Yoder YS640
Product Review

HD Video's
Introduction
Startup
Heat Consistency Test 1
High Temp Test 2
Smoked BBQ Pulled Pork
Upgrading the Firmware
Tour The Yoder Fabrication Facility

Yoder YS640 Q&A FAQ Video Page

Disclaimer: The point I'd like to make is this review is a work in progress and will most likely be receiving updates for the next year. That's right! About a year. One thing I have come to realize is it take allot of time and work with a product to really know just how well it holds up. What I can tell you at this point is it's one hell of a beefy cooker! It's also consistent. This article has allot of my observations as well as opinions. I have been working on the slow and low cooking aspects of the YS640. Later I will move onto the higher temp cooking like baking and grilling.

First let's discuss wood pellets fired smokers in general. What intrigued me was the ease of operation and the auto feed system of pellets the pellet fired cookers. Operation of these pits is simple. You fill the hopper and the electronic temperature controller controls the auger on and auger off timing feeding the appropriate amount of pellets into the burn pot to maintain desired temperature. The burn is hot enough to efficiently burn the wood pellets and produce a nice thin blue smoke. For those who may not know, one of the skills an accomplished pit master acquires over time is achieving and maintaining thin blue smoke for the duration of the smoke. Constant white smoke is a sign of an inefficient fire causing the smoke to be high in creosote particulates and these particulates will get on the meat leaving a bitter taste.

The most intriguing thing about the wood pellet fired cookers is the fact they are just so easy and handy to operate. This results in more frequent use. In fact don't be surprised if you use your pellet smoker all year round and many times during the week after work. They are that easy to use. One should know out of the gate that these smokers will not equal a wood fired pit in strength of smoke flavor. That said, the leave little to no room for error in the quality of the smoked foods and this is not the case with wood burners. Also known as stick burners. You still get good smoke flavor and with that you will get a high degree of temperature consistency and convection type cooking. The smoked meats coming off these cookers is amazing.

This link will download a Excel Spread Sheet containing all my cook information including trend charts etc. This will give folks a good idea of how much experience I have with this unit as well as the different weather conditions as I go along. This will be an ongoing review so keep checking back.

Each entry includes the following:
♦ Cooke Times
♦ Temp Settings
♦ Weather Conditions
♦ Meat Type
♦ Summary and Statistical Charts
 

Yoder YS640 Introduction
(HD Video)

 
Learn about the functionality, specifications, features, build quality and warranty of the Yoder YS640.

The Build - Tour the fabrication facility

Auto Feed Pellet Delivery System

Lets discuss the pellet delivery system. As i mentioned above, what intrigued me was the ease of operation and the use of pellets instead of wood chunks. The big difference right off is the pellet hopper and auger feed system. Traeger's have a side mounted hopper that holds the pellets. The pellets are not heating class pellets, they are a cooking class of pellet certified safe for cooking. The temperature control system automatically feeds pellets into the fire box as needed to maintain temperature. Your cooking and smoking with a real wood fire. When smoking low and slow it can maintain temp for as long as 12 hours without refilling the hopper.

System Startup

Startup on this pellet smoker unlike conventional wood burners is quite simple. With the Yoder YS640 you Load the hopper with pellets, open the lid, power on the unit and hit the start button. The next step is to press the Temp up button to the desired setting and away you go!. The YS640 will automatically feeds pellets over a hot rod and ignite the fire. Within 5 minutes you have a fire burning and you can then shut the lid and the smoker will come up to temperature.

Here is how it all works. The heat and smoke delivery is simple. There is a small burn pot located in the bottom center of the left side of the cooking Chamber. The auger is located slightly above the burn pot. The Auger cycles on and off, slowly dropping pellets as needed into the burn pot. The higher the temp set point the shorter the dwell or time in between auger cycles.

Once the YS640 is in startup mode, the auger drops pellets over the top of the igniter in the burn pot. While this is occurring the igniter is heating up until it's red hot at which time it ignites the pellets. This ignition process is 3 minutes at which time the igniter shuts off. This auto start system has functioned flawlessly. There is a 110 CFM fan motor used to push air through the burn pot and circulate the heat within the unit. This allows the Yoder YS640 to cook like a convection oven.  The burn pot is locate under a het shield and a drip pan. The flames are well hidden and there is really no way for drippings from your meats to get any where near flame. This means no flare ups or carcinogens. This means healthier eating.

HD Video of Startup

In this HD video you will see the actual startup process and see how the controller, auger and burn pot all function in the Yoder YS640.

Initial Burn In

The initial burn is is quite easy. Power on your YS640 as described above and bring the cooking chamber up to 350 - 400 degrees. Allow it to run for a couple hours. The manufacture recommends at least one hour. I then let mine cool down. The following day I sprayed my grates down with PAM as well as the hood and inner chamber and brought it up to 225 and ran it there for about 6 hours. This is known as seasoning the smoker. Although it's said this process is not necessary for pellet fired cookers I did it anyway. Can't hurt in my opinion.

Temp Controls

The control board has the following controls: Power on/off, Temp Up & down, Start, Prime and an L.E.D. display. The power button turns the unit on with the fan running. The start button sends power to the Auger motor and Igniter. The Auger cycles on and off slowly dropping pellets into the burn pot. The Igniter heats up red hot and ignites the pellets. The igniter is on for 3 minutes only to ignite the pellets then it is turned off. During the igniter cycle the YS640 draws 11 Amps of current. Once the igniter is off and the current draw drops to 1.2 Amps.

The temperature controls operate like a potentiometer. The temp can be increased or decreased in 5 degree increments. One thing to understand is what you see as a set point on the display does not mean that will be the actual temperature. Ambient air temperature, elevation, wind chill and humidity all play a role in burning a fire. I have found if I set mine to 360 The smoker runs at 225. The cooler the fire the more smoke you will get. I like to run mine at 170 - 180 degrees for the first hour of cooking then take the temp up to 240 degrees.

Temp Control & Accuracy - 3 Heat up modes for cold, moderate and hot climates

The Yoder YS640 is the most accurate smoker I have had the pleasure of cooking on. I have cooked in temperatures from the low 20's with 40 MPH winds and the smoker temperature at grate level fluctuates an average of 4-5 degrees. The largest fluctuation I have noticed was only 12 degrees in this cold weather. The manufacturer invested allot of time tuning this pit using expensive precision gear with 6 thermocouples inside the cooker placed in different zones. This equipment recorded the temperatures in all six positions during the cooking tests over great lengths of time. The result is the YS640 is one constant cooker and constancy in cooking chamber temperature equates to quality results in your cooking.

There allot of folks making claims based on jaw jacking. Not here folks, I have tested, tested and re-tested different versions of the firmware while collecting pit temps at center grate on a 6 second interval. That's 10 samples a minute. I use a Guru CyberQ II to collect and chart the data collected. I then go through the RAW data. What you will notice on the chart is the heat up in the beginning. The controller on the pit was set to 240 degrees. The pit has 3 heat up modes. H 1 for hot weather, H 2 for mild weather and H 3 for cold weather. As of U20 new logic in the program takes the need to guess on which mode is best. It will start in H1 then auto adjust as needed. You will notice the pit heated up quickly and did not over shoot target temp at all. Now here's what separates this pit from many. It samples at the thermocouple and makes feed rate adjustments based on how the temp not based on set auger on and off rates.  This means that as your climate changes the Yoder YS640 makes adjustments. Next you will notice the pit makes a feed rate correction and dials into a nice flat pattern. For the most part it swayed 5 degrees below and 5 degrees above 240 degrees with some max fluctuation of 10 degrees either way. I found the performance of the Yoder YS640 amazing to say the least. See for yourself. This is a much flatter temp consistency trend then I experienced with the Traeger Texas and Danson (Country Smoker) Whole Hog WH-1320. You will notice that although the pit was set at 240 it averaged 250. This is due to the fact the thermal couple for the pit is placed in the left rear and the thermocouple for the Guru was positioned at grate level center pit. The fact that there is only a 5 to 10 degree difference between the two was a nice surprise. 

Click image to enlarge.
(Testing performed on Yoder's U20 firmware)

High Temp Cooking

Yoder has taken pellet grills to the next level leaving the others in the dust. They did this by designing and manufacturing the most versatile pellet smoker & grill on the market. I have demonstrated the low temp cooking and the temp consistency. Well this video demonstrate the high temp test. The YS640 reached a maximum operation temperature of 514 degrees. While operating at this temp the degrees of fluctuation was only 12 degrees. The pit operated between 502 and 514 degrees. What does this mean to you? Grilling steaks, burgers, fish etc and yes... Pizzas! Not just baked pizzas but pizzas that come out of the cooker with the cheese bubbling and the crust crunchy but not burnt. That what I'm talking about folks! Se for yourself...

Note: Maximum temps will vary depending on ambient air temperature, humidity and altitude.

Here's a bonus. Smoking at cooler temps! While doing some BBQ beef I stumbled on a nice feature. In 45 degree weather the YS640 will run at temps well below 165 degrees. I was able to run at 160 degrees. And it made for some of the best BBQ beef I have made. What I did was cook smoke 4 beef roasts medium rare the prior day. Then i let them sit over night and sliced them thin the next morning. I place the beef in aluminum pans and put it back on the smoker on the lowest setting. The meet basically cold smoked. It was able to take on the smoke without cooking any further. I did this for 45 minutes and then into the Crockpot with sauce for 8 hours. I couldn't do this on my Traeger. The picture below says it all about how well the new Yoder smokes ribs. These were the best I have done. The meat pulled away from the bone as it should bite by bite. Awesome Pig-Sicles! See recipes & videos of my YS640 cooks below.

 

Meat Smoked	Results	Link
Cuban Style Mojo Citrus Chicken Breasts (Stuffed)	Juicy and moist, evenly cooked	Recipe & Video
Caribbean Key Lime Party Wings with a Tiger Sauce Glaze	Excellent Glaze all evenly cooked	Recipe & Video
Chicken Breast with a Zesty Italian Marinade (3 separate smokes)	Juicy and moist, evenly cooked	N/A
Whole Turkeys (3)	Extremely moist	Recipe & Video
Thick Sliced Bacon	Awesome bacon and evenly cooked	Video
Pork Butt's (6)	Pulled pork to die for!	Recipe & Video
Baby Back Ribs (3 Racks)	Without a doubt the best ribs I have smoked. Meaty, juicy and evenly done end to end.	Recipe & Video
Double Smoked BBQ Beef (Mesquite & Hickory - 4 Roasts)	Most tender & juicy BBQ beef I have made! Flavor was awesome!	Video 1 of 2 Video 2 of 2
Cherry Smoked Maui Teriyaki Chicken - Pineapple Stuffed	Amazing. Tender juicy chicken evenly cooked with great flavor.	Recipe & Video

Based on what I know at this point, the Yoder YS640 is a precision cooker designed to maintain consistent temps as well as temperature consistency across the cooking grates. I no longer have to move the meats around to avoid over cooking due to hot spots of hot areas within the cooker. This to me is key to producing quality BBQ every time. Other manufacturers could learn allot from this alone. I have more slow cooking to do over time and will update this as time permits. I will also work on doing the high temp testing that will involve grilling burgers and steaks. I will also get into cooking Pizzas at the highest temp possible.

 Cleaning

We have all scooped ashes from charcoal burners. It's messy to say the least. The pellets burn so efficiently that there is very little ash left behind. What is there, you just use a shop VAC to remove. it's very quick and painless to clean. Since there is no flame the cooking grates do not get caked with excessive amounts of burnt matter. Just give the grates a quick brushing then wipe it with a paper towel. Prior to each use I spray them down with PAM and cleaning is effortless.
 

HD Video of  Care and Cleaning

Coming Soon!

Operating Costs

Pellets are a bit more expensive then Charcoal. In comparison to running LP and wood chucks for smoke the cost is about the same. At least this has been my experience. My cost for smoking or my smoking budget as I like to call it has gone up. It has gone up because pellet grills are so handy to use, the food is so tasty,  I find I am smoking or grilling on it at least 4 days a week and some weeks I don't miss a day. I have been buying Pellets for between $5.50 for a 10 pound bag. I found it to be less expensive to by 1,000 lbs. at a time from BBQr's Delight ($530 total) and have them on hand. In short the simplicity of operation and quality of the smoked meats or grilled meats far out weigh the cost of pellets.

Design and Build

Body: The Yoder YS640 is an extremely high quality built built cooker. The main body is 10 gauge metal so it takes longer to come up to temperature but it holds temperature far better then thinner walled cookers. This cooker weighs in at 315 lbs.

Hopper: The hopper is 14 gage metal. There are allot of pellet smokers out there that use thinner metal in there cooker bodies.

Cooking Grates: There are two cooking grates made of 3/4 #9 expanded metal in a 1/2" frame. Having two smaller grates instead of one large one makes cleaning and removal much easier. I also like the additional support the expanded metal provides for your meat in comparison to bar type grates. The cooking area on the YS640 is 640 sq. in. and I find it to be a perfect size for a family of 4 or larger. Larger capacity also allows for a variety of foods to be cooked at the same time like pork butt's and some ABT's etc. Maybe a pie tin of beans to liven up the meal.

Shelves: The shelves are removable and are made of 1/4" and 1/2" bar. These are the strongest shelves I have encountered on a cooker and can easily support the weight of the smoker. This allows them to double as handles when moving the cooker around your yard or patio.

Door: The door is like the rest of this heavy weight, a stout component. To take the feeling of the weight away, the Yoder builder has added a counter weight that not only provides for ease of operating the door but it gives the cooker a very nice look as well.

Controller Board: The controller board is weather proof and allows for granular heat control from 150 degrees to 600 degrees in 5 degree increments. (I still have not tested for max temperature) There is a prime button so you can send in some extra pellets after opening the door or priming ht auger in the event you run it out of pellets. Heat control is extremely accurate with a 4-8 degrees fluctuation as I have experienced so far. Keep in mind you have to bring the unit up to temp and let it stabilize first to achieve this. The video below is a demonstration on the temp consistency across the grate. By using bacon and not turn it or moving it you can easily see how consistent the heat of a cooker is across the grate and in all four corners. This test is done at 225 - 230 degrees and takes 3 hours. 

HD Video of Heat Consistency

Hopper: Made of 14 gauge metal, the YS640 hopper holds a whopping 18 lbs. of wood pellets. This will allow for non attended over night cooks or the ability to get other things done instead of feeding a fire.

Auger Motor: The Auger is driven by a very quite 2 RPM .5 HP motor. The YS640 has a short throw auger which means it moves less pellets for a shorter distance then other units. This type of auger is less likely to jam and most likely will last longer.

Thermocouple: The thermocouple is mounted through the back side of the smoker and extends into the cooking chamber just above the drip pan and below the cooking grates. The Thermocouple wiring is protected by conduit that runs the length of the back of the cooker to the hopper and controller enclosure. The conduit protects the wiring from getting hooked or snagged on something and causing damage.

Burn Pot: The burn pot is made of 7 gauge steel and is drilled with the right number and diameter of air vent holes to allow the fan forced air to flow across the burning pellet fuel circulating heat throughout the cooking chamber.

Warranty:

• 10 Year warranty on the body
• 3 Year warranty on the burn pot
• 3 Year warranty on Control System
  ♦ Control Board
  ♦ Auger Motor
  ♦ Thermocouple
  ♦ Igniter
   

Quality of Foods

When it comes to the quality of the smoked and grilled foods that come off the Yoder YS640, this is where it shines most of all. Let's talk about thin blue smoke VS. white thick smoke. The professional pit masters work to achieve a thin blue smoke and try to avoid at all cost a allot of of white smoke when smoking. Why? It simple, white smoke is an indication of lack of air and with this an increase in creosote particulates in the smoke. The creosote makes for a bitter taste on your food. Smoke with thin blue smoke and you will produce amazing flavored foods. The Yoder YS640 takes out all the guess work. This cooker is professionally and accurately tuned to continuously maintain an efficient fire and provide for heat consistency within the cooking chamber and across the cooking grates. You do nothing and the YS640 does everything. What a concept!

In summary

The Yoder YS640 is the best built wood fired pellet smokers I have come across. And I feel its is worth every penny of it's MSRP: $1,299. The Yoder YS480 has a MSRP: $1099. This cooker was built by cooks for cooks. I have had many conversations with the Builder Don Cary of All Things BBQ and I can tell you he is all about High quality products and service. Satisfied customers is what build business. It's truly refreshing to see companies like Yoder building high quality products right here in the great old USA! The Yoder YS640 is also one of the most versatile cookers.

With a broad heat range of 150 to 600 degrees (high temp testing still in planning)

♦ Smoke fish & Jerky at 160 - 170
♦  Smoke Turkey, Chicken, Ribs, Pork Butts or Beef Brisket at 225- 230
♦  Baking Pies, Biscuits or Scone at 350-400
♦  Grilling Burgers, Steaks or Chicken at 500
♦  How about Wood Fired Pizza at 525 degrees.

Firmware Upgrades

One of the cool things Yoder is doing for it's customers is a continuous effort to tighten and improve its heating performance. If and when a substantial firmware upgrade is available for your unit they send a firmware flash tool to you. This is the current method while they have a small number of pits in remote locations. As they take on dealers in the areas, they will change to having the dealers do the upgrades for you. Until then I put a handy video tutorial together demonstrating the correct method of flashing your firmware. It takes about 20 minutes and is very easy to do. Keep in mind that firmware upgrades are not offered by other manufactures that I know of and demonstrates Yoder's commitment to improving the customers experience with BBQ and the their Yoder equipment.

What I like so far:

♦  Made in the USA
♦  Great customer service
♦  Extremely sturdy build - Nice looking and functional construction as well.
♦  Consistent Heat
♦  Simple Startup
♦  Three startup modes for cold, mild and hot climates
♦  Self adjusting temp control - Pit will sense changes in temps due to weather changes etc and adjust.
♦  Worry free operation
♦  Granular temp control in 5 degree increments
♦  18 lbs. Hopper capacity
♦  Comes up to temp quickly
♦  Fan shut off delay on power off - Allows the pellets in the burn pot to fully burn and blows out most the ash.
♦  Two Cooking Grates - Easier Cleaning & Handling
♦  Optional second shelf
♦  Easy access to Drip Pan
♦  Grease bucket tucked up out of site
♦  Easy access to Igniter - At some point the igniter will require replacement years out.
♦  Removable shelves that are extremely solid
♦  Easy to read 3" diameter Thermometer
♦  Counter weighted door for ease of operation
♦  Prime button to add extra pellets when you open the door - Helps come back up to temp faster.
♦  Short Throw Auger - Less likely to jam if at all.
♦  Thermocouple wiring protected by conduit - Nice touch!
♦  Large rear wheel for ease of moving.
♦  Outstanding warranty - 10 Years on Body & 3 years on the control system (Fan, Auger, Control board, Igniter, Thermocouple and Burn Pot)
 

The ease of use and versatility will allow you to cook throughout the week and all year round. You will eat healthier as slow cooking removed more grease and fats then fast cooking. Since there are no flames touching the meats you will avoid the carcinogens.. There is a "Green" factor as well. The wood pellets burn cleaner and are made from recycled wood. What's more important then the "Green" factor is this is one sweet looking cooker. Standing next to this hefty built cooker as it's slow smoking your meal with precision just seems to bring out the "Tim the Tool Man" in a guy! If this pit has not got your attention by now... Take a look at the smoked meats I have been pulling of the Yoder YS640.

Hot off the Yoder Pit!

12.5 Hour Apple Juice Injected Pork Butt Smoke

5 Hour Thick Cut Baby Back Ribs - Awesome Pig Sicles!

Smoke It... And they will come!