Established in 1990, Camp Chef is now one of the most popular brands when it comes to pellet grills. Most of their models offer a spacious grilling area, easy-to-use digital controls, and come with a patented ash cleanout system. Although not as popular as Traeger, this company certainly has its fans everywhere across the country.
One thing that puts this brand above the competition is that their grills allow searing. As you already know, searing requires substantially high temperatures, and most pellet grills are unable to achieve them. Fortunately, most of this company’s models come with unique slots for the Sear Box, which is another Camp Chef product and an accessory that allows searing.
Should you buy one for your pellet grill? With features such as stainless steel construction, push-button ignition, and raised ribs that create grill marks, this accessory undoubtedly deserves a more in-depth look.
For that matter, we’ve decided to take a closer look at its characteristics. In the following paragraphs, we’ll analyze its build quality, efficiency, ease of use, and any other additional feature. If you’re looking to enhance your grill with the searing capability, keep reading – this accessory might be your best option.
Info
This is a searing accessory made by Camp Chef (Utah).
Features:
- Stainless steel construction
- Compatible with most CP pellet grills
- Maximum temperature of 900°F
- Equipped with raised ribs
- Push-button ignition
- Easy to mount
- Grease management system
One of the best things about this sear box is that it’s compatible with most Camp Chef grills, including the newest PG24MZG model. It fits the following grills: PG24ZG, PG24XT, PG24SG, PG24LTD, PG24XTB, PG24SGB, PG36LUX, PG24S, and PG24MZG.
Why Get It?
It’s a well-known fact that the pellet grills aren’t the best choice for searing enthusiasts. When it comes to searing, their efficiency is quite limited – most models are unable to go over 450°F. This is precisely why Camp Chef manufactures and sells this accessory. Once mounted, it allows one to use his pellet grill for searing.
Just like all products manufactured by this company, the Sear Box comes with exceptional construction quality. It was manufactured from stainless steel, so there’s no need to worry about rust or durability. Moreover, its cast iron grilling grates are enamel-coated. This means that they’re easy to clean and that the food easily slides off them.
However, the most vital thing about the grates is that they have raised ribs. These create distinct grill marks that everybody likes. With this accessory, your meals will look and taste properly seared – the results are more than satisfying.
The accessory offers 180 square inches of grilling area, below which is a single 16,000 BTU propane burner. As it weighs only 34 pounds and has the dimensions of 14″ x 22.5″ x 14.5″, the model does not offer as nearly as much space as the full-sized grills. This is, after all, just an accessory that you can use in combination with your pellet grill.
As we said, the results achieved with this product are more than satisfactory. The unit quickly reaches temperatures of up to 900° F and provides even cooking thanks to its heat diffuser plates. Due to the presence of push-button ignition, it can be used even by the biggest searing amateurs.
Ease of Installation
The Sear Box replaces your grill’s side shelf. As it uses already existing hardware and holes, it is effortless to mount. There’s a simple 5-hole pattern, as well as a propane tank holder. However, the propane tank is not included.
Once mounted, the accessory removes the need to use a gas grill and a pellet grill together. It gives the best of both worlds.
Ease of Cleaning
The model’s specially designed heat diffuser plates have the job of vaporizing most of the grease drippings. However, the standard grease management system with a drip tray is still included.
Pros & Cons
PROS
- Compatible with most Camp Chef grills
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Easy to mount – uses pre-existing holes
- Grill marks created by raised ribs
- Reaches maximum temperatures of up to 900°F
- Easy to use – push-button ignition
- Grease management system
- Overall 81%
CONS
- Small cooking area
- Relatively expensive
Testimonials
“This sear box is a great accessory. It puts out a lot of heat and fits easily. I just removed the side shelf from my Woodwind grill and installed the device. Even though it’s compact, it easily cooks half a dozen burgers at once. I am also very pleased with how sturdy it is. If you own a Woodwind grill or any other compatible model, it’s a must-have.”
Most of the owners agree that the Sear Box is an extremely useful and convenient accessory. It’s a perfect addition to a standard pellet grill.
What to Watch Out For
Small cooking areaDue to its size, the model offers only 180 square inches of cooking area. Fitting pork chops, burgers, chicken tenders, and sausages is easy, but there’s hardly enough space for two larger cuts of meat. |
Relatively expensiveThe only major disadvantage of this accessory is that it’s somewhat overpriced. Its price is a bit too high for what you get – buying a pellet grill with an already existing searing device is always a better (and cheaper) option. |
A Piece of Advice
One thing that many amateur grillers don’t know about is how easy it is to avoid cross-contamination. The solution is quite simple – use one set of tongs for cooked food and another for raw food. Mark the tongs so that you know which ones are for which food.
Verdict
Although compact and small, the Sear Box successfully enhances your Camp Chef pellet grill. It provides an easy way to add the next level to one’s outdoor grilling game.
Moreover, it is well-built and quite sturdy, while its push-button ignition allows effortless operation. It’s a real game changer and an ideal accessory for anyone who wants to improve his cooking experience.
