Masterbuilt Gravity Smoker 560 | 3 Month Review | 

instablaster.

I'll agree with this comment, just gotta make sure the sensors are pushed down

Thanks for the tips Nathan! I’m going to give adding wood chunks to the ash pan a try! My videos are meant to be simple, I’m glad you like them! Thanks again!

I also read on a forum or something where they asked masterbuilt if you can put wood chunks with the charcoal since it can use lump coal and they said yes, but no more than 1.5 lbs of wood chunks per hopper full.

Hi Nathan have you ever used all wood instead of coals? Can you fill the hopper with wood or would that cause too many issues?Or just use the ash pan for your wood? Thanks Dan.

@@danielroberts1094 you’d set fire to the area around the grill that way

LSS Mods make stainless steel mods for these. They’re a bit expensive, but will extend the life of your grill substantially.

That’s awesome man! I’m glad you find my vids useful! This is an awesome pit! Thank you very much for reaching out, this made my day!

It definitely is a minimal complaint, and not really a complaint to be honest.

That’s awesome! I had a Masterbuilt electric for quite a while, that smoker is what got me really into it! Slide of the bone is my favorite way!

I have had my 560 now for six months. I bought the extra racks and also the hvy duty cover as in Florida we get nine feet of rain each year. I also bought a dial temp gauge. What I learned: - It will hold temp very good - Don't use the bottom grate for long smokes, use the middle rack with a drip pan filled with 4cups of water to keep your meat moist on long smokes. - If you're doing long smokes build up your hopper with a lil charcoal and some chunk wood then charcoal until you get to the top. For pronounced smoke ring drop 2 or 3 chunks in the ash can before you light it up. - If you're not doing long cooks then don't fill your hopper up it wastes charcoal. If I was doing steaks I would only put in about 15-20 briquettes. - when you smoke with the middle rack you might have to dial in 265F to get 225F at the middle rack. It depends on outside air temp and if there is winds. You will learn your grill. - Don't forget this thing can go as low as 160F so you can smoke salts, paprika, BBQ rubs to infuse smoke smell and taste into them. Don't forget you can cold smoke cheeses and fish also. - Crank it up to 700F to reverse sear and use as a pizza oven! You made a brilliant choice this grill/smoker is so versatile. Just only use enough charcoal for what you're cooking. I only fill mine when I am doing long 9-12 hour smokes. Enjoy and God Bless!

@@docohm50 This sounds ideal for me, your tips have been really helpful. My only concern is, can you get a flame easy to sear those steaks at the end? At the moment i have a kettle bbq, reverse sear is easy, i have a Weber Smokey Mountain for smoking slow cooks, but it needs a lot of attention to keep those temps stable...i'm hoping this ticks all the boxes, its just how to get those flames easy to sear...any tips or experience you can share?

Awesome info, thank you very much for reaching out and the tips! I’ll have to give that WiFi a try!

Did you have any issues with the faulty switches etc? I'm looking to buy one now.

Yep! Did a whole video on their upgrades :)

Thanks brother! It is a great design! It’s has been a great addition

That’s awesome! Congrats, you really can’t go wrong with either. Masterbuilt wins hands down for flavor!

Just got one, how do you start it?

Ah man that’s a crazy work week! I would love the 1050! Size difference is definitely noticeable!

Got the 1050 it is pretty awesome. Some problems with the wifi control but very happy with the purchase! Threw in a pizza stone and it worked great at 500 degrees!

I’m leaning toward the 560 because I don’t need the space of the 1050. And the charcoal hopper is the same size on all of them so a full hopper with give you 10-12 hours of fuel on a 560 but only 8 hours on the 1050(according to masterbuilt site)

@@authorityfigure1630 yeah. Heard that but I like to through a couple backyard bbq's a year and I find myself utilizing both my 560 and my pellet to get all the meats done in a timely manner. So I would probably be able to get it all done on the 1050. So I could potentially get rid of my pellet smoker and my off set so I can reclaim the room out back.

Thank you very much Devin!

Oh man that’s an awesome deal! Be careful when searing with that pit boss though! Especially after doing something like cheeseburgers. The grease can catch quickly with that open flame! Thanks for watching brother! Be safe out there!

Just received a 1080. I am considering putting a shallow drip pan under the main grates on top of the diffuser. I have some foil drip trays from traeger that I used on my pellet smoker. If I tilt it to a corner I hope I can get the grease to run off there to the grease tray...maybe it will result in more even cook and easier clean-up. What do you think?

yeah but how do you control it from your phone?

@@jerbs1 lmfao

I had my 560 for 6 months. I use the middle rack when I do pork butt, ribs, brisket with a large foil pan below filled with 4 cups of water. I alternate the hopper with regular charcoal and chunk wood filling it up. If I am doing steaks I only use 15-20 briquettes. I will set temp to 225F and pull the steaks off at 105-110F. Then I see temp to 700F, add a additional) handful of briquettes to hopper, it takes 10 minutes to go from 225 to 700F Sear the steaks about a minute on each side and you got a steak house style steak at home for half the price!

@@docohm50 I have their Thermo temp smoker and love it. Wish I saw this before I got the smoker. This will be my next combo. I’m sure a new model with self ignition will be out soon. Thanks

I appreciate that! The smoke is absolutely more intense and rich in the gravity smokers due to the combustion of coal and wood. It’s much quieter as well!

This one is a whole different animal from Pellet Grills. You literally can do it all with this one. I have/had a Traeger and definitely not for grilling, but this Masterbuilt gravity is hands down the best multi-use.

You can use lump charcoal and pieces of wood the size of your fist or bigger.

I have a whole video on the LSS mods I installed lol

@@MrBigKid I have sitting in my Closet, some add ons for my 560, it is better back vent cover, a cord wrap that I will install on the back of the side shelf and front folding shelf. Once it warms up here, in May 2022 I will get to installing these.

Buyt a Weber Smokey Mountain and call it a day

@@PaleHose28 or you could by a reverse flow trailer smoker and start catering parties and getting paid

@@GunsNBBQ You’re comparing to apples to oranges now. I’m comparing this to a Weber

@@PaleHose28 no I'm not comparing anything. Just pointing out how useless comments like your original 1 is. I have a $7k reverse flow trailer smoker, a trader 34, OKJ Offset, a kettle cooker, and a regular charcoal grill with a shelf that raises and lowers. Point is they all serve a purpose. Yes you can 99% of the same stuff in each but the there will be small difference in the finish of each. To each their own, no need to poo poo on what anyone is using. In the end the goal is to have great bbq and have more people making it. That's what's do great about our hobby, our pastime, our passion... it's the variety of choice from beginner, to world champion.

Thanks brother!!

That’s not good, it will put creosote on your food that adds a bitter flavor and will cause your tongue to go numb. Been there, done that.

Both the pellet grill and gravity will nail those foods for sure! However, I would say if you want to punch it with more flavor... the gravity charcoal is a great option. BUT if you want more convenience and efficiency, the pellet grill. Im happy to own both, but I still use my pellet grill out of convenience more.

@@MrBigKid Can you explain how a pellet grill is more convenient? Thanks!

Sure. It’s literally as easy as turning a dial to ignite. The charcoal grill requires a manual fire to ignite, not a big deal at all however. The charcoal grill also has an ash pan that will need to be dumped more often. It’s not difficult to do any of these tasks, but the pellet grill is quicker to ignite :)

@@MrBigKid I bought th Masterbuilt 23 Dec 2020 since t5hen I have been able to use the grill one time. Their customer service is non exitance, For the price I would not recommend the product.

Thats a tough question... but if I could only choose one... I think it would be the Pellet Grill. The PB820 is so easy to use, and with the searing door / plate.... I can NAIL steaks on it! The Masterbuilt is an amazing grill, and I love it... but it is a bit less convenient, and less efficient... though packs more flavor. I'm honestly happy to have both!

This thing is actually well built. Watch other reviews. This one is on the rough side.

I felt the same exact way when I bought mine. The door felt ultra light. This thing retains heat WELL! The temperature swings are very small,l as well. The materials they use feel very light, but seem very well insulated. I can actually rest something on top of the grill while smoking.

MrBigKid thanks for the tips and help. I love your channel. I used to have a pellet smoker, but got rid of it for an offset because I just wasn’t getting enough smoke flavor even with the addition of the a-maze-n tube. I’m not sure if you still have your offset, but I’d love to see another video with you using it. I really appreciate your accessibility and getting back to me. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

I don’t think it’s insulated with anything other than an air gap between the two pieces of metal.

I haven’t noticed any decay at all, just some slight surface rust, which can be mostly cleaned off and re-coated with oil. The one switch on the top of the hopper has deformed a little due to the heat, but functions fine.

Thanks brother! It has been a great grill!

Man these are basically just an autofeed offset they will do whatever an offset will do plus run muuucch hotter to sear at the end game changer I don't think theyll gain the traction of the pellet machines but they're just better in most ways

I think it would work well, The charcoal grill gets nice and hot, and control is tight. I don’t have any experience with it in cold weather though, so don’t take my word for it!

MrBigKid thank you

Oh I’ve seen that fire lol! It can be a night Fire too!

@@MrBigKid fire #4. I somewhat trashed them on their Facebook ad and finally they want to actually talk about this delightful design fla.... I mean, cool evening heater option.

ROFL, reverse seared steaks gone wrong 😂

Absolutely! I have used chunks in the pan, the hopper and even sometimes combined for extra smoke

Thank you! It does leave a charcoal flavor, much like a kettle would.

@@MrBigKid how has the unit held up do you recommend buying one

So far so good! I definitely would through my experience! It survived a pretty bad grease fire that was completely my fault... and it was a bad one lol! The charcoal flavor is something I love, and to have a PID controlled charcoal grill has been pretty awesome!

I appreciate the feedback, however the vast majority of my subscribers enjoy my cinematic edits. It’s a unique trait of my channel and content.

I don’t believe so. There isn’t really a “fire pit” on the Gravity. The fire is actually inside the hopper, and the heat is directed to the grill chamber. Typically to get a flame, I keep the lid closed intill IT hits 700, then open the door. The O2, heat, and drippings kind of “flare up” then I get a nice searing flame :)

You put a wood chunk in the ash pan and when the little embers fall in the ash pan, the wood chunk is burned and produces smoke and heat.