Z Grills ZPG 7002C Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker Review

Z Grills 7002C – A Comprehensive Overview

It is one of the most feature-packed products made by the Z Grills brand, and it is considered a top-class grill smoker combo. 

So, let’s move toward our detailed Z Grills ZPG-7002C review by enlightening all of its significant features and their use in the world of outdoor cooking.

Appearance

It has a traditional wood pellet grill design in which you get a drum-shaped cooking chamber, a hopper box to feed pellets, a pipe for the heat to escape, and four legs with wheels. 

Within its design, there is an LED screen attached to this gadget above the hopper box, which shares real-time readings regarding the cooking session, such as temperature, time, etc.

The two primary colors of this grill, bronze, and black, look beautiful together and elevate the overall design of this grill. 

So design-wise, this grill has nothing new, and it is pretty similar to other pellet smokers and grills.

Construction Quality

Another similar thing between this and other wood pellet grills is their construction material. Its outer parts consist of alloy steel material, whereas its inner parts are constructed with strong stainless steel material.

Overall, it is an excellent product to invest in if you are searching for a quality grill to help you achieve your BBQ tasks for a long time without compromising its durability.

Furthermore, it weighs 113 pounds which is neither too heavy nor too lightweight, and it has got two big wheels on two legs and two small wheels on the other legs. As a result, it becomes easier to move this thing around with convenience. 

But you will need to find a suitable and ample area to place this gadget properly because it measures 48 x 26 x 51 inches, which is pretty large.

Lastly, it operates through electricity; therefore, you need to ensure that you have a reliable power source or access to an electrical outlet within the range of the grill.

Assembling Process

You will receive this grill packaged in a big box with proper sealing and an instruction guide on how to assemble this product step-by-step. 

Its cooking area comes pre-assembled (without cooking grates), and you need to attach the rest of its parts, including legs, wheels, hopper, grates, lid, handles, and heat deflectors.

You should start assembling it from the bottom part, for which you will need to put its four legs together to place the cooking chamber over it. In this way, the assembling process becomes easier and quicker.

Once the legs have been assembled, place the drum-shaped chamber over it and attach the stainless steel lid over it by tightening the screws. Next, attach the side handles to the grill, which helps you lift and move it around when required.

The next step is a bit technical, as it involves properly assembling the hopper to the side of the grill. I highly recommend seeking help from the instruction book to ensure correct installation and alignment. 

Remember that there will be two different phases of hopper installation. First, you need to put the hopper together and then mount it to the chamber. So, ensure to get things done nicely because the hopper plays a vital role in cooking.

Now, attach the chimney cap and the smoke stack to its place, and lastly, insert the grill grates inside the chamber where you place and cook your food.

So, my point of view on assembling this device is that it is time-consuming and a bit technical; it can take around an hour to assemble it nicely. 

If you want to save time and reduce your effort, I advise following the step-by-step instructions and assembling it with a person.

Usage

One of my favorite features of this wood pellet grill is that it is super easy to use because it comes up with a PID controller or control panel, which allows me to use this device as a pro. 

Its controller consists of a power button to turn on or off the grill, a knob to increase or decrease the temperature, and an LED screen to display the temperature inside the cooking chamber.

To use it, you will simply insert the grill’s switch in an electric outlet, press the power button, set your desired cooking temperature, let the grill preheat, place your food on the grates, and allow the grill to cook your food.

Temperature Range, Control, And Performance

I love using this outdoor cooking appliance for smoking and grilling, but it might not suit me for high-heat cooking like searing.

It has a limited temperature range from 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which is great for smoking and grilling food but not searing.

Furthermore, this smoker grill combo also misses the slide and grill technology, which is really helpful in achieving a direct and more intense heat through which you can sear your steak and other similar meats within a few minutes.

If I talk about the temperature control on this grill, it is pretty straightforward for both beginners and pros.

Using the control knob given on the PID controller, you can decrease or increase the cooking temperature with an increment of 20 degrees Fahrenheit. 

It is an admirable feature, but it could offer more precise temperature control if the users could adjust the temperature with an increment of 5 degrees, like Traeger Pro 575 or other pellet grills. But still, it can help you achieve desired cooking results.

Lastly, its temperature performance is satisfying due to several exciting features. For example, its lid has a tight sealing, and when you close it while cooking, it retains heat well, which results in evenly cooked food items. 

Moreover, you may face a little temperature fluctuation in different parts of the grill, and it is usual in pellet grills because the heat comes from the middle, and the corners of the cooking chamber are less hot, especially when the cooking temperature is low.

Hopper Capacity

One of this grill’s most admirable and favorite features is its hopper capacity. Normally, pellet grills have a hopper capacity of 18 to 20 pounds, whereas this Z Grills product allows you to place 24 pounds of pellets at once. 

As a result, I can smoke or grill without the fear of running out of pellets, and even if I am smoking a packer brisket low and slow, I still might be able to save 4 to 6 pounds of pellets. 

Also, its pellet hopper window allows you to monitor the pellets’ amount and cook accordingly. So, its hopper capacity is up to the mark and offers satisfying results while cooking.

Grilling And Smoking Area

If you have a big family of 8 to 10 people or even more and often cook at large parties, it is one of the most suitable wood pellet grill options. 

It comes up with 700 square inches of cooking space, which is divided into two cooking racks. I recommend using the upper rack to smoke thick cuts of meat using an indirect heat setup.

On the other hand, for grilling purposes, it is better to use the lower rack, which is closer to the heat source.

These two racks together can easily accommodate two whole-packer briskets, 5 to 6 racks of ribs, 30 plus burgers, or ten plus chickens at once.