Rec Tec vs Yoder — Top Grill Brands Compared (2022)

So you’re thinking of buying a grill to spice up your outdoor cooking experience. And now, you’re drowning in a pool of selections that you have to choose from. 

In this post, our team decided to pit Rec Tec and Yoder in a series of feature evaluations and help you decide which of the two top-tier brands suits your needs in terms of quality and performance. 

Rec Tec

Being one of the pioneer providers in the pellet grill smoker industry, Rec Tec has always been every homeowner’s go-to brand for outdoor cooking fire pot equipment. Established in 2009 by Evans High School graduate Ray Carnes and his buddy Ron Cundy, the duo saw the need to create the grill of their dreams. 

From one flagship model, the Rec Tec's pellet smoker/ grill brand now has nine models, two of which are not pellet grill. Ever since then, Rec tec rapidly becomes a household name for neophyte grillers and pitmasters [1].

In this Yoder vs. Rec tec review, our team listed this brand’s top three lifestyle series models with their impressive features that will highlight their set point advantages compared to grills of Yoder. 

Suppose you’re looking for an efficient primary cooking chamber. In that case, it’s a good idea to purchase their line of wood pellet grill equipped with PID Algorithms that will determine the amount of fuel needed to produce consistently flavorful meals.  

Integrated with a smart grill technology and a digital control, users of any Rec Tec grill can enjoy superior temperature controller and Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to control the large cooking surface. As a more affordable option, we’re surprised by how technologically integrated these grills are. 

All their grill models allows you to control it via smartphone using Rec tec app, so you can take care of other things while keeping tabs with the entire food preparations. Rec teq also offers different cook modes that allow you to serve various food styles like baking, roasting, and searing.

Even though Rec Teq grills are made with a small cooking space/ cooking area and not suitable for large food preps, it offers more mobility and portability due to its lighter weight compared to its rival brand. Therefore, it remains superior in this Rec tecand Yoder comparison test. 

(You can also see our best portable pellet grills here.)

Grilling through long hours is also not a problem for Rec tec grills as all their famous models have extensive hopper capacity. 

Take RT 700 pellet grill, for example; this grilling machine has a mass pound pellet hopper capacity (40 pounds) with horn shaped handles  that allows it to have an uninterrupted operation. A significant advantage compared to its rival model Yoder  YS640, which only has capacity for 20 pounds of pellets. But has 2 cooking grates of 16 x 20 inches.

As grilling can quickly become messy, spills on the primary cooking surface can potentially damage its construction. Lucky for you, Rec tec’s exterior quality is also one of its enticing features because it’s designed to prevent rusting, unlike Yoder models with a powder-coated finish that could quickly decay.  

Rec teq grills also seem to have fewer add-ons than Yoder products, which technically means that the prior-mentioned cooking machine has more integrated and built-in features (ex: towel ring) than the latter.  

Yoder

Similar to Rec Teq, Yoder Smokers started building grills for commercial use way back in 2009. Headed by a 59-year old man named Don Cary, who dedicated his life to crafting heavy-duty gauge steel pellet grills, this brand is now relatively known in the industry. 

One of their most popular pellet grills is Yoder YS640, which our team will evaluate further throughout this Rec tec grills and Yoder pellet grills review. Yoder Smokers’ line of stainless steel cooking chambers is also famous for its exceptionally durable and stylish build quality. 

Yoder also prides itself on being a product made in the USA as they believe customers are keen and most likely to buy from an all-American brand. In addition to this, its period of warranty - 6 years warranty to a 10 year warranty timeframe is an edge any grill enthusiast can’t ignore compared to its rival brand that offers different per year warranty duration depending on models. 

These pellet grills like the Pit Boss 700 are commonly used in cooking competitions and commercial use but have been popular with homeowners for their reliability and aesthetically pleasing designs. Yoder brands are the most suitable frequent BBQ competitions as each grill has an increment of five degrees. 

Their large cooking space feature is their most advantageous edge in our Rectec vs. Yoder product review. The prior-mentioned brand has a smaller cooking surface and is not suitable for extensive grilling.

Yoder smokers also feature three kinds of industry-standard grill grates, they also let you control the temperature range, giving users additional options to set high temperatures ranging from 150 to 600 degrees and create sear marks on the meat. Their grill grates are truly awesome.

While Rec tec’s PID Algorithm and WIFI controller is already impressive, we have to give credit and recognition to Yoder grill’s in-house technical team as they constructed their controller software from scratch.

This custom digital controller software is known for its adjustable functions that could save your grill from unforeseen circumstances that could ruin your cooking temperature. Through this temperature control, you’ll be notified if you have low or high temperature ( 150 to 600 degrees) and will frequently remind you open your grill when cold meat is placed on the grill. 

One unique function that makes Yoder stand out from its many competitors is its variable displacement damper integration. This unique mechanism allows the smokebox equipped in their grillers to move from either left or right. 

With Yoder grills flexibility, users can easily dispense the heat in the direction they desire. As the grills of Yoder are prone to rust, this smart grill technology function prevents the accumulation of grease and rust from unintentional spills of condiments used in grilling. 

Rec teq and Yoder grills both have a good temperature control and digital control system similar to other brands such as Camp Chef and Traeger, although Rec teq has more technologically advanced features in this area it is less expensive. And because Yoder is made from heavy-duty steel materials and stainless steel construction, this option is quite expensive but guarantees long-lasting cooking operations. 

Top 3 Rec Tec Grills 

1. Rec tec RT-700 Grill

Rec tec RT-700 is the standard-bearer and trendsetter of all pellet grills listed in this Rec teq vs. Yoder post. Aside from its 100% stainless steel construction, Rec tec bull RT-700 has large shelves that boast 1054 sq inches (square inches) of cooking space. 

This 195 pounds (88 kg = 195 pounds) of grill Rec tec has developed is integrated with a high-quality pellet hopper capacity that can hold up to 40 pounds of pellets at a time and can also continuously cook up to 40 hours. 

Other than the massive 1054 square inches of space, Rec tec RT-700 offers convenience on another level with its easy to clean and easy to move exterior and WiPellet WiFi technology. And like other models in this Rec teq vs. Yoder review, Rec tec bull RT-700 also has two meat probes that control the temperature range through a mobile application.

2. Rec tec RT-340 Grill

If you’re an occasional outdoor cook who just enjoys serving flavorful meals at home, Rec tec RT-340 is the best pellet grill we can recommend out of all the options in this Yoder vs. Rec tec review. 

Like Rec tec RT-700, the RT-340 is grill has an easy to clean exterior and the same PID and Wi-Fi control system for convenient temperature range monitoring. It comes with heavy-duty steel handles that make it easier to transport from one place to another. 

This cooking chamber comes with a high hopper capacity ranging up to 15 pounds of pellet, lasting up to 15 hours of cooking time. 

3. Rec tec RT-590 Grill

RT-590 is a slightly smaller option compared to RT-700 but has most of its unique functions. The RT 590 has acompact cooking area/cooking space of 772 sq inches (square inches) and high-quality stainless steel structure. The RT 590 pellet grill is one of the most economical and affordable buy in this Rec tec vs. Yoder review. 

Users can fulfill the grilling needs of a small crowd as this Rec tec model features a hopper capacity of 30 pounds. The RT 590 is surely perfect for a typical outdoor cooking adventure. Equipped with a HotFlash ceramic ignition system, this cooking unit is sure to last along with its two-year warranty period. 

Top 3 Yoder Grills 

1. Yoder YS640 Grill

When talking about durability, Yoder YS640 grills are always on top of the list and can compare to reputable brands like Pit Boss and Camp Chef. This grill will surely deliver a performance like no other with its 14-gauge steel hopper and 10-gauge heavy-duty structure.

Similar to its tight competitor RT-700, Yoder YS640 is designed with 1070 square inches large cooking space. Weighing 335 pounds (152 kg = 335 pounds), this option may not be the best choice if you intend to camp out. 

On the brighter note, Yoder YS640 has an astounding 10-years warranty for this model and has top-tier customer service like Rec tec. With its 12-inch tall cooking chamber, this Yoder grill can handle any big sized meats even your favorite racks of ribs . 

2. Yoder YS480s Grill

Users of this pellet grill can enjoy stable heat retention suitable for any weather condition thanks to its 14-gauge steel exterior. Like other Yoder grills, YS480s has an adaptive control system. That adaptive control system lets you conveniently manage its 20-pound hopper capacity and 1070 square inches of cooking space. 

Despite this grill’s 277-pound weight, its portability can be up against other Rec tec and Yoder models with custom large orange casters that allow it to be moved from one place to another grill without any hassle.

Although YS480s doesn’t include a Wi-Fi feature like most Rec tec grills in this post, our team is still impressed with its digital control system and adaptive control system, also the stable heat retention that maintains the consistency of the cooking area/cooking space. 

3. Yoder YS1500S Grill

This Yoder grill model redefines versatility with its unique variable displacement damper feature. This useful mechanism allows the smokebox to be flexible on where you can dispense the heat. 

Users of this grill can enjoy cooking in large portions with its 1500 sq inches (square inches) cooking capacity and 20 pound of pellet storage. Like Yoder YS640s, this model has temperature control features of the grilling surface through Bluetooth plus WiFi Connectivity. 

Pellet cooks can also expect exceptional even cooking results as this option has two integrated meat probes and a ceramic ignition system. 

Overall Winner: Rec Tec Pellet Grills

After deliberating the features of each top-tier pellet grills selections that we included in this Yoder vs. Rec tec pellet grill review, our team’s vote for the best brand goes to Rec tec. Yoder has some great smoker functions, but not everyone can afford their grills.

Although choosing between Yoder or Rec tec is a challenging task considering their similar features, the latter won for its impressive portability and affordability. As outdoor kitchen arrangement can change from time to time, having a grill, designed to provide ease in movement like the Rec tec is a smart decision. 

Not to mention that Yoder can be prone to rust due to its powder-coated finish, which makes it less suitable for the ever-changing weather conditions in outdoor kitchens, unlike Rec Tec’s steel exterior. 

Other brands to watch out for are the Camp Chef and Blackstone. Both brands have great products ideal for your backyard kitchen. Read next!