Fiends at work all have Rec-Tecs and swear by them. I need real-time videos of cooks and results. I’m super stoked you have this 700. It’s the same model I’m about to pull the trigger on so let’s see some videos ASAP! Thanks man. Good stuff
My first pellet smoker. Can’t say enough good things about it. Very well thought out, easy as a 1st timer to get started. If I’m not mistaken it’s no longer made by RecTeq. But whatever model RecTeq you might be considering, I’m sure it’ll be money well spent.
I love my RT680 had it for a little over 2 years absolutely no problems with it and once you go pellet you don't go back it is so convenient to be able to set it and walk away for the longer 12 hour cooks, And the Wi-Fi upgrade is a must if we're going to cook something simple like hot dogs and hamburgers for supper I can turn it on when I leave work and it at temp when I get home, no regrets!
I have been using pellet grills about 15 years now. I had an old original treager that I regret getting rid of simply because I gave it away and it would have been a nice project to restore it. I then bought a Cabela's grill (it lasted 1 year) and I decided to pull the trigger and get the rec tec. In my limited experience the Rec Tec is the absolute best grill. The accuracy of the temp over a several hour cook is amazing.
I just bought one a few months ago and I think it's great. It keeps the temperature that you set to within a few degrees...even if it's set to 180. Just make sure you use real wood pellets...like Smokin' Pellets or Lumber Jack.
I have the old version of this smoker, from back when they were red (I’ve had it for around 5 or 6 years). The things they’ve done to the new ones are a huge improvement. Don’t get me wrong, I love mine, but the painted side shelf, painted lid, lack of stainless, etc, has allowed a lot of peeling and bubbling due to the wet Pacific NW winters. However, I’ve made all kinds of stuff on mine and it does a great job, even though it’s not as pretty as it once was. From smoked salmon, to venison jerky, venison pepperoni sticks, venison summer sausage, ribs, pork butt, etc. It has performed well on everything. I think it may be time for an upgrade given all the new features on the new one! One other note, Rec-Tec has phenomenal customer service! In the old models their igniters have a tendency to fail, they’ve been amazing replacing parts any time that something went wrong. In fact, I called one of their execs (it came with his business card) on 4th of July weekend, and he answered his cell. So, if customer service is important, you can’t go wrong with Rec-Tec. Great video. Thanks for posting
I've owned my RT 700 since August of last year. This is an unbelievable product. Brisket, Ribs ..great bark and smoke ring. Great flavor. With the grill grate sear kit, internal temp of the grates gets up to 625 degrees . This is my go too grill. I also own a pit barrel, a 26.75 weber charcoal and a gas grill.
Just looked at smokin brothers... those look really nice. well thought out design. I like the shelf / smoker box in the front. I also like the grease trap below the rig. looks like you got a winner!
Love watching your reviews and cook videos so I was glad to see you giving the RecTec family a shot. I absolutely love mine. (700, matador, and bullseye). But not only is it an amazing smoker, their customer service and warranty are above all else. And you can’t say enough about all of that 304 stainless. They are built to last. One other thing that is nice about the RecTec’s is the ability to control (speed up or slow down) the pellet feed rate. You can really get it dialed in depending on which climate you are in. Looking forward to seeing your upcoming pulled pork and brisket. This thing loves long cooks.
Had 3 rectec over the last 5+years. Truly honest company! Makes me proud to see a old school American business. Definitely not a product to go to a big box store!
Thanks for the review. I was going to get a smokefire until I saw yours & several others having issues. I went with a MAK. It was hard to justify the price but it’s been very solid. Smokes great & I’m impressed with its grilling capabilities. The size is deceiving. & the roaming thermocouple is great. I’m glad you were able to get something you like after the Weber disaster. I think we were all let down by them. Looking forward to more reviews of this cooker! Thanks.
I Love It. I have watched just about every video they have. Quality Product. I would love to own one, one day. I probably remind my wife of that about every other day. Now she just leaves the living room when i am watching these videos.
Bro great video. I have an RT-590 and I love it! I have had absolutely no problems with it. Cooks very even from left to right. And as far as the lack of smoke flavor I agree. But that doesn’t bother me as much because my family doesn’t like a lot of smoke on food. When I want extra smoke I use my green egg or weber like you do. That’s the beauty of having options. Enjoy that pit brother and congrats!
I was in the same boat as you back in February where I wanted to purchase the SmokeFire or the RecTec Bull RT-700. Needed to see real reviews on the SmokeFire in which I did. After seeing so many negative reviews I sent an email to Weber's marketing department asking them to rename the SmokeFire to GreaseFire. It is a more suitable name. I currently own a Kamado Joe Big Joe 2 and I absolutely love it. Wanted to get my first pellet grill so it looks like I might go with the RecTec RT-700. I was just at the BBQ Expo (HPB Expo) in New Orleans last month and I got to see some new products that are coming out which look pretty good. One of the new pellet grills that I was impressed with was by Oklahoma Joe called the Rider Deluxe. This pellet grill has some cool features, great reviews, and looks like a solid build. I am also going to purchase a new drum smoker. I currently own a Barrelhouse Cooker which is fantastic but a bit small so looking to upgrade to either a Hunsaker Vortex, Oklahoma Joe Bronco Pro, Gateway Drum Smoker, or the Blaz'n Grill Works N1. Does anybody have any experience with any of these drum smokers? Would love to hear people's thoughts. Since we are all quarantined right now all we can do is write long comments like this and BBQ....lol.....stay safe and healthy everyone.
My thinking also. I was seriously going Rec-Tec until I came upon the new Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi. The pellet dump, ash dump, extra level of removable grill grates for more capacity are very nice. Then add the side kick unit which can be a griddle, then add a pizza oven and a sear station(propane fired)...that may be the total cooking package.
@@conradkostelecky7935 You will never find a better pellet grill that is a better "bang for the buck" than a RecTec product. They have the most stainless steel and best warranty against anyone else in the market.
I was down to these two as well. Last month I ordered the Rec Tec. I did not believe that the add ons for the Camp Chef were something I would really use. I am very happy with my Rec Tec Bull and it looks great on my front porch!
Completely agree on adding the integrated second shelf. That is the only thing I am waiting on before I make purchase. They have done it with the BFG, so it is doable.
@@dougiefresh9618 I am aware of that. The only issue I have is that it has to sit on the main shelf taking away space from the bottom shelf. I know it is a small amount, but I would prefer the integrated second shelf. I believe it will be added with the next revision of the model.
@@dougiefresh9618 I know, but I prefer a top shelf that slides in and out without taking up shelf space on the bottom shelf even if it minimal. I believe this is coming with the Bull 3.0
I've had my RecTec 680 since spring 2016 and NOTHING is better... Well, OK - looks like maybe the 700 is better - loving that new control with the addition of WiFi and meat probes!
I’m glad to see you went with a RecTec. I own 2 RecTec smokers, a 590 for the back patio and the smaller trailblazer that we take in our 5th wheel. I absolutely love them!
The Company's customer service is great too. In fact, they're the ones who advised me to use aluminum foil to cover the drip pan to make cleaning the smoker a bit easier.
I agree with you about the lack of a second shelf that not apart of the grill itself instead of being what seems like an after thought. I was very close to pulling the trigger on the rec tec a few years ago, but the only reason i didn’t is because i use my grill a lot and i needed more space so i went with another brand, that i am extremely happy with. I don’t have anything bad to say about the company or the grill it self other than that. And when people ask my recommendation based on all the research and cooking i have done on other pellet grills this is my top three recommendations.( I personally haven’t cooked on this one yet) A friend from works has the mini and he loves it. I am strongly considering buy one for one of my siblings.
RecTec rocks! You won't be disappointed. Looking forward to more cooks to see how you feel about it in a month or so. Reverse sear some steaks (get sear plates). Mine is 3 years old and i use it almost every weekend. Brisket tomorrow!
Dear Sir, appreciated your review. Added myself to your channel's subscription. I am a product research kind-of-guy. For example, use Consumer Reports, unfortunately they've not reviewed the Recteq, but this you have done well. My brother is still skeptical of me buying the brand, as compared to the Traeger Ironwood 650, which I am sure is a great grill too. Again, thank you. Like your channel. Greg
That's beautiful. I've had a PitBoss Austin XL for over a year, and it's been great - HOWEVER, I will need to buy one of these also. Because, that's why.
Man I am so glad you got a rectec. It's just a tank. Bullletproff or better zeroissues proff. Have mine for a year now. I use mine 3 days a week, have done anything you can imagine. Still no issues it just works. It's well made, anyone will realize that when assemble. I actually called twice to rectec and it's just impressive customer service. None exiistance nowadays. Glad you are giving them a chance. Must of the time I follow the recipes in the app. All worked because they actually tested and you will find TH-cam videos of must of them.
Thanks for the video. We were apparently in the market for the Weber at the same time. I decided to save a bit and went for a WSM 22-I had a need for a new cooker, not specifically a pellet cooker. Oddly, before the troubles you and other pointed out with the Weber, I had decided that the Rec Tec was a better choice for me, although the smaller one. Yikes then I saw your video and a couple of others with the significant problems with the Smokefire. I'm really looking forward to more from you on this cooker. You do a great job.
I have a 590 and although the build is great and the smoking us easy the customer service is what made me a fan boy. After my first smoke my niece decided to help me out my washing the inside down with a hose. Yeah...she's dead to me. The auger was so stuck with swollen pellets that it bent trying to get it out. I, shamefilled, called Rec Tec and the told me I would need a new auger, a new feeder, and a new ceramic lighter. They said it would be in the mail that day. When I asked what it was going to cost the reply was, "Oh...no, thats why you bought a Rec Tec." It was at my door a week later and has worked perfect since. You show me that kind of customer service and you get a customer for life!
I bought my Bull last month and am very happy about it. I also bought the front folding shelf and the sear grates. I am glad I added them as well. The last steaks I cooked to about 110 degrees and then took them off and turned it up and got to about 525 degrees. I then put the steaks on the sear grates 3 minutes each side and they turned out grate! Ur, I mean GREAT! So I think they were searing around 650 plus degrees.
The lack of an integrated second shelf bothers me too and no clean out door for the pellet hopper. I like to change pellets depending on the cook. I'll be curious how you feel about the smoke on your longer cooks. It's said the rear vents allow for more smoke flavor than a chimney on a pellet smoker. Then you have to deal with wind and rain. Surprised a company hasn't gotten that right yet. Can't beat Rectec build quality though. Thing is solid through and through.
Neighbor has a RT 590 and it's great for long kooks like brisket and pork butts with temp control and wind resistance of sort but they don't have the full smoked flavor that an off set or a real wood or charcoal and wood smoker has. I suspect it is the same for other brands of pellet smokers as well. We live in a moderate climate range and it tends to be windy. This is an issue for any smoker but the pellet temp controls of the RT do a good job dealing with this issue. I'm thinking of upgrading my wood fire offset to a more tight model and also getting a pellet smoker like a RT too. Two different animals but each have a purpose. This one here in your review looks nice and great for long cooks and meats that benefit from milder smoke. Just my 2 cents from what I have seen so far.
its a good smoker... quality is high and it never had an issue.... just different flavor profile. a lot of wives like the pellet smokers more than others, as it is not tooo smokey
For me, it was about size and looks. This grill looks way better than the 590 and does not take up much more room with the pellet hopper in the back. I think you will like the 700
I went with the 590. I wouldn't say I regret it, but if I did it again, I'd go with the 700. The problem with RecTec like he mentioned in the video is that they don't have second shelves. Their interior shelf solution is kind of hokey, but especially so in the 590 since the "large" shelf does not fit.
Personally, I didn't have a problem connecting the WiFi. I think that's a very homeowner specific critique. I did about 6 months of research before pulling the trigger on the Rec Tec 700. The staff at Rec Tec answered all of my questions very logically when I compared their product to the Camp Chef. They told me why they made the design decisons they did, and I wasn't even a customer yet. The 6 year warranty is legit, and Rec Tec takes care of their customers if anything happens to need replacement. I agree with the critique of the cable holder, that would be nice. I also find the light inside to be essentially useless after a few months.
It's going to depend on the router. Both your phone and the grill need to be on 2.4 for setup to work. I had to create a separate SSID that was 2.4 only. Some new mesh routers like the Google Nest don't even allow that. In any case, RecTec needs to update their controller to account for this because it's only going to get worse.
BTW. You said you were giving your 700 to your BIL...What are you changing to? I contemplated Yoder, Pitts and Spitts, and Myron Nixon, and Gorilla. Glad I chose the Bull
Well, I am just getting away from pellet smokers for now. I just find I enjoy my cooks on green eggs a lot more. I enjoy the charcoal / wood combo and the flavor it develops
I've owned 2 Rec Tec cookers and never had any problems with either of them. All of the people blaming the users of that "other" cooker that was having trouble makes me a little sick at my stomach.
seriously... I totally agree... I got enough smarts and common sense to figure out any use error type problems. For a pellet smoker... I do like the Rec Tec so far.. not intense smoker flavor, but does everything it should do very well!
As much as I would love to buy one of these, my El Cheapo Brinkmann Electric and Weber accomplishes all the features this has for under $200- and this combo has won taste test in my neighborhood over Green Eggs and Kamado's on everything from Butts to Briskets- Good cuts of meats, proper seasoning and technique can allow anyone to BBQ with the best of them, even with less than desirable equipment. With that being said, I still want one!
hey... whatever gets it done right? My first smoker was a hand me down electric brinkman with no temperature control or anything.... but it got me hooked and down this path
I ha e one for over a year. I am very happy with it. Hell, my entire family is happy with it. Overnight cooks are a breeze. I can make a full packet brisket on a week night.
Any pellet grill will cook some good food. The big difference is how well the cooker will hold up. I have a GMG and for the $600 it's pretty good. Rec Tec is pretty nice though.
Greetings from Ankeny IA. I have the newest version of the RT-700. Had two GMG before. Reqtec much much nicer. Better temp control, build, materials etc. Just watched your LONG brisket video. I have never raised my brisket off the grate to cook. Interesting idea. Have had 5lb. briskets take as long to cook as 12lb.briskets. Either way, it's a fun way to pass time.
Noticed your comment about the lack of smoke flavor. Am I the only one who distrusts the pellet manufacturing process? All sorts of scrap material goes into them from windstorm salvage, fire remediation, and flood mitigation. And they add binder which is made of...? I see the convenience of pellets, but it’s not charcoal or wood.
Appreciate your initial review, it’s one I’m going to look at closer as well as viewing your follow up videos. Does the 700 have a sever mode (at least that’s what GMG calls there’s) where I can monitor and change setting anywhere I can access WI-FI? With the small pellet smoker I currently have, I can get it started at home and still monitor and change settings or shut it down, etc while at my office across town.
I have not tried changing temps away from the house, but it should work just fine. The app works well, except for the temperature alarms for the meat probes
Seared and Smoked Thank you for the response, it is greatly appreciated. Sorry about the spelling in my initial post, in the GMG I have it’s called the “server” mode. Any chance you’d have any more thoughts on the 700 since you posted your initial review? Have you had the opportunity to do some more longer smokes? Any more thoughts on temp control, evenness of heat at the grate, maintenance, cleaning, customer service, or any additional observations of any kind? I really like the looks and what appears to be a sturdy unit. Based on your initial review, I’m very interested in this smoker. Again, thank you so much for your input. Warm regards, Jim
Been watching a lot of your great videos, especially the grill cart builds which are amazing, but I am looking for a video to see if you ever figured out how to get the best smoke flavor out of your RecTeq? I’m about to purchase the RT700. I love to cook ribs and pork butts and was hoping to get a head-start. I’ve been a Primo Oval XL cooker for a long time so this will be a learning experience for me. Thx!
I think the best way to get more smoke would be to use a smoke tube. I never went down that route, as I just us a different smoker if I want more smoke. As a primo user, I will be interested to hear your thoughts on the Rectec 700.
Is the Rec Tec made in the USA? I have a GMG and the Wi-Fi app is also a little buggy, but all of my Wi-Fi is not a deal breaker for me. The only other questions I have not seen posted yet are can you empty the hopper easily to change flavors and do you have to stick with strictly Rec Tec Pellets? Any thoughts from the group would greatly be appreciated. Thank You in advance. Great Review Subscribed.
thanks for watching. Apparently a lot of parts are made in china and then assembled in the USA. The app has been great after they upgraded it recently. Alerts and temp changes work great. You cannot easily empty the Hopper, which could be a problem for some. I keep my wood choices pretty steady, so it has not bothered me too much. You can use any pellets you want though... that has not been an issue.
No problems. I did do a 6 month follow up to give my opinions on the smoker... th-cam.com/video/XeEd40S-PUM/w-d-xo.html Overall very good. Not my favorite for chicken, but enjoyed the longer cooks... ribs, pork butt, brisket with some trial and error
I have had my RT700 for almost 2 years now. The BIGGEST change I had to make to readjusting from my offset to my RecTec is cooking temps. Usually for my offset I ran about 225 to 250 for brisket. With my RecTec I pulled it down to about 215. It was the magic number. I really think it has something to do how much steadier the temps are held. Ribs, butts, briskets, I have brought them all down on temps and it seems much better. Chicken, turkeys, etc have been fine though. I have heard all the stories about not enough smoke, no ring, etc., but I don’t think it is true. I have absolutely beautiful smoke rings on my food with plenty of WOOD flavor- not smoke. To me smoke is bitter, creosote tasting nastiness. I have people who said that they can eat my BBQ without getting heartburn like they normally do. We spend some time and effort in selecting the right woods for the food only for some people to destroy any flavor by “charring” the meat to death. There is a definite difference in a good bark and flat out burnt. Without rambling too much, I love my RecTec. There has been and still will be some learning curve but it has been one of the best investments I have ever made. One of the best things about it I can sleep for 5 or 6 hours while my brisket is smoking and not have to tend a fire.
Good thoughts there.... funny enough... I smoked a brisket at 225 over the weekend... and it cooked way faster than I thought it would, compared to my green egg. So... perhaps 215 is a better number.... there is always next time!
If you want more smoke, use a smoker tube, it allows you to choose the flavor of smoke you want, a tube last approx 4 hours, and if you want more use 2 tubes
Features to make it perfect: (1) ash drawer on the bottom so do not need to disassemble to clean out ash, (2) window to visually check so do not need to open lid & lose heat (3) top rack
The customer service they provide is the best anyone could ever ask for!!!
Typical of your reviews... sober, considered, unbiased and informative about aspects that matter. Thanks and keep it up.
Nice cooker, Keegan. Thanks for the walk through.
Hi my friend! I bought the Bull about a month ago and am very happy with it. I would love to watch you do some stuff on one. Come on in and be a part of the Rec Tec family! I bought the cooking grates and the front folding shelf. Very happy with it.
Baby Back Maniac needs a Yoder and a Rec Tec
its been fun so far... enjoying the convenience and the temp controller seems to be top notch from what I can tell
I have an RT680 love it. Smoke flavor is good, but remember anythng you cook higher then 240 or more you may not get as much due to the pellets burning so clean. Next time long cook star off 180 to 200 for an hr or so then bump it up.. You will really love this unit
I’m on my second RecTec and I love them. The guys in the shop are always very happy to help if there is a question. I do wings all the time. Start at 220 for 45 mins, finish at higher 350. Smoky and crisp. Always start low. Ribs for 6 hrs at 220 are to die for. All my friends are blown away. Maybe it’s just me, but when I hear it’s not smoky enough, I’m kind of questioning my flavor sense.
its a fun cooker... just so easy and consistent so far
I recommend aluminum foil on your drip grate!! Easy cleaning between cooks.
Nice tip. 👍
I recommend NOT using aluminum foil on the grease pan. Aluminum is pretty reactive at those temps. You want to eat vaporized aluminum?..go right ahead. Also, if you wrap ribs in aluminum foil dont use a vinegar spray. Dont believe me?..spray some foil with vinegar, fold it up for a few hours then unwrap it and check out all the holes dissolved by the vinegar.
Foil is toxic as f*ck
For extra smoke flavor on long cooks, do the 1st hour on low temperature setting. This is about 180 deg and produces more smoke. I do this on briskets and get the good bark and smoke flavor.
Agreed 100%!
Totally agree. I do the same thing on mine.
Me too, though for things like chicken I find 30 minutes is enough. Anything above 300 isn't going to have much smoke at all, that's the same with most all pellet grills.
Ken Rizza I’ve had the Rec Tec 700 for well over a year now and absolutely love it. My brother has a big Green egg and it’s nice but even he says he wishes he had gotten the Rec Tec like mine. As far as smoke flavor, I’ve found that using 100% hickory and doing low smoke for the first 30-60 mins will give you all the smoke flavor you’ll ever need, if not, you can always use a smoke tube filled with the pellets you’ll have on hand anyway. The Rec Tec is easy to use, built like a tank and has the best and most accurate controller on the market. I highly recommend it if you can afford it. If price is an issue Camp Chef makes a really good grill and even Pit Boss (for the price) but neither has the build quality or a controller that comes anywhere close to the one on the Rec Tec.
plmn93 I’ve had an xl egg for about 5 years, love it to death for a lot of reasons. But there’s the convenience and surface area that bring me back to my bull about 80% of the time. 1000 degree pizza oven? Egg. Ribs and chicken and veggies for family and a few friends? Bull.
Welcome to the Rec-Tec family! I love my RT700
Front folding shelf is a must have(680 5yrs 👍🏻) Heavy foil drip pan, small shop vac for ash clean up after several or long cooks...
Glad you made a switch that made you happy! I know you gave the webber as many chances as you could.
I was planning on getting the Smokefire until I saw your videos. Fiends at work all have Rec-Tecs and swear by them. I need real-time videos of cooks and results. I’m super stoked you have this 700. It’s the same model I’m about to pull the trigger on so let’s see some videos ASAP! Thanks man. Good stuff
trying to crank some more cooks out for you!
Seared and Smoked thanks. Already watched the ribs and they looked delicious. Can’t wait to see the next few...
My first pellet smoker. Can’t say enough good things about it. Very well thought out, easy as a 1st timer to get started. If I’m not mistaken it’s no longer made by RecTeq. But whatever model RecTeq you might be considering, I’m sure it’ll be money well spent.
I love my RT680 had it for a little over 2 years absolutely no problems with it and once you go pellet you don't go back it is so convenient to be able to set it and walk away for the longer 12 hour cooks, And the Wi-Fi upgrade is a must if we're going to cook something simple like hot dogs and hamburgers for supper I can turn it on when I leave work and it at temp when I get home, no regrets!
I have been using pellet grills about 15 years now. I had an old original treager that I regret getting rid of simply because I gave it away and it would have been a nice project to restore it. I then bought a Cabela's grill (it lasted 1 year) and I decided to pull the trigger and get the rec tec. In my limited experience the Rec Tec is the absolute best grill. The accuracy of the temp over a several hour cook is amazing.
Right on... totally agree with the temp control
I just bought one a few months ago and I think it's great. It keeps the temperature that you set to within a few degrees...even if it's set to 180. Just make sure you use real wood pellets...like Smokin' Pellets or Lumber Jack.
I have the old version of this smoker, from back when they were red (I’ve had it for around 5 or 6 years). The things they’ve done to the new ones are a huge improvement. Don’t get me wrong, I love mine, but the painted side shelf, painted lid, lack of stainless, etc, has allowed a lot of peeling and bubbling due to the wet Pacific NW winters. However, I’ve made all kinds of stuff on mine and it does a great job, even though it’s not as pretty as it once was. From smoked salmon, to venison jerky, venison pepperoni sticks, venison summer sausage, ribs, pork butt, etc. It has performed well on everything. I think it may be time for an upgrade given all the new features on the new one!
One other note, Rec-Tec has phenomenal customer service! In the old models their igniters have a tendency to fail, they’ve been amazing replacing parts any time that something went wrong. In fact, I called one of their execs (it came with his business card) on 4th of July weekend, and he answered his cell. So, if customer service is important, you can’t go wrong with Rec-Tec.
Great video. Thanks for posting
I've owned my RT 700 since August of last year. This is an unbelievable product. Brisket, Ribs ..great bark and smoke ring. Great flavor. With the grill grate sear kit, internal temp of the grates gets up to 625 degrees . This is my go too grill. I also own a pit barrel, a 26.75 weber charcoal and a gas grill.
right on! having a lot of fun playing with this one so far
I was close to buying Rec Tec. We were looking at Rec Tec, Grilla and Smokin Brothers. We bought Smokin Brothers. Made in MO
Just looked at smokin brothers... those look really nice. well thought out design. I like the shelf / smoker box in the front. I also like the grease trap below the rig. looks like you got a winner!
@@Searedandsmoked our local dealer had 2020 leftovers. They are $1299
ordered mine after watching this and your follow up reviews. Thank you sir.
glad you found them useful... thanks!
Love watching your reviews and cook videos so I was glad to see you giving the RecTec family a shot. I absolutely love mine. (700, matador, and bullseye). But not only is it an amazing smoker, their customer service and warranty are above all else. And you can’t say enough about all of that 304 stainless. They are built to last. One other thing that is nice about the RecTec’s is the ability to control (speed up or slow down) the pellet feed rate. You can really get it dialed in depending on which climate you are in. Looking forward to seeing your upcoming pulled pork and brisket. This thing loves long cooks.
love all those things about the rec tec so far!
Yup. You talked me out of the Weber smoker (I still love Weber gas grills)... but I ended up with the RecTec 700 and I love it.
cool man... pretty fun smoker I think
I've owned an RT700 since 2018. Best purchase ever. Nuff said.
Had 3 rectec over the last 5+years. Truly honest company! Makes me proud to see a old school American business. Definitely not a product to go to a big box store!
definitely a respectable company... built solid!
Old school American business that buys all their product from China 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for the review. I was going to get a smokefire until I saw yours & several others having issues. I went with a MAK. It was hard to justify the price but it’s been very solid. Smokes great & I’m impressed with its grilling capabilities. The size is deceiving. & the roaming thermocouple is great. I’m glad you were able to get something you like after the Weber disaster. I think we were all let down by them. Looking forward to more reviews of this cooker! Thanks.
Just assembled my rt700 yesterday. wifi was a pain point. thanks for the instructions.
Patrick Robinson i have yet to see a WiFi grill that is any good
My 700 wifi was super simple. Am I just lucky? Never have had any issues with connection.
Love my RT700. Best $1200 ever spent. Wish I had bought it 5 grills earlier! Now this is all I use.
its a nice grill... no doubt about it!
I Love It. I have watched just about every video they have. Quality Product. I would love to own one, one day. I probably remind my wife of that about every other day. Now she just leaves the living room when i am watching these videos.
lol... thanks for watching! I will keep at it!
What a nasty wife to do that. So sorry.
I love mine! 2yrs now. So much so I bought the 🎯 too!
how do you like the bullseye? have you tried wings? curious how crispy you can get those suckers if you have tried it.
Bro great video. I have an RT-590 and I love it! I have had absolutely no problems with it. Cooks very even from left to right. And as far as the lack of smoke flavor I agree. But that doesn’t bother me as much because my family doesn’t like a lot of smoke on food. When I want extra smoke I use my green egg or weber like you do. That’s the beauty of having options. Enjoy that pit brother and congrats!
I was in the same boat as you back in February where I wanted to purchase the SmokeFire or the RecTec Bull RT-700. Needed to see real reviews on the SmokeFire in which I did. After seeing so many negative reviews I sent an email to Weber's marketing department asking them to rename the SmokeFire to GreaseFire. It is a more suitable name. I currently own a Kamado Joe Big Joe 2 and I absolutely love it. Wanted to get my first pellet grill so it looks like I might go with the RecTec RT-700. I was just at the BBQ Expo (HPB Expo) in New Orleans last month and I got to see some new products that are coming out which look pretty good. One of the new pellet grills that I was impressed with was by Oklahoma Joe called the Rider Deluxe. This pellet grill has some cool features, great reviews, and looks like a solid build. I am also going to purchase a new drum smoker. I currently own a Barrelhouse Cooker which is fantastic but a bit small so looking to upgrade to either a Hunsaker Vortex, Oklahoma Joe Bronco Pro, Gateway Drum Smoker, or the Blaz'n Grill Works N1. Does anybody have any experience with any of these drum smokers? Would love to hear people's thoughts. Since we are all quarantined right now all we can do is write long comments like this and BBQ....lol.....stay safe and healthy everyone.
Looking forward to the upcoming videos. I'm either getting a Rec Tec or the new Camp Chef.
My thinking also. I was seriously going Rec-Tec until I came upon the new Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi. The pellet dump, ash dump, extra level of removable grill grates for more capacity are very nice. Then add the side kick unit which can be a griddle, then add a pizza oven and a sear station(propane fired)...that may be the total cooking package.
I also considered the camp chef before going with the Rec Tec 700. Haven't thought about the camp chef since.
@@conradkostelecky7935 You will never find a better pellet grill that is a better "bang for the buck" than a RecTec product. They have the most stainless steel and best warranty against anyone else in the market.
I was down to these two as well. Last month I ordered the Rec Tec. I did not believe that the add ons for the Camp Chef were something I would really use. I am very happy with my Rec Tec Bull and it looks great on my front porch!
Completely agree on adding the integrated second shelf. That is the only thing I am waiting on before I make purchase. They have done it with the BFG, so it is doable.
jmccam they make a large & small shelf that fits in the 700.
@@dougiefresh9618 I am aware of that. The only issue I have is that it has to sit on the main shelf taking away space from the bottom shelf. I know it is a small amount, but I would prefer the integrated second shelf. I believe it will be added with the next revision of the model.
@@dougiefresh9618 I know, but I prefer a top shelf that slides in and out without taking up shelf space on the bottom shelf even if it minimal. I believe this is coming with the Bull 3.0
Foil that drip pan bud, it'll make clean up a whole lot easier
That's the first thing I notice. Some foil, some don't. I do because cleaning is so much easier.
@@nateskinner767 Agreed. Foil makes cleanup a breeze.
I dont foil its so easy to clean with or without foil just a big scraper and done in 1 min
I don’t foil I scrape and it’s much faster
Foil it!!
I'm most impressed by your yard!
thanks... nice it is finally warming up again here in Iowa so I can use it!
I've had my RecTec 680 since spring 2016 and NOTHING is better... Well, OK - looks like maybe the 700 is better - loving that new control with the addition of WiFi and meat probes!
I’m glad to see you went with a RecTec. I own 2 RecTec smokers, a 590 for the back patio and the smaller trailblazer that we take in our 5th wheel. I absolutely love them!
right on... it's been good to me so far too
The Company's customer service is great too. In fact, they're the ones who advised me to use aluminum foil to cover the drip pan to make cleaning the smoker a bit easier.
yeah, the foil is easy to put on and take off
I agree with you about the lack of a second shelf that not apart of the grill itself instead of being what seems like an after thought. I was very close to pulling the trigger on the rec tec a few years ago, but the only reason i didn’t is because i use my grill a lot and i needed more space so i went with another brand, that i am extremely happy with. I don’t have anything bad to say about the company or the grill it self other than that. And when people ask my recommendation based on all the research and cooking i have done on other pellet grills this is my top three recommendations.( I personally haven’t cooked on this one yet) A friend from works has the mini and he loves it. I am strongly considering buy one for one of my siblings.
That's one nice looking Pellet Grill
Love my rt-700
Remember to play around a little with the pellets. Just like a stick burner , the wood maters . Flavor/ Heat / time all can vary with the pellet .
look forward to your findings
thanks... I will continue to report back...
Just bought the 590 last night and cant wait...going to do a build in around it under my gazebo
i am currently in progress on a table for the 700 myself.... should have something g to show in a few weeks
RecTec rocks! You won't be disappointed. Looking forward to more cooks to see how you feel about it in a month or so. Reverse sear some steaks (get sear plates). Mine is 3 years old and i use it almost every weekend. Brisket tomorrow!
The sear kit is a must have. Love mine.
Dear Sir, appreciated your review. Added myself to your channel's subscription. I am a product research kind-of-guy. For example, use Consumer Reports, unfortunately they've not reviewed the Recteq, but this you have done well. My brother is still skeptical of me buying the brand, as compared to the Traeger Ironwood 650, which I am sure is a great grill too. Again, thank you. Like your channel. Greg
Thanks Greg. The recteq's are just solid grills. I love the thick stainless grill grate and the solid overall build. No problems so far with it.
This is funny. I used your channel for my Weber smoker review, which helped me to NOT get it. AND I went with a rec-tec haha
Ditto...I was really wanting the Weber and have now started leaning towards the rt 700
Darren Leighty get the pitboss Austin XL for half the price
Ended up pulling trigger on Grilla Silverback.
Just went with gut feeling and based on other reviews. It’s arriving tomorrow
Uh, yeah, um grill is strong....thanks
Just ordered the RT700. I was going to get the Weber Smokefire EX6. It looks like I dodged a bullet by going with the Rectec.
Best grill I’ve ever had.
That's beautiful. I've had a PitBoss Austin XL for over a year, and it's been great - HOWEVER, I will need to buy one of these also.
Because, that's why.
you are a man... you need no reason to get another smoker! thanks for watching!
Blows away that broken Weber Smokefire you had.
Or smokes away the weber
Man I am so glad you got a rectec. It's just a tank. Bullletproff or better zeroissues proff. Have mine for a year now. I use mine 3 days a week, have done anything you can imagine. Still no issues it just works. It's well made, anyone will realize that when assemble. I actually called twice to rectec and it's just impressive customer service. None exiistance nowadays. Glad you are giving them a chance. Must of the time I follow the recipes in the app. All worked because they actually tested and you will find TH-cam videos of must of them.
its a cool piece of equipment.... really like the design and performance so far. lots of fun!
I've had my rt680 for close to 7 years no trouble also got the 590 love them both
Thanks for the video. We were apparently in the market for the Weber at the same time. I decided to save a bit and went for a WSM 22-I had a need for a new cooker, not specifically a pellet cooker. Oddly, before the troubles you and other pointed out with the Weber, I had decided that the Rec Tec was a better choice for me, although the smaller one. Yikes then I saw your video and a couple of others with the significant problems with the Smokefire. I'm really looking forward to more from you on this cooker. You do a great job.
thank you for the positive words... I will keep posting results as I have time. Should have a rib post soon... - Keegan
Welcome to the Rec Tec family!
thanks man.... its been fun so far
For that type of cash I might as well chip in a little more and get the Yoder ys640
also a good option, from what I hear
I have a 590 and although the build is great and the smoking us easy the customer service is what made me a fan boy. After my first smoke my niece decided to help me out my washing the inside down with a hose. Yeah...she's dead to me. The auger was so stuck with swollen pellets that it bent trying to get it out. I, shamefilled, called Rec Tec and the told me I would need a new auger, a new feeder, and a new ceramic lighter. They said it would be in the mail that day. When I asked what it was going to cost the reply was, "Oh...no, thats why you bought a Rec Tec." It was at my door a week later and has worked perfect since. You show me that kind of customer service and you get a customer for life!
definitely a nice change of pace from the typical run around you can get from others!
I bought my Bull last month and am very happy about it. I also bought the front folding shelf and the sear grates. I am glad I added them as well. The last steaks I cooked to about 110 degrees and then took them off and turned it up and got to about 525 degrees. I then put the steaks on the sear grates 3 minutes each side and they turned out grate! Ur, I mean GREAT! So I think they were searing around 650 plus degrees.
Brian Vallotton how long did it take to go from 110 to 525 degrees?
The lack of an integrated second shelf bothers me too and no clean out door for the pellet hopper. I like to change pellets depending on the cook. I'll be curious how you feel about the smoke on your longer cooks. It's said the rear vents allow for more smoke flavor than a chimney on a pellet smoker. Then you have to deal with wind and rain. Surprised a company hasn't gotten that right yet. Can't beat Rectec build quality though. Thing is solid through and through.
That is the reason I went with camp chef. This was a close second though.
heck yeah man. I have a 700 and love it. I wanted to add a Weber smokefire to my group until i seen your review. Glad you got a bull!
This was the channel that stopped me purchasing the disastrous weber smokefire. This video has now confirmed that I want the rec tec...
glad to hear that!
Neighbor has a RT 590 and it's great for long kooks like brisket and pork butts with temp control and wind resistance of sort but they don't have the full smoked flavor that an off set or a real wood or charcoal and wood smoker has. I suspect it is the same for other brands of pellet smokers as well. We live in a moderate climate range and it tends to be windy. This is an issue for any smoker but the pellet temp controls of the RT do a good job dealing with this issue. I'm thinking of upgrading my wood fire offset to a more tight model and also getting a pellet smoker like a RT too. Two different animals but each have a purpose. This one here in your review looks nice and great for long cooks and meats that benefit from milder smoke. Just my 2 cents from what I have seen so far.
its a good smoker... quality is high and it never had an issue.... just different flavor profile. a lot of wives like the pellet smokers more than others, as it is not tooo smokey
Well the controller on my 1100 lost it's display, so I had to use my extended service agreement.
Looking hard at the 700.
Looking forward to more videos on this smoker. I was thinking about going with the RT-590 but the 700 seems to be the most popular grill.
For me, it was about size and looks. This grill looks way better than the 590 and does not take up much more room with the pellet hopper in the back. I think you will like the 700
I went with the 590. I wouldn't say I regret it, but if I did it again, I'd go with the 700. The problem with RecTec like he mentioned in the video is that they don't have second shelves. Their interior shelf solution is kind of hokey, but especially so in the 590 since the "large" shelf does not fit.
If you want more smoke flavor, try throwing in an amaz-n-tube.
Agreed
I’m really on the fence about ordering this exact smoker. Please post more videos as soon as you can.
pokes1789 I have one and no regrets
Get a Rec-Tec, I had a traeger for 2 days and it sucked. Any model will work.
I’m picking one of this tomorrow for $200. Almost new! Guy wants to get Reid of it!! I can’t wait make some ribs this weekend!
nice find for $200!!
Personally, I didn't have a problem connecting the WiFi. I think that's a very homeowner specific critique. I did about 6 months of research before pulling the trigger on the Rec Tec 700. The staff at Rec Tec answered all of my questions very logically when I compared their product to the Camp Chef. They told me why they made the design decisons they did, and I wasn't even a customer yet. The 6 year warranty is legit, and Rec Tec takes care of their customers if anything happens to need replacement. I agree with the critique of the cable holder, that would be nice. I also find the light inside to be essentially useless after a few months.
It's going to depend on the router. Both your phone and the grill need to be on 2.4 for setup to work. I had to create a separate SSID that was 2.4 only. Some new mesh routers like the Google Nest don't even allow that. In any case, RecTec needs to update their controller to account for this because it's only going to get worse.
Definitely worth it
BTW. You said you were giving your 700 to your BIL...What are you changing to? I contemplated Yoder, Pitts and Spitts, and Myron Nixon, and Gorilla. Glad I chose the Bull
Well, I am just getting away from pellet smokers for now. I just find I enjoy my cooks on green eggs a lot more. I enjoy the charcoal / wood combo and the flavor it develops
I've owned 2 Rec Tec cookers and never had any problems with either of them. All of the people blaming the users of that "other" cooker that was having trouble makes me a little sick at my stomach.
seriously... I totally agree... I got enough smarts and common sense to figure out any use error type problems. For a pellet smoker... I do like the Rec Tec so far.. not intense smoker flavor, but does everything it should do very well!
great company. great grill.
As much as I would love to buy one of these, my El Cheapo Brinkmann Electric and Weber accomplishes all the features this has for under $200- and this combo has won taste test in my neighborhood over Green Eggs and Kamado's on everything from Butts to Briskets- Good cuts of meats, proper seasoning and technique can allow anyone to BBQ with the best of them, even with less than desirable equipment. With that being said, I still want one!
hey... whatever gets it done right? My first smoker was a hand me down electric brinkman with no temperature control or anything.... but it got me hooked and down this path
I was looking at the Weber Smokefire also.... but once it was released it didn't go too well. I have my RT-700 being delivered today!!! :) Enjoy!
right on... I think you will like it a lot!
I ha e one for over a year. I am very happy with it. Hell, my entire family is happy with it. Overnight cooks are a breeze. I can make a full packet brisket on a week night.
totally agree on the convenience... so easy
Any pellet grill will cook some good food. The big difference is how well the cooker will hold up. I have a GMG and for the $600 it's pretty good. Rec Tec is pretty nice though.
Greetings from Ankeny IA. I have the newest version of the RT-700. Had two GMG before. Reqtec much much nicer. Better temp control, build, materials etc. Just watched your LONG brisket video. I have never raised my brisket off the grate to cook. Interesting idea. Have had 5lb. briskets take as long to cook as 12lb.briskets. Either way, it's a fun way to pass time.
always a fun experiment those brisket cooks... always a little different, no matter how careful I am to repeat the process. thanks for watching
I think Recteq recommends cleaning the ash from the bottom of the grill once a year… something about insulating the grill..
Noticed your comment about the lack of smoke flavor. Am I the only one who distrusts the pellet manufacturing process? All sorts of scrap material goes into them from windstorm salvage, fire remediation, and flood mitigation. And they add binder which is made of...? I see the convenience of pellets, but it’s not charcoal or wood.
Andre de Fusco where does your charcoal come from?
Udeman 😂😂😂😂😂😂👍🏻
I almost bought one about 5 years ago, but found someone selling a Traeger for a song. When my Traeger gives out, I'll be a customer.
Appreciate your initial review, it’s one I’m going to look at closer as well as viewing your follow up videos. Does the 700 have a sever mode (at least that’s what GMG calls there’s) where I can monitor and change setting anywhere I can access WI-FI? With the small pellet smoker I currently have, I can get it started at home and still monitor and change settings or shut it down, etc while at my office across town.
I have not tried changing temps away from the house, but it should work just fine. The app works well, except for the temperature alarms for the meat probes
Seared and Smoked Thank you for the response, it is greatly appreciated. Sorry about the spelling in my initial post, in the GMG I have it’s called the “server” mode. Any chance you’d have any more thoughts on the 700 since you posted your initial review? Have you had the opportunity to do some more longer smokes? Any more thoughts on temp control, evenness of heat at the grate, maintenance, cleaning, customer service, or any additional observations of any kind? I really like the looks and what appears to be a sturdy unit. Based on your initial review, I’m very interested in this smoker. Again, thank you so much for your input. Warm regards, Jim
Great review...My last smoker just died-I'm thinking your review has pushed me to the Req Teq. Do you ever put hickory chips on top of the heat box?
The build quality,,,,take my money
Been watching a lot of your great videos, especially the grill cart builds which are amazing, but I am looking for a video to see if you ever figured out how to get the best smoke flavor out of your RecTeq? I’m about to purchase the RT700. I love to cook ribs and pork butts and was hoping to get a head-start. I’ve been a Primo Oval XL cooker for a long time so this will be a learning experience for me. Thx!
I think the best way to get more smoke would be to use a smoke tube. I never went down that route, as I just us a different smoker if I want more smoke. As a primo user, I will be interested to hear your thoughts on the Rectec 700.
Hey, great review Keegan! What camera did you use to record the video? Looks really good.
just some good ol iphones.... iphone 11 fo all of this one
Is the Rec Tec made in the USA? I have a GMG and the Wi-Fi app is also a little buggy, but all of my Wi-Fi is not a deal breaker for me. The only other questions I have not seen posted yet are can you empty the hopper easily to change flavors and do you have to stick with strictly Rec Tec Pellets? Any thoughts from the group would greatly be appreciated. Thank You in advance. Great Review Subscribed.
thanks for watching. Apparently a lot of parts are made in china and then assembled in the USA. The app has been great after they upgraded it recently. Alerts and temp changes work great. You cannot easily empty the Hopper, which could be a problem for some. I keep my wood choices pretty steady, so it has not bothered me too much. You can use any pellets you want though... that has not been an issue.
I don't know if anyone's said it, but the little "vent hole" on the side is for your temp probes, just a heads up!
yup... if I missed that... thanks for filling in the gaps
How is it today? Any updates or any problems over the years?
No problems. I did do a 6 month follow up to give my opinions on the smoker... th-cam.com/video/XeEd40S-PUM/w-d-xo.html
Overall very good. Not my favorite for chicken, but enjoyed the longer cooks... ribs, pork butt, brisket with some trial and error
I have had my RT700 for almost 2 years now. The BIGGEST change I had to make to readjusting from my offset to my RecTec is cooking temps. Usually for my offset I ran about 225 to 250 for brisket. With my RecTec I pulled it down to about 215. It was the magic number. I really think it has something to do how much steadier the temps are held. Ribs, butts, briskets, I have brought them all down on temps and it seems much better. Chicken, turkeys, etc have been fine though. I have heard all the stories about not enough smoke, no ring, etc., but I don’t think it is true. I have absolutely beautiful smoke rings on my food with plenty of WOOD flavor- not smoke. To me smoke is bitter, creosote tasting nastiness. I have people who said that they can eat my BBQ without getting heartburn like they normally do. We spend some time and effort in selecting the right woods for the food only for some people to destroy any flavor by “charring” the meat to death. There is a definite difference in a good bark and flat out burnt. Without rambling too much, I love my RecTec. There has been and still will be some learning curve but it has been one of the best investments I have ever made. One of the best things about it I can sleep for 5 or 6 hours while my brisket is smoking and not have to tend a fire.
Good thoughts there.... funny enough... I smoked a brisket at 225 over the weekend... and it cooked way faster than I thought it would, compared to my green egg. So... perhaps 215 is a better number.... there is always next time!
If you want more smoke, use a smoker tube, it allows you to choose the flavor of smoke you want, a tube last approx 4 hours, and if you want more use 2 tubes
The slack in the grates are for expansion
its fine, not a big deal. but if gas grills are tighter, then I think theses could be too. not a deal breaker though
He never mentioned the bull horn handles, which is a cool touch.
I tried to hit on the overall looks of the grill... and you are right... the horns give this grill a cool look!
I strongly suggest you use a surge protector for your plug. Power surges can seriously mess up your computer board.
that is good advice.... I think we forget how much technology is inside some of these grills
I have the BFG..... Used to have the 680
Clean up is much easier with aluminum foil on the drip tray. Enjoy it. I love my RT-700!
foil can weld to the drip tray at high temps
nice review, what’s the price ?
I bought mine last month $1199.00 and free shipping. I am very happy with my new Bull.
Let us know if it can actually sear a nice ribeye.
Been eyeballing the 700 and 590 for a bit now.
I will put the ribeye on my list of videos to get going... I also have the same questions
I have a small rectec 340. Love it. Wish I bought a larger one.
Would you ever tailgate or use the portability options with this model? Like cook at other places besides home? Ie. Park or friend's home?
the bull is too heavy in my opinion unless you have a fancy rig to tow it in
Features to make it perfect: (1) ash drawer on the bottom so do not need to disassemble to clean out ash, (2) window to visually check so do not need to open lid & lose heat (3) top rack
Keegan, I love the look of that Rec Tec Bull ! Better than that “other “ one you had !
Congratulations brotha 👍
i heard those Augers jam up after a few years
well... I hope not!... but I will definitely inform people if I have problems!