The Pros, the Cons, and the Facts about the REC TEC Grills Bull (RT-700) Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker.

The Bull RT-700 by REC TEC Grills is their latest entry in the world of wood pellet grills and is quite an innovation.  REC TEC has a huge following, and it is well deserved.  Between their outstanding marketing campaigns, the high quality of their grills and the simple fact that their grills just look so damn cool, it seems like REC TEC has another hit on their hands with the Bull.

Fortunately, this REC TEC grill is mostly composed of stainless steel inside and out to provide a quality, long-lasting, and no-rust unit.

REC TEC Bull Quick Facts

Product Name: REC TEC Grills Bull (RT-700) Wood Pellet Grill

Made By: REC TEC Grills

Top 3 Features:

• Smart Grill Technology™ Controller to maintain temperature precisely
• Ability to grill from a wireless device thanks to Wi-Pellet WiFi Technology
• Temperature increments for bake, smoke, sear, grill, broil, roast, and dehydrate

Standout Benefits Of The REC TEC Grills Bull RT-700

The simplicity of using the REC TEC RT-700 is one of its biggest advantages hands down.  It’s almost too easy.  You don’t even have to worry about lighting this grill.  Just press the power button, and it’s already lit for you.  If you’re planning on smoking something overnight, this grill is reliable enough to get the job done while you rest easy.  Just download the REC TEC Grills app and connect to your grill with Wi-Fi for automatic alerts if anything should go wrong.

The RT-700 takes the lead; you just tell it what to do and find something else to do in the meantime.

Other benefits include…

High-Quality Stainless Steel Inside And Out

You can expect your RT-700 grill to last a long time thanks to the heavy-duty material.  Made of stainless steel, a little rain and dust won’t harm your RT-700 over time like many other grills.  To add a little perspective to the build, the Bull weighs approximately 81 lbs. more than a similar size Traeger due to much thicker gauge steel.

REC TEC usees 304 Stainless Steel on about 70 lbs of their grill including all the critical components.  304 is marine grade & will never rust or warp.  Many competitors in this price range use a much cheaper 430 Stainless that has iron content and will rust even with nonuse in less than a year.  REC TEC also uses a Ceramic Ignitor Rod that will last on average about 5x as long as the metal tipped rod that comes standard on many pellet grills.

However, due to the grill’s weight because of the high-quality metal build, keep in mind that you may want to assemble it near to where you plan to place it.

1,054 Sq. In. Cooking Area With An Additional Second Shelf

The REC TEC Grills Bull is a champ at taking on massive amounts of food.  It’s large enough to fit six large racks of ribs and tall enough to accommodate beer can chickens and turkeys.  That’s right….turkeys with an S.

With that in mind, imagine the number of people you could feed!  You can expect to whip up a large Thanksgiving turkey or two no problem thanks to the excessive space offered by this grill. The more you can throw on the grill at one time, especially in the high summer heat, the better.

Natural Hardwood Pellets For Authentic Wood Fired Flavor

Regardless of what you grill, you can expect a deep, smoky flavor with the real hardwood pellets used to fuel the REC TEC Bull.  No more messy charcoal or worrying about unsafe fire starters.  The final product is darn near perfect each and every time, and there’s nothing you can’t cook on this grill to achieve pit master quality taste.

Many would agree that natural is best and 100% natural hardwood pellets is the only way to go, but keep in mind that because there are no preservatives, the pellets should be stored in an airtight container or they risk absorbing moisture from the air and becoming “stale”.

The Best Functioning WiFi Enabled Pellet Grill On The Market?

Grills with built-in WiFi often are met with skepticism in the outdoor cooking arena.  While it’s a great idea, in theory, the implementation has been hit or miss for many brands that have tried including it.

The REC TEC Grills Bull RT-700 reinvents WiFi enabled grills and does it well.  Other WiFi controllers tend to lag and have delays.  However, the RT-700 immediately responds.  Heck, you can be in the bathroom or pumping gas and easily tend to your grill via your smartphone.

Some may say good grilling doesn’t come with shortcuts, but the RT-700 proves this wrong. (Yes, I just said that.)

If you do happen to require troubleshooting for the WiFi, REC TEC Grills’ tech department is phenomenal in assisting you, but from my experience, the WiFi implementation on this grill is top-notch compared to other models.

Using The RT-700 Wood Pellet Grill

Setting up, operating, and cleaning the RT-700 are all very straight forward compared to many other grills.  With a 40-pound hopper capacity, you can expect a whopping 40+ hours of grilling with this REC TEC grill.

After adding your pellets (you won’t need to do so often; that’s for sure) and turning it on, your grill will be automatically lit.  As a failsafe, the digital display will inform you whether your grill successfully lit or not, making troubleshooting easy.

The temperature dial is smooth and can be set in 5º increments.  If you download the free REC TEC app and connect your grill to WiFi, you can continue controlling and monitoring your grilling session via a smartphone or other device.

Ending your cook is also a cinch with the automatic shutdown feature.  Enter cool down mode with the push of a button.

REC TEC Grills Bull RT-700 Description And Features

Just when you thought the Bull pellet grill was good enough, there’s more.  In all honesty, most people could be happy with the cooking space and great, smoky flavor alone.  By adding additional features into the mix, REC TEC is just spoiling us, but since we’re doing a review here, let’s check out what else the RT-700 has to offer.

Smart Grill Technology™ Controller

The Bull uses the best in class PID Controller to hold your temperature super precise.  Within +/- 5 degrees of your set temperature, precise.  Many competitors come standard with controllers that will fluctuate between +/- 20-40 degrees of the set temperature and will charge upwards of $180 to upgrade to a PID Controller.

Stainless Steel Drip Pan And Bucket

Cleaning up your grilling mess has never been easier than with this REC TEC pellet grill thanks to the drip pan and bucket that come with this device.  The grease bucket hangs from a hook on the side of the grill for convenience and fits right into the design.  Clean up is very easy with this grill.

Built In Dual Meat Probes

Not just one built-in meat probe is included, but two to allow a cook to measure the temperature of two different foods at the same time.  To make this process more convenient, REC TEC even placed a convenient probe port hole on the side of the grill, so wires don’t have to be pinched if placed under the lid.  The hole seals shut when not in use.

Modular Construction For Easy Part Replacement

As simple as it sounds, the Bull RT-700 is constructed based on a module design, allowing individual parts to easily be replaced.  If a part has a defect or goes bad with time, there’s little hassle in replacing the defective part.

Below 200ºF To Over 500ºF In 5º Increments

The wide range of temperatures offered on this pellet grill makes it a go-to not just for grilling, but for baking, smoking, searing, dehydrating, roasting, BBQ and broiling: all in one unit.  Cook anything: pizza, flank steaks, roasted nuts, pig candy, beef jerky, pie, or even the old standby burgers.  Talk about versatile.

Convenient Side Shelf Workspace

A generous shelf is included located on the side of the grill, which is highly convenient.  The shelf space is large enough for BBQ prep, extra storage space, and even to serve your guests.

40 lb Stainless Steel Hopper Lid

The hopper lid doubles as a warming surface to keep your food warm.  This feature is useful for parties or other gatherings where excess amounts of food will be made and served.  After you’re finished grilling, just set your food on the hopper lid to keep any extras warm.

The Hopper itself is able to hold up to 40 lbs. of pellets for extended low and slow cooks.  It is located on the back of the grill.  This allows the grill to have a centered fire pot and a smaller auger (less chance for mechanical trouble in the long run for sure).

Who Is The REC TEC Grills Wood Pellet Grill For?

Due to the ease of use and set it and forget it technology with the RT-700, first-time grillers will be impressed.  They will feel like BBQ champs without all the added guesswork.  Thanks to automatic lighting and the ability to control and monitor your grilling session from a wireless device, this grill is also ideal for individuals who have a rat-race lifestyle, but still want the flavor of smoked foods.  There really are no more excuses for not having time to barbecue when you have the REC TEC RT-700.

No one will be more pleased with this grill than the avid outdoor cook who wants an all-in-one device that can do it all.  From hot and fast to the perfect smoke, the REC TEC Bull has the right technology to make outdoor cooking more versatile.  The large hopper size also makes it ideal for those who like to cook low and slow without having to worry about adding fuel.

Anyone who wants a quality grill that allows them to cook up large quantities of food with mouthwatering results, won’t be disappointed with the REC TEC Bull RT-700.

Reasons To Think Twice

While it makes grilling easier and more convenient, especially for those long smoking sessions, pellet grills get a bad rep from traditional grillers who claim using them is so simple, it’s practically cheating.  If you want the extra workload and prefer to show off your physical skills on the grill, the RT-700 isn’t for you.

Another thing we noticed is that both meat probes and the app for this grill have some minor flaws (the probes were off by as much as 10 degrees; the app’s temperature alarm doesn’t always go off if your phone is locked), but these can easily be dealt with.  To cut REC TEC some slack, I know the app will be updated shortly and hopefully these issues will be resolved.

As a final note, if you don’t have WiFi or live in a remote area, you won’t be able to use the REC TEC Grills app.  There isn’t an option to connect the grill to your phone via Bluetooth.

Regardless of these minor issues, you still get great value for your money with the Bull RT-700.

Pros And Cons

Price And Warranties

REC TEC offers several different bundles for the Bull with varies accessories and premium pellets included.  The base model generally runs around $1,200 and comes with free shipping.  It’s worth at least checking out the different bundles and what added accessories you can get.  Generally, this grill is moderately-priced and well worth the money.

REC TEC has a 6-year warranty that covers every component.  Good luck finding that on most other competitors grills in this price range.   Other parts, such as the hopper’s lid and the grill grates, are guaranteed to last the lifetime of your grill.  REC TEC Grills also ensures quality customer service, and if you aren’t happy with your new grill, you can send it back for a full refund within 30 days.  REC TEC claims you get access to everyone at their company, all the way up to the owners Ron & Ray after your purchase.  You even get the owners cell phone numbers when you buy one of their grills.

The Bottom Line

Truth to tell, I was excited when I first heard about the new REC TEC Bull RT-700.  REC TEC has such a rabid fan base and solid reputation; I couldn’t wait to experience their new grill.  We weren’t let down in the slightest.  From the high-quality build materials, best in class temperature controller, Wi-Fi capabilities, and overall design, we love this grill at this price range.

Sure, there are still a few issues REC TEC needs to iron out with their free app and probes, but they are known for their great customer service and customer care.  You can expect the help you need when you need it if anything gets seriously out of whack.  You can’t go wrong with that.

There are several grills on the market between the Traeger brand and the REC TEC RT-700, but unless you are looking to spend above $2,600 you won’t find a grill with the Bulls quality build, top-notch components, and standard features.

If an easy-to-use, low-maintenance grill with plenty of cooking space and features to offer is something you desire, go for REC TEC Grills Bull RT-700.  The value you get is off the charts in my humble opinion.

Have you used this grill?  Do you have something to add?  Leave your review in the comments!  We always welcome your input and I would love to hear about your experiences with it.

Cheers,

Patrick

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