Pellets Do pellets “expire”?

[annewaldron]

Do pellets have an expiration or “best by“ date?

 

[Beaser]

I've never seen any such notation on the bags. Kept dry they should be good, don't put the bag on concrete and keep them away from sunlight, Moisture makes the pellets swell and break down to sawdust. Humidity and wicking from concrete seem to be the major sources of pellet breakdown.

 

[RayClem]

Pellets are ground up wood compressed into pellet shape. Thus, over time, they will degrade, just like firewood degrades over time. If pellets become damp, they will lose all effectiveness quickly. If they are kept dry, you should be able to use them for a couple of years without issue, but I would be hesitant to store them for much longer than that. I purchased a bunch of pellets last fall and have yet to use all of them. They should be good for cooks a year from now, but I do not plan to purchase more pellets until the ones I have are consumed.

 

[BobbyQ]

I have pellets that have been around for several years either in my garage or in my covered, outdoor service cart near the Traeger. I keep them in HD buckets. Lately. I have placed them bag and all into the bucket and replaced the lid. They have been exposed to seasonal temperature variations from 50F to over 100F. I have not experienced any effect on performance. I never completely empty the hopper either. Again, no effect on performance.