Summer is winding down, but late summer and early fall are excellent times to enjoy the outdoors and cook outside. If you've got the time, smoking is a fun alternative to barbecuing, and cooking meats slowly over low heat can provide a more flavorful meal when all is said and done.

But which pellet grills provide the best slow-cook process for smoky, tender beef, pork, and chicken?

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Here are some top brands to pick from, based on rankings of pellet grills by Consumer Reports.

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What are pellet grills? How do pellet grills work?

Pellet grills slowly burn wooden pellets, and an electric fan circulates the resultant heat and smokes the meat inside the grill unit. While other methods of smoking ar

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