Brisk It has been making waves by combining AI with smart pellet grills in a way other brands haven’t. They claim to make smoking, grilling, and other cooking methods easy, even if you’re a complete beginner. We got our hands on the Brisk It Argo 640 to test its cooking qualities alongside the latest Vera AI cooking assistant version.
Pros
- Excellent cooking results
- Automated cooking control
- Vera AI can generate recipes
- App control from anywhere you have a cell signal
- Excellent build quality
- Improved wheel design rolls over rough surfaces more easily
- 22-pound hopper capacity
- Side and bottom shelves included
- Includes a cover
Cons
- Not for people who are easily frustrated by tech
- No pellet level sensor
- No pellet dumping door
- No front shelf option
Brisk It Argo 640 AI-enabled Pellet Grill Basics
Capacity
Filling the midrange capacity of Brisk It’s lineup, the Argo has 640 square inches of cooking space on two levels. That’s quite a bit less than the Origin 940, and significantly more than the Zelos 450. I actually like these mid-size smokers for a couple of reasons.
One, the lower the volume, the more efficiently you’ll use pellets since it takes less fuel to heat a smaller area.
Two, 640 square inches is a reasonable size for everyday cooking while still offering the volume for days you need to feed a small crowd. Here’s an idea of what you can fit on there:
- 5 racks of ribs
- 4 pork butts
- 4 whole chickens
- Whole packer brisket
- Whole turkey
- 18 – 24 burgers
- 6 – 8 steaks
- 20 brats
Realistically, you can cook for a dozen people, yet it’s not so large that it feels like overkill if you’re only cooking for a family of four.
Temperature Control and Pellet Consumption
The temperature range on this model is 165° —500° F. Similar to Traeger and other brands, the system uses a PID algorithm to control the temperature predictively. It’s an effective system, but if you’re cooking on a windy day like we were, you’ll notice temperature swings around 10° or so. The same goes for cooking in cold weather.
The hopper holds 22 pounds of pellets, which is more than most of the models I’ve used. When you’re cooking low and slow, you can run upwards of 24 hours without having to refill. Of course, the higher the temperature you’re cooking at, the faster the pellet consumption.
To get an even richer smoke flavor, there’s a PowerSmoke mode you can kick on when you’re cooking at low temps. You use pellets a little faster, but the hopper is so large that you should still be able to complete a 16-hour smoke with plenty of room to spare.
Unfortunately, there’s no pellet level sensor on this model. That’s a feature I like having so I can quickly check without having to go out back or see whether I can keep fishing for another hour when the bite suddenly picks up.
Brisk It Argo 640 AI-enabled Pellet Grill Design Notes
Grease and Ash
Pellet grills require more maintenance than charcoal or propane to keep running their best. You regularly need to clean out the ash and oil that build up as you cook.
Unlike the Origin 580’s under-drum collection system for oil, the Argo 640 goes with a more traditional collection bucket on the side. Even though it’s not hidden like the 580, it holds much more volume and is quicker to access.
The ash collection tray is gone as well. Some people like to use a shop vac to clean out the drum every few cooks, but most don’t contain ash very well. Instead, I use a wide, flexible spatula to scoop the ash into a container.
In addition to regular ash cleanout, be sure to check the firebox and clean up any caked ash that builds up. If your grill is slow or having trouble starting, a firebox cleaning will usually take care of it. For people who smoke often, I recommend cleaning the firebox out every two months.
If you store your grill for the winter, be sure to give the grill a good cleaning before you put the cover on.
On-Grill Controls
The control panel contains all of the grill’s operating basics, and it is possible to cook without downloading the app and connecting to Wi-Fi.
- Power on or off
- Temperature control
- PowerSmoke control
- Set timers
- Set temperature probe targets
- Access settings
If you’re even somewhat tech-savvy, you should be able to navigate the menu easily. However, the app makes things much easier and opens up the complete array of controls and features. The color LCD screen makes things easy to see, though it does wash out a little with the sun directly overhead.
App Controls
With the combination of the app on your phone and your grill connected to Wi-Fi, you can control it anywhere you have a cell signal. You can even turn the grill on, which isn’t something you can do with every brand.
The controls are mostly the same as what you can access on the grill’s panel. However, everything is easier to get to and adjust. Plus, the graphics offer more detail at a glance than you can see on the grill’s screen.
AI Automated Cooking
There are a handful of recipes you can access in the app or via the web. Unlike recipes from other sites, you can send them straight to your grill to automate the cooking process. It’s remarkably simple:
- Select a recipe in the app
- Follow the step-by-step recipe prep
- Start the grill
- Insert the temperature probe into the meat
- Let AI adjust everything throughout the entire cook and notify you when it’s done.
Other pellet grills also have programmable cooking, but those rely on making temperature changes at specific time intervals rather than temperature readings. Brisk It’s AI reads and reacts to the temp, so you don’t have to watch your phone or keep walking back and forth to the grill. Thanks to notifications on your phone, you can enjoy more uninterrupted time with your friends and family.
Vera AI
Another part of Brisk It’s AI system is called Vera AI. If you don’t know where to start or are cooking something new to you, it can generate a recipe for you. Just type in something like, “Lamb leg recipe,” and Vera will tell you how to prep the meat, season it, and cook it.
If you don’t like the results or want to make some changes, just type in more information. I wanted a bit more help on the lamb, so I tried “Savory lamb leg” and got a more specific seasoning profile. From there, I went to “Savory braised lamb leg” and it gave me a new recipe using a different temperature profile to use with a Dutch oven.
When you’re satisfied with the recipe, you can send it to the grill just like the other recipes built into the app.
I’ve asked Vera AI for smoked meatloaf, spicy chicken wings, and even pizza and got results. In Vera 1.0, it didn’t like some baking recipes, like cakes, and would recommend you use a traditional oven instead. However, the updated app seems much more adventurous and is willing to roll the dice. A major upgrade to Vera 2.0 is also coming soon.
That said, AI isn’t perfect, so try anything major ahead of time before your reputation relies on the results. Your parents’ 50-year wedding anniversary isn’t the time to learn whether you and Vera have the same definition of medium-hot.
If you like the results, you can like the recipe, dislike it, save it to your favorites, or copy it to the clipboard.
Additional Features
- High temp powder coating
- Rolled and stainless steel construction
- Two all-terrain and two 360° caster wheels
- Side tray with hanging pegs
- Bottom storage shelf
Brisk It Argo 640 AI-enabled Pellet Grill Price
The Argo 640 is $599.99 at Sam’s Club. The grill comes with a side table, bottom shelf, side smoke vent, and cover. However, there’s no front table available for this model.
The app is free to use, so no worries about another subscription service. Once you download it, sign up for your account, and get ready to start cooking.
If you’re not a Sam’s Club member, the Brisk It Origin 580 is your next best bet. There are some design differences, but the size is very similar, and you’ll get the same tech and AI benefits.
The Bottom Line
The Brisk It Argo 640 pellet grill is a brilliant way to elevate your outdoor cooking. Whether you’re just getting started and need some confidence or you’re an advanced cook who wants to make things easier with technology, Brisk It’s design will get you the results you’re looking for.
If you’re into smoking meat, any of Brisk It’s grills are an easy recommendation. With the ability to grill, roast, braise, bake, and more, it’s an incredibly versatile design that can be the only outdoor cooking device you need.
However, if you love a direct heat, flame-kissed sear on your burgers, steaks, and seafood, you might still want to have a traditional grill on hand. It’s a bit harder to get the low and slow results on a charcoal or propane grill, though. If you have to pick just one, don’t think twice about grabbing the Brisk It.
