Rec Tec Vs Yoder Reviews, Tips, and Guides

There is a lot of debate in the pellet smoker world about which manufacturer makes the best product: rec tec or yoder. Both companies make high-quality smokers, but there are some key differences that may help you decide which one is right for you. In this post, we’ll compare the two brands, so you can make an informed decision about which smoker is right for your needs. Stay tuned!

What is a rec tec?

-A rec tec is a “vaulted oven made out of thick steel with ceramic insulation or cement applied to the outside for durability” (Rec Tec). It can be used as a smoker, grill, and convection oven all at once.

Features of a rec tec:

Size:

-The size is 21“H x 24.75W x 35.5D

-Weighs about 100 pounds

Price:

-Price ranges from $1999 to $2499

-This is a bit pricey, but the quality of this grill makes it worth it.

Design:

-The design of a rec tec is unique in its shape and color. It looks like something straight out of Comic Con or some Comic Book Science Fiction movie.

-It is made from thick steel with ceramic insulation or cement applied to the outside for durability.

Style:

-The style, as stated above, would look great in just about any kitchen. This oven has that sleek futuristic appearance that can go well in most kitchens with modern décor. If you have one half decent looking kitchen than putting this oven in there will only make it look better because what it lacks in looks it makes up for having a stylish appearance.

Warranty:

-There is a 1-year warranty on everything except the grill plates and LP tank. There is only a 90-day warranty on those items.

Customer Service:

-If you have any issues with your rec tec, they will do whatever it takes to make sure that the problem is solved. They promise a 100% customer satisfaction and I don’t think many people have anything bad to say about them or their customer service.

Material:

-The rec tec is made from thick steel, ceramic insulation or cement applied to the outside for durability. All this material makes the rec tec the most durable oven on the market today.

Ease of use:

-Using it is very easy all you must do is turn it on and wait until it reaches temp then you put whatever meat you want in there and leave it alone unless you need to check your food. This ensures even cooking because once you shut off your oven if can hold at temp for up to 7 hours without any loss of heat. That means just about anyone with no prior experience can use this machine with ease.

Accessories:

-There are a lot of accessories that can be bought for the rec tec. There is an outdoor wood chip box, pellet hopper, igloo ice chest to name a few. These items are all very useful and are quite fun to have with your oven. They enhance your cooking experience so much more by being able to use them with it.

Temperature Controls:

-The rec tec has an easy-to-use digital display with a clear bright screen. The controls are very easy to operate you can choose from 30 different temp settings ranging from 150 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It also comes with a frying thermometer so cooking time and temperature is never an issue.

Smoke Flavor:

-If you want a smoky flavor, you can use their smoke box or put wood chucks directly on the coals. The smokiness of each meat is determined by the length of time that it is smoked for. It gives an incredible smoked taste without having to go out and buy those expensive premade wood chips from your local supermarket.

Fuel Type:

-This oven can be used with charcoal or wood pellets.

Cooking space:

-The rec tec has 377 square inches of cooking space and can cook up to 40 pounds of meat at once.

Hopper capacity:

-It has a hopper capacity of 80 pounds.

Fuel Consumption:

-This oven can use about 4 pounds of charcoal per hour or 1 pound of pellet fuel per hour.

Temperature Range:

-This oven can go from 150 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maintenance & Cleaning:

-There is very little to no work involved when cleaning the rec tec. The insides of this oven are so easy cleaned, it’s almost as easy as cleaning a toilet with that removable grill plate. All you must do wipe out the inside and put that grill plate back in then your good to go.

Portability:

-This oven is very light for its size weighing in at about 140 pounds. It has 2 wheels that work flawlessly, so transporting this oven is not an issue at all.

What is a Yoder?

-A yoder is a brand of pellet grill/smoker. They make some of the best pellet grills and smokers on the market.  They are very well known for their dedication to producing the best grills and smokers in the industry. A yoder can be used as a pellet grill or smoker with a great selection of flavors. They have a huge following & this brand has a cult like following, so owning one is truly a statement of who you are.

Features of a Yoder:

Size:

-A Yoder is medium to large. They come in different sizes, the smallest one being able to cook up to two racks of ribs at once and weighing about 220 pounds. The biggest one being able to do 6 racks at once weighing about 700 pounds.

Price:

-A Yoder is very expensive, costing anywhere from $1800 to over $4000.

Design:

-The design of a yoder is simple and has few parts due to the fact that they are made mostly out of metal. They usually have an ash cup on the bottom for easy removal. Sometimes they will include a built-in temperature gauge as well as a digital display where you can easily view your cooking temperatures and times, or simply set it yourself if you wish. Yoders come with casters allowing them to be easily moved around; this makes cleaning up after your cook very easy and convenient because it can be rolled into your garage and cleaned out without having to lift because it weighs between 200-700 pounds.

Style:

-The style of a yoder depends on the model that you get, but it is usually rather traditional with a stainless-steel finish and black lettering. Some models add in a bit of decoration such as colored knobs or logos. They also have an open cart design which allows for great airflow within the grill which helps create the “sticky” delicious bark we all love so much when smoking meats! The stickiness in bark comes from a chemical reaction called the Maillard Reaction. The smoke hits your meat, and this reaction creates thousands of flavor compounds making your meat taste amazing!

Warranty:

-Yoders have a 5-year warranty on everything excluding paint, labor, fire pot and shipping cost. If you are still within your warranty period it is easy to get your grill fixed by calling customer service and having someone either come to your home or replace parts that may need replacing. They also offer an optional extended warranty if you pay the extra fee which would cover any part of the grill for 6 years beyond your initial warranty.

Customer Service:

-Customer service with Yoder is great. If you are ever having issues getting parts or need to have your grill assessed for repair, they will help you out very quickly and efficiently. They are known throughout the industry as being one of the best companies regarding customer service, so you are guaranteed satisfaction if needed.

Material:

-Yoders are made from 100% high quality steel, even the fire pit is made from high-quality steel rather than lesser metals like most other brands of pellet grills and smokers.

Ease of use:

-Yoders are not hard to use at all, they come with an instruction manual which clearly states how to set it up and operate your grill or smoker. You can easily get a good smoky taste in whatever you might be cooking by simply setting the temperature around 225 degrees Fahrenheit for about 4 hours while adding in some smoke wood on either side of your fire pit. Once you have reached your desired internal temperature, take it off and let rest before slicing and serving!

Accessories:

-Yoders can be equipped with several different accessories and features such as: built in temperature gauges, digital control panel, higher end models include side boxes to store your pellets and other tools you may need for your next cook.

Temperature Controls:

-Yoders offer a good amount of control over your grill, you can set the temperature anywhere from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and they also have LED displays that show you the current cooking temperatures.

Smoke Flavor:

-Yoder offers many different flavor options while smoking, so whatever type of taste you might be going for you can get it! They offer cherry wood, apple wood, hickory wood, maple wood and even mesquite.

Fuel Type:

-Yoders use natural hardwood pellets to fuel the fire. Pellets are made by taking hardwood sawdust and pressing it together which creates a dense form of wood that burns slow and long.

Cooking space:

 

-Yoders offer a good amount of cooking space depending on which model you decide to go with. Some models such as the YS640 and YS640 Elite have more than 700 square inches while others like the Yoder 640 and 22 inch have around 400 square inches of total cooking space.

Hopper capacity:

-Hopper capacity varies between models, the YS640 has a hopper capacity of around 20 pounds while some like the Yoder 640 and 22 inch can hold anywhere from 50 to 70 pounds depending on how much food you are cooking.

Fuel Consumption:

-Yoders use natural hardwood pellets that burn long and hot, however this also means that they will need to be refilled every so often. The YS640 needs roughly 1 pound of pellets per hour while the other grills take about 1/3rd to half a pound depending on how much you are cooking.

Temperature Range:

-Yoders use digital controls and can be set anywhere from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maintenance & Cleaning:

-Maintenance is very easy with Yoder pellet grills and smokers, they are very clean machines that do not require much maintenance at all. The ash pan can be easily removed to dump out the ashes while the drip bowl under the cooking grates needs to only be cleaned on occasion for it to stay running smoothly.

Portability:

-Yoders are known to be very portable due to their smaller sizes and their ability to use natural hardwood pellets as fuel.

Pros and Cons of a rec tec and yoder?

-Both brands offer the same type of cooking experience and keep in mind that they both come from the same company, regardless these are some of the pros and cons.

-One great pro is that both rec tec & yoders have a good amount of cooking space which means you can cook a lot at once! They also have a good number of accessories to choose from as well as being easy to use so anyone can operate them.

-Both models are small for how much room they give you to cook with, however there are smaller sizes available with rec tec and yoder.

-Yoders are known to be very portable due to their smaller sizes and their ability to use natural hardwood pellets as fuel.

-Both companies offer price ranges on their grills, however it seems like rec tec offers more options depending on your budget whereas Yoders seem pricier than some other brands out there on the market.

The similarities of rec tec and yoder:

– Like rec tec, they are both made of 100% high quality steel and use pellets for fuel.

– They both have an easily removable ash tray for easy cleanup.

– Most models come with either digital or analog displays to monitor temperatures throughout the grill/smoker.

– Both brands also offer many different accessories, options, and features for their grills/smokers.

The differences of rec tec and yoder:

– The biggest difference between rec tec and yoder is the price tag, as a rule rec tec tends to be cheaper than Yoders.

– Yoders have a much better reputation in the industry being widely used by experienced grillers/smokers much more so than rec tec who are still trying to make a name for themselves.

The winner:

– The winner depends on your needs and budget, if you are looking for a top-notch pellet smoker/grill that is used by many experienced grillers then Yoders would be the brand to go with. On the other hand, if you want a brand that has good customer service, good warranty options and still gives you some of the features of yoder but at an affordable price than rec tec might be what you are looking for!

FAQs:

What is the primary difference between a rec tec and yoder?

-The biggest difference between rec tec and yoder is the price tag, as a general rule rec tec tends to be cheaper than Yoders.

Which one is right for me?

-In order to answer this question, you must consider two things, your budget and what your ideal pellet grills/smokers will be used for. If you are a casual grill or smoker then rec tec may be the brand for you whereas if you plan on using it frequently then definitely go with a yoder!

Pros and Cons of a rec tec and yoder?

Rec tec pros:

– Many different size, color, and shape options to choose from.

– Available add ons/options such as: sear station, cold smoker, auto cleaner and more.

Rec tec cons:

– Rec Tec grills/smokers are much larger than other brands which makes transportation a little bit harder.

Yoder pros:

– Yoders offer a large variety of sizes and shapes so you can find the right fit for your backyard!

– With both High end and mid-level models it allows you to be able to find exactly what will work best for you while staying in your budget.

Yoder cons:

– Higher end models such as the YS640 Elite (upwards of $2000) and the Yoder 640 (upwards of $1000) might be out of some people’s budgets.

– Some people complain about pellet grills/smokers being a little harder to clean compared to other traditional smokers such as charcoal or propane.

• Yoder vs Traeger Grill Comparison in 2022

Conclusion:

Both the Rec Tec and Yoder smokers have their pros and cons, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference. If you are looking for a smoker that is easy to use and has great temperature control, then the Rec Tec would be a good option. However, if you want a smoker with more of a traditional flavor profile, the Yoder may be better for you. Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to decide which smoker they prefer.