The season is right. New grill gear is dropping all the time. And the pitmasters of tomorrow are already cooking circles around your brother-in-law. Drop this week’s cook in the Dead Meat Society Facebook group or tag us on Instagram.

Now, here’s what we’ve been cooking up all week…

First up, Traeger went entry-level this week, and it just might work. Also, some Southern pitmasters are doing things that'll make you reconsider what "the next generation of BBQ" looks like.

Sure, it took us a while. Most of you have thawed out by now and are getting ready for the Spring BBQ season. But that doesn’t take away from the epic submissions to the Frozen Flame Challenge.

So, without further ado, let’s meet our winner 👑

Head over to the Dead Meat Society Facebook Group to see our Frozen Flame champ!

Every week, we crown the DMS champion of BBQ. And there are only two ways to enter: 1) Submit a pic to the Dead Meat Society Facebook Group 2) Tag us on Instagram. If you aren’t sharing (and competing), what the hell are you waiting for?

This week’s Smoke Show Champ is Nick Dart for this bendy-rib shot. Those ribs are looking good. Shared via the Dead Meat Society Facebook Group.

Honorable mention to Ross Gibson for his fire lamb and chicken cook. Shared via the Dead Meat Society Facebook Group.

Honorable mention to Leland Woodfin for showing us all how our week should look. Shared via the Dead Meat Society Facebook Group.

Have a Smoke Show submission? Stop wasting your time posting on all those other sites and share it with the Facebook group that gives a damn: Dead Meat Society. Or just tag us on Instagram.

That one story that will make you infinitely more interesting than your know-it-all brother-in-law. Seriously, wtf is that guy’s deal?

It’s a big week for Dead Meat Society members…

National Steak Day is Friday, and National Prime Rib Day is Saturday. (No pressure.)

But if you've been sitting on the fence about getting a pellet grill to do either of them justice, Traeger just ran through your excuses.

Traeger released the Westwood and Westwood XL this week. Their most affordable connected grills yet. Starting at $699.

Let’s consider the context… we all know that pellet grills have had an image problem that has nothing to do with how well they cook. The entry price to get into a properly connected pellet setup has stayed stubbornly high for years.

So far, pellets have kept their reputation as a premium category, even as more people want in. Traeger moving their floor down to $699 with the full connected experience is a real shift.

The connected pellet experience has always carried a premium because three things had to work together perfectly:

That's why the budget end of the pellet market developed a bad reputation. You either paid up or you paid twice.

The Westwood may not be a premium smoker, but it sure looks like a capable one. Here's where the tradeoffs landed:

Well, that’s up to you… but it sure was a smart move on Traeger’s part to make it tempting.

Traeger has been losing ground as the pellet category has become more competitive. This move is less about one grill and more about a strategy. Push the price floor down, get more people into the ecosystem, and let the app and accessories do the rest.

So if you've been waiting for a real reason to finally make the pellet move, Traeger just handed you one…

What do we think, Dead Meat Society?

Last week, we asked: What’s your go-to weeknight grill?

40% of you answered: “Charcoal”

This week, we want to know:

*Check back next week for the results*

Like the memes you send back and forth in your group chat, except these won’t get you canceled. Oh, and lots more grill marks.

🥩 BEAN GAME: Stubb's just launched ready-to-serve baked beans in two flavors, Original and Sticky Sweet, rolling out nationwide at $2.79 a can.

🥩 LAB MEAT: Chefs are now cooking meat grown in a lab. Looks like salmon. Supposedly, it tastes like salmon. Still feels like a weird science project.

🥩 OLIVER GRILLS: Jamie Oliver has a new BBQ cookbook coming with 90 recipes across charcoal, gas, and open flame. All designed to make grilling feel easy again.

🥩 NEXT LEGENDS: Southern Living spotlighted five pitmasters who may be the names everyone's talking about in 30 years. Cross-regional cooking and whole hog are on the rise.

🥩 GRILL MEATBALLS: Meatballs off the grill or smoker hit different. The fire adds a layer that the oven never will.

🥩 MUD BUGS: This is how backyard cooking is supposed to look 👇

Did we miss something? Share it in the Dead Meat Society Facebook group or tag us on Instagram for a chance to be featured.

Tips, tech & gear that’ll help you beat your friend’s meat. Wait, that came out wrong…

🥓 HELL HANDS: Big Green Egg just announced pro-grade heat-resistant gloves dropping in June. Wrist and forearm coverage with enough dexterity to work the grates. Called "Hell Hands."

🥓 PATTY MISTAKE: There's one grilling mistake that kills thin burger patties every single time. Worth knowing before smash burger night goes wrong.

🥓 RUB SMARTER: Seven-time world BBQ champion Melissa Cookston says all-purpose seasoning is a mistake. Every protein needs its own rub profile. Stop reaching for the all-purpose jar.

🥓 PELLET HYBRID: Built for people who want convenience but still care about the end result. Set it, forget it…

🥓 PELLET SCHOOL: Running a pellet grill and picking pellets by price alone costs you more than money 👇

Did we miss something? Share it in the Dead Meat Society Facebook group or tag us on Instagram for a chance to be featured.

A happy ending just for you.

That’s it for this week. If you make any of the recipes above, you’re legally obligated to share pics on the DMS Facebook Group or tag us on Instagram so we can feature them next week (sorry, we don’t make the rules).

And since the only thing that is better than grill marks and ice-cold beer is grill marks and ice-cold beer with a side of dad jokes, we’ll leave this right here…

Dead Meat Society Merch in the wild.

First international member repping Dead Meat Society tools and doing it with style. 🔥💀

Flip it. Grip it. Stage it. The Dead Grill Station Kit Bundle gives you control over the meat and the mess, complete with…

It’s not just tools, it’s your grill station, dialed in. What are you waiting for?

As part of our commitment to community, we will donate 10% of net profits to charities that matter.