Gwen Hadley, Controls & warranty editor

I'm the one who reads the warranty small print. A pellet grill warranty can treat the body, the controller and the parts that wear out quite differently, and the short line about what isn't covered usually matters more than the headline number of years. If a listing doesn't say who handles a claim, I note that as well.

I write the guides on WiFi grills, temperature control, cleaning and maintenance, and accessories. They overlap more than you'd expect. An app is only as useful as the controller and the probe behind it, and a cleaning routine depends on where the grease and ash are meant to go, which the manual explains and the listing rarely does.

With connected grills I read what the manufacturer says the app does, what owners say it does, and where the two disagree. Dropped connections and pairing trouble come up in reviews often enough that I count them.

Accessories are where I'm strictest. A cover, a grate or a replacement probe has to be listed for the exact model and version. A plug that looks familiar proves nothing, and I'd rather leave a part out than guess.