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Camp Chef Woodwind Pro: Setting Up Your Ultimate BBQ Smoker
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Time to read 7 min
Is a Pellet Smoker for Me?
If you're reading this, you probably love a good BBQ and are wondering if a pellet smoker is right for you. Trust me, it absolutely is! Barbecue is all about sharing the joy of cooking and discovering new flavors with family and friends. It's about creating core memories of fantastic meals enjoyed in great company, evoked by the aroma of smoked brisket, a glazed rack of ribs, or a roast chicken. Any tool that makes this process more convenient, time-efficient, or frequent is something I wholeheartedly embrace. I'm all in!
Enter the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro, which checks all those boxes. With the ability to control and monitor my barbecue's temperature, time, and smoke level from my phone via Bluetooth while socializing, or even remotely over Wi-Fi from an entirely different location, I can manage a cook before a Friday night gathering... and that's simply priceless!
The answer? An unequivocal, resounding YES - a million times over, without a doubt!
Do Pellet Smokers Even Get Enough Smoke?
Smoke levels in food are a matter of personal preference. What tastes smoky to one person might not register on someone else's radar. The Camp Chef Woodwind Pro addresses this with an adjustable smoke level to dial in how much smoke you want from your pellet feeder. But if your BBQ blood runs thick and you want "real charcoal" or "solid wood flavors," Camp Chef has you covered with an integrated smoke box. This smoke box allows you to add wood chips, wood chunks, charcoal, or anything else you desire to smolder away and add an extra flavor profile to any type of cook. It levels up your low and slow barbecuing experience on a pellet smoker. The best part? You can do this as often as you like without disrupting your cook.
Just because it can be plug-and-play / set-and-forget doesn't mean it has to be! You can man your grill and add smoking chunks as regularly as you like, finessing the details that some BBQ enthusiasts love to tinker with. Maybe add some charcoal for the first 30 minutes, then some cherry wood for the next hour—the adjustability can be as little or as much as you desire. This adjustability enables you to tune your culinary craft to your heart's content.
The adjustability enables you to tune your culinary craft to your heart's content.
The Set-Up
This is one of the most convenient setup and build processes I've experienced in a long time, and I'm no stranger to frequent Ikea and Bunnings builds. The Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24” comes in two boxes, three if you opt for the sidekick attachment (gas hot plate). All were easy to manage on my own, although it's recommended to have two people for the build. The boxes are labeled one and two, with one being your main unit where you start. The box cover slips straight off once you cut the packing straps, allowing all four sides of the box to drop down and expose the barbecue. This was an amazing touch. You'll find your instructions under the lid of the grill once you remove the plastic wrap.
You have the option of paper instructions or a digital download via a QR code. The download itself took a little time, and the instructions were the same as the booklet. You get a 3D model that helps to show you where exactly you are in the setup process—super cool, but I opted for the instruction booklet.
The instructions move you step-by-step with clear pictures, from step no.1 through to step no.26, with each step having its own little component bag marked with the corresponding step number. This made the entire build very easy to follow, and all you require is a Phillips head screwdriver. The entire process shouldn’t take you much longer than 1 hour if you are doing it with a partner.
The Basics of the Build Process
To give you an overview, you start by tipping the unit on its back, opening the unit’s lid, and removing the build instructions from inside the smoker. Steps no.1- no.7 will be to attach the legs and wheels. Once completed, you can stand the unit up for the remainder of the build. I can’t state enough how easy and fluid this build process is. The clear step-by-step pictures and individual screw packets marked with the step process required make this entire build hassle-free. Adding the hopper and final components follows from here on through the rest of the build. Everything is a bolt-on part, and no over-complicated fiddly building is required.
Burn In & The Side Kick
With the build complete, the final step will be the initial burn-in of running the pellet smoker as per the instructions. This is normally a quick burn-off to remove factory oil and residue from the surfaces before your first cook.
NOTE: If you opt for the sidekick gas grill and want to run a standard LPG gas bottle, you will need to buy an adapter for the gas fitting. These will run you around $12 AUD on Amazon with next-day delivery.
Technical Specifications and Features
The Camp Chef Woodwind Pro is packed with features designed to enhance your grilling experience. Here are some technical details that will appeal to the grill enthusiasts:
Smoke Box: This feature allows you to add different types of wood, charcoal, or wood chips to customize the flavor profile of your BBQ. The ability to adjust smoke levels ensures you get the perfect amount of smokiness in your food.
WiFi / Bluetooth Connectivity: Monitor and control your cooking remotely using the Camp Chef app. This feature allows you to adjust temperature, smoke levels, and cooking time from your phone, giving you more freedom while grilling.
Internal Food Thermometers: The smoker comes with four corded temperature gauges that plug into the unit. This allows you to monitor the internal temperature of different meats simultaneously, ensuring perfect results every time.
Pellet Hopper: The large hopper can hold a significant amount of pellets, reducing the need for frequent refills. The pellet dump feature allows you to empty unused pellets easily, making cleanup a breeze.
Ash Cleanout System: The ash catch can and dump tray make it easy to remove ash after each cook, keeping your smoker clean and ready for the next BBQ.
Sidekick Attachment: The optional sidekick gas grill provides additional cooking options. You can use it for searing steaks, cooking side dishes, or even making breakfast.
Durable Construction: Made with high-quality materials, the Woodwind Pro is built to last. The solid construction ensures stability and durability, even in harsh weather conditions.
Ease of Use: The setup process is straightforward, with clear instructions and labeled components. The user-friendly design makes it easy for both beginners and experienced grillers to use.
Final Thoughts
My first impression is that this is a well-made unit. It’s solid, well thought out, and the setup/build process is designed to make your life easier to get you grilling ASAP. The grill has been made for both the average cook and the pit master who wants to play and adjust. It’s the perfect blend of both worlds. Some of my top points that I noticed right away that I believe are game-changing on this smoker:
- Smoke Box: Not only can you vary your pellets’ smoking levels, but the smoke box allows you to add lump charcoal, briquettes, smoking wood, or smoking chips. This is incredible.
- WiFi / Bluetooth: The ability to monitor and adjust your cooks remotely without buying more accessories is amazing. The app is seamless and user-friendly.
- Internal Food Thermometers: This smoker comes with four corded temperature gauges that plug into the unit for you to set up four individually tracked cooking temps.
- The Little Things: There are two features that might not seem like much but are game-changers: 1) There is a pellet dump on the hopper, so when you’re done cooking and storing the unit away, you don’t have to scoop out your unused pellets—just dump the whole hopper back into a storage bag. 2) The ash catch can. After each cook, there is a little dump tray to remove the burnt-off pellets’ ash, reducing the amount you need to clean out the smoker.
- Sidekick: Having a hot plate right off the main smoker has so much potential. I’m more than excited to throw down a reverse sear tomahawk using this system. Smoke on the smoker, then add a crazy steak crust right on the sidekick.
This smoker has set some high standards right off the bat, starting so smoothly and well thought out. I look forward to putting it through its paces, learning the ins and outs, testing its capabilities, and seeing if it has any weaknesses. Has Camp Chef installed a gimmick smoke box to silence the internet trolls, or will this be the game-changer to every pellet smoker naysayer and destroy all other pellet smokers on the market? Will the Camp Chef Woodwind Pro 24” have any downside to what appears to be one of the most solid BBQs in this space?
Only time and cooks will tell!
I look forward to bringing a full review answering these questions. For a short reel on the build process or to watch what cooks this smoker can smash out while we review this unit, head to @camping_australia or @brisket_bear.
Happy Cooking
Brisket Bear 🤙🏻
