How to use hop pellets

[Belto]

I have ordered some hop pellets but I have since read elswhere on the forum that they are universally frowned upon by home brewers.
Is this the case and why?
I will have to use the hops anyway how would I calculate the quantity used in any recipe compared to the dry hops. ( I understand they are far more concentrated having various unwanted parts of the cones removed prior to compressing)
How would I use for late hopping?
Would they have to crushed prior to use?

[steve_flack]

They aren't universally frowned on (they're preferred by the Yanks).

Their advantages are usually better utilisation and they keep better than whole hops.

The disadvantages are that they can be a git to get out of the beer at the end. You either need to try whirlpooling them into a little pile in the middle of the boiler, use a really fine hop filter, or a really fine mesh hop bag.

They don't need crushing as the disintegrate to dust in the boil. Generally I would use a tenth less pellets than I would whole (so 45g instead of 50g for example)

[tubby_shaw]

As steve has said there are many advantages of hop pellets but also the disadvantage of removal.
I have found the best way to deal with them is to place an immersion chiller into the boiling vessel, use a stirring action in one direction only, this will help with the cooling and also concentrate hop debris and trub into the center of the cooling coil.
One cooling is complete do not disturb the coil and allow 10 minutes for everything to settle out. Tranfer into FV in your normal way whilst avoiding disturbing the trub and you should end up with fairly clear wort.
Any hop debris which does get through to the FV will be thrown up in the primary yeast head and can be skimmed off

[Belto]

Thanks thats cheered me up. I dont' have a wort cooler yet, I think I will use a fine mesh hop bag I have.
I have been using it for the normal dried hops. Loooking forward to another brew tomorrow, getting all wound up now. Will being publishing my recipe on the AG forum and would like some suggestions on using what Ingredients I have