Pellet usage estimator
Estimate a fuel range before a long cook, then keep enough reserve for the conditions you cannot fully control
Estimate pellet needs with a margin
Use an honest range, then leave spare fuel for weather, startup, and the cooker’s actual behavior
Why this is a range
Pellet use changes by grill size, insulation, controller behavior, wind, ambient temperature, opening frequency, fuel quality, and the actual heat setting. Use the estimate to avoid running short, not to predict an exact burn rate.
Reserve pellets are part of the cook plan
Keep the reserve dry and easy to inspect before a long cook begins. The goal is not to run the hopper down to a calculated number; it is to avoid creating a preventable fuel interruption when weather or timing shifts.