You want to test a different pellet flavor for your next cook. So you grab a five-gallon bucket to empty the pellets from the hopper. You realize that there are some pellets stuck in the auger. So what do you do? In this article, you’ll learn how to get pellets out of the auger using a few different options.
How to Remove Pellets From Pit Boss Auger?
To remove the leftover pellets from the hopper after emptying the hopper, you can use a shop vac to suck up as many as you can. You can also burn through the remaining leftover pellets at startup.
Read this article if you’re trying to unclog an auger because it’s jammed.
There are several reasons to change out the pellet flavors. But in this article, we’re going to take a look at what to do with the remnants that are leftover in the auger.
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How Do You Get Pellets Out Of Pit Boss Auger?
If you’ve ever changed out the pellets in the Pit Boss, then you know there are always a few that get stuck behind in the auger and firepot.
This is completely normal and happens to all pellet grill owners, regardless of which brand you own.
So let’s take a closer look at how to remove the old flavor and make room for your new pellets.
Use A Shop Vac
Once you’ve emptied out the hopper, you’ll notice some leftover pellets that are stuck in the auger. If your shop vac has extensions like the one below, you should be able to get most of the pellets out.
- [5 Gallon Lightweight Wet/Dry Vacuum] This vacuum is the perfect size for a variety of tasks around the house or garage. The balanced top handle design and durable, wide stance casters make this shop vacuum easy to carry, use and store.
- [Wet and Dry Operation] The vacuum is equipped to vacuum wet and dry debris. With a 3 Peak HP motor this wet/dry vac makes cleanup easy, whether it’s liquid spills in the home, or cheerios in the car. This vacuum can also be turned into a blower to remove debris from a yard or garage.
- [Smart Design] This shop vacuum has over 15-ft of cleaning reach with the hose, extension wands, and power cord.
- [Complete Vac Organization] The on-board hose, cord, and accessory storage allows you to keep all of the attachments organized and in one place.
I’ve found the the extension wands on the shop vac make the job easier. Attach the extension wands to the hose and maneuver your way around the auger.
The vacuum will suck up most of the remaining pellets. Don’t forget to remove the grates, and fire shield to vacuum up the fire pot as well.
If the shop vac isn’t able to get most of the pellets, you use the “Prime Auger” function. The auger will run for a full length before coming to a stop. This should feed the pellets through the auger and drop them into the firepot.
That said, after using the “Prime Auger” function, you will need to reprime the grill after you’ve added the new pellets. Especially, if you’ve vacuumed out all the pellets from the fire pot.
Burn Off Remaining Left Over Pellets
The second and easiest thing to do is to remove the old pellets and add the new flavored pellets. Use the shop vac to remove as many of the pellets from the auger, or just leave them as is.
Fill the hopper with the new pellets. Turn the Pit Boss on and let it burn through the remaining pellets in the auger during startup.
The old pellets should be gone in about 15-20 minutes. You likely won’t notice any flavor difference from the small amount left over.
Of course, if you’re cooking hamburgers and it only takes 10 minutes to cook them completely, you’ll want to ensure you remove all the old flavored pellets from the auger.
Wait Till You Burn Through All The Pellets
If you don’t want to mix different flavored pellets, consider burning through the pellets in the hopper before changing to a different flavor.
You can also opt to use the Competition Blend pellets. The Competition Blend pellets are a versatile flavor of cherry, maple, and hickory that is suited for all types of baking, grilling, or smoking.
These pellets can be used for veggies, seafood, beef, pork, chicken, and even fruits. They basically work with any dish you want to prepare.
When you buy a bag of the Competition Blend, you never have to worry about changing out your pellets. The only time you’ll have to empty the hopper is when you’re storing the grill during the winter, or you want to do a deep cleaning of the Pit Boss.
Should You Change Out The Pellets?
Pit Boss makes it easy to change out the pellets in your grill. How often you change them is completely up to you.
I’ve personally found that changing them too much causes the pellets to create a lot of sawdust. Some people in this online smoking forum say that changing out the pellets too much ruins them.
There’s no right or wrong answer to whether you should change the pellets. Some people never change them at all, they just use the same flavored pellets for all their cooks.
Other people swear they can taste the pellet flavor in the foods they eat, so they want to ensure they’re pairing the right foods with the right flavors.
Conclusion
Pit Boss pellets come in many different flavors. As you learn how to use the smoker, you’ll learn which pellets pair best with certain foods.
At some point, you’re going to want to change out the pellets. Hopefully, this guide shows you how easy it is to remove the pellets from the auger.
If you have trouble removing the pellets completely, don’t stress too much about it. Just burn through them during startup. As long as you’ve emptied the pellet and added new pellets, the old ones will be gone in a few minutes.