Pellet grill guide
recteq Flagship 1600 Wood Pellet Grill (RT-1600FS)
A large yard with room for a 218 pound grill and 18 inches of clearance on three sides
recteq's Flagship 1600 has about 1,665 square inches of cooking space, a 40 pound hopper and a 180°F to 700°F range, with app control that recteq says is optional. recteq's sources give 1,665 and 1,667 square inches, and the manual needs 18 inches of clearance and offers a 6-year warranty that excludes rust.
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Published specifications
- Maker: 1,665 sq in (FAQ and listing say 1,667); 40 lb hopper
- Maker: 240 wings, 16 rib racks, 15 pork butts or 6 briskets
- Maker: 180F to 700F range; recteq app not required, controls on the panel
- Maker: 53.25 x 32.5 x 55.25 in; 218 lb (listing says 230 lb)
- Maker: outdoor use only; 18 in clearance; GFCI outlet in troubleshooting
- Maker: RT-1600FS; 6-year limited warranty, rust excluded
Fit and limits
Strengths
- 40 pound hopper for a long cook, per recteq
- Temperature controls on the panel, so the app is optional
- A third cooking shelf and a 304 stainless steel firepot, per recteq
Caveats
- About 218 lb and 53.25 in wide; 18 in clearance on three sides, outdoors only
- Warranty excludes rust and oxidation for any reason
- recteq gives 1,665 or 1,667 sq in; the listing says 230 lb, the image 218 lb
Which grill this is: RT-1600FS
The Amazon listing is sold by recteq, LLC and gives model RT-1600FS. The cover of recteq's Flagship 1600 manual, hosted on its support site, prints RT-1600FS, so the listing and the maker's manual agree on the code.
recteq's product page prints its own SKU line as rt-1600, without the FS, so the page and the manual do not print the same string. recteq's page calls this grill the latest version of the original RT-700 and mentions an earlier Flagship 1100, so match RT-1600FS on the listing or the box.
1,665 or 1,667 square inches, and a 40 pound hopper
recteq's specification image gives 1,665 square inches of cooking space, a 40 pound hopper, racks of 34 by 9 inches, twice, and 34 by 19.25 inches, and room for 240 wings, 16 racks of ribs, 15 pork butts or 6 briskets. The image gives 53.25 inches wide, 32.5 deep, 55.25 high and a total weight of 218 pounds. Our arithmetic: those three racks add up to about 1,267 square inches, and recteq does not say how it reaches 1,665.
recteq's FAQ and the Amazon listing say 1,667 square inches instead, and the listing gives a weight of 230 pounds, so the sources differ by 2 square inches and 12 pounds. recteq says the hopper gives 40 hours of continuous cooking with its own US-made wood pellets, and lists a 304 stainless steel firepot, a cast-iron heat deflector and a powder-coated carbon steel lid.
Temperatures, the app and the knob
recteq's page and FAQ give 180°F to 700°F, and its FAQ says you do not have to use the recteq app because the grill has temperature controls on its control panel. The manual describes a knob that selects a computer-maintained temperature, with LO shown when the knob is turned below 200°F, which activates Xtreme Smoke and the minimum pellet feed, and FUL shown above 600°F, which feeds pellets at 100% of auger capacity.
For Wi-Fi the manual says to download the recteq app, follow its directions and update any applicable firmware, and it sends Wi-Fi troubleshooting to recteq.com/wifi-setup or the company's phone line. It lists ER-1 for a power failure, ER-2 when the grill has not ignited within 30 minutes and ER-3 for an unplugged RTD or an overheated grill. recteq's page and FAQ give the 700°F top figure, while the manual only says FUL begins past 600°F and feeds pellets at full auger capacity.
Clearance, outlet and carbon monoxide
The manual says the grill is for outdoor use only, needs a minimum of 18 inches of clearance from combustible construction or materials at the rear, sides and top, and must stand on level ground, never under a combustible ceiling or overhang and never on a combustible floor. It says to unplug the grill when it is not in use, to lock the wheels, and never to move it while it is hot or without assistance.
Its troubleshooting pages send you to a working GFCI outlet when the grill will not light or shows ER-1. The manual carries a carbon monoxide warning that lists headache, dizziness, weakness and nausea among the symptoms, and asks anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms while cooking near the appliance to see a doctor.
Break-in, pellets and cleaning
For first use the manual recommends washing the grate, filling the hopper at least halfway, putting a quarter cup of pellets in the firepot and running the grill at 400°F with the lid down for one hour. It says never to fill the firepot by hand, to use only wood pellet fuel made for cooking with no additives, and that wet pellets swell and jam the auger.
The manual asks you to clean the firepot every 3 to 5 cooks or every 16 hours of cooking. After a low and slow cook that has left grease, it says you must clean or remove all grease-collecting items before cooking again, and that failing to do so will most certainly cause a grease fire. It advises cooking fatty foods at 350°F or below.
Warranty and where you buy
recteq's Flagship 1600 warranty PDF and the manual give a 6-year limited warranty from the original owner's date of purchase for normal residential use. recteq's obligation is limited to replacing covered failed components, and the warranty does not apply to paint or the grill cover, does not cover rust or oxidation for any reason, and does not apply to commercial use.
The warranty text also says no warranties are extended to people who buy from anyone other than recteq or an authorized recteq distributor. The Amazon offer here is sold by recteq, LLC, but keep your proof of purchase and confirm the terms with recteq before you rely on them.
Check the current listing
Main caveat to weigh before ordering: About 218 lb and 53.25 in wide; 18 in clearance on three sides, outdoors only.
Primary sources
- recteq Flagship 1600 product page
- recteq support article: Flagship 1600 manual (Assembly Manual and User Guide, RT-1600FS, PDF)
Primary sources checked .
Compare with
Side-by-side pages, this model next to: recteq Bullseye Deluxe RT-380BD Wood Pellet Grill.