5 Best Traeger Grills Reviews
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Traeger makes some of the best wood pellet grills and smokers out there. They sell grills in various sizes and configurations, with distinct design, flavor, and cooking performance differences.
Finding the ideal Traeger grill can be a challenge because of the wide range of models and pricing points available.
This guide covers what features to look for when purchasing the best Traeger grills and reviews some of the brand’s top models.
Best Traeger Grills: Quick Summary
- Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 (Overall Best Traeger Grills)
- Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 (Best Budget Traeger Grills)
- Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 (Best Traeger Grills for Large Families)
- Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 (Best Traeger Grills for Tailgating)
- Traeger Grills Ranger (Best Portable Traeger Grills)
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575
Last update on 2024-06-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
For years, the Traeger Pro Series 575 has been Traeger’s best-selling grill due to its combination of high-end features, large cooking area, and a mid-range pricing point.
It has 575 square inches of cooking space and a maximum temperature of 500 degrees, ideal for most grilling tasks.
The Pro 575’s 18-pound fuel hopper lets it run for up to nine hours at full heat on a single load of wood pellets. A useful clean-out feature makes it easy to switch pellet flavors without finishing a bag.
The Pro 575 includes Traeger’s best additional features, such as a D2 brushless motor, Wi-Fi connectivity, and a meat probe.
Pros
- Large cooking space
- The maximum temperature is 500° F.
- WiFIRE Wi-Fi technology
Cons
- A whole bag of pellets won’t fit in the 18-pound hopper.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 22
Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Pro Series 22 is the best pellet grill for the money from Traeger.
It doesn’t have as many high-end features as other more expensive Pro series models, but it’s just as good where it counts. 572 square-inch cooking area and 18-pound hopper are comparable to the Pro Series 575.
Powder-coated stainless steel exterior pieces and a long-lasting pair of wheels are standard on the Pro Series 22 and the more expensive Pro Series 575.
Despite the lack of Wi-Fi and a D2 drive, Traeger’s Digital Pro controller ensures that the interior temperature rarely changes more than 15 degrees from the specified setting.
It also comes equipped with two meat probes, making it simple to keep tabs on what’s cooking on the barbecue.
Pros
- Affordable
- Same Traeger construction quality
- Two meat probes
Cons
- No Wi-Fi connectivity
Traeger Grills Ironwood 885
Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you like to grill and smoke every weekend, the high-end Traeger Ironwood 885 is a worthwhile purchase for your home.
885 square inches of cooking space plus a 20-pound hopper make the Traeger Ironwood a significant upgrade over the company’s other pellet grills. If you want to cook a lot of meat, you’ll have plenty of room on this grill.
Like Traeger’s other high-end grills, the Ironwood features a D2 motor and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Once Ironwood 885 has reached the desired temperature, you can adjust the temperature in 5-degree increments between 165 and 500 degrees.
It does an excellent job of maintaining a constant temperature, never deviating more than 10 degrees from the specified temperature. The D2 Direct Drive system from the brand allows it to maintain this degree of precision.
There are also some extra features, like a “super smoke” mode that uses a fan to add even more smoke flavor to the meat and a “pellet sensor” that alerts the app when the hopper is running low on pellets.
When it’s time to switch flavors, a chute on the hopper makes it simple to switch pellets.
Pros
- More cooking space
- Hopper with a large capacity
- Even cooking temperatures
- Simple to clean and switch pellets
Cons
- Pricey
Traeger Grills Tailgater 20
Last update on 2024-06-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Traeger Tailgater 20 is a mobile smoker for car campers and tailgaters, but it may be convenient for folks with limited outdoor smoking areas.
By simply folding the grill’s legs, you can transport it in the bed of a pickup truck or an SUV’s trunk. It weighs just 62 pounds, making it easy for two people to carry.
Additionally, it has an inverter that can be powered from a car’s accessory outlet.
Even though it is smaller than other Traeger grills, the 300 square inches of grill space is much larger than most portable grills and smokers.
However, there are certain drawbacks to the Tailgater.
With an 8-pound hopper, this grill requires more frequent refilling than Traeger’s other grills.
The left side of the grill, above the firebox, is much hotter, so when you put a lot of food on it, you may have to move it around if you want everything to be done simultaneously.
A compact wood pellet smoker like the Traeger Tailgater 20 is the best option for those with limited space or who need to move their smoker frequently.
Pros
- Compact size
- Lightweight and portable
- Larger cooking space than other portable grills
Cons
- Cooking temperature variance
Traeger Grills Ranger
Last update on 2024-06-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This Traeger Ranger pellet smoker is an excellent choice if you’re looking for something that won’t take up all of your entertaining outside space.
You can quickly put it on a table outside or bring it with you on your next outdoor trip. Considering how small the grill is, the 8-pound hopper is relatively large.
There is an optional griddle that you may use for eggs, meats, and pancakes when using the grill. The barbecue burns around a pound of wood every hour, so one full hopper should last you for a weekend of grilling.
The lack of a grease tray necessitates regular vacuuming and wiping of the surface to remove dust and oil.
Because of its portability, this grill can’t compete with other grills that have more features and can cook at higher temperatures.
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Cast-iron griddle included
- Heats up quickly
Cons
- No grease pan
- Requires constant maintenance
Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Traeger Grills
Determining which grill is best for you is considering your preferences. When purchasing the best Traeger grills, it is essential to consider a few distinct aspects.
Materials
All Traegers are well-made, although some are better-built than others. We should be able to say that they’re made of better materials.
Porcelain-coated grates are used on lower-priced models, whereas stainless steel grates are found on the highest-end Timberline grills. The more money you spend, the more you get regarding stainless steel.
Grills with double-walled insulation, such as the Timberline and Ironwood models, are superior at regulating temperatures. The additional expense may be worth the investment for those who plan to use their grills in the winter.
Construction
Traeger is a high-end barbecue company known for its high-quality materials and craftsmanship. Grills from the manufacturer are constructed of solid steel and finished with a weather-resistant powder coat.
The company uses heavy-duty wheels on their barbecues to make it easier to move Traeger grills around a deck or patio.
Grills from Traeger all have motorized ventilation fans as standard equipment.
Traeger’s high-end grills feature its D2 Direct Drive to power a robust auger that resists jamming powered by a brushless motor and a multispeed fan.
In addition, the D2 can heat the firebox more quickly upon ignition and after the lid has been opened.
Size
When looking for a Traeger grill, it’s critical to keep in mind the size of the cooking surface and the hopper capacity.
Traeger’s portable tailgate barbecue can cook three racks of ribs, two whole chickens, or 12 burgers in its 300-square-inch cooking area. The huge Timberline has 1,300 square inches of cooking space, which can fit 64 hamburgers, and 15 racks of ribs for those in need of something big.
The grill’s hopper capacity dictates how long it can run before the operator needs to replenish the pellets. Traeger grills range from 8 pounds for the most miniature models to 24 pounds for the largest.
Traeger’s pellet grills typically weigh between 100 and 250 pounds, making them inconvenient to take on a road trip. The company offers a grill with foldable legs that weighs about 60 pounds for tailgating.
Cooking Area
People with large families that want to prepare large amounts of food, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys and brisket for large gatherings, will need ample space to prepare their food.
The other option is to keep it small if you plan to cook a few burgers or a chicken for yourself and your family.
Temperature Range
The wide temperature range of a pellet grill contributes to its versatility.
Low temperatures, usually between 180°F and 275°F, are needed for smoking. To bake or roast, you’ll need to raise the temperature to at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 450 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for successful grilling.
Smoking low and slow or holding food at temperatures below 200 °F is possible on all Traegers. However, not all of them can reach the high temperatures of 500°F required for quick grilling like a gas grill.
The Ironwood and Timberline series grills offer the widest temperature ranges.
When it comes to choosing a pellet grill, this isn’t going to be a factor for you if you aren’t concerned about high temperatures.
Additional Features
You can find many more features to Traeger’s pellet grills because they are a premium brand.
The pellet grill controller controls an auger that feeds pellets into the firebox. All Traeger grills have digital controls that make it simple to dial in particular temperature settings or monitor doneness with the grill’s electronic meat thermometers.
Wi-Fi connectivity is available on many models, allowing users to operate the grill and check meat thermometer readings via a smartphone app.
Traeger grills with the new D2 motor have a Super Smoke mode that boosts the smoky flavor of meat and a Turbo temp mode that heats the grill faster.
Hopper Capacity
As the hopper is where you put your wood pellets in, its importance can not be overstated. So it’s essential to check the hopper capacity because it determines the amount of time you can cook without needing to replenish it.
When it comes to the hopper, more significant is always better. In contrast, the Traeger Tailgater’s 8-pound hopper is small enough that it won’t add to the unit’s weight while still delivering excellent results.
Price
Most of the time, you get what you pay for with Traeger. So, even though they sometimes cost more than other grills, it’s money well spent on a good grill. But how much money do you have to pay?
You can get a Traeger that is good for beginners for a fair price. You could think of it as trying out pellet grilling to see if you like it. But you might not have some convenient features.
You can also buy a Traeger with all the bells and whistles you can think of and spend a lot of money on it. Before you do that, consider whether it’s too much for you and how you may save money.
However, if you’re willing to spend a little more now, it could be an investment. Every time you fire up the grill, you’ll have a better experience and years of pleasure.
What Are the Different Series of Traeger Grills?
Traeger Grills come in three main lines: the Pro Series, the Ironwood Series, and the Timberline Series. Most affordable are Pro Series models, Timberline grills are the most expensive, and Ironwood grills are somewhere in between.
Older Traeger models and smaller barbecues, such as the Ranger and Tailgater, are also available.
There are two grill sizes in each series: small and large. As expected, the smaller grills in each line are less expensive than the larger ones.
It’s important to know that every Traeger works the same way. All-natural, food-grade wood pellets are burned by using electricity. All you need are Traeger wood pellets and an electrical outlet.
Cooking food on a Traeger is different from using a regular grill since it uses indirect heat.
When you press a button or dial the control panel, an internal auger begins feeding wood pellets into a fire pit in the grill’s center. The fire pit has a heating rod and a small fan.
The pellets combust as the rod heats them, and the fan provides oxygen. A baffle on top of the fire pit deflects the heat, directing it toward the grill’s perimeter. The drippings are caught by the grease pan above, which sends them into a grease pan or bucket.
A Traeger grill can be considered an outdoor convection oven capable of smoking, grilling, roasting, and baking various foods. It is versatile and easy to operate.
About Traeger Grills
Traeger Pellet Grills was established in Oregon in 1985. Traeger is now the world’s largest pellet grill maker, with annual sales exceeding $300 million. Jeremy Andrus joined Traeger in 2014 after purchasing the company with the help of private equity firm Trilantic Capital Partners and relocating it to Utah.
Traeger is one of America’s most popular outdoor grills, thanks to its ease of use, versatility, and delicious wood-fired cooking.
Quality
Trager grills are well-made and robust, easy to move thanks to the integrated cart wheels, and come with good warranties and customer support.
Performance
Traeger is expected to outperform the competition in terms of ease of use and consistency. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to pellet grills or an expert. Traeger pellet grills can produce some of the best smoked BBQ you’ll ever eat.
Features
The Traeger app stands head and shoulders above the other barbecue apps. Its Wi-Fi connectivity and outstanding performance allow you to move away from the grill while in operation or monitor your cook while smoking overnight.
FAQs
If you have any questions regarding Traeger grills, such as where they are made or if you can use them in bad weather, keep reading to learn the answers to these and other frequently asked questions.
What Model of Traeger Is the Best?
The Traeger Pro 575 is the best pellet grill for most people and is the one that sells the most. It has an accurate PID controller that keeps temperatures stable, and it connects well to Apps and Wi-Fi.
Are Traeger Grills Manufactured in the United States?
Traeger grills are made in China and imported into the United States.
What Is the Warranty on Traeger Grills?
Traeger Barbecues provides a three-year warranty on its grills for defects in material and workmanship under normal use and maintenance.
If a part is proven to be defective, Traeger Grills will replace it free of charge.
Are Traeger Grills Compatible With Wi-Fi and Apps?
With the WiFIRE app, you can control your Traeger barbecue from your smartphone. Using this smartphone app, you can remotely regulate the grill and even monitor the meat’s temperature.
Do Traeger Grills Work in Any Weather?
The weather-resistant powder coating on a Traeger barbecue allows it to be used in the rain or snow. It’s best to keep your Traeger grill covered when you’re not using it.
Are Traeger Grills Easy to Assemble?
The instructions are straightforward. Traeger has completed all technical construction, including wiring and major structural components. A screwdriver and a wrench are the only tools necessary. Traeger includes all of the equipment needed for assembly, so you won’t have to buy anything else.
How Long Does It Take to Put Together a Traeger Grill?
The assembly is simple and takes about half an hour to an hour.
Conclusion
When it comes to purchasing a Traeger grill, it comes down to your needs, budget, and the number of people you plan to feed.
Traeger Grills have long been known as one of the best pellet grills.
With a wide range of products to work for every backyard BBQ cook, Traeger offers grills and smokers that are ideal for any family, from simple, affordable grills to feature-rich, premium grills.
It doesn’t matter which model of these best Traeger grills you choose, and I think you’ll be cooking some of the most fantastic meals you’ve ever tasted.