Learn how to start a Pit Boss pellet grill the RIGHT way, whether it is new, empty, or full of pellets, as each scenario requires its own procedure.
Let’s go!
How to Start Up a Pit Boss Pellet Grill for the First Time or One That is Empty
Starting up an empty Pit Boss pellet grill is slightly different than starting up one that is already full of pellets.
If your Pit Boss pellet grill is truly BRAND new, you should go through the full process of seasoning it before cooking on it for the first time.
You can find our Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Season a Pit Boss Pellet Grill here.
Otherwise follow these steps as follows:
- Fill your hopper with pellets.
- Plug in and start up the pellet grill, keeping the lid open. Set the temperature dial to “Smoke” and press the “Power” button.
- Since there are no pellets in the auger or firepot yet you need to now hold the “Prime” button until you hear pellets begin to drop into the firepot.
- The “Prime” feature on a Pit Boss pellet grill speeds up the auger so that pellets fill it quickly and get to your fire pot before the pellet grill “times out” from a lack of pellets coming into the fire pot.
- Once pellets are in the firepot, stop holding the “Prime” button and wait about 5-7 minutes with the lid open for a torchy burner lighting sound. This means the fire rod has come up to temperature and has ignited the pellets. At this point, a more significant amount of smoke will begin coming out of the pellet grill. This means the pellets are ignited and the pellet grill is working. Now you can close the lid.
- Close the lid and change temperature setting to about 350°F.
- This will take about 10-15 minutes to preheat the grill.
- Using a good bristle free grill brush, clean off the grill grates.
- Now adjust the temperature to where you need it to cook your food.
Why Bristle Free?
Check out our Ultimate Guide to How to Keep your Family Safe by using ONLY Bristle Free Grill Brushes, along with a selection of some of our favorites!
How to Start a Pit Boss Pellet Grill that has Pellets in it Already
Preparing to Start the Grill
- Clean out your fire pot from any leftover ashes from the previous cook. Make sure there are no obstructions in it.
- Leave the lid of the grill open.
- Add pellets to the hopper.
Note: It is alway best to empty the hopper and the auger each time you use your Pit Boss pellet grill rather than leaving the pellets to sit in there.
Pellets will not last very long if left in the hopper where, even when covered will be exposed to humidity and temperature fluctuations.
Keep your pellets in an airtight sealable container like a 5 gallon bucket indoors wher they will remain dry and fresh.
You will get better quality smoke out of them and they will last a lot longer.
Starting up the Pit Boss Pellet Grill
- Plug in the grill
- Make sure the temperature dial is set to the “Smoke” position and press “Power” on the control panel.
- You will hear the fan kick on and the auger start to move.
- Leave the lid open for about 5-7 minutes until you hear the firepot ignite. This will sound kind of like a torch lighting or a gas burner igniting.
- Close the lid and change temperature setting to about 350°F.
- This will take about 10-15 minutes to preheat the grill.
- Using a good bristle free grill brush, clean off the grill grates.
- Now adjust the temperature to where you need it to cook your food.
Want to see it for yourself? Check out our Video on How to Start a Pit Boss Pellet Grill:
How to Turn Off a Pit Boss Pellet Grill
After you have finished cooking your food, turn off the pellet grill using the power button.
Leave it plugged in as the fan needs to continue spinning to burn off the remaining pellets in the firepot.
This is NORMAL.
Do not unplug the pellet grill or this process cannot happen. The fan will turn off automatically when it is done.
If you unplug the pellet grill the lit pellets will sit and smolder for a LONG time (kind of like lit charcoal) and leave you with a big pile of ash rather than quickly burning up and leaving you with a nice clean fire pot for your next cook.
Once the remaining pellets have burned off, the fan has stopped, and the grill is cool again, empty the remaining pellets left in the auger and the hopper and put them in a nice dry resealable 5 gallon bucket you keep inside.
- Heavy-duty bucket and lid offer a variety of uses, both aquatic & non-aquatic
- 5 gallon capacity
- Features a sturdy metal handle & plastic grip for carrying
Yes, we know how tempting it is to just throw the cover back on and leave the unused pellets in the Pit Boss.
However, you will quickly find out how poorly those pellets absorb moisture and can expand, rot, and even mold if left in there too long.
For the best results, store your unused pellets in a sealed room temperature container like this 20 lb pellet container rather than in the Pit Boss hopper outside.
Pellets do not last forever, but will definitely last a LOT longer if stored indoors in a quality airtight container.
- Store up to 20 pounds of hardwood pellets in the heavy-duty plastic pellet bucket.
- Weatherproof, airtight lid protects pellets from the elements, keeping them fresh and dry
- Wire-mesh filter separates wood dust from the pellets for a clean burn
- Heavy-duty plastic scoop to easily transfer pellets
So take the extra few minutes to transfer them out of the grill once the grill has cooled down. You’ll thank yourself later!
Now What Food Can I Cook on my Pit Boss Pellet Grill?
Looking for some smoky inspiration for your Pit Boss?
So glad you asked.
Check out some of our great recipes of smoked and grilled food to try out after starting up your Pit Boss pellet grill!
- Smoked Fresh Ham with Dark Rum Citrus Glaze
- Smoked Leg of Lamb with Guinness Marinade
- Smoked Lamb Chops with a Balsamic Butter Sauce
- Smoked Rack of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary or Smoker
- Smoked and Pulled Lamb Shoulder with a Turkish Spice Rub
- Smoked Lamb Shanks
- Smoked Oysters in a Garlic White Wine Sauce
- Smoked Scallops with Lemon Garlic Drizzle
- Smoked Bratwurst with Beer Braised Onions
- Grilled Bratwurst
- Smoked Gouda Cheese
- Perfect Grilled Hamburgers
- Smoked and Reverse Seared Ribeye Steaks
- Pellet Grilled Steaks
- Pellet Grill Turkey
- Smoked Asparagus
Trash Can Turkey – OK, technically not made on a pellet grill but one of the most fun ways there is to cook a Turkey…at over 700 degrees in only 2 hours! You’ve got to check it out!
How to Start a Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Equipment
- Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Ingredients
- 1 Bag of Wood Pellets
- Electrical Outlet (optional)
Instructions
- Fill the hopper with wood pellets.
- Empty out the ash pot if there is any ash in it from previous cooks.
- Plug in and press the power button until the Pit Boss turns on, keeping the lid open.
- Hold the “Prime” button until you hear pellets begin to drop into the firepot. This may take up to 5 minutes if the auger is empty when you start.
- Once pellets are in the firepot, stop holding the “Prime” button and wait about 5-7 minutes continuing with the lid open for a torchy burner lighting sound. Thsi means the pellets are igniting.
- Close the lid and turn the heat up to 350 degress to preheat the Pit Boss before cooking.
- Once the Pit Boss has gotten up to 350 degrees to preheat, you can change the temperature to your desired cooking temperature.
- After 20-30 minutes, turn off the pellet grill. Leave it plugged in as the fan needs to continue spinning to burn off the remaining pellets in the firepot. This is NORMAL. Do not unplug the pellet grill or this process cannot happen. The fan will turn off automatically when it is done.
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